IP: ACM Washington Update V 1.2

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

____________________________________
         +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


                     ACM WASHINGTON UPDATE


             U.S. Office of Public Policy of the
                  Association for Computing


           __________________________________________
                 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


                          May 9, 1997
                          Volume 1.2 


_____________________________________________________________________
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
CONTENTS
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


INTRODUCTION


USACM ACTIVITIES
        USACM Comments on Establishment of Cryptography Subcommittee
        Internet Privacy Coalition Comments on "SAFE" Legislation


POLICY BRIEFS
        Technology Policy Working Group Solicits White Papers
        W.I.P.O. Participants Discuss U.S. Digital Copyright Policy 
        Encryption Legislation
        U.S. Postal Service to Sell Postage On- Line
        Next Generation Internet Draft Concept Paper
        Clinton Issues Memorandum On Education and the Internet
        Kahn and Cerf Awarded National Medal of Technology
        Technology in K-12 Education
        FBI Requests Comments on Calea


_____________________________________________________________________
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
INTRODUCTION
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+


The Association for Computing is an international professional society
whose 75,000 members (60,000 in the U.S.) represent a critical mass of
computer scientists in education, industry, and government.  The USACM
provides a means for promoting dialogue on technology policy issues with
United States policy makers and the general public. The WASHINGTON UPDATE
will report on activities in Washington which may be of interest to those
in the computing and information policy communities and will highlight
USACM's involvement in many of these issues.


To subscribe to the ACM WASHINGTON UPDATE send an e-mail to
listserv () acm org with "subscribe WASHINGTON-UPDATE name" (no quotes) in
the body of the message.


_____________________________________________________________________
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
USACM ACTIVITIES
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
COMMENTS ON ESTABLISHMENT OF CRYPTOGRAPHY SUBCOMMITTEE 


USACM submitted comments on May 9 to the U.S. Department of Commerce with
regard to the establishment of the President's Export Council Subcommittee
on Encryption. In an April 24 Federal Register notice the Secretary of
Commerce announced the establishment of the new Subcommittee which will
advise the Secretary of Commerce on "matters pertinent to the
implementation of an encryption policy that will support the growth of
commerce while protecting the public safety and national security."  The
USACM letter said that it "is imperative that Subcommittee membership
reflect the wide range of constituents that will be effected by new
cryptography policy, particularly the users and developers of new
cryptographic techniques."  The letter asked that Barbara Simons, the
USACM Chairperson, or another USACM member be considered for membership on
the Subcommittee.


INTERNET PRIVACY COALITION COMMENTS ON "S.A.F.E." LEGISLATION


USACM joined a broad-based coalition of 27 organizations in expressing
support for the Security and Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act
sponsored by Rep. Goodlatte (R- VA ).  The letter supported the
legislation but asked that the Committee reconsider the legislation's
provision which would criminalize encryption used "in furtherance of the
commission of a criminal offense." The letter was coordinated by the
Internet Privacy Coalition of which USACM is a member.  It stated, that
"while well-intended, the provision could have a series of unintended
consequences that would easily undermine the other desirable features of
the bill."  http://www.privacy.org/ipc/safe_letter.html


_____________________________________________________________________
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
POLICY BRIEFS
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
TECHNOLOGY POLICY WORKING GROUP SOLICITS WHITE PAPERS


The Technology Policy Working Group (TPWG) has issued a request for white
papers on technology policy issues which are specific to the passage of
the Telecommunications Act of 1996. White papers are "specifically
solicited from industry, academia, government, standards organizations,
and from foundations focused on the telecommunication technology
challenges confronting the Nation and what may be done about them." 
Papers must be received by June 1, 1997 for consideration and may be made
by electronic mail or on paper <mpapillo () snap org>. 


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
W.I.P.O. PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS U.S. DIGITAL COPYRIGHT POLICY


On Friday May 2, a meeting on "Intellectual Property for the Digital Age: 
Participants' Perspectives on the W.I.P.O. Diplomatic Conference" was held
at American University.  It was co-sponsored by the Washington College of
Law at American University and the Computer & Communications Industry
Association.  The four panels presented the views of U.S. officials,
Internet/telecommunications companies, the content community, and
educators, scientists, and electronic manufacturers on the W.I.P.O. 
treaties. There was a significant discussion on how the treaties should be
interpreted and how their accompanying legislation should change current
U.S. copyright law.  Michael Keplinger, the Senior Counselor for the U.S. 
Patent and Trademark Office, said that the accompanying legislation will
address the anti- circumvention and copyright management issues which the
treaty left to the individual countries.  He said it would be a "minimum
implementing package", but would not discuss the specific language.  The
legislation will be sent to the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations
Committees. 


