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AT&T CEO Says Wiretap Cooperation "Classified"
The chairman and chief executive of AT&T declined to answer US Senate questions about whether the company has turned over customer data to the US government, saying the subject was "classified." AT&T's Ed Whitacre told senators during a contentious hearing that the company would turn over customer data to authorities "if it's legal and we're required to do so." He refused to discuss specifics of whether the carrier had actually received a court order or subpoena to do so. When asked who had told him the information was classified, Whitacre said that it was AT&T attorneys. The testimony came just one day former AT&T employees revealed the existence of a second US government wiretap room located on AT&T premises in St. Louis, which has been there since 2002. Yesterday, AT&T also revealed that it was changing its privacy policy regarding the records of its Internet and TV customers. The company described customer data as "business records" that it would turn over to the government if asked for it or use the data for other purposes, including its own marketing.
from Telecom Daily
nilremerlin
Ericsson SBI-Net vision stresses analytics
06/23/06
By Alice Lipowicz
Staff Writer
Wireless equipment provider Ericsson Inc.’s proposal for the massive Secure Border Initiative Network includes neither unmanned aerial vehicles nor facial recognition software, a senior Ericsson official told Washington Technology.
“UAVs are not 24/7/365. They are a gap filler,” said Douglas Smith, executive vice president for government solutions.
Ericsson is promoting its experience operating a wireless sensor and camera surveillance system along the 200 kilometer border of Norway and Russia since 2003.
For SBI-Net, the Ericsson team intends to build a wireless broadband network along the U.S. borders. The network will be able to carry live video feeds, and will be used to talk and share data, Smith said. Ericsson will leverage its ability to quickly deploy the towers, cables and other infrastructure needed to create commercial cellular phone networks in the project.
Most details are under wraps, but Ericsson said its proposal includes video analytics, which use algorithms to help identify unusual events occurring in real time, and integrates the surveillance system with border control command and control centers and operational units.
The Homeland Security Department has received proposals from five federal contracting teams vying for the anticipated $2 billion contract to construct a comprehensive camera and sensor surveillance and communication system along the U.S. borders.
Ericsson, of Plano, Texas, has teamed with Computer Sciences Corp. of El Segundo, Calif. and other to compete against four, formidable teams led by Boeing Co., Lockheed-Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp. and Raytheon Co.
The five teams submitted proposals May 30. The department will hold meetings with each of the bidders this summer, and an award is expected in September.
“We have a proven system that has the ability to be deployed rapidly,” said Ben Gianni, vice president of homeland security for Computer Sciences.
While there has been speculation about the possibility of UAVs and facial recognition software being included, Ericsson and Computer Sciences officials said that their SBI-Net proposal includes neither. Facial recognition software for identifying an individual in a group or from a distance is considered an evolving technology that is not widely used in major applications.
In addition, Ericsson already has arranged to lease radio spectrum along the U.S. borders to be used in SBI-Net. It is commercial spectrum that is not being used, and will be available for SBI-Net border control agents and other authorized users only, Smith said.
from Washington Technology
“UAVs are not 24/7/365. They are a gap filler,”??
That will soon enough change, and our strat will be 24/7/548
nilremerlin
One of today's interesting military contract awards:
AeroVironment Corp.*, Monrovia, Calif., was awarded on June 21, 2006, a $9,612,000 modification to a firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for depot level maintenance and repair for the RQ-11A Small Unmanned Aircraft System. Work will be performed in Simi Valley, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2007. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on June 13, 2006. The Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-05-C-0338).
nilremerlin
Why I think it's the Carlos Slim family funding the Mexico
pilots ?...Here's why, from a SHM attendee (read next to last paragraph):
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=GTE&read=193951
this will make the Russian deal seem like peanuts, IMHO.
nilremerlin
Great webcast!...enjoyed every minute (somebody give that guy a coughdrop!). Thanks to those who asked some great questions!
Funding/deposit for the Mexico City pilot provided by "a well-known entity", said Huff...I say it's Carlos Slim, the 3rd richest guy on the planet...if so, we're in like Flynn with Slim!!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
nilremerlin
FCC Revamps USF Contribution Base to Include VoIP
By Kelly M. Teal
Posted on: 06/22/2006
As expected, the FCC on Wednesday changed the way it gathers contributions to the Universal Service Fund (USF). Interconnected VoIP providers now must contribute and wireless providers will pay more.
The FCC – with a full complement of commissioners after more than a year – was under pressure to add contributors to the USF requirements because, in August, DSL proceeds no longer will go into the pot. If the FCC had not updated who pays into the USF, the fund would have lost out on millions of dollars.
The move is only an interim solution. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin has been eager to reform the fund’s contribution base and fund administration, but that could take months or even years. The agency also is waiting to see what changes Congress will make to the USF requirements.
In the meantime, interconnected VoIP providers now will pay up to 64.9 percent of their service revenue, and the percentage for wireless providers has been raised from 28.5 percent to 37.1 percent.
Martin said, like wireless services, consumers are using VoIP instead of wireline services more and more.
“[M]any of these VoIP providers claim that their services are ‘inherently interstate,’” Martin said. “Thus, we could require these providers to pay based on 100 percent of their revenues. Instead, we only require them to contribute based on a safe harbor of 64.9 percent – the percentage of interstate revenues reported by wireline toll providers.”
Martin and his colleagues are allowing interconnected VoIP providers to opt to contribute based on their actual interstate revenue or use a traffic study to show they should be allowed to put in less money.
