Congress approved legislation that will increase to 600,000 the number of visas issued to skilled foreign workers during the next three years. The measure also includes provisions funding scholarships for American students and training for U.S. workers.”The overwhelming bipartisan support for the H-1B visa bill shows that our message has been heard: We need highly skilled workers to keep our nation’s economic engine running,” said Matthew Flanigan, president of the Telecommunications Industry Association.
The Federal Communications Commission this week could issues new rules that foster improved access to buildings by fixed wireless carriers, like Winstar Communications Inc., Nextlink Communications and Teligent Inc. The FCC was to vote on the measure on Sept. 14, but postponed the decision at the request of Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth.
Congress this week is expected to send the China trade bill to the White House for President Clinton’s signature. It is unclear whether the White House will hold a formal signing ceremony. The legislation, which confers on China permanent normal trade relations status, paves the way for massive wireless trade in China and helps ensure China’s entry into the World Trade Organization.
The House Commerce Committee last Thursday was poised to pass truth in billing legislation, a measure characterized by the wireless industry as an unnecessary government mandate.
ITT Research Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization allied with the Illinois Institute of Technology, has been contracted by the Justice Department to review the controversial e-mail sniffing tool known as Carnivore. Carnivore has come under attack from privacy advocates, who claim the computer surveillance system allows law enforcement to see more information than is allowed. Moreover, an appeals court decision in August on the 1994 digital wiretap act could negate the use of Carnivore-type surveillance.