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
ENCRYPTION LEGISLATION


On April 30, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual
Property approved the Security and Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act,
legislation designed to liberalize export controls and affirm the right of
Americans to use encryption.  The Subcommittee will address the concerns
which have arisen over the provision which would criminalize encryption
used "in furtherance of the commission of a criminal offense" before the
full Committee finally acts on the bill (expected within the next two
weeks).  Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE)  who opposes the Senate Pro-CODE bill
introduced by Senator Burns (R-MO), has announced his intention to
introduce his own legislation in the next few days.  The Kerrey bill is
expected to resemble Administration drafted legislation which has been
circulated on the Hill but did not attract any sponsor. 


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE  TO SELL POSTAGE ON-LINE 


By the end of this year, the U.S. Postal Service is expected to approve a
plan to sell postage on the web.  Pitney Bowes, which has dominated the
print demand for postage and a new company, E-Stamp both have plans to
sell postage on the Internet.  The postage can be downloaded to a PC and
printed out on envelopes via laser printer.  In E-Stamp's process, the
stamp (which looks ike a bar code and includes information on the date and
time the letter was stamped, as well as the zip code) would be printed out
on a two-window envelope, allowing users to print the stamp on the letter
itself.  The stamp would show through one window, and the address through
the other.  "This means you don't have to run your envelope through the
printer," said an E-Stamp spokesperson.


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
NEXT GENERATION INTERNET DRAFT CONCEPT PAPER 


The Clinton Administration's Next Generation Internet (NGI) involves
research and development programs across federal agencies, with $100
million requested for FY '98.  A draft concept paper outlining the
concepts and goals of the NGI initiative has been posted for public
comment. The draft was prepared by the Large Scale Networking Working
Group of the Computing, Information, and Communications R&D Subcommittee. 
The draft concept paper notes that "the Internet technology, designed for
a network of thousands, is laboring to serve a network of millions, but
new technology, protocols, and standards can be developed to lead to an
NGI at rates thousands of times faster than today.  Several years of
generic, pre-competitive research and testing will be required."  The
federal government has proposed to participate in this effort because
"critical federal missions require a NGI, and because much of the needed
research is too long-term or high-risk for the private sector to fund." 
The draft concept paper is available at: 
http://www.hpcc.gov/ngi-concept-08Apr97/ Comments may be sent by May 15 to
ngi () hpcc gov or faxed to 703/306-4727. 


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
CLINTON ISSUES MEMORANDUM ON EDUCATION AND THE INTERNET


On April 18, 1997, President Clinton issued a memorandum for the heads of
executive branch agencies on Expanding Access to Internet-based
Educational Resources for Children, Teachers, and Parents.  He stated that
his "number one priority for the next 4 years is to make sure that all
Americans have the best education in the world."  As part of that goal,
President Clinton issued a call to all federal agencies to work together
towards "connecting every classroom and library to the Internet by the
year 2000; making sure that every child has access to modern, multimedia
computers; giving teachers the training they need to be as comfortable
with the computer as they are with the chalkboard; and increasing the
availability of high-quality educational content." He requested that
federal agencies use whatever resources they could make available towards
this end. Clinton is also directing the Department of Education to develop
a "Parents Guide to the Internet," that will both instruct parents on how
to use the Internet to enrich their child's education and how to protect
their children from potential dangers on the Internet


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
KAHN AND CERF AWARDED NATIONAL MEDAL OF TECHNOLOGY


President Clinton has selected Association for Computing Fellow Vint Cerf
and Bob Kahn to be awarded the National Medal of Technology. 
http://www.ta.doc.gov/Press.html


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
TECHNOLOGY IN K-12 EDUCATION


The House Science Committee Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on
May 6 to explore the appropriate role of technology in K-12 education. 
The hearing addressed "the role of state, local and Federal government
programs; the costs associated with the use of technology; barriers to the
replication of successful programs; and how the private sector can be
harnessed to assist both urban, and rural schools bringing technology into
the classroom."  Also, the Federal Communications Commission has
unanimously approved discount education rates ("E-Rates") for schools and
libraries that want to get connected to the Information Superhighway. 


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
FBI REQUESTS COMMENTS ON CALEA


The FBI is requesting comments on how to implement a Section 104(d) of the
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). CALEA, or
Digital Telephony, requires that telephone companies ensure that law
enforcement agencies can monitor phone conversations. The published
capacity requirements indicates that the FBI wants the ability to monitor
more than 57,000 telephone lines simultaneously.  Comments should address
one or more of the following points "(1) evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of methodology and assumptions used; (3) enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) minimize
the burden of collection of information on those who are to respond,
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of
information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses)."  Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until June 5,
1997. Comments may be submitted to OMB via facsimile to 202-395-7285 or to
the Department of Justice via facsimile to 202-514-1534. 


________________________________________________________________________
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= 
Washington Update is a biweekly publication of the U.S. Public Policy
Office of the Association for Computing HTTP://www.acm.org/USACM 666
Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20003. 202/298-0842
(tel), 202/547-5482 (fax).
________________________________________________________________________