The FCC has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the interim USF changes. That means the public is able to comment on the requirements before the FCC officially adopts any changes.
Martin also said that by making interconnected VoIP providers contribute, the FCC “is furthering the principle of competitive neutrality.” He explained that means the agency’s universal service rules “do not unfairly favor nor disfavor one technology over another, or unfairly advantage or disadvantage one provider over another. Like public safety goals, universal service obligations transcend new technologies and cannot be compromised.”
Commissioner Michael J. Copps and his Democratic colleague Jonathan S. Adelstein both approved of the changes, with some reservations. Each praised the agency’s efforts to maintain the stability of the USF but fretted over whether that will happen.
“I think the jury may still be out on whether today’s action actually puts enough additional funds into the universal service fund as DSL’s nonparticipation takes out,” Copps said, noting DSL providers were contributing approximately $350 million per year to the fund.
He added the FCC last year, when it deregulated DSL, pledged to preserve existing funding levels.
“I don’t see with slam-dunk certainty that contributions from interconnected VoIP (which is, for all its impressive growth, still a relatively nascent industry) and from wireless carriers (whose possibly increased use of traffic studies could lead to unforeseen consequences) offset the funds lost by DSL’s nonparticipation,” Copps continued. “Surely it would be an intolerable result to end up with the fund having less revenue, not more, for the foreseeable future. Last summer we pledged this result would not happen. Nine months later, we seem to accept the possibility of a diminished fund.”
Adelstein said the order leaves several questions unanswered, chief among them how to support the USF as America heads into the broadband age.
“This order … does not attempt to analyze the extent of the commission’s decision last August on the overall revenues available for universal service purposes,” he said. “It is clear, however, that exempting broadband Internet access revenues would remove a sizable and rapidly growing segment of the telecommunications sector from the contribution base. … I would have preferred to exercise our permissive contribution authority to address this potential decline in the contribution base permanently.”
Meanwhile, Republican commissioners Deborah T. Tate and Robert M. McDowell said the FCC needed to clarify the contribution requirements as IP telephony overtakes analog, and commended Wednesday’s NPRM.
“Given the rapid marketplace adoption of VoIP, I am pleased that we make universal service obligations clear at an early stage so that we avoid unnecessary market distortion,” Tate said. “While I continue to advocate a light regulatory touch for nascent services like VoIP, it is essential that important goals like universal service are implemented in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner.”
McDowell, a former lawyer for competitive carrier association COMPTEL, said the USF needs to be reformed so it can continue to serve all Americans. “Today’s action is simply an interim measure that will help bridge the gap between the deteriorating status quo and a fairer and more sustainable system for the future,” he said. The new changes, he added, “provide the right balance of administrative ease and incentive to contribute based on actual interstate and international revenues. These interim measures also ensure that the fund remains solvent for the near term.”
Industry reaction to the FCC’s decision on Wednesday was mixed. Vonage Holdings Corp., probably the most widely recognized VoIP brand, said it was assessing which contribution method would be most beneficial for its customers.
“Vonage fully supports its obligations to government programs,” CEO Mike Snyder said in a statement. "Now that VoIP customers will be contributing directly to the fund, we hope as a result of this interim rule, VoIP companies will now be able to utilize universal service funds enabling Vonage and the industry as a whole to bring new technologies like ours to rural America."
The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), which represents mostly rural providers, said it was pleased the base of contributors has been expanded. However, the association said it would have liked to see all cable, wireless, wireline, electric and satellite broadband Internet access providers required to pitch in, as communications networks evolve to rely on IP transmission services.
from Xchange magazine
nilremerlin
Senate Committee to Take Up Telecom Bill Again Next Week
By Kelly M. Teal
Posted on: 06/22/2006
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will meet again on Tuesday to continue hashing out which amendments will be attached to the Communications, Consumers’ Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006, before the bill goes to the Senate floor.
Members on Thursday debated various sticking points, including states’ rights, the Universal Service Fund, funding for first responders and net neutrality. None of the senators contested the provision to streamline video franchising rules. On the whole, no conclusions were reached and Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the committee’s chairman, scheduled another markup hearing for June 27 at 10 a.m.
One of the biggest areas of controversy was the issue of preemption of states’ rights when it comes to any federal telecom legislation. In a statement, the National Governors Association said governors “oppose any amendments that would preempt or interfere with the ability of states to craft meaningful telecommunications tax reforms or balance state budgets, including pending amendments that would prematurely extend the internet access moratorium and restrict other existing state telecommunications taxes.”
Senators went back and forth over states’ rights, but again, did not settle on a compromise.
There are more than 213 amendments proposed for S.2686, introduced in early May by Stevens. The bill has been modified three times – most recently on June 19 – and has received nationwide attention mostly for its lack of net neutrality oversight. Various consumers and advocacy groups, as well as members of Congress, are trying to get the government to ensure providers such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. cannot decide whether one user’s Web traffic get delivered faster than another. [huh? I totally don’t understand this sentence] Those groups also want to be sure providers cannot block access to – or charge extra for – Web sites such as Amazon.com or Google Inc.
The net neutrality provision could hinder the Stevens bill from getting past the Senate before Congress recesses for its summer break and to prepare for mid-term elections. Indeed, Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said she and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., still plan to introduce an amendment on net neutrality – another possible holdup on the bill’s progress.
