Radarsat International and Canadian Space Agency said they agreed with Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) to provide Radarsat-1 data to INPE for scientific research related to environmental monitoring, including estimating deforestation of Amazon River Basin.
January 24, 2001 by Sasha Samberg-Champion|Miscellaneous
House Ways & Means Committee ranking Democrat Rangel (D-N.Y.) will soon introduce bill to provide tax credits for minority ownership of telecom and broadcast companies, but not until he has “bipartisan agreements” in place, spokesman told us. Spokesman said Rangel has “some disagreements” with Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.), who plans similar bill on Senate side, particularly about “scope” of program and “who would qualify.” However, he said “we're fairly optimistic” in what’s “good political environment,” adding that bill could be “good test of bipartisanship.” McCain spokeswoman said he’s “working on a bill” but “we don’t have details yet.” She added that McCain “is pleased that the House is also working on this issue.” Tax certificate program for minority ownership was repealed in 1995, but with recent Commerce Dept. report finding just 4% of TV stations owned by minorities there’s pressure for new program. Rangel spokesman said it’s important that program be done right this time, and that there be no repeat of earlier problems of large companies using minorities as front men to get discounts. “We want to make sure we close those loopholes,” he said. Former Ways & Means Committee Chmn. Archer (R-Tex.) was public opponent of tax certificates. Views of new Chmn. Thomas (R-Cal.) are unknown, although he voted for repeal in 1995.
Wireless Communications Assn. annual technical symposium that ended Fri. in San Jose drew record attendance of 1,185, up from 235 year ago. Next technical symposium is set for June 24-27 in Boston.
Qualcomm subsidiary SnapTrack received wireless location and asset-tracking patent from U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Patent covers methods for remotely locating wireless device via client- server systems that use computer network or Web to initiate request on position of device. Device’s position is made known through data or graphic display, SnapTrack said.
FCC hasn’t decided how to react to “regulatory freeze” memo sent to agency by White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card Mon. (CD Jan 23 p1), although it does believe freeze is voluntary for independent agencies like FCC, Commission sources said. Industry sources said they couldn’t recall similar memos in past transitions. White House hadn’t returned our calls at our deadline.
In wake of aborted XM launch, Sea Launch said it may change countdown procedures (CD Jan 11 p2) while technicians check spacecraft and satellites for possible flaws that could cause in- orbit problems. Boeing Satellite Systems waited until 24 sec. before liftoff to issue order and 2 sec. before ignition before deciding to stop launch because of apparent out-of-specification condition that later was determined to be within operating parameters, spokesman said. Boeing engineers gave order that halted launch. Once preignition fluid was injected into Sea Launch rocket’s main engine, entire process, including engine refurbishing, must take place before it can be used in another launch attempt. “Once you get an engine wet, it has to be cleaned out,” Sea Launch spokeswoman said: “If we had done it earlier, there could have been a faster turnaround” on relaunch. Sea Launch and its customers would have to agree before change could be made.
New bill in Ore. House would make audio recordings of 911 emergency calls confidential information that couldn’t be disclosed without consent of person making call. Sponsor of HB- 2436, state Rep. Steve March (D-Portland), said treating 911 recordings as public records forces people to relive their tragedies when recordings of their emergency calls are replayed in TV and radio news broadcasts. Bill also would bar publishing verbatim written transcripts of 911 calls without consent.
Digital System Technology said it completed work on all- digital Internet Bcst. Operations Center in Seattle for RealNetworks. Technology allows video to be captured and streamed directly to Internet servers, company said.
Advanced Tracking Technologies (ATT) announced TravelEyes2 device that uses Global Positioning System (GPS) to track location of vehicles for uses such as tracking mileage for reimbursement, counting time spent at each stop, tracking speed and location of vehicle. Device is update of software consisting mainly of improved graphics, although it now can track tax-deductible mileage compared with other mileage.