Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Nokia Corp. (NOK) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric L who wrote (2869)	3/30/2003 8:57:31 PM
From: Eric L	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9255

The Darrell Issa Saga Part I (Quack, Quack) [Note: Several reports have stated that Qualcomm is located in Rep. Darrell Issa's 49th District. That is not accurate. The 49th District is just to the north of the district where Qualcomm is located and the 49th abuts it] Included Below: * "Parlez-vous français?" A Press release on Darrell's website and evidently from his offices. * The original draft made public by Darrell of the Rumsfeld Letter he urged other Congressmen to sign. * The "cleaned up" version of the letter to Ambassador Wendy Chamberlain. * Issa's Press release for H.R. 1441: The Issa Bill that mandates CDMA in reconstruction of Iraq >> Parlez-vous français? Congressional Lawmakers Balk At Plan To Deploy French/German Cell Phone Technology In Post-War Iraq Date : 3/26/2003 Topic : Foreign Affairs - Iraq Description : WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Congress are quickly adding their names to a letter drafted by California Rep. Darrell Issa (R-49) objecting to a proposal by the DOD and USAID to use federal funds to build a communications system in post-war Iraq based on the European Groupe Speciale Mobile (GSM) cell phone standard. The draft of the letter being circulated to lawmakers is addressed to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and USAID Administrator, Ambassador Wendy Chamberlain. The full text of the letter appears below: << >> Darrell Issa's Letter to Donald Rumsfeld The letter was circulated to fellow Congressmen and the cover letter from Issa stated: "I urge you to sign on to a letter to Defense Secretary [Donald] Rumsfeld and to Ambassador Wendy Chamberlain with [USAID]" March 26, 2003 The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld Secretary of Defense The Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20301-1155 Dear Secretary Rumsfeld: We understand that the United States Armed Forces and the U.S. Reconstruction and Civil Affairs Office are planning to deploy a cell phone system in Iraq that will be used by these and other organizations to meet immediate post-conflict mobile communications requirements. We presume that this system would be operated by the United States for a period of time and then privatized. We understand that decisions about the rollout of this system are being made in real time. We have learned that planners at the Department of Defense and USAID are currently envisioning using Federal appropriations to deploy a European-based wireless technology known as GSM (“Groupe Speciale Mobile”- this standard was developed by the French) for this new Iraqi cell phone system. If European GSM technology is deployed in Iraq, much of the equipment used to build the cell phone system will be manufactured in France by Alcatel, in Germany by Siemens, and elsewhere in western and northern Europe. Therefore, if our understanding of this situation is correct, because of ill-considered planning, the U.S. government will soon hand U.S. taxpayer dollars over to French, German, and other European cell phone equipment companies to build the new Iraqi cell phone system. This is not acceptable. U.S. developed CDMA (code-division multiple access) cell phone technology is widely recognized as technically superior to European GSM technology and is deployed in 50 nations worldwide. In addition, we understand that CDMA cell phones include an integrated global positioning system (GPS) feature that allows the precision location of callers in times of emergency. European GSM cell phones do not have integrated GPS. If U.S. relief workers in Iraq are equipped with CDMA cell phones with GPS, they will be immediately locatable in case of terrorist attack or kidnapping. Finally, because U.S. CDMA systems are compliant with the U.S. Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, this system provides all necessary access for law enforcement in post-conflict Iraq. Finally, we understand that there are already quickly deployable U.S. commercial proposals to commence immediately with the installation of U.S. CDMA technology in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of American jobs depend on the success of U.S.