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November 11, 2003 (No.
19)
The NTC News Summary
Edition Sponsor is
NTC Sustaining Sponsor
for this Edition is
Other NTC Sustaining
Sponsors, here.
The next edition of
the news summary is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov.
25, 2003.
UPFRONT:
Tennessean Q&A:
Nashville
Technology Council President David Condra says
Nashville technology sector needs 'striking
success stories' to help community achieve
critical-mass that will spawn new tech
businesses. Says tech-enterprise success hinges on
smart people, smart ideas, smart capital. He
describes Nashville Capital
Network as matching
entrepreneurs, Angel investors. Recruiting
businesses with heavy R&D efforts is needed,
though Healthcare IT could be a major homegrown
springboard. Tennessean, Nov. 9, here.
Community bonding: Tim
Choate's Bondware
lets clients harness the Web. Firm may create new
division to sell digital products, including
music, to complement existing publishing, content-management, entertainment,
community-building tools.
Nash. Bus. Journal, Nov. 7, p. 11, here.
Pro-Tech: Tennessee Economic Development
Commissioner Matt Kisber writes about shifts in
technology-development leadership and funding,
Knox. News Sentinel, Nov. 9, here. Earlier reports on Kisber's Oct.
14 announcement of changes, New Summary of Oct.
15, scroll down here.
IT Security mandate:
Fla. Rep. Adam
Putnam (R-FL-12) will meet
with industry reps again, Nov. 19th,
re: alternatives to his
proposed law requiring public-companies' security
audits, with an eye toward February
recommendations. Information Technology
Association of America (ITAA) President Harris Miller told NTC
Thursday (11/6) that discussions with Putnam Nov.
5 were positive, with all parties intent on making
"cybersecurity a higher priority in American
business organizations both large and small." Bob
Dix, staff director for Putnam's
subcommittee (Technology,
Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations
and Census), told NTC the Nov. 19 meeting would
represent a "jumping-off point" for developing
industry best practices, provided participants
remain open-minded. Dix said effort could prove
historic by "protecting the American people and
the U.S. economy."
Retired Nashville
IBMer Jim Waller serves local charities by
creating databases, receives the Mary
Catherine Strobel Award for Community Volunteer of
the Year, Tennessean, 5B, Nov. 8, here.
Local Music2Gift
promoter A. Gast debuts music-subscription
website, helps outsider artists market their
music, and may target symphonies next, Nash. Bus.
Journal, Nov. 7, p. 8, not on web.
Energy security &
VU Visit: Jimmy
Glotfelty, Director of the U.S. Department of
Energy Office of Electric Transmission and
Distribution, tomorrow will tour Vanderbilt
Advanced Carbon
Nanotechnology Research program facilities, to learn more
about the VU School of Engineering's pioneering
work in using diamond technology in power switches
and microelectronic devices. Glotfelty is
responsible for the federal effort to secure and
strengthen the national power grid. Also
related to energy: VUSE and PowerAvenue
collaborate on hydrogen fuel cells, VU Register,
p. 2, Nov. 3-16, here.
Proprietary-software
meeting: Nov. 21, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., NTC President
David Condra will convene a by-invitation
meeting of current NTC Members who are creating
proprietary software products they own, re-sell,
license, deliver via web, etc. More than 20 firms
have already expressed interest in exploring the
interests of local proprietary-software creators,
with an eye toward possible creation of an NTC
special-interest group focusing on software
development/marketing. The initial emphasis is on
NTC-Member firms that create products for sale to
other enterprises. For info, please write or call (615)
743-3168.
'Y05' -- A Nashville
EDS exec Chris Beck told NTC Nov. 6 that "just
about anybody in retail sector" will be working to
meet the Sunrise 2005 Global Trade Item Number
requirement during the next 12 to 18 months.
The subject? EDS / Grocery Manufacturers Assn.
Poll Reveals (Nov. 6) fewer than 30 percent of
current product inventory systems used by food,
beverage and consumer products manufacturers --
this means everything from cell phones and CDs, to
peanut butter -- are compliant with the Sunrise
2005 requirements, pushed by the Uniform Code Council
Inc. The deadline for
compliance to these retail industry standards is
1/1/05. EDS Release, here.
Friday, General Motors
donated an EV-1 "rolling
engineering lab" to Vanderbilt School of
Engineering; GM's creation of the
energy-efficient vehicle spawned numerous patents,
design breakthroughs. Once in the VUSE mech.
engineering lab, it'll help faculty illustrate
engineering innovation and problem-solving.
VENTURE /
ENTERPRISE:
Today, "The coming
Biotech Age," is the topic for Prof. Rick
Oliver, American Grad. School
of Mgmt., 11 a.m.,
Boundry, register for 11 a.m. event, (615)
269-5312, Sales & Mktg Execs
Intl of Nashville. Related: Tech
titans invest in Biotech sector, USA Today,
Nov. 11, here.
