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BT EMERGES FRONTRUNNER IN RACE TO BUY TELKOM KENYA, ACCORDING TO GOVT, OFFICIAL
by alice 09 Jul '07

09 Jul '07

BT EMERGES FRONTRUNNER IN RACE TO BUY TELKOM KENYA, ACCORDING TO GOVT OFFICIAL A consortium that includes British Telecoms and Libyan investors has emerged as the only strong contender to acquire a strategic 40 per cent shareholding in Telkom Kenya. People close to the matter told the Business Daily that senior officials from BT and Libyan investors on Friday met top Treasury and Ministry of Communication officials to work out the deal's finer details. Treasury estimates the stake to be worth Sh5.6 billion —meaning that Telkom Kenya is now valued at Sh14 billion. The British firm is said to have tabled a number of proposals, including a strong financial bid as commitment to finance the turnaround of Telkom Kenya, in the meeting that ended at 11.30 pm. Such a high level leak means that the Government is doing its best to talk up the price that will be paid for Telkom Kenya. "The consortium led by BT is the team to beat. They have a credible technical group and have the finances," an official, who attended the meeting, said. It is the second time that the Government is trying to sell a significant portion of its stake in Telkom Kenya, the first attempt having flopped after bidders placed financial bids that they ultimately could not back up with real money. The Government had this time around included a condition that required bidders to have an annual revenue of $200 million (Sh14 billion), more than 500,000 voice subscribers and demonstrated experience in the deployment of broadband to avoid similar flops. In recent months, Libyan firms, loaded with petrodollars, have been clinching lucrative deals in Kenya mainly on the infrastructure front including the upgrade of Kenya Petroleum Refineries. This has cemented close trade ties between Kenya and Libya that was recently pushed by President Kibaki's official visit to Tripoli. The Government intends to sell its 40 per cent stake to a strategic investor who is expected to come on board before the end of the year. Analysts say that BT has been desperate to get a foothold in the lucrative Eastern African market through an acquisition, a pointer that the Telkom deal would turn their dream true. Already, BT is well represented in the rest of the continent with its regional headquarters in South Africa to the Southern part of the continent. For the North African market, it has the Libyan office and the Nigerian office to serve the West African market. "Safaricom has shown there is money to be made in this part of the world and everyone is now looking at getting a share of the market," James Rege, chairman, Capital Real Time, a telecommunication consulting firm. Safaricom broke its earlier record to emerge as the most profitable firm in the East Africa posting Sh17.7 billion in profits, an increase of 39 per cent recorded a year earlier. With Telkom already in the wireless voice market through their new service offering dubbed Telkom Wireless, which is set to be officially launched this Thursday, this could be big opportunity for BT to take a stab at a growing market. Rege, a former permanent secretary in the information ministry, said BT looked the most credible firm to clinch the deal should it come through. This is not the first time the British telecommunications giant has made a bid at Telkom Kenya. Six years ago it indicated its interest in acquiring the state firm but it was disqualified during the preliminaries. Other firms that are in the race to buy the stake include Indian mobile service providers Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communication, Tata Holdings and Vtel communication, who had won the licence to become the country's Second National Operator but were disqualified after failing to raise the required license fee. American telecommunication giant AT&T pulled out of the race after the Government failed to buy into its demand where it indicated it would only buy a stake in the state firm if they were given a 51 per cent stake. This, they noted, was the only way they could get a free hand to turnaround the loss-making company. South Africa-based Econet is also making a second attempt to enter the Kenyan telecommunications industry having won a licence for the third mobile phone operator that is subject of litigation. The recent attempt has seen potential bidders demand that the Government increases the 26 per cent stake it had initially planned to sell for them to consider the offer. But this has since changed as the stake to be bought by the strategic partners has been increased to 40 per cent and the government holding will stand at 49 per cent. The remaining 11 per cent will be reserved to be sold to the public through the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Telkom is currently deemed to be unable to pass the Capital Market Authority (CMA) listing test. CMA regulations require that any firm keen on listing at the NSE must have posted profits for at least three in the five years to the listing. But Telkom Kenya has been making losses for years, weighed down by huge staffing levels and growing competition from the wireless voice market. Figures sent to the potential investors show that Telkom financial performance has been declining over the last four years. Its turnover has been declining at an annual rate of 10.5 per cent over the last three years as competitors eat into its market share to settle at Sh16.3 billion in 2006 from Sh20.9 billion in 2003. The firm notes that it expects to make a loss of Sh1.18 billion, which is a reduction from last year's figure of Sh2.7 billion. While the special shares reserved for the public will be held in trust by the Government, dividend payouts from Telkom Kenya will stream straight into the State coffers. According to Dr Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary Ministry of Information, the revision had been informed by the need to go around the State Corporation Act in a move that was aimed at making the deal more suitable to strategic investors. Had the strategic investor held a minority holding at 26 per cent and the Government holding a 64 per cent stake, Telkom Kenya would not run as a private company, but under the Act which guides the operation of parastatals. At the moment the government is racing to clean Telkom debt ridden balance sheet as it prepares to bring the strategic partner on board as well as strike a better deal in the sale of the 40 per cent stake. The Government has already committed Sh26 billion to fix the pension and tax arrears with pensions taking Sh10 billion and the remaining Sh16 billion being taken by Kenya Revenue Authority. To keep the state firm afloat, the firm is set to complete a massive staff layoff that will reduce its work force to 3, 200 members down from 17, 000 by the end of August. According to Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo, BT have also expressed interest in investing in the TEAMS fibre project. (SOURCE: Telegeography)

