The United States and Vietnam struck a trade pact that could significantly open up new wireless telecom opportunities in Southeast Asia.
The accord, reached between Richard Fisher, deputy U.S. trade representative, and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Than Dung and Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen, represents a big step toward full U.S. economic re-engagement with Indochina.
The U.S. previously reached trade agreements with Cambodia and Laos, and granted Cambodia normal trade relations status.
The U.S.-Vietnam trade deal needs congressional approval.
Privacy advocates and lawmakers criticized a Clinton administration proposal for a vast computer monitoring system to track nonmilitary government networks and networks used by telecommunications, banking and transportation sectors.
The White House plan is intended to protect against cyber attacks.
“The same administration that has consistently opposed the use of strong encryption now contemplates solving computer security problems by intruding on the privacy of everyday Americans,” said Senate communications subcommittee Chairman Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
SBC Operations Inc. Vice President Ross Ireland was elected to second vice chairman for the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Association.
Ireland also serves on the Federal Communications Commission’s technology advisory council.
The House passed regulatory reform legislation, requiring the Federal Communications Commission and other government agencies to subject proposed regulations to cost-benefit analyses.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring telecom accessibly for the disabled at a White House forum. “On this ninth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, let us make sure that the telecommunications revolution is reaching those who have historically been separated from common channels of communications and participation, such as people with disabilities and those from diverse cultural backgrounds,” said Kennard. “We cannot allow a digital divide to create information `haves’ and `have-nots’ based on minority or disability status, or a combination of both.”
