Just click on the webcast of your choice to register:
Explore Business Intelligence Open Source Offerings
October 26, 2006--1:00pm EDT, 10:00am PDT
Join us and learn how the Business Objects XI platform embraces open source software (OSS) through its broad business intelligence (BI) offerings. Built on an open platform that can match disparate technologies environments deployed by application providers, Business Objects leads the BI industry by supporting OSS from Red Hat Linux and SuSE Linux operating systems, MySQL database and Eclipse IDE.
Register Now >Transformation as an Enterprise Service
October 24, 2006--11:30am ET, 8:30am PT
Learn how to achieve interoperability between otherwise incompatible enterprise content management systems and transform legacy business functions to agile, SOA-enabled solutions. Register for this October 24th webcast, sponsored by Xenos. Register Now >Storage Strategies for Small Businesses November 7, 2006--2 p.m. EST, 11 a.m. PST
When it comes to storage, small and medium businesses have a lot in common with large enterprises. Just like the Fortune 400, they need to ensure that data is backed up, retrievable and secure, and that data access complies with governmental regulations. Unfortunately, if you are a small business owner you also cope with some challenges the big guys don't have, budgets are small and your IT staff, if you even have one, may not have storage-specific expertise. Attend this webcast and learn storage strategies to meet your growing business demands. Register Now >
Tauzin-Dingell Set for Vote
February 27, 2002
By Roy Mark
One of the most significant pieces of legislation affecting the Internet is scheduled for a vote today in Congress when the House of Representatives takes up consideration of H.R. 1542, the Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act. The bill, widely known as Tauzin-Dingell for sponsors Billy Tauzin (R.-La.) and John Dingell (D.-Mich.), seeks to ease government regulation of the regional operating Bell companies.
Behind the confusing and often contentious debate over the legislation lurks an important decision affecting the next phase of the Internet revolution -- the deployment of broadband service. Amendments are expected to be attached to H.R. 1542, but its key provisions include:
Allowing Bell telephone companies to provide high-speed data services on a nationwide basis;
A ban on FCC or state regulation of the rates, conditions for, or entry into high-speed Internet service; and
Limits on requirements that the Bell companies and other incumbent telephone companies (local exchange carriers, or LECs) provide competitors with access to network elements used for high-speed data.
It now looks likely the bill will pass the House with the help of an 11th hour amendment, which according to one Bell critic, muddles the issue of competitive access. According to the amendment's sponsors, it "guarantees" competitive access to all fiber and copper wire on the Bell's network, though the amendment hides away wording that restricts competitive access to remote terminals.
Remote terminals are the linchpin to any rural or underserved broadband deployment, since it extends the physical limitations of digital subscriber line (DSL) technology beyond the 15,000 feet reach of central offices. Remote terminals, the little green boxes found in every neighborhood, are much more prevalent than central offices.
Sue Ashdown, executive director of the American Internet Service Provider (ISP) Association, hopes House representatives are smart enough to look at a last-minute amendment with a fair bit of skepticism.
"If it's really supposed to solve all the problems the competitors have with the bill, why is Mr. Tauzin so reluctant to bring it out into the light of day and have a hearing to examine it?" she said. "Flourishing something like that from your vest pocket the day of the vote and expecting Congress to thoroughly understand it and then vote on it, when the whole bill is so convoluted to begin with, is laughable."
If they pass the legislation because of the amendment, Ashdown added, "it will only go to show that they love a good shell game, and learned nothing from Enron."
Even if the legislation passes muster in the House, the bill has a powerful foe in the form of Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC), Senate Commerce Committee chair, who has vowed to kill the bill if it ever gets to the Senate.
Images
