EDUPAGE> Edupage, March 14, 2003

  • From: Gleason Sackmann <gleason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: K12Newsletters <k12newsletters@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 07:39:59 -0600

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From: EDUCAUSE@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To:  <EDUPAGE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 16:21:47 -0700
Subject: Edupage, March 14, 2003
 
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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2003
 Facial-Recognition Software Tests Released
 Marketers and Consumers Prepare for National No-Call List
 New Target for Copyright Enforcement: Organized Crime
AND
 Technology Grants for Minority Institutions Approved
 FCC Begins Spectrum Debate
 Graduate Student Accused of Terrorist Ties


FACIAL-RECOGNITION SOFTWARE TESTS RELEASED
According to test data released by the federal government,
facial-recognition systems have become significantly more accurate and
reliable since 2000. The tests, which were overseen by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology and covered products from 10
companies, also showed, however, that in certain conditions the
accuracy of the systems dropped to 50 percent. In "reasonable,
controlled indoor lighting," the best of the systems was able to
correctly match facial images with those in a database 90 percent of
the time. The results are expected to support efforts to add
facial-recognition systems, as well as other biometric identification
technologies, in situations where security is vital, such as at
airports.
New York Times, 14 March 2003 (registration req'd)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/14/technology/14FACE.html

MARKETERS AND CONSUMERS PREPARE FOR NATIONAL NO-CALL LIST
President Bush this week signed a bill that will establish a national
do-not-call list, similar to lists already enacted in 32 states. The
lists are designed to limit unwanted calls from telephone solicitors.
Under the federal statute, companies that do not comply with the list
can be fined up to $11,000 per call they make to someone who is on the
list. Certain calls are excepted from the regulation, including those
concerning surveys, charities, and calls on behalf of politicians. The
Federal Trade Commission will collect fees to pay for creating and
maintaining the list. VeriSign and a company called Call Compliance
have developed a call-blocking application called TeleBlock, which was
recently sold to PaeTec. Gryphon Networks also markets a product for
the burgeoning call-blocking industry. Some have speculated that a
similar approach could be an effective way to tackle the growing
problem of unwanted e-mail.
Internet News, 13 March 2003
http://boston.internet.com/news/article.php/2109271

NEW TARGET FOR COPYRIGHT ENFORCEMENT: ORGANIZED CRIME
Representatives from the Motion Picture Association of America and
Microsoft testified before Congress that organized gangs operating in
countries like Russia and Malaysia are stealing intellectual property
and profiting from making counterfeit software and DVDs. In addition to
counterfeit labels and discs covered under current federal
anticounterfeiting laws, Microsoft supports a change to the law to
cover fake holograms and other packaging material. Recent versions of
Microsoft Office have an edge-to-edge hologram etched into an entire
side of a CD-ROM. Counterfeiters can't replicate the technology, so
they deceive consumers with high-quality holographic stickers instead.
The importance of prosecuting such criminal activity was argued by a
Justice Department official who sees a link between copyright piracy
and terrorism.
CNET, 13 March 2003
http://news.com.com/2100-1028-992468.html

AND
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TECHNOLOGY GRANTS FOR MINORITY INSTITUTIONS APPROVED
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
approved a bill to create a $250 million grant program to help
minority-serving institutions develop digital and wireless
technologies. The full Senate is expected to consider the bill. If the
bill passes, Congress will be challenged to figure out how to fund the
program. The bill, S.196, was sponsored by Sen. George Allen (R-Va.).
The National Science Foundation would be authorized to oversee the
grants for five years. Recipients must match a minimum of a quarter of
the grant money with their own funds, a requirement that would be
waived for institutions with endowments of less than $50 million.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 14 March 2003
http://chronicle.com/free/2003/03/2003031401t.htm

FCC BEGINS SPECTRUM DEBATE
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun debating the
future of a band of radio spectrum given to schools and churches for
educational purposes. Some of the spectrum has been sold to commercial
interests, and critics, including FCC Commissioner Michael Copps have
voiced concerns that this runs counter to the intended use. "Whether
those profiting are educational institutions or private
telecommunications carriers, I do not see how this serves the public
interest," he said. FCC Chairman Michael Powell said he sees this band
of spectrum as "marked by unrealized potential." The FCC will accept
public comments for 135 days on whether to allow current licensees to
use the spectrum for mobile services, to lease the spectrum, or to sell
their licenses.
Wired News, 13 March 2003
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,58038,00.html

GRADUATE STUDENT ACCUSED OF TERRORIST TIES
Federal prosecutors have accused a graduate student of the University
of Idaho of having ties to terrorists and of raising money to support
them. Sami Omar Al-Hussayen is a graduate student in a computer science
program and is accused of setting up Web sites to raise money,
allegedly to support terrorist groups. Prosecutors also assert that he
made false statements on his student visa application and that he had
access to sensitive information over the university's network.
Al-Hussayen's attorney argued to have his client released so that he
could return to the university and pursue his studies. The case is
scheduled to go to trial on April 15.
Associated Press, 13 March 2003 (registration req'd)
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/804504p-5728208c.html

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