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EuroAfrica-ICT Workshop: Response by JULY 12th (for meeting in Nairobi)
by Janet Feldman 08 Jul '07

08 Jul '07

From:Rebecca Naidoo <RNaidoo(a)csir.co.za> To: Subject: Registration: EuroAfrica-ICT Workshop Attachments: Template_EoI_Kenya.ppt Template_Proposal_Idea_Kenya.ppt Template_Open Consultation.doc ** High Priority ** Thank you for your interest in the EuroAfrica-ICT (START) initiative. Kindly confirm your participation in the Awareness Workshop to be held in Nairobi at the Hilton Hotel by return email. This confirmation assists us in determining our numbers in preparation for the workshop. In order to facilitate contacts between European and sub-Saharan African organisations interested in the development of cooperation projects in the ICT field, you are invited to present a Proposal Idea (10 min on an ICT project idea you or your organisation may have) at the workshop or an Expression of Interest (10 min about your organisation, expertise, experience, etc) . Please visit http://www.euroafrica-ict.org/index.html for the PowerPoint templates and draft agenda. Should you require a template be emailed to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. The deadline for submission of your presentation will be July 12 and should be returned to rnaidoo(a)csir.co.za. Selection will be made on a "first come first serve" basis. Attendance at the workshop is free and participants will need to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements if required. Should you wish to stay at the Hilton hotel, a negotiated rate at US $90 has been secured for workshop participants. Hotel details are: Contact person: Caroline Owira Hilton Hotel Mama Ngina Street; Nairobi, Kenya 00100 Tel: +254-20-250000 Fax: +254-20-226477 E-mail: caroline.owira(a)hilton.com Website: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=NBOHIT We also ask that you take a few minutes to complete the attached Open Consultation questionnaire. The purpose of this questionnaire is to take into consideration the experience, visions and suggestions of the European and sub-Saharan African ICT communities at large. The input received will form part of the document EU-Africa S&T Cooperation on ICT under FP7 - Status & Perspectives to be presented to the European Commission as a manifest. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries, We look forward to meeting you in Nairobi, With thanks, Rebecca Naidoo Research & Development Initiatives Coordinator Meraka Institute Ph: +27-12-841 2948 Fax: +27-12-841 4720 "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~Margaret Mead~

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Fwd: Parliament-in-a-box
by Alex Gakuru 08 Jul '07

