[iwar] [fc:Michigan.Creates.Online.'Cybercourt']

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2002-01-10 19:07:31

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From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net>
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Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 19:07:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [iwar] [fc:Michigan.Creates.Online.'Cybercourt']
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Michigan Creates Online 'Cybercourt'

By Robert MacMillan, Newsbytes, 1/10/2002
<a href="http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/173524.html">http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/173524.html>

Michigan Gov. John Engler, R, today signed into law a bill that creates
an online state court. Engler on Tuesday also said that 25 corporations
and state groups have joined in an effort to bring broadband Internet
access to the entire state. 
The Cybercourt bill, H.B. 4140, would have jurisdiction over business
and commercial complaints in which the dispute is more than $25,000, and
is expected to go live in October. 
While a judge would preside over the online court system, which requires
electronic document filing and teleconferencing for arguments, there is
no jury. Cases also can be transferred to Michigan's circuit court
system, and decisions can be contested at the appeals court level.
Judges would be assigned by the state Supreme Court. 
The governor's office also said the bill calls for a $200 filing fee for
actions in the court. 
The new law also calls for a legislature-based oversight committee, and
requires a report on the system by Oct. 1, 2004. 
The bill originally was sponsored by Rep. Marc Shulman, R-West
Bloomfield, who said that a technology-rich economy "needs a court that
understands cutting-edge technology issues." 
Engler added that he believes the online court "will make Michigan
uniquely attractive for the New Economy businesses the same way the
state of Delaware has had an advantage for incorporation of major public
companies." 
On the broadband front, Engler said the 25 companies joined the "MI
HiSpeed Internet Plan," which he said is expected to create 500,000 new
jobs in the state, and generate more than $440 billion. 
Some of the major corporations that signed up include Baby Bell SBC
Communications, long-distance provider WorldCom Inc., Whirlpool Corp.,
McLeod USA, Comcast and AT&amp;T Broadband. 
The American Association of Retired Persons and the CLEC (Competitive
Local Exchange Carriers) Association also are involved in the project. 
Michigan's Senate Technology and Energy Committee also was scheduled to
begin hearings today on broadband deployment, even as debate is set to
resume in earnest in the U.S. Congress on a controversial broadband
deregulation bill that would make it easier for Baby Bells to offer
long-distance data services outside of the strictures set up by the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. 
Continuing Michigan's technology-centric policies, the governor's office
Tuesday also announced that the state took the No. 9 position in a
survey rating state performance in using the Internet to help its
citizens. The survey was conducted by the Center for Digital Government
and the Progress and Freedom Foundation. 
While the state has received other high marks for its attention to
high-tech issues, and yielded one of the most high-tech-friendly
senators in recent years - current Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham -
anti-taxation groups have faulted Engler's administration for zealously
pursuing an Internet remote sales tax program. 
Engler in October 2001 signed a bill that allows the state to join a
coalition that is working to streamline state sales tax codes in a bid
to gain congressional approval to collect remote online sales taxes. 
The state, starting in fiscal year 1999, asked residents to voluntarily
pony up 6 percent in sales taxes for their total online purchases for
the year, an idea that Americans for Tax Reform President Grover
Norquist at the time called "a stinking fish."

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