+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ACM WASHINGTON UPDATE U.S. Office of Public Policy of the Association for Computing Machinery +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ September 15, 1999 Volume 3.2 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= CONTENTS =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ INTRODUCTION ACM/USACM ACTIVITIES: ACM Writes To Congress About Science Funding POLICY BRIEFS: Topical Legislation GAO Finds Federal IT Funds Do Not Overlap ICANN Meets; Issues New Cybersquatting Policy Department of Justice Seeks More Authority To Search Government OKs Internet For Y2K President's Council Advocates Reducing Barriers to Encryption Exportation +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= INTRODUCTION =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The Association for Computing Machinery is an international professional society whose 80,000 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 reports 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" (no quotes) in the body of the message. Back issues are available at: http://www.acm.org/usacm For information about joining the Association for Computing Machinery, see: http://www.acm.org/membership/join.html =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ACM/USACM ACTIVITIES =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ACM WRITES TO CONGRESS ABOUT SCIENCE FUNDING The ACM issued a letter about the necessity of computer science funding to Congress, the President, and the Vice President September 1, 1999. The letter urges "full support for a strategic program of broad-based, long-term information technology research" and the full funding of the National Science Foundation. The letter was sent with letters from other scientific organizations. ACM's letters arrive at an important time, as Congress is legislating appropriations for the next year. See http://www.acm.org/usacm/funding/acm_nsf_funding_1999.html =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ TOPICAL LEGISLATION Security And Freedom through Encryption (SAFE) Act [H.R.850] to amend Title 18, United States Code, to affirm the rights of United States persons to use and sell encryption and to relax export controls on encryption. Introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte in February 25, 1999. Placed on the Union Calendar No. 149 July 23, 1999. See: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.00850: Promote Reliable On-Line Transactions to Encourage Commerce and Trade (PROTECT) Act of 1999 [S.798] to require the installation and use by schools and libraries of a technology for filtering or blocking material on the Internet on computers with Internet access to be eligible to receive or retain universal service assistance. Introduced by Senator John McCain April 14, 1999. Committee on Commerce reported PROTECT to Senate without amendment with written report No. 106-142, August 5, 1999. Additional views filed. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar No. 263 under General Orders. See: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:s.00798: =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ GAO FINDS FEDERAL IT FUNDS DO NOT OVERLAP Government Accounting Office (GAO) has issued a report that examined federal government agencies in response to Congressional queries about the need for funding several different IT programs, addressing the accessibility and use of information technology by American citizens. GAO found no evidence of abuse, waste or fraud. No agencies deliver duplicative services to their constituency. The report is a public relations boost to programs such as E-Rate and Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) that have been scrutinized by Congress. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ICANN MEETS: ISSUES NEW CYBERSQUATTING POLICY ICANN held its third quarterly meeting in Santiago, Chile August 24-26. Highlights of results of that meeting include: ICANN refused a petition to create a group representing individuals policy interests for the second time. It agreed to reconsider the issue in the board's next meeting in November. ICANN did agree to "provisionally" recognize the Non-commercial Domain Name Holders constituency of the Domain Name Supporting Organization until the board's meeting this November. ICANN promulgated a policy to deal with disputed domain names. Broadly speaking, it prohibits "bad faith" or "abusive" attempts to lay claim to Internet addresses. All disputes involving trademarks will be referred to mandatory arbitration. Approved policies will be written into all domain name registration contracts. ICANN passed a number of other resolutions, including the following: Implementation of At Large Membership Recognition of the Non-Commercial Domain Name Holders Constituency of the Domain Name Supporting Organization Formation of the Address Supporting Organization Ratification of the Protocol Supporting Organization Ad hoc group to study the future of numbering in light of the convergence of information technology services and networks Independent Review The ACM Internet Governance Committee is an active contributor to ICANN policy, particularly regarding non-commercial domain names. See: http://www.icann.org/santiago/santiago-details.htm =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= GOVERNMENT OKS INTERNET FOR Y2K The President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion has issued a report expressing confidence that the Internet, as a whole, will not be disastrously impaired by Y2K. "The good news is that the basic foundation of the Internet is expected to be ready for the year 2000," said John Koskinen, chairman of the group. See: http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,40651,00.html =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SEEKS MORE AUTHORITY TO SEARCH On August 20, the DOJ proposed the Cyberspace Electronic Security Act (CESA) to the Office of Management and Budget to extend DOJ's search authority to open encrypted files, including entering into private premises to alter computer equipment to collect e-mail messages and encryption keys. See: http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,40734,00.html In a related story, the FCC has decided to adopt most of the FBI's proposed technical standards, that would re-design the nation's telecommunications networks to facilitate electronic surveillance. The ruling could result in a significant increase in government interception of digital communications. The ruling involves the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, which requires the telecommunications industry to design its systems in compliance with FBI technical specifications. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ADVOCATES REDUCING BARRIERS TO ENCRYPTION EXPORTATION A White House advisory subcommittee announced on August 25 that it has recommended that the Clinton Administration substantially revise its restrictive stance on the export of encryption products. The President's Export Council Subcommittee on Encryption (PECSENC) was formed earlier this year to provide guidance in the U.S. Government's development of encryption policy, which has been the subject of heated debate. ACM President Barbara Simons is a member of PECSENC. See: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/ctf944.htm =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= 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 302B, Washington, DC 20003. 202/544-4859 (tel), 202/547-5482 (fax).