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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 01, 2005 Higher Ed Organizations Call for Telecom Reform Virginia Tech to Study Wireless for DOD Colleges Learn about Identity Theft from an Identity Thief HIGHER ED ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR TELECOM REFORM A group of 12 higher education organizations has issued a statement outlining its position on several aspects of the anticipated revision of the Telecommunications Act. The group, which has set up a Web site <http://www.broadbandforhighereducation.org/> that advances five principles, calls on the federal government to take appropriate steps to support the ongoing development of and access to the Internet. The group urges that the Internet be "open to all persons and all lawful content" and that "a level playing field for competing technologies" is vital. The group also supports allowing states and municipalities to implement high-speed networks that would bring broadband access to anyone in those areas, including many who might otherwise not have such access. The group also said the federal government should "renew its leading role in funding academic research and development in future Internet technologies." Mark Luker, vice president of EDUCAUSE, one of the organizations in the consortium, said the initiative is "not only altruistic for all citizens but strategically important for higher education." Chronicle of Higher Education, 1 June 2005 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2005/06/2005060101t.htm VIRGINIA TECH TO STUDY WIRELESS FOR DOD The Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded a $246,000 grant to Virginia Tech to study ways to integrate wireless networks on a battlefield to ensure that they interoperate properly. The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program seeks to create a communications infrastructure based on networks--both wired and wireless--that can communicate with one another, according to Thomas Hou, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Virginia Tech and principal investigator on the project. Because wired and wireless networks have been developed separately, many have architectural differences that prevent them from interoperating. The project will also study smart antennas for wireless networks and video communication. The results of the project are expected to apply to network communication problems currently affecting emergency workers and first responders. Federal Computer Week, 31 May 2005 http://www.fcw.com/article89023-05-31-05-Web COLLEGES LEARN ABOUT IDENTITY THEFT FROM AN IDENTITY THIEF As part of its efforts to increase awareness about student loan fraud, the Department of Education is distributing a DVD to colleges and universities of an interview with a convicted identity thief. As part of his plea agreement, John E. Christensen was interviewed by authorities to create the DVD, in which he describes how, over a period of three and a half years, he used the identities of more than 50 individuals to defraud the government of more than $300,000 in federal student grants and loans. Each year, the Department of Education disburses about $65 billion in financial aid. In the interview, Christensen, who is serving his prison sentence in Arizona, explains how he fraudulently obtained personal information and used it to register for classes and apply for financial aid. Because financial aid processes take place largely online, defrauding the government is "becoming easier and easier all the time," said Christensen. "You never have to see anybody." New York Times, 29 May 2005 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/30/national/30fraud.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 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] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. To access resources including articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions, and blog content, go to http://www.educause.edu/resources ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2005, EDUCAUSE