08 Jul '07

Wish List! Parliament-in-a-box Have a look at www.bungeni.org and www.parliaments.info On 7/6/07, Frederick Noronha [à¥à¤°à¥à¤¦à¤°à¤¿à¤ à¤¨à¥à¤°à¥à¤¨à¤¯à¤¾] <fred(a)bytesforall.org> wrote: Basically, a whole lot of office tools that make governance accountable to the citizen. Easy-to-create websites for so many departments (opensourcecms.com is a good source). How to place online the tonnes of parliamentary information that is churned out, but seldom reaches the commonperson. All those PDF and other tools for sharing information. I think parliamentary officials need to think of transparency above every thing else. Many of us have 'representative' types of democracies, following the Westminister model,because it was British colonialism that ruled our countries. There is the assumption that the citizen would vote for his or her representative, once every five years or whatever. And the rep would then represent the citizen. What happens when the citizen doesn't have a clue as to what the representative is doing in his or her name? This may be on account of wider problems like illiteracy. Or the lack of transparency, disinterest, and the fact that the poor (the largest section in many of our countries) are too busy struggling with their lives to be able to focus on such esoteric matters. We need to look at how free software can make a real difference here. I guess it would be a mix of many existing solutions, from diverse fields. FN/ Goa, India On 06/07/07, Cecilia Matanga <cmatanga(a)sadcpf.org <cmatanga%40sadcpf.org>> wrote: We are planning a FOSS workshop for IT staff of Parliament and was just wondering what sort of tools are available and could be included in a Parliament-in-a- box. Also if someone has had training for Parliaments, could they share their training programme and materials with me. Regards, Cecilia Matanga ICT Officer SADC Parliamentary Forum ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091

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Fwd: Kenya Communications Bill (ICT Bill)
by Alex Gakuru 06 Jul '07

06 Jul '07

To: The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications Teleposta Towers Nairobi Re: Invitation to one day meeting at Safari Park Hotel on 16th July 2007; stakeholder and consumer reactions Dear Dr. Bitange Ndemo, I confirm attendance representing the ICT Consumer Consumers Association of Kenya and if allowed make a short presentation. Our consumer welfare society's vision is "enlightened consumer enjoying high quality and best priced ICT Services". By participating we foresee an opportunity to strengthen and enhance consumer protection along National ICT Policy provisions. Clause 9.6 Role of Consumers and Users Consumers and users will be expected to participate in ensuring: (a) Universal Access and afforadbility of ICT services (b) Quality of service is maintained (c) Continued review of Government policy in accordance with technological and consumer trends We appreciate this opportunity to play our meaningful role in Kenya's liberalised, self-regulatory industry environment. Sincerely, Alex Gakuru Chairman, ICT Consumers Association of Kenya --- bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: > Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 09:15:13 +0300 (EAT) > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Subject: [kictanet] Kenya Communications Bill (ICT > Bill) > CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > To: alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com > > Dear All, > The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill (to be > ammended to amended as > "Information and Communication Bill") went through > the first reading on > Wednesday 4th July 2007 (Media gave it a blackout). > As I promised, we > shall have one last meeting to incorporate things we > may have left out in > our earlier engagements. We shall therefore have a > one day meeting at > Safari Park Hotel on 16th July 2007 to get > stakeholder and consumer > reactions. I have also invited members of the > Energy and Communications > Committee of Parliament. Please confirm your > attendance via > info(a)information.go.ke. Your presence will be > highly appreciated. > > Wishing you a great day. > > > Regards > > > Bitange Ndemo. > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase. http://farechase.yahoo.com/

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workshop on KCA bill
by Rebecca Wanjiku 06 Jul '07

06 Jul '07

KICTANet is organising a workshop to discuss the KCA bill which went through first reading last week, buried under the huge debate surrounding the media bill, KCA may go through un noticed. industry stakeholders should voice their concerns before committee stage so that changes can be incorporated it may be a ploy to push the KCA under the radar and engage every one in the media debate, then before you know it, KCA is law..... if you have any issues to raise, please share them, regards Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool.

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parliament to incorporate changes at comm. stage
by Rebecca Wanjiku 06 Jul '07

06 Jul '07

threatened with a lawsuit and with legislators making all the noises, the government yesterday pledged to incorporate changes to the media bill at committee stage. there was a live debate on whether the bill is meant to gag the media or not. it seems that with some pressure, something can be done regards Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more.

