THE YEAR FOR FUNDAMENTALS - So far this year, Congress has introduced more than 50 bills pertaining to the Internet or electronic commerce, about two dozen of which would directly affect the Internet industry. The amount of Internet-related legislation is no surprise "given the explosion of the Internet itself," says Internet Alliance Executive Director Jeff Richards. "If 1997 was the year of the explosion of Internet legislation and 1998 was the beginning of the dance between legislators, regulators, companies, and their consumers, then this year, 1999, is the year I think we all get serious and decide on some fundamentals," he says. Meanwhile, the Internet industry is cowering at the thought of new federal regulations being imposed on the Internet. John Scheibel, director of government relations for Yahoo!, says a piecemeal approach to regulating the Internet can quickly add up to a patchwork of burdensome regulation. (San Jose Mercury News Online 9 April 99 - Edupage - Apr. 9)

UCEA'S ONLINE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES - How will upcoming legislative and regulatory issues affect your programs this year? And what steps should you take to assure compliance and make your views known to legislators? UCEA's 1999 Forecast of Legislative and Regulatory Issues profiles this year's top issues for continuing educators and offers detailed recommendations for action on each issue. You can download it from the UCEA Website at: http://www.nucea.edu. (E-News From UCEA - April 28, 1999)