During the hearing, Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, the Commerce Committee’s ranking Democrat, said finding a way for everyone to agree on changes to the telecom bill “is a formidable task that will truly test the limits of our patience.”
from Xchange magazine
nilremerlin
Time & Sales (quotemedia)
Price Size Exch Time
1.07 279700 AMX 17:40:05
1.07 300 AMX 16:01:32
1.07 100 AMX 16:01:32
1.08 100 AMX 15:59:49
1.07 300 NSX 15:59:34
1.07 400 NSX 15:59:34
1.07 700 NSX 15:59:34
1.07 700 AMX 15:59:32
1.07 100 AMX 15:59:30
1.07 900 AMX 15:59:27
1.08 500 NDD 15:59:00
1.07 300 AMX 15:58:52
1.08 2000 AMX 15:58:34
1.07 300 AMX 15:58:32
1.08 300 NDD 15:58:22
1.08 700 NDD 15:58:20
1.08 1000 NSX 15:58:17
1.07 2400 NDD 15:58:07
1.07 200 NDD 15:58:07
1.07 200 AMX 15:58:04
1.08 200 NDD 15:58:03
1.08 200 AMX 15:58:01
1.08 200 AMX 15:57:52
1.07 200 AMX 15:57:48
1.08 400 NDD 15:57:40
1.08 200 AMX 15:57:35
1.08 600 AMX 15:57:29
1.07 200 AMX 15:57:26
1.08 100 AMX 15:57:13
1.07 700 NDD 15:57:01
LAST 10 TRADES (Business Week)
Time Price Volume Exchange Info
16:20:49 1.072 37300 AMEX
16:18:16 1.070 4400 AMEX at Ask
16:06:08 1.070 300 AMEX at Ask
16:06:08 1.070 100 AMEX at Ask
16:04:25 1.080 100 AMEX
16:04:11 1.070 300 Cincinnati at Ask
16:04:11 1.070 400 Cincinnati at Ask
16:04:11 1.070 700 Cincinnati at Ask
16:04:09 1.070 700 AMEX at Ask
16:04:07 1.070 100 AMEX at Ask
(FreeRealTime)
4:58:44 PM Ask 1.15 5000
4:58:40 PM Ask 1.09 1700
4:58:40 PM Ask 1.08 1700
4:06:48 PM Bid 1.06 3000
4:03:18 PM Ask 1.08 3400
4:03:12 PM Ask 1.08 1700
4:03:12 PM Bid 1.04 900
4:03:04 PM Ask 1.15 3700
4:01:34 PM Trade 1.07 300
4:01:32 PM Trade 1.07 100
4:00:06 PM Ask 1.08 81400
4:00:04 PM Bid 1.07 2200
3:59:52 PM Trade 1.08 100
3:59:52 PM Ask 1.08 79900
3:59:36 PM Trade 1.07 300
3:59:36 PM Trade 1.07 400
3:59:34 PM Trade 1.07 700
3:59:34 PM Bid 1.07 1200
3:59:32 PM Trade 1.07 700
3:59:30 PM Trade 1.07 100
3:59:26 PM Trade 1.07 900
3:59:26 PM Ask 1.08 80000
3:59:02 PM Trade 1.0774 500
3:59:02 PM Ask 1.08 71400
3:58:52 PM Trade 1.07 300
3:58:36 PM Ask 1.08 79400
3:58:34 PM Trade 1.08 2000
3:58:32 PM Trade 1.07 300
3:58:22 PM Trade 1.08 300
3:58:20 PM Trade 1.08 700
3:58:16 PM Trade 1.08 1000
3:58:10 PM Trade 1.07 2400
3:58:06 PM Trade 1.07 200
3:58:04 PM Trade 1.07 200
3:58:04 PM Trade 1.08 200
3:58:04 PM Trade 1.08 200
3:58:04 PM Bid 1.07 1900
3:58:04 PM Ask 1.08 81400
3:58:00 PM Bid 1.07 2100
3:57:54 PM Ask 1.08 81600
3:57:52 PM Trade 1.08 200
3:57:48 PM Trade 1.07 200
3:57:40 PM Trade 1.08 400
3:57:38 PM Trade 1.08 200
3:57:38 PM Ask 1.08 81800
3:57:30 PM Ask 1.08 82000
3:57:28 PM Trade 1.08 600
3:57:26 PM Trade 1.07 200
3:57:14 PM Ask 1.08 82600
3:57:12 PM Trade 1.08 100
nilremerlin
Webcast link not dead for me, still getting the "rhythm of the ocean" scene & song:
http://www.magicweb.com/globetel_live.htm
nilremerlin
Inouye Objects to Republican Net Neutrality Efforts
MSNBC reported that the top Democrat on the US Senate Commerce Committee rejected a proposed compromise on access to high-speed Internet networks, the so-called Net Neutrality, and said that the effort to pass a broad telecommunications reform bill could fall apart. Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii said that the revised Republican legislation did not go far enough to ensure that ISPs cannot discriminate against unaffiliated Web sites or services. Inouye also said the Democrats on the committee also were worried that the draft bill could help companies evade state consumer protection laws. The primary purpose of the legislation is to make sure that AT&T and Verizon Communications can get approval to provide TV services nationwide while avoiding local franchising approvals and rules. The vote on the issue could come as early as Thursday, but it is going to be touch and go for the legislation to get final approval before Congress recesses for elections in November.