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Just Google....
by John Walubengo 05 Jul '07

05 Jul '07

I always have this (addictive?) habit of googling my name...I have to keep monitoring my digital reputation. So here is what I found out about myself after googling. http://www.diplomacy.edu/ig/Activities/display.asp?Topic=JWalubengo%20IGF%2… or http://www.diplomacy.edu/IG/ Not bad so far. I met a friend who once told me she googled her name and discovered she was listed on a "lonely hearts" website, complete with her snap and CV and yet she could not recall being lonely :(. So make sure u google your name tonite... walu. nb: Mucheru, u will owe me a big one for this free commercial :). ____________________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC

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Looking for web designers/content managers
by Carole K 05 Jul '07

05 Jul '07

Hello All, This discussion forum is very lively. Keep it up guys. Afew months ago i knew very little about ICT but now I am well informed. Thank you Alex Gakuru and team. My name is Carole Kimutai, I am a journalist - writer/editor. I was the former editor of Sokoni magazine (MSK) and Petroleum Insight Magazine (PIEA). I am currently writing for various publications in Kenya and abroad - http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/410/16/15854.html I am looking for web designers or people who can manage content electronically. Kindly get in touch with me on this address or call me on 0722 560 241. PS: Anyone with news items/articles or story ideas please share it with me Nice evening! CK On 7/5/07, Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Bravo! - what a delightful deed saving us envisaged set-up headaches. > > Please convey very special thanks to Google. > > On 7/5/07, mucheru(a)wananchi.com <mucheru(a)wananchi.com> wrote: > > > > Hi Alex, > > > > You may not be aware, but Google is setting up shop and we already > provide > > free hosting services for anyone with a domain. This means not only can > > you get a free website hosted, but that you can also add mail for all > > users, branded under your domain etc .... Many people in Kenya are > already > > using the service. > > > > We intend to peer at the KIXP this means the quality of service will be > > great and you don't have to pay for International bandwidth! We are > local! > > > > Try it out and see > > > > http://www.google.com/a or http://www.google.co.ke/a - even better, here > > you will see the wealth of services we provide. > > > > Sorry to shamelessly plug Google here - The service is free so maybe am > > allowed. > > > > Sorry guys > > > > Joe Mucheru > > > > > > > Nothing frustrates small business than "simple" > > > websites design and hosting services. Turning to ISPs > > > they are told hosting are "valueadd services" only > > > offer "bundled" with other products. Many thus never > > > go online. > > > > > > Who is interested in partnering on "community > > > servers"? If we get a sufficient number we could > > > approach e.g. WB TCIP/RCIP, etc. give business case > > > maybe get a share of those ears-boggling billions > > > flying about in the media to setup server warehouse. > > > Michuki Mwangi shareholder No. 2, Walu 3? > > > > > > Could write a tight business case,other takers?(Before > > > moderator *bans* me for starting a local,non-Barb > > > hosting business online...). Unless we sort this out, > > > looks like they may never. > > > > > > > > > --- Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)kenic.or.ke> wrote: > > > > > >> > > >> > > >> mucheru(a)wananchi.com wrote: > > >> > Walu/Alex, > > >> > > > >> > I the issue is not with CCK. They contracted local > > >> providers to provide > > >> > services here are the results .... I think the > > >> regulator did the right > > >> > thing. > > >> > > > >> > > >> And its worth noting that CCK is not the only > > >> victim, i could point to > > >> quite a number of other sites that face similar > > >> predicaments which boils > > >> down to cost of hosting. > > >> > > >> For there to be a shift in preference there are two > > >> things that need to > > >> happen > > >> > > >> 1) Affordable collocation/data center facilities > > >> need to be built ASAP. > > >> 2) International fiber. > > >> > > >> There are good 'signs' on point 2, however more > > >> could be done on point > > >> 1. After all land along Mombasa road is still within > > >> reach of most. > > >> > > >> > > >> Walu - your pension may tripple as a result :) > > >> > > >> Regards, > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Michuki Mwangi > > >> KENIC > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> ke-internetusers mailing list > > >> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > >> > > > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > > > Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search > > > that gives answers, not web links. > > > http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > ke-internetusers mailing list > > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > > -- > website: http://www.billowsbpo.co.ke/ > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > >

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[Fwd: [DigAfrica] Access Kenya buys Internet firm]
by alice 05 Jul '07

