Roy Mark

When the immigration reform bill went down in flames in May, a provision to raise the cap on H-1B visas also went up in smoke. That the controversial legislation—loaded with such explosive political hot buttons such as border security and amnesty—failed came as no surprise as Congress has unsuccessfully wrangled with these issues for years. […]

A year ago, network neutrality was roiling Capitol Hill. From Congress to the Federal Communications Commission to the Federal Trade Commission, there wasnt a hotter—or more controversial—tech issue. Today, net neutrality barely raises a yawn among lawmakers. Then, as now, the issue centers around the potential ability of traditional telecom carriers to charge content, service […]

MetroPCS Communications said on Sept. 4 that it is interested in merging with Leap Wireless in a tax-free stock swap valued at more than $5 billion. If Leap accepts the offer, the merger would create the fifth largest wireless carrier in the United States. According to the merger proposal letter from Dallas-based MetroPCS, each outstanding […]

As Congress reconvenes this week, theres guarded optimism in Washington technology policy shops that the 8-month-old Democratic body will continue to champion a pro-tech agenda. For the first time in six years, the tech wish list actually finds itself on offense instead of defense. Fresh off authorizing a 10-year investment of $33.6 billion in critical […]

The nearly decade-long browser patent infringement dispute between Microsoft and Eolas Technologies is over. Terms of the out-of-court settlement were not disclosed. The technology involved allows for the launch and display of software plug-ins from Web browsers. The University of California originally patented the coding of the technology and Chicago-based Eolas has held an exclusive […]

Cisco Systems debuted on Sept. 4 its first enterprise-class wireless LAN access point based on the Wi-Fi Alliances 802.11n standards. According to Cisco, the Aironet 1250 access point is the only commercially available product to have participated in the Alliances 802.11n Draft 2.0 testbed. Although the Draft 2.0 standards are still at least a year […]

Six years after the landmark antitrust settlement between the United States and Microsoft, the Department of Justice said Aug. 30 that the deal has benefited consumers by promoting competition in the middleware market. In a filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice stated that the agreement has […]

Two Motorola subsidiaries sued Aruba Networks Aug. 27 for allegedly infringing on four patents related to wireless technology. The two subsidiaries—Symbol Technologies and Wireless Valley Communications—are seeking treble damages for willful infringement and a permanent injunction. According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Symbol claims that Aruba, […]

Electronic voting machine vendor Election Systems & Software faces almost $10 million in fines for allegedly selling uncertified systems to as many as five California counties. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen has scheduled a Sept. 20 public hearing to examine ES&S alleged sale of almost 1,000 unauthorized e-voting machines that cost $5,000 each. Under […]

Acers proposed $710 million acquisition of Gateway will face at least pro forma antitrust scrutiny from government regulators, although Washington has shown little inclination in recent years to oppose mergers and acquisitions. Noting the competitive landscape of the personal computer market, Lars Liebeler, an antitrust attorney for the Washington-based IT trade group CompTIA, said he […]