IEEE USA News
 IEEE-USA
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 1202 - Washington, DC 20036-5104
Tel: +1 202 785 0017 - Fax: +1 202 785 0835
Web: https://www.ieeeusa.org
 
Greg Hill, Member & Electronic Communications Coordinator
g.hill@ieee.org, 202-785-0017, ext. 8335 www.ieeeusa.org
 
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CONTENTS
- Award-Winning IEEE-USA Magazine Has New Look & Broader Content
- IEEE-USA Supports House Bill to Strengthen NSF
- IEEE-USA Opposes Government Proposal Eroding Medical Privacy
- IEEE-USA WORKSHOP TO EXAMINE U.S. NATIONAL POLICY FOR ACCELERATING BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT
- IEEE-USA ACTION ALERT: TELL CONGRESS TO ADDRESS ELECTRIC RELIABILITY IN ENERGY LEGISLATION
- IEEE-USA OPPOSES GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL ERODING MEDICAL PRIVACY
- IEEE-USA SUPPORTS HOUSE BILL TO STRENGTHEN NSF
- IEEE-USA ENDORSES SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY BILLS
- AAAS REPORT PROVIDES ANALYSIS OF FY2003 R&D BUDGET REQUEST
- IEEE-USA PLACES MASS MEDIA FELLOW AT *POPULAR SCIENCE*
- SEVEN IEEE STUDENT MEMBERS SELECTED FOR WASHINGTON INTERNSHIPS
- IEEE-USA SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP WITH U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
- IEEE-USA LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER ADDS ELECTION INFORMATION
- COMING SOON FOR CAREERS...
IEEE-USA ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSES
IEEE-USA SALARY SURVEY SALE
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Award-Winning IEEE-USA Magazine Has New Look & Broader Content
 
WASHINGTON (3 May 2002) IEEE-USA Today's Engineer now includes
content previously published in IEEE-USA Policy Perspectives to form a
one-stop career and public-policy resource for engineers. The award-winning
monthly Web-based magazine (Webzine) can be found at
https://www.todaysengineer.org.
 
Today's Engineer features articles and commentary on career
enhancement, legislative activities, the technology workplace and the
engineering community. This month, "Job Search Strategies ? Planning for
Results" tells you how careful planning and concentration can help you land
your dream job. "Intelligence: Balancing the Techniques and the Costs"
looks at what the future holds for intelligence-gathering agencies and what
role technology will play.
 
Today's Engineer writers include acclaimed engineering journalists
Donald Christiansen and Terry Costlow. Christiansen is a former editor and
publisher of IEEE Spectrum magazine and is currently an independent
publishing consultant on Long Island. Costlow, of Arlington Heights, Ill.,
has written about the electronics industry for more than 20 years,
including a stint as EE Times People editor. IEEE practicing engineers also
contribute editorial content.
 
Begun as a print publication in 1998, Today's Engineer evolved into a
Webzine in January of 2001. The magazine has won numerous literary honors,
including a Gold Circle Award from the American Society of Association
Executives in January.
 
 
IEEE-USA Supports House Bill to Strengthen NSF
 
WASHINGTON (7 May 2002) IEEE-USA supports the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (H.R. 4664), legislation to be
introduced Thursday 8 May to authorize funding increases for the National
Science Foundation (NSF).
 
The bill, introduced by Nick Smith (R ? Mich.) and cosponsors, would
authorize 15 percent annual increases at the agency in FY 2003-2005. This
would put the NSF budget on track to double in five years.
 
"NSF funds cutting-edge research in engineering and computing that are
of tremendous interest to U.S. IEEE members, and ultimately beneficial to
all Americans," IEEE-USA President LeEarl Bryant said. "NSF investments
support our economy, not only by advancing the engineering sciences that
fuel innovation, but through development of the nation's technological
workforce."
 
