[iwar] [fc:ISPs.form.lobbying.group]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2002-01-15 22:25:47


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Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 22:25:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [iwar] [fc:ISPs.form.lobbying.group]
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ISPs form lobbying group

By Alorie Gilbert

Staff Writer, CNET News.com

January 15, 2002, 3:45 p.m. PT

A new lobbying group representing major Internet service providers met with Justice 
Department officials Tuesday to discuss such issues as clarifying how ISPs can work 
with law-enforcement officials during criminal investigations.

The United States Internet Service Provider Association, which includes America 
Online, Cable &amp; Wireless, EarthLink, Verizon Online and WorldCom, formed earlier 
this year.

The security issues came to light in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, when the 
FBI asked several ISPs to assist in a probe of suspected terrorists' e-mail records.

The group is not targeting any specific piece of legislation pertaining to government 
investigations, but would like to define a set of best practices, said Stewart Baker, 
an attorney for the Washington law firm Steptoe &amp; Johnson, who is serving as 
the group's general counsel.

"There are technical and legal limitations on what (the ISPs) can do," Baker said. 
"It's important everybody in the process understands how the technology works and 
what these companies can do."

Another priority of the USISPA is to protect its members from liability under foreign 
law when distributing content that's illegal outside the United States. The ISPs 
want greater protection, said Baker, in cases such as the French government's court 
decision against Yahoo for the auctioning of Nazi memorabilia on its site.

ISPs were also the target of a recent call for greater government oversight of the 
broadband market following the bankruptcies of Excite@Home, Rhythms NetConnections 
and other providers that disrupted and discontinued service to thousands of customers.

The lobby is skeptical that the government will try to regulate the relatively nascent 
broadband industry, according to Baker, but academics don't discount the possibility.

"I would not be surprised if members of Congress decide to have a hearing to investigate 
Excite@Home issues and ensure customers have some guarantees," said Fritz J. Messere, 
chairman of communications studies at State University of New York at Oswego.

The lobby's membership includes most of the major ISPs in the industry except one--Microsoft. 
The Redmond, Wash., behemoth's absence is conspicuous, according to Messere, and 
may be a calculated move against an unrelenting competitor, strengthened by its victory 
against the Department of Justice.

"When Microsoft wants to play in a competitive arena they can play awfully hard," 
said Messere. "The lobby may want to ensure Congress hears an alternative voice."

The fact that Verizon Online is part of the lobby is a sign that the major ISPs 
are willing to work with the Baby Bells in the interest of a common cause, despite 
historical differences over access to local networks.


<a href="http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-8495031.html?tag=pt.msnbc.feed..ne_8495031">http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-8495031.html?tag=pt.msnbc.feed..ne_8495031>

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