EDTECH
Report Calls For Teacher Training in Technology (CyberTimes)
MERGERS
SBC-Ameritech Proposed Merger Moves Closer (ChiTrib)
INTERNET/INFOTECH
No Speed Limits on the New Infobahn (WP)
Panel to Urge Big U.S. Effort In Technology (NYT)
Price Of Internet Banner Ads Slips As Web Sites Proliferate (WSJ)
Tech Firms Slow To Use Direct Web Sales (SJ Merc)
Virginia Law Would Make Spamming A Crime (SJ Merc)
Viacom Plans to Create Online Music and Children's Sites (NYT)
SATELLITE
DirecTV Says It Can Avert CBS, Fox Cutoff (WP)
EDTECH
REPORT CALLS FOR TEACHER TRAINING IN TECHNOLOGY
Issue: EdTech
A new report by the CEO Forum on Education and Technology echoes the
findings of other recent studies: teachers are not receiving adequate
training to use technology in the classroom. The CEO Forum, a DC-based group
of executives who advocate the use of technology in education, found that
insufficient tech training is not only a problem for veteran teachers.
According to the report, many teacher colleges fall short in preparing the
next generation of educators for the classrooms of the 21st century. Up to
one third of teacher education programs suffer from inadequate or out-of-date
technological resources to effectively train new teachers in using
computers in the classroom. The CEO Forum, which was set up to issue four
reports looking at different aspects of technology in schools, has received
some criticism from individuals who question the impartiality of the group's
members, most of whom come from high-tech companies that benefit from
technology spending in the schools.
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Pam Mandels]
MERGERS
SBC-AMERITECH PROPOSED MERGER MOVES CLOSER
Issue: Merger
In Ohio, opponents to the SBC-Ameritech merger have struck a deal with the
phone giants. Public interest advocates have dropped their opposition to the
deal with promises from the company to freeze phone rates charged to Ohio
consumers until 2002, pay up to $50 million if phone service quality goals
aren't met and keep phone service employment levels in the state stable for
at least two years after the merger. The Ohio public utilities commission
staff will now recommend that the deal be approved when Commissioners vote
on it. SBC also agreed to measures aimed at increasing competition in Ohio
including a vow to offer service in four Ohio markets where Ameritech
doesn't now operate, reduce the rates charged to competitors for network
components and provide the biggest discount in the nation for resale of
network service, Van reports. The merger also needs to be approved in
Illinois where the staff of the utility commission is already on the record
as opposing the deal. Additional opponents are not backing down with the
announcement from Ohio: "Our position is the same as that of the Illinois
attorney general and the state's attorney of Cook County," said Martin
Cohen, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board. "The merger as now
proposed doesn't pass the legal standards to be approved. The Illinois
statute is much tougher than the one in Ohio. "We've seen nothing from SBC
in Illinois to suggest any flexibility in their position. But if they wanted
it, we would sit down and discuss things. It never hurts to talk, and in
some cases there may be some benefit to consumers."
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 3,p.1), AUTHOR: Jon Van]
http://chicagotribune.com/textversion/article/0,1492,ART-23942,00.html
INTERNET/INFOTECH
NO SPEED LIMITS ON THE NEW INFOBAHN
Issue: Bandwidth
The Abilene Project hopes to be the successor to today's Internet by
offering an ultra-high-speed system with vastly superior video and audio
capabilities. Abilene initially will connect 37 US universities and allow
researchers and scientists seamless access to one another's wisdom through a
network built almost entirely with equipment donated by private companies
and no direct federal subsidies. Douglas Van Houweling, president of the
University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID), which is
overseeing the project, said Abilene represents a return to the pure
research roots of the Internet. The Abilene Project is an outgrowth of
Internet2, an effort of a consortium of scientists to circumvent the
congestion and speed bumps of today's Internet. More than 60
Internet2-affiliated universities and research organizations will be
connected to Abilene by the end of 1999.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E1), AUTHOR: Mark Leibovich]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/daily/feb99/internet24.htm
COMMISSION WANTS MORE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Issue: InfoTech
A presidential advisory committee plans to recommend increased federal
spending for technology research. The advisory committee, group divided
about equally between university researchers and high-tech executives,
recommends that annual federal financing for information-technology research
increase by $1.3 billion during the next five years. "It's a societal
investment. What we need to create is a Silicon Continent, not just Silicon
Valley," said Bill Joy, a founder of Sun Microsystems and co-chairman of the
advisory committee. The majority of the requested funds would go to
universities, not private industry. In an unusual recommendation from those
in the technology sector, the group has also called for social science
research on the impact of technology. They recommend the study of issues
including access to technology, upgrading of workers' skills and encouraging
increased participation in the computer sciences by women and minorities.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: Steve Lohr]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/02/biztech/articles/24tech-fundin...