-developed wireless technologies like CDMA. If the U.S. government deploys U.S- developed CDMA in Iraq, then American companies will manufacture most of the necessary equipment here in the United States. We urge you to use American developed CDMA cell phone technology. Thank you for your consideration on this important matter. << >> The "Cleaned Up" Letter to Wendy J. Chamberlain Padon Moi: Removes "this standard (GSMwas developed by the French" issa.house.gov March 26, 2003 The Honorable Wendy J. Chamberlain Assistant Administrator U.S. Agency for International Development Bureau for Asia and the Near East 1300 Pennsylvania, N.W. Room 4.9 Washington, D.C. 20523 Dear Ambassador Chamberlain: We understand that the United States Armed Forces and the U.S. Reconstruction and Civil Affairs Office are planning to deploy a cell phone system in Iraq that will be used by these and other organizations to meet immediate post-conflict mobile communications requirements. We presume that this system would be operated by the United States for a period of time and then privatized. We understand that decisions about the rollout of this system are being made in real time. We have learned that planners at the Department of Defense and USAID are currently envisioning using Federal appropriations to deploy a European-based wireless technology known as GSM (Groupe Speciale Mobile) for this new Iraqi cell phone system. If European GSM technology is deployed in Iraq, much of the equipment used to build the cell phone system would be manufactured in France, Germany, and elsewhere in western and northern Europe. Furthermore, royalties paid on the technology would flow to French and European sources, not U.S. patent holders. U.S. developed CDMA (code-division multiple access) cell phone technology is widely recognized as technically superior to European GSM technology and is deployed in 50 nations worldwide. In addition, we understand that CDMA cell phones include an integrated global positioning system (GPS) feature that allows the precision location of callers in times of emergency. European GSM cell phones do not have integrated GPS. If U.S. relief workers in Iraq are equipped with CDMA cell phones with GPS, they will be immediately locatable in case of terrorist attack or kidnapping. Finally, because U.S. CDMA systems are compliant with the U.S. Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, this system provides all necessary access for law enforcement in post-conflict Iraq. Finally, we understand that there are already quickly deployable U.S. commercial proposals to commence immediately with the installation of U.S. CDMA technology in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of American jobs depend on the success of U.S.-developed wireless technologies like CDMA. If the U.S. government deploys U.S- developed CDMA in Iraq, then American companies will manufacture most of the necessary equipment here in the United States and benefit from the associated royalties. We urge you to use American developed CDMA cell phone technology. Thank you for your consideration on this important matter. << Introducing Legislation Mandating CDMA >> H.R. 1441: The Issa Bill that Mandates CDMA in Reconstruction of Iraq Hot Off Issa's Presses: issa.house.gov Issa Bill Preferences U.S. Companies In Reconstruction of Iraq Mandates Use of U.S. Based CDMA Cell Phone Technology Date : 3/27/2003 Topic : Foreign Affairs - Iraq Description : WASHINGTON, DC – One day after learning of a Department of Defense directive that specified the use of European-based GSM technology for the construction of a cell phone system in post-war Iraq, Congressman Darrell Issa introduced legislation, H.R. 1441, to mandate the use of U.S. based CDMA cell phone technology. The bill further requires that all contracts for post-war construction give preference to American companies. Iraq is one of the few countries in the world without a substantial existing cell phone network. A limited GSM network was built for the use of the Iraqi leadership by the French company Alcatel, according to a World Markets Research Centre report. “If U.S. taxpayers are going to be gifting billions of dollars in technology and infrastructure to the Iraqi people we ought to make sure, to the greatest extent possible, that those expenditures also benefit the American people and the American economy,” Issa said. “If we build a system based on European technology the Europeans will receive the royalties, not U.S. patent holders. From an investment standpoint, that is a bad decision.” Issa also signed a letter with other lawmakers to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and United States Agency for International Development Director Wendy Chamberlain objecting to the decision to use the foreign cell phone standard. “If Congress doesn’t set a clear policy with respect to dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq, the real cost to the American taxpayer could increase dramatically,” Issa predicted. A copy of the text of H.R. 1441 is attached. [but not yet on Issa's web site as GPO hasn't printed it yet] ### And the world reacts ... My reaction to the *Parlez-vous français?* headline he placed on his web-site .... ... is not very positive. - Eric -