AP: Law Enforcement Gathered Phone Records from Data Brokers
The Associated Press reported today that US Federal and local police across the country, as well as private companies, have gathered US citizens' phone records by using private data brokers in lieu of subpoenas or warrants. The brokers use questionable tactics to gather the data, including breaking into online customer accounts and tricking phone companies into revealing the information. Agencies using data brokers include the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DoJ) and municipal police in California, Florida, Georgia, and Utah. The House Energy and Commerce committee is investigating the data brokers, but lawyers for some of the brokers indicated that their clients ironically would invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination when privacy advocates accuse them of violating US citizens Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and seizure. Police agencies told the AP that they used the brokers because it was quicker and easier than getting subpoenas. None of the agencies said that they researched how the data brokers gathered information, but some agencies, such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, stopped the practice after receiving Congressional inquiries. The AP uncovered documents that showed that Ford Motors, State Farm, Chrysler, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Wells Fargo, and Wachovia Financial Services have used data brokers at some point in time.
from Telecom Daily
nilremerlin
Short interest for June is 7,153,044 shares,
127,866 shares higher than May's 7,025,178.
Institutional holdings reported for Q1 is 10,023,690 shares,
2,870,646 more shares than June short interest.
nilremerlin
Short interest for June is 7,153,044 shares,
127,866 shares higher than May's 7,025,178.
Institutional holdings reported for Q1 is 10,023,690 shares,
2,870,646 more shares than June short interest.
nilremerlin
FY07 SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE AND COMMERCE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Full Committee approves bill by voice vote
June 20th, 2006 - -
Discretionary Funding Levels:
· FY07 Funding: $59.84 billion
· FY07 President's Request: $59.70 billion
· FY06 Funding: $57.21 billion
Amendments Adopted in Full Committee:
(Serrano): Restores funding for the Survey on Income and Program Participation in the Census Bureau offset by corresponding reductions.
(Sweeney): Prohibits issuance of diplomatic credentials to the Libyan government unless they cooperate in settlement with surviving families of Pan Am 103.
(Obey): Prohibits permanent U.S. basing agreement between the United States and Iraq.
Making America More Competitive by Investing in Science
National Aeronautics and Space Administration receives $16.7 billion, $462 million above the FY06 base level. Funds the President’s vision for space exploration at $3.8 billion; provides full request for the Space Shuttle; and restores $100 million above the request to aeronautics research, and $75 million above the request for space science.
National Science Foundation receives $6 billion, the full amount requested as part of the American Competitive Initiative and an increase of $439 million above FY06. Includes $4.6 billion for research, $334.5 million above FY06; and $832.4 million for science education, $16.2 million above the request.
Fighting the Scourge of Meth and Prosecuting the War on Terror
Provides a total of $22.1 billion for the Department of Justice, $724 million above FY06 and $1.0 billion above the President's request, including the following:
* Provides $2.6 billion for assistance to State and local law enforcement for crime fighting initiatives, $1.1 billion above the President’s request, $163 million below FY06 including:
* $405 million to reimburse States for criminal alien detention costs; $390 million for violence against women prevention and prosecution programs; $558 million for the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants program; $281 million for juvenile delinquency prevention and accountability programs; $176 million to eliminate DNA analysis backlogs; $100 million for law enforcement technologies and interoperability; $99 million for meth hot spots; and $40 million to reduce gang violence.
* $6.0 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an increase of $302 million above FY06 and equal to the request. Provides funding to enhance counterterrorism infrastructure needs such as secure space, training, and information technology, while continuing to address crimes such as gang violence and child exploitation.
* $1.75 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, an increase of $77 million above FY06 and $15 million above the President’s request to combat meth, drug related violence and improve intelligence capabilities.
* $826 million for the United States Marshals Service, an increase of $25 million above FY06 and equal to the request, to enhance judicial and witness protection.
* $980 million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, an increase of $48 million above FY06 and the same as the President’s request.
* Does not include $1.2 billion rescission from the Crime Victims Fund.
Department of Commerce and Related Agencies receives $5.95 billion, $629.2 million below FY06 and $333.7 million billion below the President’s request. Highlights of the Commerce Department budget include:
* $1.77 billion for the Patent and Trademark Office, $87.9 million above FY06 and equal the PTO’s estimated fee collections.
* $627 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including $104 million to fully fund the American Competitiveness Initiative, and $92 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program.
* $3.4 billion for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), $289 million below the request, and including $882.3 million to fully fund the National Weather Service.
* $874 million for the Bureau of the Census, $72 million above FY06 and $4 million below the request. The bill fully funds the American Community Survey.
State Department and the Broadcasting Board of Governors receives $9.7 billion, $386.3 million below the request and $230 million above the 2006 level.
* Includes $1.7 billion to continue worldwide security improvements and replacement of vulnerable embassies as authorized by the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act.
* Provides $4.5 billion for Diplomatic and Consular Programs to fund the operating costs of the Department, which is $142 million below the request, including $351 million for public diplomacy activities.
* Provides $659 million for International Broadcasting, including funding to continue expanded broadcasting to the broader Middle East.
Other Items of Interest:
* Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Bill includes $294 million, $4.5 million above FY06 and $8 million below the request.
* Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Bill includes $900 million in budgetary resources, $12 million above FY06 and $4 million below the request.
* Small Business Administration (SBA) Bill provides $643 million for the SBA, $4 million above the request, and supports a record business loan program to help American entrepreneurs access capital.