An independent agency established by the National Science Foundation
Act of 1950 to advance scientific and engineering progress in the United
States, NSF supports 46 percent of the basic research in engineering
performed at universities and colleges, and helps train more than 25,000
graduate students each year.
 
"These funding increases would help NSF address new challenges,
including information technology, nanotechnology and homeland security, and
could help offset the recent declines in Defense Department support for
electrical and electronics-related research at universities," IEEE-USA Vice
President for Technology Policy Ralph W. Wyndrum said.
 
Added IEEE-USA R&D Policy Committee Chair Ron Hira: "This legislation
would help to restore much-needed balance to federal funding of engineering
and the physical sciences, which have begun to lag dangerously behind
federal investments in health-related research."
 
 
 
IEEE-USA Opposes Government Proposal Eroding Medical Privacy
 
WASHINGTON (9 May 2002) The Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) should not adopt a rule allowing health care providers to share
confidential medical records without patient consent, according to
IEEE-USA.
 
IEEE-USA President LeEarl Bryant, in comments filed with the HHS'
Office of Civil Rights, speaks out against the proposed March 27 rule
change to HHS' "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health
Information." Currently, a patient has to grant written consent for a
medical provider to share personal medical information among physicians and
other medical professionals for Treatment, Payment and health care
Operations (TPO).
 
"IEEE-USA is concerned about the unintended consequences of removing
the mandatory consent regulation as a means to enhance efficient record
sharing," Bryant said. "We believe the regulation would erode consumer
confidence and lessen the benefits of the proposed changes, rather than
providing a more efficient system."
 
The IEEE-USA Medical Technology Policy Committee (MTPC) recommends
that individuals should retain control over the release of sensitive health
information except for narrow cases such as emergency treatment, including
prescriptions a patient might be taking.
 
Frank Ferrante, MTPC chair, thinks the HHS proposal could hurt health
care quality.
 
"We believe this will pose a threat to the public's willingness to
undergo clinical testing," Ferrante said. "Without the ability of
individuals to control the dissemination of personal health information,
consumers may be discouraged from having tests that may lead to early
detection of disease and reduced treatment costs."
 
 
IEEE-USA WORKSHOP TO EXAMINE U.S. NATIONAL POLICY FOR ACCELERATING
BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT
IEEE-USA will host an 18-19 June session at the Cosmos Club in Washington,
D.C., to explore ways of including Gigabit Ethernet over Fiber (GEF), along
with other broadband technologies, in the coming national policy debate.
Bill St. Arnaud, of Canada's CANARIE project, will headline the event,
addressing the evolution of GEF in Canada. For more information, visit:
https://www.ieeeusa.org/conferences/broadband/
 
 
IEEE-USA ACTION ALERT: TELL CONGRESS TO ADDRESS ELECTRIC RELIABILITY IN
ENERGY LEGISLATION
IEEE-USA has issued a legislative action alert calling on U.S. IEEE members
to contact their Representative and Senators and ask them to urge members
of the conference committee on the Securing America's Future Energy Act of
2001 (H.R.4) to support inclusion of the Senate's electric reliability
provisions. The Senate bill, passed in April, includes legislative language
calling for the creation of a self-regulating reliability organization, the
North American Electric Reliability Organization (NAERO), which would build
on the successful voluntary industry-created North American Electric
Reliability Council (NERC). Such an organization would have the authority
to set and enforce standards for quality and reliability throughout the
entire North American Electric Grid, including the elements that lie within
Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit:
https://capwiz.com/ieeeusa/issues/alert/?alertid=146229&type=CO
 
 

IEEE-USA OPPOSES GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL ERODING MEDICAL PRIVACY

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should not adopt a
proposed rule modification that would allow health care providers to share
confidential medical records without patient consent, according to
IEEE-USA. In a 25 April letter to the HHS' Office for Civil Rights,
IEEE-USA President LeEarl A. Bryant expressed IEEE-USA's concerns over
potential unintended consequences that could result from removal of
mandatory consent regulation for purposes of accelerating efficient record
sharing. For more information, visit:
https://www.ieeeusa.org/releases/2002/050902pr.html
 
