Excellent. I understand Microsoft had agreed to host the database on its
highly secure Windows 2003 Servers.
Lyle
On Thursday 01 April 2004 09:45, R. D. Davis wrote:
> April 1, 2004
> Associatid Press, Washington - The United States Federal
> Communications Commission, as part of a joint project funded by the
> Department of Defense, has approved measures to begin requiring US
> consumers to obtain licenses for all new personal computers purchased
> after January, 2005.
>
> "It's basically the same process that CB radio owners had to go
> through in the 1970's, only we require a slight ammount of additional
> information.", said Lance O. Onie, director of the FCC's PC Freedom
> Initiative.
>
> Purchasers of new PCs will have to fill out a simple "one step" form,
> with only the following information: The purchaser's Social Security
> number, current address, e-mail address(es), date of birth, driver's
> license number and the computer's CPU's unique serial number.
>
> "By requiring the driver's license number, we are able to simplify
> things by not requiring consumers to be inconvenienced by having their
> photos taken for inclusion in our database; we can just get that data
> from the states in which they're licensed.", Onie was quick to point
> out as a benifit of this simplified procedure.
>
> The user will be able to access the CPU's serial number through the
> use of a computer program distributed on a CD ROM with each new PC
> sold. The program must remain installed on the computer whenever the
> computer is used with the Internet.
>
> Owners of older computers will be exempt from this new law until
> December 25, 2006, "giving them plenty of time to upgrade their
> systems as necessary in order to comply with the new law", says Onie,
> who commented that this program will also be "very helpful to the
> economy."
>
> After that time, the FCC will work with the CIA, state and local law
> enforcement officials to conduct random high-tech sweeps throughout
> the country to check for the illegal possession and use of
> unregistered computing equipment.
>
> Fines and penalties were not specified, but sources say that illegal
> possession will be considered to be a very serious offense, necessary
> for the freedom, safety and well-being of all Americans.
--
Lyle Bickley
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
http://bickleywest.com
"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"
Received on Thu Apr 01 2004 - 11:51:42 BST