* The FY07 SSJC bill terminates 11 programs for a savings of $195 million. In addition, other major reductions from other programs total $665 million.
* The bill provides approximately $387 million for Member projects, $1.3 billion less than the enacted level and less than 1% of the total funding in the bill
###
nilremerlin
Thunderstorms predicted for SHM:
http://www.wunderground.com/US/FL/Pembroke_Pines.html
nilremerlin
IEEE Delays Approval of QUALCOMM Standards Proposal
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) delayed the adoption of an access technology called Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) or IEEE 802.20, which was proposed by QUALCOMM and Kyocera as an alternative to WiMAX. The delay in adoption of the standard came as Intel and Samsung, which are supporters of WiMAX, lobbied the standards organization to consider alternative technologies for high-speed cellphone access. The IEEE 802.20 Working Group is considering a specification of physical and medium access control layers of an air interface for interoperable systems, operating in the licensed bands below 3.5-GHz, optimized for IP-data transport, with data rates in excess of 1M bps.
... Russ Drumheller Faulkner Information Services
nilremerlin
Democratic lawmakers allege abuse in federal contracting
06/19/06
By Alice Lipowicz
Staff Writer
The Bush administration is on a federal procurement binge, fueled by increasing mismanagement and corruption in such contracts, Democrats on the House Committee on Government Reform allege in a new report released today.
The nation’s largest federal contractor, Lockheed Martin Corp., was paid $25 billion by the government in 2005—an amount larger than the budgets of the departments of Commerce and the Interior, the Small Business Administration and Congress combined, the report states.
The top five federal contractors—Lockheed Martin, Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp. Raytheon Co. and General Dynamics Corp.—received a total of $80 billion in 2005, which is 21 percent of all federal contract dollars, the report stated.
The fastest growing federal contractor between 2000 and 2005 was Halliburton Co., whose procurement revenues increased from $763 million in 2000 to nearly $6 billion in 2005.
Overall federal procurement spending has risen 86 percent from 2000 to 2005, to $378 billion annually, the report said. The 101-page report was prepared at the request of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the committee.
“Under President Bush, the federal government is now spending nearly 40 cents of every discretionary dollar on contracts with private companies—a record level,” the report states. Federal contracts have become the fastest-growing component of federal discretionary spending.
Furthermore, mismanagement in federal contracting is widespread, with increases in noncompetitive contracting, inadequate oversight, abuse of contracting flexibility and poor contract planning, the report states. For example, noncompetitive and sole source awards more than doubled, going from $68 billion to $145 billion from 2000 to 2005.
The report identifies 118 contracts collectively worth $746 billion that have experienced significant overcharges, wasteful spending and management. It also outlines problems identified in major contracts related to Pentagon programs, the Iraq war, Homeland Security and Hurricane Katrina.
Among the largest of these alleged wasteful contracts listed in the report are $10 billion to Accenture Ltd. and partners for the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology; $292 million to Aegis Defence Services Ltd., for Iraq reconstruction services; and $40 million to Akima Site Operations LLC for portable classrooms for post-Katrina Mississippi classrooms.
http://www.washingtontechnology.com./news/1_1/daily_news/28780-1.html
nilremerlin
New border funds include surveillance, intelligence
06/16/06
By Alice Lipowicz
Staff Writer
A portion of the $1.9 billion in new border security funding approved by Congress this week will pay for IT systems for surveillance and intelligence analysis to be used by National Guardsmen at U.S. borders.
About 6,000 National Guardsmen will be stationed at U.S. borders under HR 4939, the massive emergency supplemental legislation passed by the House and Senate this week. The president is expected to sign the bill, which also includes $70 billion for the Iraq War and foreign aid, $20 billion for hurricane recovery and $2.3 billion for pandemic flu preparations.
About $708 million of the border security funding is to be devoted to National Guard support, which will pay for operating surveillance and intelligence systems, training, and construction of fences, vehicle barriers and roads, according to the conference report for the spending bill.
The bill includes $240 million for state and local preparedness for the avian flu; $200 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for global and domestic disease surveillance and other activities; and $30 million for the U.S. Agency for International Development for international surveillance.
In other provisions, the law rescinded $20 million in lapsed fiscal 2005 balances available in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Automation Modernization account.
The conferees also rescinded $3.96 million from Office of Screening Coordination and Operations and transferred the funds to the Office of Policy.
from Washington Technology
nilremerlin
An interesting military contract awarded today (my bold):
Synchrony Inc., Roanoke, Va., is being awarded a $9,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract. The objective of this contract is the late-stage development of “electric” technologies such as switched reluctance electrical machine technology, magnetic bearing technologies, temperature coil technology, and related electronic components. Such technologies have been shown to offer significant benefits over mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Expected applications of these technologies include power/thermal management systems for unmanned and manned aircraft, cruise missiles, rocket engines, and auxiliary power systems for terrestrial, marine, and airborne applications. These technologies are expected to improve system reliability, safety, and efficiency while reducing size, weight, maintenance and environmental burdens. At this time, $1,829,499 has been obligated. This work will be complete June 2013. Air Force Research Laboratories, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (F8650-06-D-2607)
nilremerlin
grapes: whole different context...no conflict...if I had spelled it out in more detail you'd have seen the difference in context.
