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Friday, May 5, 2006
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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 
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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
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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
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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
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/15/09; 11:30:13 AM.
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