************************************************************** K12NewsLetters - From Educational CyberPlayGround http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/ ************************************************************** From: EDUCAUSE@xxxxxxxxxxxx To: <EDUPAGE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 16:21:47 -0700 Subject: Edupage, March 14, 2003 ***************************************************** Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. ***************************************************** 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 ***************************************************** 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 ***************************************************** 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 LISTSERV@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 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 EDUPAGE-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 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 "EQ" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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