I should have described the type of UAV that Predator is. I didn't mean to imply that the strat is not a UAV. Sorry if my lack of detail caused some confusion, but I was in a rush.
nilremerlin
grapes: The A in UAV is Aerial, as in atmospheric. A satellite orbits beyond the atmosphere, and is a space vehicle mostly, only part of an aerial vehicle when it's being launched, or on its way back down...so yeah, I'd consider the strat to be a UAV, nonetheless unique.
nilremerlin
pitbull74: Predator is not an airship, it's a UAV. I think one of them crashed recently, and it's immediately needed for border surveillance, so they've got to replace the crashed one fairly soon...I was expecting this contract since the crash. it doesn't stand in our way at all.
nilremerlin
.BC is gone from the GTE symbol!...finally!:
A quote from the AMEX site:
GlobeTel Communications Corp GTE 1.14 0.03 2.70 477,500 06/15/2006 16:01 ET
nilremerlin
.BC is gone from the GTE symbol!...finally!:
A quote from the AMEX site:
GlobeTel Communications Corp GTE 1.14 0.03 2.70 477,500 06/15/2006 16:01 ET
nilremerlin
One of today's military contract awards (my bold):
General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $25,151,451 cost plus fixed fee term contract. This option exercise includes all program management, urgent repairs and services, logistics support, configuration management, technical manual and software maintenance, engineering technical services, contractor engineering technical specialists (formerly field support representatives), contractor inventory control point (formerly depot supply support) and spares management, depot repair, flight operations support, reliability/maintenance enhancements, CAMS/REMIS/CEMS data collection/entry and numbered periodic depot maintenance for the Predator MQ-1 and MQ-9 unmanned aircraft system program. Total funds have been obligated. This work will be complete December 2006. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8620-05-G-3028 001103)
nilremerlin
sanswire.org domain is for sale:
http://www.sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=sanswire.org&partnerid=14460&tracked=&par...
nilremerlin
Latest carbon-copy lawsuit, entire complaint:
http://www.glancylaw.com/pdf/gte.pdf
Same old stuff...InterNafta doesn't exist, MF wrote this, blah, blah, blah...
Plaintiff is Sharen A. Kirkham, who bought 300 shares on Dec. 30 @ 3.85 (doesn't say the shares were sold at a loss).
On page 26, a few other law firms are listed, Howard G. Smith (who has already PR'd their suit) being one of them, and a couple of others we haven't heard of yet (who may be waiting in the wings to PR their suits strategically timed to perhaps help shorts cover, assist in the price drop, or offset news around the SHM). These law firms are some kind of tag-team conspiracy, IMHO.
nilremerlin
imawswami: The longest day(light) of the year is for longs at the shareholder meeting...poetic.
Irony is, at 5:30pm on that day, the short interest update gets published! Wonder why they don't publish a long interest update? Wouldn't that be more fair?...guess the institutional holdings are supposed to cover that, but why not publish that once a month as well?
nilremerlin
Teams Vie for SBINet:
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/21_11/cover-stories/28712-1.html
nilremerlin
CALEA ruling could have adverse impact for VOIP
By William Jackson
GCN Staff
Efforts to apply federal wiretap laws to Internet traffic could have unintended consequences for IT security, an industry association warns.
“The net result would be the introduction of substantial vulnerabilities into the network, and a side effect would be to move most of the infrastructure needed for a successful intercept outside of the U.S.,” Internet pioneer Vinton Cerf said Tuesday in introducing the study by the IT Association of America. “The more I dig into it, the harder it gets.”
ITAA performed the study in response to a ruling by the Federal Communications Commission that the Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) should apply to broadband Internet and voice over IP service providers. CALEA mandates that equipment in public switched telephone networks accommodate wiretaps for law enforcement agencies.
With voice services now being offered over Internet and other IP networks, FCC has said they should be treated the same as telephone networks. The rule has been upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
But saying it and doing it are two different things. The infrastructures and technologies underlying VOIP and PSTN services are very different. The Internet is not centralized and provides a multitude of flexible services. IP addresses and locations of end points often are not static and traffic is not transmitted over a fixed circuit.
“It actually is quite hard to figure out who is talking to whom” in a VOIP call, said Cerf, chief Internet evangelist at Google Inc.
For an effective wiretap, information is needed from both the call setup, which establishes the connection between two end points, and the transmission. But the VOIP provider doing call setup often has little to do with the infrastructure used to transmit the packets, said Whitfield Diffie of Sun Microsystems.
“In Internet telephony, the two have been separated,” Diffie said. “It becomes much harder to execute Internet telephony wiretaps.”
The wiretap would require that the provider doing call setup give routing data for the call to law enforcement in real time, and the agency then would have to serve an order or warrant in real time on the proper carriers, who would have to validate that order, again in real time.
“It’s conceivable all of this could be done, but it’s not clear it could be done by mandate,” Diffie said. “It’s very hard to see how something like this could be done both effectively and securely.”
Another element of the problem facing VOIP CALEA is that VOIP is not a specific technology, but a broad description of a type of service that can be implemented in a variety of ways. VOIP traffic is carried in the same type of packets as every other type of traffic.
“VOIP is just another network application,” Cerf said. “I don’t see any way to restrict and constrain the target to just voice.”
Any system that makes interceptions efficient and targeted could be exploited by hackers, adding a new level of insecurity to an already nonsecure infrastructure, the report concludes. And any system that is implemented would require a massive R&D effort, Diffie said. And to date, the Internet Engineering Task Force, which develops and maintains the Internet Protocols, has decided it wants no part of such an effort because of the vulnerabilities inherent in a standardized wiretapping protocol.
