MiCTA Alert - June 2005

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MiCTA Alert - June 2005

IN THIS ISSUE:

* Achieving Learner Success - Desire2Learn Webinar

* Fifty-Fold Savings on Video Conferencing Connections - University of Detroit Mercy

* June Specials

* Reminder to Members - Member Number Required to Participate in MiCTA Contracts

* ACUTA Legislative Update

* Welcome to New Members

* Spring 2006 Conference

* Just for Fun!

Webinar-Desire2Learn and MiCTA: Achieving Learner Success- Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 2-3pm ET

Join Desire2Learn Inc., a world-leading provider of mission-critical enterprise learning systems, and MiCTA, a non-profit technology provider, for a free webcast. This presentation will provide you with an up-front and interactive glimpse at the latest eLearning technologies. You’ll learn about the new features and functionality now available in two new product versions: the Desire2Learn Learning Platform 7.4 and the Desire2Learn Learning Object Repository (LOR) 3.1. The D2L learning environment and D2L LOR are enabling educators to deliver a high quality education experience to all learners.

This 60-minute Webcast features:

live demonstrations of the unprecedented capabilities, features and enhancements found in both new product versions;
hi-lights and tips for effective deployments from educational institutions and healthcare organizations achieving positive results;
discussion of new pricing available to all MiCTA members;
Q&A with Desire2Learn, Founder, President and CEO, John Baker and MiCTA Service Corporation President/CEO, John Rathje.

Register here!

Fifty-Fold Savings on Video Conferencing Connections-University of Detroit Mercy

"By joining MICTA and moving to their Sprint ISDN long distance contract, we immediately realized a 50 fold savings for our video-conferencing connections over our previous carrier. Several months later, we continue to realize those savings. We now smile when we see the bill arrive.

Having paid for the membership over and over through Telecomm savings, we also were able to see a significant savings when renewing our Blackboard contract under the MICTA contract.

With every IT purchase, we now check to see if there is a MICTA partner to include in our request for quote."

Edward G. Tracy II
CIO, University of Detroit Mercy
edward.tracy@udmercy.edu

June Specials, Just for MiCTA Members

Gateway and Sprint have both come through with some unbelieveable specials for the month of June!
Click through to see details of these incredible deals!

Reminder to Members- Member Number Required to Participate in MiCTA Contracts

You must provide your MiCTA member number to the applicable vendor to enjoy the pricing and terms of the MiCTA contract. If you don’t know your member number, just call the office at 888 870 8677.

ACUTA Legislative Update May 2005

Welcome to the latest edition of ”ACUTA Legislative/Regulatory Update", a monthly electronic newsletter summarizing Federal regulatory and legislative developments of interest to communications technology professionals in higher education. This membership benefit is provided monthly to all named representatives of Institutional, Corporate Affiliate, Associate and Emeritus members.

"ACUTA Legislative/Regulatory Update" is based primarily on information provided to the ACUTA Legislative/Regulatory Affairs Committee by attorneys Jeffrey Linder and Brad Gillen of Wiley, Rein and Fielding, a law firm in Washington, DC with extensive telecommunications expertise.

If you are interested in more in-depth information on the topics covered in this publication, a copy of the full text of this Wiley, Rein and Fielding update is available on the ACUTA Web site at http://www.acuta.org/?1331

VoIP/Broadband Developments

FCC Denies SBC VoIP Petition .
The FCC rejected SBC's IP Platform forbearance petition filed last February. SBC had asked the FCC to forbear from applying any Title II obligations that may apply to IP Platform services. The Order can be found at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-95A1.pdf
VoIP E-911 Lawsuit Update.
As described last month, the Texas Attorney General filed suit against Vonage under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, challenging the marketing of Vonage's E-911 services. That lawsuit has led at least four other states to initiate proceedings against Vonage under similar deceptive trade statutes. The FCC has also signaled that it may adopt federal requirements for VoIP E-911 service in the May/June timeframe. [E-911 for IP-enabled services is on the agenda for the 5-19-05 open meeting of the Commission. The agenda and a link to streaming video of the Commission meeting are available on the FCC Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/#may19. ]