 
IEEE-USA SUPPORTS HOUSE BILL TO STRENGTHEN NSF
IEEE-USA supports the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002
(H.R. 4664), legislation introduced to authorize funding increases for the
National Science Foundation (NSF). The bill, introduced by Nick Smith
(R-Mich.) and cosponsors, would authorize 15 percent annual increases at
the agency in FY 2003-2005, putting the NSF budget on track to double in
five years. The bill was favorably reported by the House Science Research
Subcommittee on 9 May. For more information, visit:
https://www.ieeeusa.org/releases/2002/050802pr.html
 
See related *EE TIMES* coverage at:
https://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020508S0023
 
 
IEEE-USA ENDORSES SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY BILLS
In testimony before a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Science,
Technology and Space on homeland security and technology, IEEE-USA endorsed
two Senate bills designed to provide a coordinated technology response in
the event of a major emergency, and strengthen our nation's security
against computer attacks. IEEE-USA R&D Policy Committee chair Ron Hira
testified on IEEE-USA's behalf, in support of the Cyber Security Research
and Development Act (S.2182) and the Science and Technology Mobilization
Act (S.2037). On 16 May, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation reported the bill favorably to the full Senate.
 
See Hira testimony at: https://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/policy/02april24.html
See letter sent to Senate Commerce Committe:
https://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/02may15.html
See Boehlert press release/testimony at:
https://www.house.gov/science/press/107/107-205.htm
 
 
AAAS REPORT PROVIDES ANALYSIS OF FY2003 R&D BUDGET REQUEST
The American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) annual
report on R&D in the federal budget is now available online. The reference
work provides a comprehensive analysis of R&D in the President's budget
request for FY2003, including a special report on electrotechnology-related
research provided by 2001 IEEE-USA Congressional Fellow Russell Lefevre and
IEEE-USA Legislative Representative Bill Williams. For more, visit:
https://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/rd/rd03main.htm
 
 
IEEE-USA PLACES MASS MEDIA FELLOW AT *POPULAR SCIENCE*
IEEE-USA has placed its third fellow in the American Association for the
Advancement of Science's (AAAS) Science and Engineering Mass Media Fellows
Program. Robert Barnett, an IEEE student member who completes his Masters
in electrical engineering at Clemson University this year, will spend 10
weeks this summer in New York City at media giant POPULAR SCIENCE, the
world's largest science and technology magazine. The AAAS program is
designed to strengthen connections among scientists, engineers and
journalists by placing advanced science and engineering students in
newsrooms across the country. Fellows work as reporters, researchers and
production assistants in mass media organizations nationwide, collaborating
with media professionals to enhance coverage of science- and
engineering-related issues. Barnett, who also received his B.S. in
electrical engineering from Clemson, formerly served as managing editor of
the university's newspaper *THE TIGER*. His unique blend of engineering and
editorial experience makes him particularly well suited for the job. For
more information on the program, visit:
https://www.ieeeusa.org/newspubs/massmedia.html; or call IEEE-USA
Communications Director Pender M. McCarter at 202-785-0017, ext. 8353.
 
 
SEVEN IEEE STUDENT MEMBERS SELECTED FOR WASHINGTON INTERNSHIPS
On 28 May, seven IEEE Student Members will begin summer internships in
Washington as part of the Washington Internships for Students of
Engineering (WISE) program. Jason Frederick, Trampas Kurth, Andrew Lilly,
Tolani Owasu, Marc Rice, Davis Richard Thompson and Max Vilimpoc are among
the 14 engineering students selected to spend 10 weeks in Washington, D.C.,
learning how engineers can influence public policy on complex technological
issues.
 