05 Jul '07

Access Kenya buys Internet firm Story by NATION Reporter and REUTERS Publication Date: 7/5/2007 AccessKenya Group yesterday announced the acquisition of a broadband leased line Internet Service Provider, Todays Online, subject to approval from the Monopolies Commission. Todays Online's acquisition, marks a significant step for the company which listed at the Nairobi Stock Exchange early last month. The Managing Director of the Group, Mr Jonathan Somen, said that the purchase clearly showed the market that the company was keen to invest funds raised from the IPO. "Unlike many previous IPOs, AccessKenya Group went public to raise capital to fund our expansion, and we had specifically told the market that making acquisitions would be an important part of our strategy," commented Jonathan Somen, Managing Director of the Group. Milton Njanja, Managing Director of Today's Online commented further: " Following discussions with AccessKenya, the Board of Todays felt that the interests of our customers would be best served by transferring their connections to AccessKenya's network, giving them access to better speeds and higher value for money." As part of the transaction, Todays' Online, will work with AccessKenya to migrate the customers onto the AccessKenya Group's network. Todays' Online will also continue to sell internet services for AccessKenya for at least the next nine months as agents. The exact value of the transaction consisted of an initial undisclosed fee and a future payment based on the successful migration of the customer base to AccessKenya's network. In the financial markets, the Kenya shilling weakened against the US dollar in the week, dragged down by dollar demand from corporates and bank players squaring their positions, dealers said. The local unit traded at Sh66.70/80 to the dollar, compared with last Wednesday's close of Sh66.20/30. "There was a lot of dollar demand towards the end of last month as, which seems to have spilled over to this week. This made the shilling to lose almost 40 cents," said Jeremiah Kendagor, head of foreign exchange at the Kenya Commercial Bank. "Basically it was from corporates and there was also squaring off by interbank players," he added. <http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?> __,_._,___

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FOIA- the most important law for openness and transparency in government.
by Alex Gakuru 05 Jul '07

