Firms to Create Lab for Linux Testing

A group of industry giants, led by IBM, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and NEC, has announced an initiative to create a laboratory in which programmers can test Linux applications on high-end computer systems. The lab is intended to help Linux gain a higher profile among large companies, as Linux software is most often tested on desktop computers rather than on the sophisticated systems common in the corporate world. Along with the four leading sponsors, Dell, Silicon Graphics, and Linux providers Red Hat, Turbolinux, Linuxcare, and VA Linux Systems have also pledged support for the lab, which will open by the end of the year. The founding companies said a nonprofit organization will choose which projects will be tested in the lab.

Associated Press*, 2000 Aug 29

Cyberspace U.

Harcourt Higher Education has joined the exclusive ranks of for-profit Internet-based providers of higher education, having received approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education to award two-year associates degrees and four-year bachelor's degrees. The University of Phoenix, Nova Southeastern University in Florida, and Jones International University in Colorado are the only other for-profit entities in the Internet-based education space. The 1,000 students that are expected to enroll in the first year will pay apply for admission, attend classes, go to the library, take tests, participate in classroom discussions, and eventually graduate online. Each three-credit-hour course will cost $900, and revenues are projected to reach $18 million in the first year. There are expectations of breaking even in 2003, and of having an enrollment of 20,000 students by 2005, when tuition revenue should reach $45 million.

Boston Globe*, 2000 Aug 29

Code Name: Mainstream

The President's Information Technology Advisory Committee, a group of university researchers and corporate executives, will issue a report advising President Clinton to support open-source software as a way to meet the increasing demand for better software. The support of the federal government would be a significant victory for proponents of open-source, who recently have seen their ideology move from the fringe to the mainstream of the computer-programming world. Open-source programs such as Linux and Apache serve as the basis for numerous operating systems and Web sites, and major corporations such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Microsoft have announced open-source initiatives. However, many corporations remain wary about open-source, which they see as infringing upon traditional intellectual-property rights. Open-source proponents argue that these corporations are fixated on an outdated notion of software as a finished "product", and say the advantage of open-source is not that it allows for more innovation but that it streamlines the debugging and general maintenance that consume so much development time.

New York Times*, 2000 Aug 28

High-Speed Net Links Benefit Urban Rich

Broadband Internet links are reaching affluent, urban areas more quickly than poor and rural regions, according to a Federal Communications Commission study released this week. The report indicates that 90 percent of the wealthiest zip codes have high-speed links, compared with 42 percent of poor neighborhoods and 19 percent of rural areas. The findings fuel the ongoing controversy over the digital divide and deregulation of the telecom industry. Over the last year, legislators have been debating whether to change the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which prevents Baby Bells from entering the long-distance market before they open up local markets. Advocates argue deregulation would allow these companies to bring high-speed DSL access to rural areas sooner. However, opponents contend deregulation would allow Baby Bells to move into the long-distance market without opening local networks to competitors. In addition to revealing the inequities in high-speed access, the report shows a 375 percent increase in the number of households with broadband service, bringing the number to 1.8 million households.

Financial Times*, 2000 Aug 25

Giving the Disabled Increased E-Access

The federal government has ordered its member agencies to improve their Web sites' accessibility for people with disabilities. Among the innovations being advocated are alt text, which allows a blind computer user's screen-reading device to interpret graphics and read them, and close-captioning to accompany streaming video and voice-operated commands. The scope of the project is enormous, with the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance board estimating costs between $85 million and $691 million. That represents a significant new market for Internet solutions providers such as Optavia, which says it will concentrate nearly one-quarter of its efforts this year on disability-related business. Although the government has not extended this new policy to commercial Web sites, court precedent suggests the Americans with Disabilities Act does apply to the Internet.

Washington Post*, 2000 Aug 24

In U.S., Digital Haves Outnumber Have-Nots

The Internet continues to integrate itself into the day-to-day routines of Americans, according to the results of a random telephone survey of 65,000 Internet users by Nielsen NetRatings. U.S. home Internet penetration reached 52 percent in July--the first time more than half of all Americans had home Web access. Home access rates jumped 35 percent from July 1999 to July of this year, from 106.3 million home users to 144 million users. Likewise, the time Internet users spend online is going up. The average Internet user spent 9 hours 41 minutes online this July compared with 7 hours and 39 minutes last July, an increase of 26 percent. Internet users are also looking at fewer Web sites, meaning that larger sites are successfully leveraging their brand to hold users' attention. Cheaper Web access is enabling Americans to go online in ever-increasing numbers, says NetRatings' Sean Kaldor.