The IEEE is directly sponsoring four of the seven IEEE Student Members
participating in the program:
 
Jason Frederick, an engineering science and physics major at Trinity
University in Texas, will explore the role that powerline broadband can
play in bridging the digital divide.
Trampas Kurth, an electrical engineering major at Kansas State
University, is interested in how the Internet has changed the dynamics
of intellectual property and fair-use policies.
Davis Richard Thompson, an electrical engineering major at Columbia
University and president of the IEEE Columbia student branch, will
investigate current genomics legislation and issues related to
integration of technology and biology.
Max Vilimpoc, an electrical engineering major at the Ohio State
University, brings to Washington an interest in cryptography,
intellectual property and equal access policy issues.
 
For more information on the IEEE's WISE interns and the WISE program,
visit: https://www.ieeeusa.org/releases/2002/041802pr.html.
 
 
IEEE-USA SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP WITH U.S. STATE
DEPARTMENT
IEEE-USA is seeking applications from U.S. IEEE members interested in
spending a year as an Executive Fellow in the U.S. State Department (
https://www.state.gov), starting in September 2002 or January 2003. The
fellowship provides an opportunity for an engineer to provide technical
expertise to the State Department, and help raise awareness of the value of
engineering input, while learning about and contributing to the foreign
policy process. Applications must be received by 3 June 2002. For more
details, and to download an application kit, visit
https://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/govfel/state.html or write to: IEEE-USA, Attn:
State Dept. Fellowship, 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 1202, Washington, D.C.,
20036-5104.
 
 
IEEE-USA LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER ADDS ELECTION INFORMATION
Now at IEEE-USA's Legislative Action Center online, U.S. IEEE members can
find information on the 2002 congressional elections and candidates.
IEEE-USA is offering this expanded service to help educate members about
the candidates and empower them to make informed voting decisions. You can
search by zip code or clickable map to find candidates in your state and
congressional district. Candidate profiles provide background and contact
information, including links to candidate websites. Key deadlines are
listed state by state. The service will be expanded this summer to include
voter registration tools and more. Try out this new service by visiting the
IEEE-USA Legislative Action Center at https://capwiz.com/ieeeusa/
 
COMING SOON...
 
 
IEEE-USA ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSES
A series of IEEE-USA online leadership training courses are expected to
launch by this summer. These courses will benefit engineers looking to be
more effective in their profession, especially those moving into managerial
roles, or seeking continuing education to maintain P.E. licensure.
AchieveGlobal, a world leader in professional development courses, is
teaming with IEEE-USA to bring you career-enhancing courses at discount
prices. For more information, contact Chris Currie at
mailto:c.currie@ieee.org.
 
IEEE-USA SALARY SURVEY SALE
Starting 1 June, the 2001-02 edition of the IEEE-USA Salary & Fringe
Benefit Survey will be available to IEEE members for just $49.95, a
reduction of $25 off the original member price.
 
The nation's pre-eminent salary survey for technical professionals contains
64 pages of charts and explanatory text, providing the latest statistics to
help users consider prospective jobs and negotiate salaries and benefits.
Income data are included in areas such as age, gender, experience,
industry, technical experience and geographical location cross tabulations.
 
Conducted online for the first time, the survey resulted in a near doubling
of respondents to more than 9,500. As the biggest and most accurate measure
of member compensation ever conducted by IEEE-USA, the report provides many
details not reported in the past. To order, call +1 800 678 IEEE (4333) and
ask for product number UH-2990, or go visit:
https://www.ieeeusa.org/catalog/01salary.html
 
 
 
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IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of the IEEE created in 1973 to
promote the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 230,000
electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S.
members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional
society with over 360,000 members in 150 countries. For more information,
visit us online at https://www.ieeeusa.org.
  
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IEEE-USA
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 1202
Washington, DC 20036-5104
Tel: +1 202 785 0017
Fax: +1 202 785 0835
Web: https://www.ieeeusa.org
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Updated 05/30/02