S-T

"This ISP has been rated ‘G’ by the state of Utah"

A bill introduced into the Utah House of Representatives would create a “Community Conscious Internet Provider” designation for ISPs agreeing to filter porn from their networks and take other steps to ensure that young eyes don’t run into objectionable content online.

Details Here: arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080227
-this-isp-has-been-rated-g-by-the-state-of-utah.html

first published week of:   03/03/2008

FCC to look into firms’ use of customer data

Staff at the Federal Communications Commission are expected to recommend that it review rules on how phone and cable companies can use customer information as they try to take business from each other, an FCC official said Friday.

The FCC enforcement bureau will recommend that the commission reject a complaint by cable operators charging that Verizon Communications violated the agency’s customer privacy rules by using customer information to prevent them from switching their phone service to cable, an agency official said on condition of anonymity.

Beyond that, the enforcement bureau is expected to recommend that the FCC address more broadly the issue of “customer retention activities” by both phone companies and cable operators to make sure the rules apply equally to both, the official said.

Details Here: news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6237276.html?tag=nl.e550

first published week of:   04/21/2008

Schwarzenegger backs digital mapping technology to improve public safety

Declaring that California state government is moving “full steam ahead” in improving its technology infrastructure, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday called for the creation of a task force to help agencies and departments employ the use of Geographic Information Systems to improve public safety.

The GIS technology - “kind of like Google Earth, but better,” Schwarzenegger told a large tech conference - will allow firefighters to view clearer, aerial images of firestorms, among other uses.

California Chief Information Officer Teri Takai will oversee the effort.

“Geographic Information Systems are extremely important in that they provide a statewide look at the physicals, if you will, in the state,” Takai said in an interview after the announcement.

The digital mapping technology, she said, can help produce a single database created by cities, counties and the state to aid in emergency planning. The GIS technology also can map state parks, the locations of broadband capability, and even match foster homes with foster families, she added.

Details Here: www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9271486?nclick_check=1

first published week of:   05/19/2008

Scottsdale Loses Its Municipal Wi-Fi Network

The provision of citywide wireless Internet service in Scottsdale, Arizona, has come to an abrupt end a mere two years after launch.

Wildfire Broadband, the primary Internet service provider (ISP), has closed its doors, leaving business and individual users in a bind. The service, which was not subsidized by the City of Scottsdale, failed to withstand competition from private companies.

The city’s agreement with Wildfire was non-exclusive and included a small fee for use of Scottsdale's streetlights and traffic signals, allowing users to connect to the Internet from any location in the city. The paid subscription service for downtown users was intended to coincide with ongoing city expansion and improvement projects, but it faced strong competition from the free service available in many coffee shops and hotels.

Details Here: www.govtech.com/gt/articles/370531?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=link

first published week of:   06/16/2008

Sherif expands sex offender website

The Frederick County [MD] Sheriff’s Office has updated its website to include the locations of all sex offenders, not just child sex offenders, as was previously the case. The site includes information on child sex offenders, sexually violent predators, sexually violent offenders and offenders in general.

The changes were made through Enterprise GIS, the company behind the mapping technology used by the sheriff’s office, Cpl. Jennifer Bailey said. The new information becomes available about 18 months after the launch of the GIS site. GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems.

The user friendly website indicates recent crimes by type and location. Information is updated on a regular basis. The crime report map is ideal for people new to the area or considering a move to Frederick County.

The site can be reached through the sheriff's office website and the Enterprise GIS website, both accessible by first going to the county website at www.co.frederick.md.us.

Details Here: www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/reporters_notebooks_display.htm?StoryID=69419

first published week of:   01/07/2008

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