Other Telecom-Related Developments

Kevin Martin Names Senior Staff.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has announced his senior advisors for telecom issues. Former legal advisor Dan Gonzalez was tapped to become FCC Chief of Staff; Michelle Carey of the Wireline Competition Bureau will replace Gonzalez on Martin's staff, and Tom Navin, also of the Wireline Competition Bureau, has been named the new Bureau Chief. Chairman Martin's announcement can be found at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258473A1.pdf
PIC Change Reconsideration Sought.
SBC, Qwest, and Verizon have each filed separate petitions for reconsideration of the recent modifications to the PIC change rules. The petitions question the cost recovery limitation under the new rules when only the interstate PIC is changed by an end-user customer.
Do-Not-Fax Legislation Update.
The Senate version of do-not-fax legislation that would effectively undo the FCC's most recent do-not-fax order was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee this month. Senator Barbara Boxer again attempted to block the legislation and sought greater opt-out rights for consumers.
PATRIOT Act.
Congress has begun consideration of the continuing need for the PATRIOT Act, and will hold a series of hearings on the subject this Spring and Summer. This month in testimony before Congress, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez strongly supported the PATRIOT Act. A number of legislative proposals have already been made to modify the Act, including changing the access rules for stored voice messages, and increasing law enforcement's evidence burden to access libraries and booksellers' records. Law enforcement has been critical of such proposals, noting that no library or bookseller has ever been ordered to produce records under the PATRIOT Act.
Other Telecom-Related Legislation.
Proposed legislation (S-432) that would authorize $250 million in grants to minority-focused educational institutions to fund development of telecommunications and technology infrastructure has also reached the Senate floor. A House proposal that would eliminate the excise tax dating back to the Spanish American War has also been introduced.
Do-Not-Fax Enforcement.
The National Chamber Foundation, a non-profit public policy think tank, associated with U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has been issued a citation from the FCC for alleged violations of the do-not-fax rules. According to the citation, the National Chamber Foundation sent unsolicited faxes and also failed to provide proper disclosure information on facsimile transmissions. The citation can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2005/DA-05-1081A1.html
SBC/AT&T and Verizon/MCI Merger Proceedings.
The FCC's consideration of both BOC/IXC mergers is underway. The comment cycle is complete in the SBC/AT&T merger, and comments were filed in response to the Verizon/MCI Merger on May 9, with reply comments due May 24. On April 18, FCC staff solicited from SBC/AT&T detailed responses to a list of questions, seeking to further develop the factual record.

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If you have questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact ACUTA's Executive Director, Jeri Semer, at jsemer@acuta.org or (859) 278-3338, Ext. 225.

Welcome to New Members

Allband Communications Cooperative
Assembly of God
City of Kileen
Diocese of Marquette
Great Lakes Colleges Association
Lutheran Services of Florida
Mississippi Department of I.T.S.
Moravian College
Saint Joseph ’s University
University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Request to Update Member Contact Information

To ensure useful and timely distribution of MiCTA communications, the staff is now working to update member contact information. We are asking that each member email Jeanne Rhode , jrhode@mictaservice.com at the office. Jeanne will return to you, the data sheet for your organization. We ask that you review the data sheet, update appropriately and return to Jeanne. If you have questions, please give Jeanne a call. Your help with this important effort will be greatly appreciated.

Jeanne Rhode
(888) 870 8677

Spring Conference 2006 in Kalamazoo

Please mark your calendar and schedule May 8-10 for next year’s Spring Conference which will be held in Kalamazoo at the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites. Please visit their website for hotel details at http://www.radissonkz.com. Planning for this conference is just beginning, so there are still a lot of loose ends. We’ll keep you informed and post a progress report on the MiCTA website.

Just for Fun!