BUSY HIGH-TECH SESSION FOR CONGRESS

[BBr...@aol.com]

BUSY HIGH-TECH SESSION FOR CONGRESS
Issue: Legislation
As the 106th Congress convenes, high-tech interests are gearing up for a
full legislative agenda. Issue #1 is export controls on encryption software.
Expect new legislation to be introduced early in the session; sponsors will
likely include Representatives Bob W.Goodlatte (R-VA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
and Senators Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), John Ashcroft (R-MO), and Conrad
Burns(R-MT). Other issues include online privacy, regulation of junk e-mail,
increasing network bandwidth and providing more incentives for companies and
government to get their computers ready for the Year 2000. New bills to
require content filters on school computers and ban online gambling are also
likely. In the oversight arena, the Federal Communications Commission may
come under intense scrutiny by Republican leaders; the review could also
lead to a reopening of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which some fear
could result in increased regulation of the Internet.
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing <je...@nytimes.com>]
<http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/01/cyber/articles/06congress.html>

U.S. FIRM MAY SIDESTEP RULES ON ENCRYPTION
Issue: Security
RSA Data Security Inc. plans to market encryption software through an
Australian subsidiary in what appears to be a legal ploy to sidestep U.S.
export regulations. The company developed one of the best-known encryption
techniques. Today RSA is expected to announce plans to join a new RSA
company in Australia and market a compatible technology developed in
Australia. A spokeswoman for the Commerce Department said the agency worked
with RSA to make sure the Australian venture didn't violate U.S. law. The
Australian government also could choose to regulate the RSA operation.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B4), AUTHOR: Don Clark]
<http://www.wsj.com/>

=======