The U.S. leads the world in providing fertile conditions for the information technology industry, but other countries are quickly catching up, a study said. Close behind the U.S. are Taiwan, the U.K., Sweden and Denmark. The Business Software Alliance sponsored the Economist Group’s creation of the competitiveness index. To judge the information- technology industry climates of 66 economies, it took into account the supply of high-tech workers, the culture of innovation, technology infrastructure, the legal environment, the openness of the economy and government leadership. Alliance President Robert Holleyman said technology industries are among the “primary engines” of the economy and they need to continue running smoothly. “The gap between the U.S. and other nations is narrowing as many economies are becoming more competitive and nipping at our heels,” he said. The report cites as U.S. strengths the country’s legal and business environments and its college graduates but also highlights weaknesses of a shortage of skilled workers, incomplete broadband penetration, limited resources for research and development, and political pressure to restrict access to U.S. markets and universities. This is the second year of the index.
The U.S. leads the world in providing fertile conditions for the information technology industry, but other countries are quickly catching up, a study said. Close behind the U.S. are Taiwan, the U.K., Sweden and Denmark. The Business Software Alliance sponsored the Economist Group’s creation of the competitiveness index. To judge the information- technology industry climates of 66 economies, it took into account the supply of high-tech workers, the culture of innovation, technology infrastructure, the legal environment, the openness of the economy and government leadership. Alliance President Robert Holleyman said technology industries are among the “primary engines” of the economy and they need to continue running smoothly. “The gap between the U.S. and other nations is narrowing as many economies are becoming more competitive and nipping at our heels,” he said. The report cites as U.S. strengths the country’s legal and business environments and its college graduates but also highlights weaknesses of a shortage of skilled workers, incomplete broadband penetration, limited resources for research and development, and political pressure to restrict access to U.S. markets and universities. This is the second year of the index.
The International Trade Commission has released the public version of its report requested by the House Committee on Ways and Means entitled, "China: Description of Selected Government Practices and Policies Affecting Decision Making in the Economy."
The “convergent European publisher” hasn’t been born, Information Society & Media Commissioner Viviane Reding said Dec. 6 in a Brussels speech to the Publishers Forum. Most European media companies haven’t adapted their business models to the Internet due to uncertainty about the “digital paradigm shift,” she said, but the transition will open opportunities for publishers and others in the content sector to boost revenue by cross-fertilizing online and offline offerings. The European Commission (EC) seeks a key role in promoting success among content providers, creators, transmission and access companies, technology providers and users, she said. The coming communique on creative content online in the single market won’t impose a business model on players but will launch a process to simplify business negotiations and solidify legal certainty, Reding said. The EC also will approve a statement on media literacy in the digital environment, hoping to raise awareness about how search engines work, encourage critical assessment of online content, and address other issues, she said.
India is expected to release its satellite radio terrestrial repeater policy this year, allowing WorldSpace to move forward with its plans to offer a mobile satellite radio service, WorldSpace CEO Noah Samara told analysts late Thursday during a Q3 earnings call. WorldSpace lost more than 8,000 subscribers in India Q3 as it significantly reduced its marketing efforts while it awaited clearance to build a repeater network. Recent conversations with Indian regulators led Samara to believe that a policy would be issued by year-end, he said. “A mobile service is contingent on the issuance of a satellite radio policy that will allow terrestrial repeater network,” he said.
On July 20, 2007, the House Agriculture Committee ordered to be reported H.R. 2419, the new Farm Bill. According to a committee press release, the committee's version of the Farm Bill includes language that will allow for full implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for meat. The press release also states that the House is expected to vote on the Farm Bill before the end of July 2007. (House Agriculture Committee press release, dated 07/20/07, available at http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/agriculture_dem/pr_072007_FarmBill_Passage.html.)
Policy committees of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) at the group’s summer meeting in New York stumbled over a resolution demanding that federal high-cost fund reform be provider- and technology-neutral. But the panels advanced three others on Internet protocol relay fraud, consumer implications in the transition to digital television (DTV) broadcasting and wireless early termination penalties. Four more telecom resolutions were set for committee consideration Tuesday. Resolutions don’t become official policy until approved by the NARUC board, which meets Wednesday.
According to numerous press and government reports, China announced its decision to cut or do away with value-added tax rebates for exports of more than 2,800 commodities, effective July 1, 2007. This change will affect the profit margins of many industries, including energy and resource intensive products such as cement, fertilizer and non-ferrous metals, as well as products that cause trade frictions, such as garments, toys, steel products and motorcycles.
On May 4, 2007, Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report that describes scientific progress in understanding global greenhouse gas emission trends, as well as the ability of short-to-medium-term strategies to achieve long-term goals of mitigating climate change.
An advisory panel last month urged ICANN to consider becoming a private international organization (PIO) to widen its presence and stabilize its operations. The President’s Strategy Committee (PSC) stressed that such a transformation must fit ICANN values such as including all parts of the Internet community and the need for accountability and openness. But some observer said the move mainly would serve to dodge those obligations and in any case the U.S. govt. would never buy it.