- A bill defeated last year and resubmitted this year would offer employers up to $1,500 in tax credits per technology worker toward technology training and call for HOPE scholarships or Lifetime Learning tax credits for students in non-degree technology institutions, previously only offered to 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. The bill provides a boost to for-profit institutions and technology groups that offer certificates for IT training and is backed by the business sector. Extending these scholarships to for-profits, puts them in direct competition with the colleges and universities. According to Michael P. Aiken of the College and University Personnel Association, earmarking employees for education tax-free, would be a better idea. (Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 25 Apr 01)

- K-12 schools are gaining on colleges in classroom connectivity to the Internet, according to a recent Market Data Retrieval survey. In the survey 64% of college respondents reported wired classrooms, up from 49% last year, while elementary and secondary schools increased reported 63%, up from only 3% in 1994. Brian Hawkins EDUCAUSE President says, however, that this is not an indicator of the more significant aspects of university and college IT, where materials are likely to be distributed throughout libraries, dormitories and campus computer labs, rather than classrooms. Also, faculty knowledge and accessibility alter ways in which parents and prospective students evaluate a school's use of technology. The EDUCAUSE handbook ranks schools in this regard, he said. (New York Times, 18 Apr 01)

- Beginning this fall, the New School University in New York City will launch an online certificate program in teaching and learning with technology that can be applied to a traditional offline master's degree. Twenty-two teachers in the city participated in this year's pilot, which is administered through the New School Online University. The certificate program is aimed at current high school teachers who want to learn how to better integrate technology into their coursework. This fall the pilot teachers will join with several teachers across the nation in Classroom Connect. This project will provide online lesson plans and other Internet-based resources for teachers, and has its own Connected University, which offers quick skills training and continuing education credits with affiliated colleges and universities. (New York Times 25 Apr 01)

- According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the sale of digital TV sets and displays have increased 158% during the first quarter of 2001 over 2000. The announcement came during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual trade show and indicates that consumers are becoming more interested in the sharper digital image and broadcast options. Digital sets now cost thousands of dollars, with converters at $500 - but projections are that the set prices could fall to $1,500 by next year. The CEA and NAB plan to combine forces to create consumer awareness about digital's program options. Meanwhile, the FCC is querying whether tuners should be included in new sets to lower prices. The CEA, however, claims that including tuners may raise prices. For the full story see CLICK: http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5689854.html?tag=prntfr (Reuters 11 Apr 01)

- The way is being paved for the Next Generation Internet (NGI) with the testing of the 128-bit Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and is expected to replace the current version, 32-bit IPv4. Reliability, intelligence, simplicity, speed, security and natural feel best describe the predictions for the NGI. Further predictions are that NGI will simulate server replication and that data volume will increase by 2010 from petabyte to zettabyte. (Federal Computer Week Online, 23 Apr 01)

- A $13.3 billion project, "eLearning Action Plan" was recently approved by The European Commission. The plan will provide assistance for IT-related education at universities across the continent. Both economically advantaged and disadvantaged areas will benefit. The advantaged will receive funds for their computer-science departments, while the disadvantaged will receive support for their IT infrastructure. The four-part plan includes: 1) infrastructure and equipment upgrades, 2) teacher training, 3) content development and 4) network construction. Online content will focus on three areas: language, arts and culture, and science and technology. Officials anticipate that the plan will make the continent's IT-related economy more competitive with that of the United States. The commission is also considering providing standard IT diplomas, which would provide individuals with a direct entrance into the digital age. (Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 16 Apr 01)

- Republican Congressman Fred Upton of MI is attempting to convince the Bush administration to forgo plans to cut the Technology Opportunity Program budget. Upton, chairman of the House Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications, is urging full funding for the program which enables public and nonprofit organizations to pay for computers and Internet access. The proposed deep budget cuts would reduce the program's funding from $42.5 million to $15 million. According to Upton, "It's imperative that we have this type of funding where people need it most or else these communities will fall behind," Upton said. (Washtech.com, 6 Apr 01)

- Users have flocked to sites like Gnutella and LimeWire to acquire copies of music since the Napster decision. Recording labels are now soliciting bids from tech companies to monitor and even block illegal file-sharing over these decentralized networks. These peer-to-peer networks operate using a users' own computer as a server, making centralized filtering an overwhelming task. Still, some software firms claim they can identify and disrupt these transfers. If this can be done, recording labels can demand that an ISP disable a user's account, once an infringement is identified. If the person claims innocence and the service is restored, the recording label can sue. This is, however, a nearly impossible task, if the recording label's objective is to shut down a network of over 1 million users. (Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar 01)