Neither the FCC nor the Justice Department has commented on the issues raised in the study.
http://www.washingtontechnology.com./news/1_1/daily_news/28755-1.html
nilremerlin
pitbull74: VozBrasil got some free advertising today during the Brazil/Croatia World Cup game.
I was at an internet cafe this afternoon where a crowd was watching the game on big screen TVs. Just to the left of the TVs were the internet computer monitors facing the same direction. One gets to use the computers for 1/2 hour for free, so I put up the VozBrasil site on one of the computer monitors, so everyone in the cafe watching the game had to see it (peripherally, at least).
nilremerlin
DOI FY2007 budget in brief:
http://www.doi.gov/budget/2007/07Hilites/toc.html
Wildland fire management:
http://www.doi.gov/budget/2007/07Hilites/DH79.pdf
nilremerlin
Richard McCreight (of Delta Aerospace) has his name listed in the bibliography of this "Fire Effects Guide":
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/RxFire/FEG.pdf
Richard is our forest link.
nilremerlin
Organic Air Vehicle (OAV)
< The Future Combat System (FCS) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) plan consists of a family of several types of airborne vehicles, including the Organic Air Vehicle (OAV). The OAV will be designed to operate from the battlefield, by the field troops, and provide small combat teams and individual soldiers with the capability to detect the enemy forces concealed in forests or hills, around buildings in urban areas, or in places where the shooter does not have a direct line-of-sight. OAVs can perch and stare, and essentially become sentinels for maneuvering troops. Rather than sending a soldier into harm's way to scout a particularly potential high-risk area, the unit will be able to use the OAV instead. Typical OAV missions include reconnaissance and surveillance, path finding for friendly ground vehicles (both robotics and manned), maneuver force protection, and targeting for non-line-of-sight fire operations.
The OAV is designed for the platoon level of the Unit of Action (UA) of the FCS equipped combat formation. The OAV is excepted to weigh +35 kg and have mission endurance of 25 minutes. It will dash at speeds of 80 km/h and higher, up to a range of up to 2,000 m, The platform will carry payloads of 3 – 3.5kg comprising of EO, IR, SIGINT, acoustic, mine detectors and communications relays. It will operate from a vehicle platform, either a Hummer or autonomous (robotic) transporter launcher. An example of the OAV is the iSTAR system.
OAVs are currently under development in two groups - a larger, Class II version and a backpackable Class I version. Three teams were awarded development contracts for Class II OAVs: GoldenEye industry team, led by Aurora Flight Sciences, also includes Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics Robotic Systems. The Honeywell led team, with team members AAI, AVID and Techsburg Inc. The third team is led by BAE Systems. The program will develop a Class-II UAV prototype for the Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS). Combined, the three phases of the program have the potential to last 48 months and have a total program value in excess of $30 million. During the initial phase, the teams will develop a preliminary design for the OAV-II system and demonstrate the critical elements of the collision avoidance subsystem. A Phase II award decision is expected during the summer of 2005, shortly after the completion of Phase I.
The OAV II will be fully integrated with manned and unmanned ground combat vehicles as a net-centric battlefield assets. The GoldenEye proposed system consists of the VTOL unmanned platform, that uses thrust vectoring and torsionally disconnected wings that was originally developed for an earlier DARPA program. GoldenEye will maintain range and endurance to cover the entire forward edge of battle area, and will feature advanced collision avoidance capability that will allow it to operate in dense urban areas. The aircraft will have the capability to detect targets with visual or infrared sensors and laser designate the targets. In spite of these robust capabilities, GoldenEye will not require runways or helipads to operate. Its small logistical footprint will enable it to move with the FCS small combat unit. The Honeywell version for the OAV-II is based on the 29-inch-diameter iSTAR ducted fan vehicle developed for DARPA. The UAV is controlled with Honeywell’s micro-electric mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The vehicle is equipped with forward and downward looking video cameras that relay information to a remote ground station video terminal. Variants of these air vehicles also can be equipped with a variety of sensors, including those for biological hazard and mine detection. No details are available at present on the BAE proposal.
A smaller version of the OAV is the class-I vehicle, considered to be soldier transportable system, able to take off and land vertically or from a very short strip. Man portable OAV-I versions are under development by the GoldenEye and Honeywell teams to provide "hover and stare" battlefield surveillance and forward scout missions. These vehicles should weigh up to 10 Kg, including 0.5 kg payload. Powered by a diesel fuel engine, it will be required to perform relatively short missions, of up to 15 minutes with a range of 1,000 meters. Operational ceiling will be 2,400m' above sea level. The system should have a low acoustic signature of less than 75 db from a distance of 7 m'.
http://www.defense-update.com/features/du-2-04/mav-oav.htm
nilremerlin
DARPA's Organic Air Vehicle-II (OAV-II)
Challenge
The Organic Air Vehicle-II (OAV-II) program is part of the US Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program comprised of multiple classes of unmanned aircraft to accommodate multiple military missions. The OAV is designed to support small Army groups conducting tactical missions.