05 Jul '07

[Business Daily] "Treasury opens lid on secrecy in military purchase contracts" Written by Steve Mbogo 05-July-2007: The Kenya military machine will undergo a radical shake-up that will see the the veil of secrecy lifted on its multi-million shilling procurement deals, that have sometimes been labelled as classified. Officials at the Treasury told the Business Daily that discussions are going on with the military to work out how the latter can increase its level of accountability in its defence procurement to the public. In the more strategic procurement that could legitimately be classified as official secrets, the Treasury seems to favour a plan where a Parliamentary committee would have an oversight role without compromising national security. For many years the Kenya military, the Police and the intelligence services have been bogged down by single-sourced secret purchases that have often turned into shaddy deals between politicians, high ranking government officials and briefcase contractors.... ...Mr Mwaimu Mati, the head of Mars Group Kenya, said security related procurement should not be left to the absolute discretion of the military or the Executive. We have elected MPs who can be trusted with the responsibility of scrutinizing security procurement and budgets. This conforms to our Constitution which requires that the security forces be subject to civilian control, said Mati. It is unlikely that exposing procurement of security items to public scrutiny will compromise national security, in view of the massive information brought to the public domain by the internet. http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1794&Item… --------- [WIRED] Bittersweet Sunshine: Four Decades of FOIA Wins and Losses Ryan Singel, 04 July 2007 U.S. government documents used to be considered secret unless individual agencies decided to release them. But on July 4, 1966, that presumption was inverted when the Freedom of Information Act was signed into law, declaring that in a government of, by and for the people, government records must be released to the public upon request, unless those records meet a handful of defined exemptions. Over the last four decades, FOIA (pronounced "foy-ya") has become one of the most important laws creating openness and transparency in government. It's a key tool for journalists and nonprofit groups investigating the workings of the federal government. It has been used to reveal the FBI's Vietnam-era surveillance of American dissidents, CIA drug experiments on American citizens, and government inspectors turning a blind eye to the sale of contaminated meat, among many other things. But as a just-released report from the National Security Archive showed, bureaucracies still resist the law's openness imperative. They will ignore requests, take decades to process them or redact embarrassing information. A bill that would penalize agencies for foot-dragging was set to be voted on earlier this year by the full Senate, but was stalled by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), who put a secret hold on the bill. There will be no progress until he removes the hold. Despite these obstacles, persistent reporters and public-interest organizations have been able to crack the veil of secrecy that bureaucrats and politicians use to hide their motivations and machinations. In honor of the law's 41st birthday, Wired News presents five of the best technology-focused FOIA wins and five that are still outstanding. Top Five Technology and Civil Liberties Sunshine Requests [1.] Carnivore Documents: In the 1990s, the FBI developed software, dubbed Carnivore, that was installed at internet service providers[ISPs] to track what targeted individuals did online. Though the FBI claimed Carnivore was not an untargeted dragnet, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, or EPIC, pried documents loose from the FBI showing the software was capable of capturing all traffic across a server, and that the software was not as accurate in practice as the FBI claimed. Little is known about successors to Carnivore, but ISPs have been configuring their networks to make them surveillance-friendly. [2.]Airline Data Dumps and No-Fly Lists: EPIC filed a file cabinet full of sunshine requests to learn more about terrorist watch lists and post-9/11 airline data dumps to the government. Highlights included proof that Northwest Airlines turned over data to the government despite public statements to the contrary. Also revealed were no-fly-list mismatches, including a long-running screwup that snagged one of the nation's most high-profile nuns, who was only cleared for flying after her boss called presidential adviser Karl Rove. [3.]Mercury Contamination in Fish: Successive sunshine requests by environmental activists revealed that certain fish, including popular canned albacore tuna, contained higher levels of mercury than the government had previously acknowledged. While canned tuna was never put on the list of fish that pregnant women should avoid, the data has proved important in an ongoing debate about the risks of eating seafood. [4.] Domestic Military Spy Databases: The American Civil Liberties Union successfully uncovered a Department of Defense database, dubbed Talon, that was supposed to include reports on terrorist threats to military bases in the United States. Instead, the secret database soon became filled with reports on legitimate antiwar protesters whose activities were protected under the First Amendment. The program was shuttered following the ensuing publicity, but the full extent of the spying is unknown since the Pentagon deleted many of the records before an audit was complete. [5.] Encryption Wars: Though it may seem like ancient history to some, civil liberties groups spent much of the 1990s fighting the government over encryption, which had previously been used almost exclusively by secret government agencies and the military. The government claimed that any public use of encryption, including such now-commonplace standards used to secure online purchases and banking, needed to have a backdoor for law enforcement. FOIA requests revealed that the government knew its proposals were flawed. It also showed the government intended to use requirements that digital telephone switches must be wiretap-friendly as a way to force encryption products to have backdoors. The government eventually lost "the war," and encryption now helps lock down internet e-mail, online purchases and commercial DVDs, though few use encrypted e-mail. Five Unanswered Technology and Civil Liberties FOIA Requests [1.] Warrantless Wiretapping Documents: A wide array of media and activist groups are attempting to get information on the government's warrant-free spying on Americans' phone and e-mail communications. So far, none have succeeded, though a Senate committee has just subpoenaed the Bush administration for some of the sought-after documents. [2.] Automated Targeting System: For years, the Department of Homeland Security has been assigning threat levels to individual foreigners and citizens alike as they enter and leave the country. However, little is known about the algorithms or data used. So far, Homeland Security has failed to release documents in response to open-government requests. [3.] Total Information Awareness Program: Nearly four years ago, Wired News filed a request for documents about the testing and privacy protections of a program intended to sift through a massive database of Americans' private lives in order to find terrorists. Instead of filling the request, Darpa, the Pentagon's advanced research arm, looked into this reporter's prior stories and questioned his motives. [4.] Patriot Act Abuse Documents and Telecom Contracts: In March, an internal Justice Department report found the FBI had massively misused a key Patriot Act power that allows investigators to get financial and communication records on anyone relevant to an investigation without getting a judge's approval. The FBI also inked secret contracts with three large telecommunications companies to speed up the process. A judge recently ruled that the agency will begin releasing 2,500 pages a month starting July 5 to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. [5.] FBI's Investigative Data Warehouse: Post-9/11, the FBI created a massive search engine that indexes a bunch of different bureau databases, including investigative files and phone records obtained through the above Patriot Act abuse. Little is known of the technology, which a representative compared to Google's, or the scope of the databases searched. Wired News and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have each filed sunshine requests. http://www.wired.com/politics/onlinerights/news/2007/07/sunshinelawat40 -- ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091

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