Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Tech, Internet and Cybersecurity
CRS Says E-Mail and Other Web Services Could be Taxed Under House-Passed Internet Tax Extension
WASHINGTON - According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), language included in the House-passed Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act of 2007 (H.R. 3678) could allow for the taxation of e-mail and other web-based services. Under the current Internet tax moratorium, originally authored in 2001 by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and now SEC Chairman, Christopher Cox, any service that enables users to access content can not be taxed. "I am not going to quietly sit by and let millions … Continue Reading
August 24, 2007
Wyden, Brownback Applaud Early Net Radio Agreements
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan), Senate sponsors of the "Internet Radio Equality Act" released the following statement in response to DiMA and Sound Exchange's announced agreement to cap the Internet radio "$500 per channel minimum royalty" at $50,000 per service."We are encouraged by the good faith efforts represented by this initial agreement. It is a promising first step in the negotiation process which we are hoping will make our legislation … Continue Reading
August 02, 2007
Wyden, Brownback Call CRB Rates for Webcasters "Unfounded"
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan), Senate sponsors of the "Internet Radio Equality Act" released the following statement today regarding efforts to save Internet radio: "We sponsored the Internet Radio Equality Act because the Copyright Royalty Board's decision to dramatically increase royalties and apply what we see as unfounded minimum rates threatens to devastate the Internet radio industry. The fact is online radio services do not have enough … Continue Reading
May 22, 2007
Wyden, Brownback Propose Bill to Keep Internet Radio in Play
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) today proposed legislation to keep Internet radio alive by vacating a Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision that could increase Internet radio sound recording royalties by 300 percent to 1,200 percent.According to an Arbitron and Edison Media Research, 52 million people listened to Internet radio at least once a month in 2006. Bridge Ratings and Research predicts that number will double within three years and reach … Continue Reading
April 04, 2007
Wyden, Burr, Gordon, Hall Kick OffCongressional Nanotechnology Caucus
Washington, D.C.-U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Burr (R-NC) and U.S. Reps. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Ralph Hall (R-TX) today kicked off a new year for the Congressional Nanotechnology Caucus by announcing a lecture series for congressional staffers designed to educate them about the enormous potential that nanotechnology holds and the challenges that must be overcome to fully realize that promise.Nanotechnology allows the creation of new products and processes through the manipulation of … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden blocks Telecom Legislationover ineffective net neutrality provision
Washington, DC-U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced that he has placed a "hold" on major telecommunications legislation recently approved by the Senate Commerce Committee until clear language is included in the legislation that prevents discrimination in Internet access. The legislation as currently written does not provide an effective policy on net neutrality, and instead opens the Internet up to large telecommunications companies and cable providers to charge consumers and small … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Oregon Speaks Out for Net Neutrality
PORTLAND -- Sen. Ron Wyden today joined large and small business owners, labor leaders and consumer advocates in calling on Congress to protect Network Neutrality -- the endangered principle that ensures all Web sites and services are treated equally."The powerful interests that control the pipes are trying to take control of the Internet away from their consumers by creating discriminatory networks that play favorites," said Senator Wyden, the first member of Congress to introduce legislation … Continue Reading
June 23, 2004
Wyden, Smith Securing Over $100 Million for Oregon Defense Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved at least $103.5 million in funding for defense-related projects in Oregon. These funds are now included in the FY2005 Defense spending bill, which must now be approved by the full Senate."This funding for Oregon nanotech and other cutting edge … Continue Reading
April 29, 2004
Senate Approves 4-Year Extensions of Ban on Unfair Discriminatory Internet Taxes
Washington, DC -- U.S. Senators George Allen (R-Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Commerce Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) today hailed full Senate passage of the Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act (S. 150), legislation extending the ban on multiple and discriminatory taxation on Internet access and online sales. The legislation bans three types of taxes that unfairly single out the Internet, including taxes on Internet access, double taxation (for example, by two or more states) of a … Continue Reading
March 19, 2004
Wyden joins students & educators to celebrate arrival of $56,000 in computer equipment at River Road / El Camino del Rio Elementary School
March 19, 2004Eugene, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined students and educators at River Road/El Camino del Rio Elementary School in Eugene to celebrate the arrival of more than $55,000 in state-of-the-art computer equipment donated by the Beaumont Foundation of America.In February 2003, Wyden and Frank Newton, Executive Director of the Beaumont Foundation, encouraged Oregon schools and … Continue Reading
March 10, 2004
Wyden: First Suits under Can-Spam Good News for Oregon E-Mail Users
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today applauded the announcement by major Internet service providers (ISPs) of six lawsuits against alleged violators of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. Wyden, with U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), wrote the first-ever Federal anti-spam law to protect Oregonians and all Internet users from unsolicited and often offensive e-mail. America Online, Earthlink, Microsoft and Yahoo! announced their legal action at a press conference this morning, … Continue Reading
March 03, 2004
Wyden-Stevens Legislation Will Stop Sale of Children's Names, Addresses to Marketers
Washington, DC - The names, ages and home addresses of millions of American children - some as young as two years old - are being bought and sold every day, often online, for the purpose of commercial marketing. Today in Congress, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) introduced the Children's Listbroker Privacy Act to make that practice unlawful. "The wholesale trafficking in specific information about individual children is something that I think most parents would … Continue Reading
February 26, 2004
Senators Seek to Protect Computer Users from "Spyware," Hidden Downloads
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation to prohibit spyware, adware, and other invasive software from being secretly installed on Americans' computers. For the first time, the SPYBLOCK (Software Principles Yielding Better Levels of Consumer Knowledge) Act would prohibit installing software on somebody else's computer without notice and consent, and requires reasonable "uninstall" procedures … Continue Reading
February 25, 2004
Wyden Questions Ridge in Data-Mining by Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Tom Ridge to provide information on all data-mining activities currently being undertaken by the Department. Wyden, who questioned Ridge during the morning's Budget Committee hearing on homeland security funding, has long worked to ensure that the Federal government's data-mining efforts respect Americans' privacy and civil liberties. "A whole host of information is being … Continue Reading
February 23, 2004
Allen and Wyden Respond to Attacks onInternet Access Tax Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) issued the following response to attacks today on S. 150 the Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act.Our bill focuses on protecting the American consumers from the overbearing arms of state and local tax commissars. Do we want to continue to grow and expand our economy, our small businesses and educational resources or do we want to impose a stifling tax on consumers? I believe the Internet should remain as accessible as … Continue Reading