National Security Agency (NSA) will host commercial technology acquisition conference Nov. 14 to discuss anticipated business opportunities in FY 2003 with potential contracting partners. Event is unclassified but access is restricted to U.S. citizens. Conference will be held at Acquisition Resource Center, 7471 Candlewood Rd., Hanover, Md. -- 301-688-3598.

National Institute of Standards & Technology’s Computer System Security & Privacy Advisory Board scheduled series of meetings Sept. 17-19. Agenda items include update from Office of Management & Budget on privacy and security issues and discussion of matters related to Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Meetings are 9 a.m., General Services Administration hq. Oral comments from public will be permitted, limited to 5 min. per speaker. Persons interested in speaking are encouraged to contact board in advance -- 301-975-3669.

Verance said it received 2 new U.S. patents for digital watermark technology, increasing its total to 20. U.S. Patent No. 6,427,012 uses watermark to track content over broadcasts and Internet. U.S. Patent No. 6,430,301 marks content in order to track it back to specific source, such as CD, DVD, public performance.

Dept. of Commerce needs access to dark fiber links in Washington, D.C., area. Fiber must be capable of operating at gigabit data rates involving: (1) Various U. of Md., NASA and NOAA locations. (2) U. of Md. Mid-Atlantic Crossroads and NOAA hq in Silver Spring, Md. Although all bids will be accepted (RFQ No. NWWX200048), NOAA said it intended to negotiate sole-source contract with FiberGate, “the only known source which presently has these dark fiber circuits in place or which will have them in place in the near future” -- 301-713-0828, ext. 117.

American Bar Assn. (ABA) committee is scheduled to vote Thurs. on resolution supporting constitutionality of extending copyright terms. ABA Section of Intellectual Property (IP) Law debate on proposed Resolution 301-1 will take place during section meeting in Philadelphia. In its current form, resolution states that IP section “favors, in principle, the position that the extension of the term of protection by the [Sonny Bono] Copyright Term Extension Act [CTEA]… does not violate the [U.S.] Constitution; and specifically, that the extension of term does not violate the ‘limited times’ clause of Article I, Section 8, or the First Amendment” of Constitution. ABA action is in response to Eldred v. Ashcroft, lawsuit challenging CTEA, which has sparked widespread opposition from those who contend its extension of copyright protection to works already its existence would stifle public access to materials. ABA debate will be held during section’s business session June 27, 1:45-5:30 p.m. EDT, section said.

Challenge by ARRL, National Assn. for Amateur Radio, that questions FCC’s jurisdiction to authorize unlicensed devices that can cause “significant interference” has sparked protests from Apple Computer, Cisco, Microsoft. Those companies, along with VoiceStream Wireless and Lucent spin- off Agere Systems, contend ARRL’s position would create “bureaucratic nightmare” by uprooting regulatory regime that has given rise to cordless phones, PCs, garage door openers and broadband wireless networks. Another group of high-tech companies, including ultra-wideband developer XtremeSpectrum, also filed opposition to ARRL petition Fri. In Feb., ARRL asked FCC to reconsider its order that would allow operation of unlicensed fixed, point-to-point transmitters at 24 GHz. It said Commission didn’t have jurisdiction under Communications Act to authorize unlicensed devices “which have significant potential for interference to licensed radio services.” Christopher Imlay, counsel for ARRL, said group rarely challenged FCC decisions in court, but it was likely to take its arguments to U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., if Commission rejected its petition.

Dupont Displays and Clare announced jointly integrated driver controller for OLED applications. Model 301 is expected to be available in sample quantities by year-end featuring 128 column current-sourcing anode driver and 80 common-cathode row drivers, 4-bit gray scale. STMicroelectronics, which has licensing agreement with Cambridge Display Technologies, is expected to ship mono column driver by 3rd quarter and add full color in first quarter of 2003.

NOAA will continue to require undersea cable operators and movie production companies to apply for special use permits under National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) Act. NOAA “until further notice” will not seek to amend requirements of law’s Sec. 310, which “establishes condition of access to and use of” such protected areas. Although those activities generally are prohibited, Sec. 310 allows agency to issue special use permits when use of sanctuaries “is conducted in a way that does not injure, cause the loss of, or destroy a sanctuary resource.” NOAA regulations apply specifically to installation, removal and any necessary fiber repair activities, while special use permits are required for “continued presence” of cable on seabed or under sea floor. Since 1988 NOAA has granted permits to film TV ads in those undersea areas, and agency now “has received inquiries from motion picture companies seeking to deposit objects into a sanctuary and immediately recover them for special effects.” NOAA seeks comment on its special use authority by July 19. Through separate process agency “will consider whether to issue regulations or a policy statement on submarine cables” and “whether the issuance” of special use permits for cable maintenance “continues to be appropriate.” -- 301-713-3125 ext. 152.

Small business telecom, space and ground communications and information technology and support service providers are encouraged to participate July 25 in Science Forum at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. NASA said event “will serve as a platform for senior agency officials to become aware of the presence” of high-tech small, disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses -- 301-286-5490.

Electronic filings will become mandatory May 21 at FCC Media Bureau for change applications (FCC 301-CA), low-power TV applications (FCC 346), FM translator and booster change applications (FCC 349) and applications for translator or booster licenses (FCC 350). Users can access electronic filing system at www.fcc.gov/mb.