Friday, May 5, 2006

'Net Neutrality' Battle Widens Wired: "The U.S. financial sector, a powerful force in Washington, may be gearing up to jump into a Capitol Hill fight over the future of the internet and stop an effort it says could add billions in costs just to maintain current offerings. The issue is 'net neutrality' -- a battle so far contained between high-speed internet operators and companies with online product offerings, such as Amazon.com. Broadband providers such as AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon Communications want to expand from flat pricing and also sell tiers of service based on the speed, reliability and security of the bandwidth used. While those providers have said they would not block access to the open internet, companies that sell products or services online want Congress to adopt stricter safeguards to ensure they are not pushed into a slower lane of the internet if they do not pay more for dedicated network service. For the financial services sector, which is expected to spend $117 billion on information technology this year, tiered pricing could add billions more in expenses to maintain online banking services and other web offerings, according to a memo circulating among financial services lobbyists. Those costs could hit the bottom line or be passed on to customers. But it's a fight the financial sector almost missed... "A Republican-led bill moving through the House would preserve the ability to surf on the open internet, but it does not specifically bar internet service providers from charging new fees to assure reliable service to business users. Corwin argues that would give internet service providers a green light to impose big new fees on financial companies. But phone companies on Tuesday told Reuters the issue has nothing to do with financial services, and action by Congress could hurt consumers and deter investment in new networks... "The National Association of Federal Credit Unions, America's Community Bankers, American Bankers Association and Independent Community Bankers of America, among other financial lobbyists, say they are monitoring the issue. But telephone carriers rejected the concerns. They said the legislation is about allowing phone companies to offer video and moving to tiered pricing so those who use little bandwidth do not subsidize those who use a lot." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:48:02 AM

Stem cell research? Wired: "Senate Democrats sought Thursday to jump-start a long-awaited debate on legislation to allow federal funding of embryonic stem cell research by considering it while it debates other health measures this month. The Democrats sent a letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist asking him to add stem cells to what Republicans have dubbed "health week." Frist wants the Senate to consider other health legislation, possibly next week, on medical malpractice and small business insurance. Despite a veto threat by President Bush, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill last year backing research on excess embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:40:38 AM

2008 Dem convention in Denver? Rocky Mountain News: "A coalition of labor unions is opposing Denver's bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention until the city does more to create union jobs in hotels and businesses that service all of the conventions the city hosts. The Denver Area Labor Federation voted unanimously last week to approve a resolution opposing the bid. The leaders of about 30 labor unions took part in the vote, said Mitch Ackerman, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 105. 'We really feel that the city and business leaders and elected officials could be doing more to ensure that the service sector jobs that provide support for conventions are family-supporting jobs with health care,' said Leslie Moody, the federation's president." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:19:56 AM

Ritter or Holtzman or Beauprez for governor? Here's an article from today's Denver Post with fundraising numbers in the governor's race. From the article, "[Bill] Ritter, the lone Democrat in the race, raised more than $156,000 from April 1 through April 25, according to campaign-finance records filed Wednesday. Republicans Bob Beauprez and Marc Holtzman raised $73,428 and $61,022, respectively." Category: Denver November 2006 Election 6:10:06 AM

Sanctuary cities Denver Post: "A bill signed Monday by Gov. Bill Owens to prohibit so-called sanctuary cities has the Mexican consul general concerned about racial profiling of suspected illegal immigrants... "The law prohibits any local government from approving ordinances or initiatives that limit police or government employees from cooperating with federal immigration officials. It also requires law enforcement officers to report any person arrested for a criminal offense who they suspect is undocumented to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The author of the new law, Republican Sen. Tom Wiens of Castle Rock, emphasized that the law requires only law enforcement officers to make such reports of suspected illegal immigrants, not all government workers... "Police and sheriff's departments already report undocumented immigrants arrested on felony charges to immigration officials. The new provision would require that they also report suspected illegal immigrants arrested for misdemeanors and other types of crimes... "The consul's office said it has received dozens of phone calls asking if police can now stop anyone and ask for documents. Gutierrez has written to the governor, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and state Attorney General John Suthers asking for a better interpretation of the law to prevent government workers or law enforcement officers from 'carrying out their own agenda.' According to the law, if a city doesn't comply, it could be considered a sanctuary city and would be denied grants by the Department of Local Affairs. Municipalities are required to report to the General Assembly how they've implemented the law annually." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:07:00 AM

The dilemma of efficient irrigation Here's an article from the Pueblo Chieftain, dealing with the issue of more efficient means for irrigation, and the potential for increased consumptive use of water on the Arkansas River. From the article, "Individual farmers may benefit from more-efficient farming methods such as center-pivot sprinklers, but the legal implications are about as clear as ditch water. About 100 people, mostly farmers, gathered at Lamar Community College Thursday to discuss pivots, as well as the problem of tamarisk, or salt cedar. Fort Lyon Canal attorney John S. Lefferdink and Division 2 Water Engineer Steve Witte reviewed how a trend toward more-efficient farming methods might affect the Arkansas River Compact, a 1949 agreement between Kansas and Colorado that has been embroiled in a Supreme Court case for the past 21 years... "Lefferdink said Witte has faced some criticism from farmers about his concerns that sprinklers may increase consumptive use, the amount of water actually used by crops, and reduce return flows to downstream users. But he reminded farmers that the state engineer's office also drew criticism in the past for allowing so many wells to be drilled in the Arkansas Valley. Kansas prevailed on the issue of overpumping by wells in the lawsuit filed in 1985... "Witte said there are ways to head off a showdown over the issue. Irrigators can show the state engineer consumptive use has not decreased, augment uses to maintain historic flows or go to court to get a decree showing no other water rights have been injured. If a pond is built at the head of a ditch, gauges can measure the tailwater coming out of the ditch, showing no net loss, Witte said... "Earlier in the meeting, Mike Carrigan of BASF explained the herbicide manufacturer's approach to eradicating tamarisk. He said the company's product has successfully been used to wipe out broad reaches of tamarisk in New Mexico and Texas with aerial spraying... "In Colorado, a small area near the south rim of the Royal Gorge in Fremont County was similarly sprayed. At least 12,000 acres are covered with tamarisk along the Arkansas River to John Martin Dam. A single tamarisk plant can consume up to 200 gallons of water a day, and an acre of the invasive plant, also called salt cedar, can use 7.7 acre-feet in a year. The question is whether farmers have incentives to control the plant. Lefferdink referred to a 1974 Supreme Court case involving Harvey Phelps of Pueblo that denied the right to claim water salvaged by killing tamarisks. It's up to lawmakers to change the law, he added... "Fort Lyon Canal President Dale Mauch said farmers have to get serious about controlling tamarisk, referring to a 2003 state executive order by Gov. Bill Owens authorizing state agencies to work toward eradication. He suggested purchasing a helicopter to spray large areas and organizing eradication efforts by counties or canal companies." Category: Colorado Water 5:41:39 AM

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