Subject: [Fwd: High-tech news and events]
From: Jerry Tibor (anjft@uaa.alaska.edu)
Date: Thu May 03 2001 - 15:27:44 AKDT
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: High-tech news and events
Date: 03 May 01 13:50:32 -0800
From: "Sally J. Suddock"<details@alaska.net>
Reply-To: ahtbc@ahtbc.org
To: anjft@uaa.alaska.edu
ALASKA HIGH-TECH NEWS
May 3, 2001
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Legislative Alerts:
--Alaska legislature to require sole proprietors to obtain Workers Comp
insurance?
--Congress prepares to float e-tax measure for online commerce.
2. Alaska ranks.not bad among states for IT
3. Event notices: TUESDAY, May 8. Alaska High-Tech Business Council
monthly luncheon. 11:30 a.m., Northern Lights Hotel. "The" rundown on
telecommunications capacity, assets, and issues statewide, from the
Denali
Commission. MARK YOUR CALENDAR. (More details below).
--------------------
1. LEGISLATIVE ALERTS
House passes HB212 Workers Comp bill
Legislation approved by the Alaska House unanimously on April 25 would
require all contractors and subcontractors in the state to carry
workers'
compensation insurance.
The legislation, said Rep. Lisa Murkowski, "would close a loophole in
state law that allows sole proprietorship contractors to work without
insurance." She said "it's a question of fairness and safetysole
proprietorship subcontractors can skip the cost of insurance and bid
lower
on jobs." In the construction industry, for example, current state law
requires contractors to provide insurance for their employees and for
employees of subcontractors who don't have coverage. Murkowski chairs
the
House Labor and Commerce Committee.
While targeted to construction, the bill also would impact other sole
proprietors statewide. It is pending in the Senate.
--------------------------------------------
A break in E-tax impasse?
BusinessWeek Online reported this week that the U.S. Senate may be about
to launch a "compromise" e-commerce bill that for the first time would
allow states to level sales taxes on online Internet transactions.
The magazine said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain
(R-Ariz)
and Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) "may be close to an
agreement that would allow states to require online retailers to collect
sales taxesbut on after the states drastically simplify those levies."
If enacted, the legislation would continue until 2006 the congressional
ban on new taxes on the Internet. The tax moratorium is due to expire in
November.
Said BusinessWeek online: "Under existing law, states are barred by the
Supreme Court from requiring out-of-state retailers to collect tax on
goods purchased online or through mail-order. But in a series of
decisions,
the high court has said Congress has the power to authorize such
collections. The existing moratorium on Internet taxation doesn't apply
to
sales taxes, so if Congress gives the states the authority to imposed
such
levies, it would be a significant step." This issue has been bogged down
in the committee for more than a year.
The report can be found at
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/may2001/nf2001051_030.htm
-----------------------------------------------
2. OTHER NEWS
Alaska fares better than average in tech survey
Alaska ranked 18th overall among the states in a new survey of
technology
competitiveness, complied by the META Group technology research firm.
Massachusetts, California, Maryland, Colorado and Washington ranked
highest among the 50 states in the "2001 States' New E-conomy Index"
survey released in April. The index measures the states' "digital
vitality,
" based on indicators such as:
--Economic dynamism and competition -- Alaska ranked 34th
--Globalization -- Alaska ranked 6th.
--Knowledge jobs -- Alaska ranked 34th
--Technological innovation capacity -- Alaska ranked 32nd
--And transformation to a digital economy -- Alaska ranked 7th.
The full report and rankings can be found at www.metricnet.com.
(Thanks to Tara-Lu Corp. for alerting the AHTBC to the survey findings.)
--------------------------------
3. UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, May 8.
Alaska High-Tech Business Council Monthly luncheon
11:30 a.m., Northern Lights Hotel.
RSVP for our meal count to: ahtbc@ahtbc.org or 276-4822.
Denali Commission project manager Krag Johnsen will brief the Alaska
High-
Tech Business Council on a just-released new report and database on
Alaska's telecommunications capacity, infrastructure, rate structures,
and
"digital divide" status. The federal-state commission released a
comprehensive survey and database of all telcos in April. Copies of the
Access database and executive summary of the report can be found for
download at www.denali.gov.
A limited number of copies of the report and database will be available
at
the luncheon on CD-ROM (early birds get the.goods).
Mark your calendar!
---------------
Thursday, May 10
Alaska Computer Society, PC Users Group
7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 725 W. 9th Ave., Anchorage.
The group will demonstrate software mapping packages and how they
interface with Global Positioning System devices. Beginning to
intermediate level. Also featured will be Garmin International products.
---------------
May 23-24
InfoCom Alaska 2001: "Gateway to the Future"
Egan Center, Anchorage
Scores of exhibits, seminars, networking opportunities. Sponsored by the
Association of Information Technology Professionals. For program,
exhibit,
and other information: infocom@meetingresults.com.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a23 : Thu May 03 2001 - 15:27:48 AKDT