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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2002 House Gets Tough on Cybercrime Portable Cell Phone Numbers Delayed, Again Webcasting Royalties Challenged in Appeals Court AND New Security Standards from the Federal Government MSN 8 Released, Free for Subscribers Apple to Start Charging for Web Services HOUSE GETS TOUGH ON CYBERCRIME The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill increasing penalties for computer crimes and making it easier for Internet service providers to disclose communications to government agencies in the face of an emergency that they believe poses the danger of death or serious physical injury. On the government side, law enforcement agencies can tap into computer communications in the face of immediate threats to national security or while protected computers are under attack. The time limit is 48 hours while the agencies seek court authorization. The surveillance devices used help determine the source or destination of computer communications without capturing the content. Washington Post, 16 July 2002 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10264-2002Jul15.html PORTABLE CELL PHONE NUMBERS DELAYED, AGAIN The Federal Communications Commission gave cell phone companies until November 2003 to offer cell phone customers the choice of keeping their cell phone numbers after switching from one wireless company to another. This is the third extension granted by the FCC. Most wireless companies oppose the concept because of cost. Verizon Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS, and AT&T Wireless oppose the portable number requirement, while others, such as Nextel Communications and Leap Wireless, support the option as a way to gain customers. Associated Press, 16 July 2002 http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/468145p-3742541c.html WEBCASTING ROYALTIES CHALLENGED IN APPEALS COURT A group of radio stations filed a motion before a federal appeals court to set aside the rule that they must pay musicians and recording companies when they stream songs over the Internet. Their argument relies on the historical practice of not paying royalties for regular broadcasts. The motion is in response to a 0.07 cent per listener per song rate for Internet radio established by the Copyright Office in June. Webcasters did not participate in the appeal of the August 2001 decision. The appeal was filed by the National Association of Broadcasters along with radio companies Bonneville International, Clear Channel Communications, Cox Radio, Emmis Communications, Entercom Communications, and Susquehanna Radio. CNET, 16 July 2002 http://news.com.com/2100-1023-944209.html AND ***************************************************** NEW SECURITY STANDARDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The U.S. government is making available a free software program and security standards for computers running Microsoft's Windows 2000. The software probes computers for known security flaws and helps users configure their systems to eliminate holes. Some government agencies, such as the Defense Department, will be required to meet the standards immediately, and the White House is considering whether to mandate that step for the rest of the government. Meanwhile, other government agencies, such as the Air Force, intend to use the procurement process to force vendors to offer more secure versions of their sfotware based on the standards. San Jose Mercury News, 16 July 2002 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/3674640.htm MSN 8 RELEASED, FREE FOR SUBSCRIBERS A beta version of MSN 8 browser will be released this week, and the final version will ship later this year. Many of the changes to the browser, including online safety features, communication services, and productivity software, resulted from feedback from the 8 million MSN subscribers. Microsoft, however, will charge a fee for the browser for customers who are not subscribers to the MSN service. Analysts speculated that Microsoft is hoping to recoup some of the costs of developing the product, but said revenues from selling the browser are likely to be small. Many other browsers are availalbe for free, including Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Rival ISP America Online is losing customers, and Microsoft hopes to win some of them. But observers noted that offering MSN 8 free to subscribers is not likely to be the deciding factor users to choose an ISP. NewsFactor Network, 17 July 2002 http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/18627.html APPLE TO START CHARGING FOR WEB SERVICES In a move reminiscent of Microsoft's .NET strategy, Apple Computer will begin charging for its iTools Web services, which will be renamed ".Mac." The service will cost $99.95 per year; users of iTools who sign up for the new service by September 30 will get an introductory rate of $49.95 for the first year. Apple CEO Steve Jobs said at the Macworld show in New York that the "world is changing" and Apple needs to reflect that change. Apple will reportedly increase the storage capacity for users and add anti-virus software and Web-based e-mail. Reaction from iTools users was generally positive. Some said they would definitely pay for the service, while others said the charge would be reasonable if the improvements to the service are made. ZDNet, 17 July 2002 http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-944357.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For past issues of Edupage or information about translations of Edupage into other languages, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS EDUCAUSE publishes periodicals, including "EDUCAUSE Quarterly" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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