DARPA announced Phase I of the OAV-II program with the goal of developing a company-level ducted fan UAV for diverse missions, such as path finding for manned and unmanned ground vehicles, surveillance and reconnaissance, maneuvering for force protection, and targeting for non-line-of-site firing operations. Avoidance collision is a critical requirement of the OAV program. Etc...
http://athenati.com/case_studies_videos/case_studies/oav
nilremerlin
Appeals Court Upholds Broadband Internet Wiretaps
Reuters reported that a US appeals court upheld the government's authority to force high-speed ISPs to give law enforcement authorities access for surveillance purposes. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected a petition aimed at overturning a decision by regulators requiring facilities-based broadband providers and those that offer Internet telephone service to comply with US wiretap laws. The court concluded that the FCC requirement was a "reasonable policy choice" even though information services are exempted from the government's wiretapping authority. The US FCC has set a May 14, 2007, deadline for compliance. Authorities are concerned that the use of Internet communications could allow terrorists and criminals to circumvent wiretaps by using email and VoIP services in lieu of telephone services. Private networks would not be subject to the wiretaps but those connected with a public network would have to comply with the regulations. The appeal was filed by the American Library Association and the Association of American Universities. For regulatory purposes, the FCC has always considered broadband Internet to be an information service, but the judges in the majority said that the service could be defined differently for wiretap purposes.
from Telecom Daily
nilremerlin
a couple of interesting military contract awards today (my bold):
Aurora Flight Sciences Corp.*, Manassas, Va., was awarded on June 8, 2006, a $5,700,000 increment as part of a $38,323,151 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the continued development and demonstration of the Organic Air Vehicle-II toward the Army future combat systems Class II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle need. Work will be performed in Manassas, Va., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 19, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 15, 2004. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-05-C-0035).
Honeywell International Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded on June 8, 2006, a $5,150,000 increment as part of a $39,082,588 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the continued development and demonstration of the Organic Air Vehicle-II toward the Army future combat systems Class II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle need. Work will be performed in Albuquerque, N.M., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 19, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Oct. 15, 2004. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-05-C-0043).
nilremerlin
Japbrat: Map of Iwakuni City:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2060/japanmap.html
nilremerlin
Japbrat: It's pretty common knowledge that there is a high Japanese population living in Brazil, and in addition, connecting the dots:
GlobeTel Announces Letter of Intent with Kashiwabara Token..
2005/09/08 11:44:13
Corporation of Japan; Joint Venture Calls for Establishment of Broadband Wireless Network in Japan
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sep 08, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GlobeTel Communications Corp. (Amex: GTE) today announced that its subsidiary, Sanswire Networks LLC, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Kashiwabara Token Corporation of Iwakuni City, Japan, to enter a joint venture in the establishment of a terrestrial ground-based wireless broadband and communications system, a prelude to the deployment of the Sanswire Stratellite Airship broadband network in Japan.
Kashiwabara Token Corporation holds a controlling interest of a major cell phone system in the Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures as well as the ICAN Cable television system in Japan. The Corporation has more than 2,000 employees at 50 locations throughout Japan.
Bob Jones, President of Sanswire LLC, said, "The key to this relationship is that Kashiwabara Token Corporation already has the cellular and cable infrastructure that enables us immediately to deploy our ground-based broadband wireless system that is designed to seamlessly integrate with the Stratellite. The location of Iwakuni City is a perfect starting point for Japan with U.S. Marines stationed at Iwakuni Marine Corp Air Station, who also will benefit from our wireless broadband system."
I also speculated on the idea of being able to monitor North Korea via strats flying above Japan and China, back when the above news first came out.
not so strange after all...
nilremerlin
One of today's military contract awards, of interest (my bold):
Akamai Physics Inc., Las Cruces, N.M., is being awarded a $10,296,089 cost-plus-fixed- fee contract modification. The Bright Onyx is a compact, active multi-spectral chemical sensor operating in the 5-um region for remote chemical detection of chemicals associated with weapons of mass destruction that may be transported on ships inbound to United States ports. The Bright Onyx sensor must operate at UAV airspeeds and ranges with detection sensitivities of 10ppm*m and meet UAV power, weight, and size requirements. At this time, $2,795,000 has been obligated. Solicitations began March 2006 and negotiations were complete June 2006. This work will be complete June 2008. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FS8650-04-C-1714/P00004).
nilremerlin
Another poorly-researched/-written article:
Broadband from airships: a lot of hot air?
By Matthew Miller, Executive Editor, Online -- EDN, 6/8/2006
STATS
* Operating altitude: as high as 70,000 ft
* Commercial deployments: zero
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, anticipated demand for Internet access ran so high that several companies sprang up with plans to launch high-flying airships that would blanket cities with wireless coverage. The reasoning was that, hovering at 60,000 ft or higher, flying machines could serve an entire metro area at lower cost than a satellite launch or new wired infrastructure.
Angel Technologies planned to use piloted, fixed-wing aircraft, which Scaled Composites built. (Scaled Composites later became famous for its SpaceShipOne.) Today, Angel's Web site, which remains untouched since 2001, stands as an artifact of the optimistic era. Now-defunct Skystation International, which former Secretary of State Alexander Haig headed, fared no better in its plan to use helium-filled dirigibles. Sanswire Networks has flown autonomous craft like the one in this photo but has yet to serve customers.
Rapid buildup of terrestrial wireless and wire-line networks closed a narrow launch window for these companies, says Craig Mathias, principal with Farpoint Group. "But it's still an intriguing idea," he says. "I'm sure somebody's going to try it." For example, a stratospheric platform might well suit use in delivering digital-TV channels or, given its immunity to terrestrial disasters, delivering emergency-communications services, he says.
http://www.edn.com/article/CA6339271.html?industryid=2282
nilremerlin