FC: Modem tax still possible? and more anti-terrorism legislation

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,36427,00.html

   Dialup Fees: Banned or Bandaid?
   by Declan McCullagh (declan () wired com)

   3:00 a.m. May. 20, 2000 PDT
   When the U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously this week for
   an Internet bill, proponents claimed Americans would be free from
   paying per-minute taxes on dialup connections.

   The plan would "prevent a stopwatch from being placed on the
   Internet," proclaimed sponsor Rep. Fred Upton (R-Michigan).

   But it's not clear that the bill accomplishes what Congress clearly
   intended it to do: Ban the Federal Communications Commission from
   levying minute-by-minute charges.

   Even though it's called the "Internet Access Charge Prohibition Act,"
   the term "access charge" appears nowhere in the relevant section, and
   experts say the wording doesn't go very far in limiting the FCC's
   ability to act.

   FCC spokesman Michael Balmoris, in the agency's common carrier bureau,
   agreed. Although he said that the FCC was not considering such a move,
   he acknowledged that the bill did not bar the agency from levying
   per-minute fees should it choose to in the future.

   [...]



http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,36452,00.html

   Getting a Drop on the Cybergoons
   by Declan McCullagh (declan () wired com)

   3:00 a.m. May. 20, 2000 PDT
   WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military will receive $45 million to develop
   face-recognition technology that will be used to fight terrorism,
   according to a bill approved by the House this week.

   The House overwhelmingly approved, 353-63, a massive 658 KB defense
   appropriations bill that includes money earmarked for the project.

   "The committee recommends $45.3 million ... an increase of $4 million
   for continued development of facial recognition technology," the House
   Armed Services committee report stated.

   Another $41.3 million is set to go to a related project called
   Combating Terrorism Technology Support, which is "an interagency
   program for development and demonstration of surveillance, physical
   security, and infrastructure protection technology."

   The panel also approved the Defense Department's $19.9 billion request
   for its information technology program, which includes additional
   spending on "infowar" activities.

   "Additional work is required, particularly in the areas of
   operations-other-than-war or asymmetrical conflict," the committee
   said.

   TECH CRIME BILL: The Justice Department will receive $200 million to
   create an office of technology programs, according to a bill
   introduced this week.

   Among the research and development areas are so-called smart guns, DNA
   identification techniques, and "tools and techniques that facilitate
   investigations of computer crime."

   [...]

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