Washington Post*, 2000 Aug 24

Museums, Universities, and Libraries Form Knowledge Portal

Fathom, a joint venture among six cultural and educational institutions, aims to provide the public with an online resource for authenticated knowledge on academic, cultural, and professional topics. Fathom's participants include Columbia University, The New York Public Library, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Cambridge University Press, and The British Library. The site will contain a directory of online courses offered by the institutions. Users will access the courses through the site and pay fees determined by individual institutions. Other educational resources on Fathom.com will include textbooks, specialized periodicals, articles, and CD-ROMs. The site also will host forums led by professors, curators, and other experts. The site's content will be reviewed for academic and editorial integrity by the Fathom Academic Council, which consists of senior faculty and curators from member institutions.

Intelligent Enterprise*, 2000 Aug 18

IT Makes Mini-Impression at GOP Convention

The Internet Education Foundation yesterday took advantage of the GOP presidential convention to host a tech fair aimed at educating lawmakers about technology issues. The fair featured guests of honor Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), GOP co-chairmen of the congressional Internet Caucus. Goodlatte warned that micro-managing the Internet industry would only produce "laws that are out of date before they are even enacted." Attorney Tim Lordan of the Internet Education Foundation was ecstatic that the fair managed to attract a number of state legislators. Several observers said the fair was underwhelming compared with the type of political events put on by other industries, such as automobile manufacturers. Microsoft, America Online, and the Center for Democracy and Technology were among the groups presenting at the fair.

Newsbytes*, 2000 Aug 04

FCC Cites a Higher-Speed Digital Divide

Although a larger number of Americans have high-speed Internet access, such service is not as prevalent in rural, inner-city, and tribal locations, according to a report released yesterday by the FCC. The Congress-mandated report revealed that in Zip codes representing 91 percent of the U.S. population, there is some level of high-speed Internet access. However, such services are overwhelmingly offered in wealthy urban and suburban locations, which some experts believe highlights the "digital divide" that is developing in terms of race and wealth. FCC Chairman William E. Kennard says the market must be closely monitored to ensure equal access. The report found that areas with less access to high-speed services are typically those with large numbers of minorities and low-income residents. Still, just 1 percent of the American public had access to high-speed Internet services at the end of 1999, up from 0.3 percent in 1998. Kennard says the government must encourage equal access to high-speed services.

Washington Post*, 2000 Aug 04

PC's for Kids Inc V Microsoft

Pc's for Kids Incorporated is an Australian project to assist "Less Fortunate Children" obtain their 1st home computer. Their aim is to help bridge the digital divide between the "Haves and the Have Nots". During last year Pc's for Kids Inc delivered over 600 computers; this was only made possible with assistance and the generosity from the community.

This is the press release we obtained from PC's for Kids. We display it here in full with their permission.

MICROSOFT BRINGS CHARITY TO ITS KNEES

Direct actions by Microsoft in Australia have forced Australia’s largest “Computer Refurbishing Charity” down on its knees.

Pc’s for Kids Inc, a Geelong based non-profit organisation helping less fortunate kids obtain their first home computer, has been installing older versions of Microsoft’s operating system to aid disadvantaged children.

Founder of Pc’s for Kids Colin Bayes visited Microsoft in Sydney after being issued with a letter stating this practice of hard loading is a breach of Microsoft’s copyright. Mr Bayes held meetings to try to obtain assistance from Microsoft, which unfortunately fell on deaf ears.

In a letter issued to the charity by Microsoft, Microsoft has agreed that no further action would be taken for past loading Microsoft software. But this impasse has now meant the distribution of over 400 computers destined for children in Australia and East Timor has been suspended.

Mr Bayes is now appealing to the public to rally behind the program. “We need assistance.” He said. “This action by Microsoft and the follow-up communication has placed our whole project in jeopardy. If we are unable to obtain the operating software it will mean a lot of kids will miss out. We will be forced to close our doors.”

Over the past two years Pc’s for Kids Inc has distributed over 1,000 computers in Australia and has also assisted in the delivery of computers to East Timor and seven other developing countries under the guidance of Rotary’s Donations In Kind program.

Pc’s for Kids Inc has collected over 700 tons in redundant IT equipment and performs a full recycling program with assistance from the Federal Govt’s “Work for the Dole” scheme. Mr Bayes said he feared donors could now revert to sending the old technology back to landfill. Mr Bayes said his loyal team of caring volunteers have more heart than this big multi-national company who have just wiped the smile from many children’s faces. “We will be sending Mr. Gates some of the letters of disapproval received from children when they hear what has happened,” Mr Bayes said.

He said the Microsoft Legal Attorney stated in the letter that the charity will have to obtain its own operating system and wished Pc’s for Kids the best of luck. Mr Bayes stated:” If a computer has been donated to the charity in good faith with its donated operating system, and we reconfigure it to ensure a donors files are removed and reload it back with its operating system, surely Microsoft could consider the needs of our less fortunate.”

Press Release Issued By: Colin Bayes President / Founder (0402) 149719 Pc’s for Kids Inc Ph: (03) 52444146 Fax: (03) 52436026 colin@pcsforkids.org Enc: Friday 3 Aug 2001

To see the Microsoft letter click here. This letter is also provided to us by PC's for Kids.

PCs for Kids Inc., 2001 Aug 03