PRICE OF INTERNET BANNER ADS SLIPS AS WEB SITES PROLIFERATE
Issue: Advertising
As more websites are selling advertising space, costs for web banner ads are
declining, says Acknowledge, a firm in Palo Alto that helps companies buy ads.
Chan Suh, Chief Executive of Agency.com in New York offers some further reasons
for the decline. While web publishers claim users see the ad whether they do
act on it or not, advertisers want to know how often someone clicks on their
ad. According to Suh this is happening only .5% of the time, compared to 2.5%
two years ago. Although prices are in decline, all banner prices are not equal.
Websites are charging more to place ads in sections where more "desirable
demographics" are likely to visit.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR:Suzanne Vranica ]
http://wsj.com/
TECH FIRMS SLOW TO USE DIRECT WEB SALES
Issue: Advertising
A fundamental irony -- computer companies helping customers develop
e-commerce while remaining reluctant to sell their own merchandise via
the Web -- is beginning to change. With sales of computers and electronic
equipment predicted to grow to $230 billion by 2001, computer companies are
venturing out onto the Web for direct
sales and trying to keep good relationships with their resellers at the same
time. One example is Santa Clara-based 3Com -- the company launched their
"e-business initiative" three months ago: "We definitely don't want to
disrupt the strength we have with resellers, says Eric Sternberg, 3Com's
Vice President of E-business. However, there are customers who want to buy
over the Web and we are doing a lot of work with our strategy in that
respect." To avoid overstepping
resellers, most companies are only offering a small portion of their
products for sale online, or serving as an information and referral service
to resellers. Resellers will have to provide alternative values in order to
continue to do well as computer companies begin to sell more. Net
Information Systems Inc. in Seattle, a Sun reseller, says they will survive
because of
their support services, including installation and maintenance.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Monua Janah]
http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/indepth/docs/online022499.htm
VIRGINIA LAW WOULD MAKE SPAMMING A CRIME
Issue: Regulation
Hold that send button! Virginia lawmakers have proposed a bill that would make
spamming --"unsolicited electronic mailings on the Internet" -- a crime. The VA
law would have nation-wide ramifications since America Online is based there
and half of the Internet infrastructure is routed through the state. The
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said they will challenge the bill.
Kent Willis of the ACLU says it isn't a problem that justifies constraining
free speech. Gov James Gilmore (R) has promised to sign the bill that would
make spamming a misdemeanor with a fine up to $500. "Malicious" spamming
could be prosecuted as a felony. Internet service providers could sue
senders for $10 a message or $2,500 per day whichever is greater. Internet
subscribers could also seek money for damages.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Reuters]
http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/breaking/merc/docs/023500.htm
VIACOM PLANS TO CREATE ONLINE MUSIC AND CHILDREN'S SITES
Issue: Internet Content
Viacom is expected to announce a freestanding Internet unit that combines
the appeal of both the MTV and VH1 websites. Included in the plan for an
online music destination is Viacom's acquisition of Imagine Radio, the
Internet radio-station operator. The company also has plans to start a separate
children's site -- "Project Nozzle." Viacom's existing networks - including
MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon --- will continue to operate separate sites, Viacom
executives said. Viacom says it is not interested in major Internet
acquisitions and has been skeptical of the rapid increase in value of young
Internet companies. Executives were prompted to the move by a report finding
heavy Internet users are also heavy TV viewers. While Viacom expects to sell
merchandise on the websites, and perhaps even partner with other retailers
such as Ticketmaster, they do not have plans to start a major CD retail site.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C21), AUTHOR: Geraldine Fabrikant ]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/02/biztech/articles/24viacom.html
SATELLITE
DIRECTV SAYS IT CAN AVERT CBS, FOX CUTOFF
Issue: Satellite
With a court-ordered cutoff of CBS and Fox programming to hundreds of
thousands of satellite receivers, DirectTV said yesterday it can legally
continue the service by dropping PrimeTime 24, the company presently
supplying the programming. DirectTV will collect the signals of the four
major television networks itself and make them available after the Sunday
deadline. The broadcast industry has been fighting satellite companies'
practice of offering network programs to viewers via satellite rather than
requiring most viewers use antennas to pick up local network signals. Since
the lawsuit directly named PrimeTime 24, DirectTV says it can perform a
similar function legally. For its part, PrimeTime 24 is considering a breach
of contract lawsuit against DirectTV for dropping the service.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A9), AUTHOR: Paul Farhi]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/feed/biztop919858000307.htm
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