Today, also, Bogle Financial
Markets Research Center
President and Vanguard Group Founder John
Bogle discusses stock-market performance today
at Owen Graduate School of Management, 1 p.m.,
Nash. Bus. Journal, Nov. 7, here. VU Release, here.
Fifth Third Bank's
Processing Solutions unit grows Nashville client
base for credit- and debit-card processing,
Nash. Bus. Journal, Nov. 7, p. 17, here.
Dell
Inc. next major
business push is into computer-services
sector, to meet challenge of HP, IBM, others who
package hardware and services. Lessons learned
from previous Internet-services venture, robust
databases and network of subcontractors should
spell the difference, Wall Str. Journal, Nov. 11,
(sub) here. Dell expected to show 26cts/shr
profit in 3rd quarter results to be released
Thursday, Nov. 13. New York Times, Nov. 9, here.
Cisco CEO John
Chambers sees tech-sector momentum slowly
returning, as company reports it has available
$19.7 billion in cash and liquid investments,
Wall Street Journal, Nov. 6, A3, (sub) here. The AP via The Washington Post,
Nov. 6, here.
An aging tech startup
illuminates why eight R.F. chip ventures have
raised more than $150 Million in venture cap
this year, propelled partly by surging wireless
needs for analog features, New York Times, Nov.
10, here.
IPO deal pipeline is
crowded, with prospective deals including Orbitz
and Google, Wall St. Journal, Nov. 11, (sub)
here.
HEALTHCARE:
Nashville Healthcare
Delivery Solutions Congress continues through
Wednesday, Nov. 12, with myriad of topics,
including digital healthcare, telemedicine,
eHealth/Public Health, Government/eHealth,
Integrating technology/innovation. Gaylord
Opryland Hotel, Details here. Related: Summit sees
positives in health system, The Tennessean, Nov.
11, p. 3E, here.
Envoy class action
moves toward close with $11M fund, Nash. Bus.
Journal, p. 5, Nov. 7, here. WebMD-Envoy face challenges of
commoditization of current transaction services,
pushing into smaller -physician practices, add
value in payment-cycle management, and perhaps
making more acquisitions. Nashville Post
magazine, Nov. 03, p. 16, not on web.
EDUCATION:
Metro Schools won't
scrap its conversion to MIS, despite State's plans
for single-system contract, The City Paper, p.
7, Nov. 11, here. See RFP in Government section of
Nov. 5 new
summary.
Metro
Schools has
stated its intent to award a contract for Training
Manager Services for Student Information System
Implementation Project to Protocol Experts, Laura
Hansen, proprietor. Hansen will work closely
with contractor Chancery's Student
Management System.
Teacher uses
cell-phone E-mail and picture functions to keep
parents abreast of students at David Lipscomb
Elem., Tennessean, Davidson A.M. West, Nov. 10,
not on web.
Tennessee Economic
Council on Women in Nashville recently received
the 2003 Horizon Award from the Partnership to
Advance Science, Engineering and Technology Inc.
The award recognizes companies, organizations and
individuals that have contributed to the
advancement of women and girls in science,
engineering and technology fields. TECW interim
exec. director Michelle Chambers accepted the
award. Tennessean, Nov. 9, scroll here.
Wireless Web works its
way across Vanderbilt Campus, Vanderbilt
Register, p. 5, Nov. 3-16, here.
Belmont offers new
entrepreneurship degree, Nash. Bus. Journal,
Nov. 7, here.
BWXT Y-12 strengthens
mentorship at Oak Ridge NL through pact with
Tennessee State
University, TSU
release, Nov. 6, here.
BWXT Y-12 signs with MS Technology which is
setting up microwave-development site at Y-12 site
at Oak Ridge NL, Nov. 6, Knox. News Sentinel,
scroll down here.
Washington Post's
Kaplan
Inc. for-profit
adult-education company is fastest-growing part of
Post Co.; education acquisitions cheaper than
buying media. Wall St. Journal, Nov. 7, (sub)
here.
GOVERNMENT &
POLICY:
Gov. Bredesen to open
budget hearings to public, Nov. 17. Planning is
also underway to provide access to live-stream
video of hearings on State web site. Nash.
Bus. Journal, Nov. 7, here.
Metro Schools has
issued RFP 03-153, seeking Mainframe hardware
support and related tech services, citing IBM
ES9000. Onsite visits can be scheduled til
Nov. 14; preproposal conference is Nov. 18, 10
a.m., and deadline for proposals is Dec. 2. RFP
here.
Metro Election
Commission member defends retrieving GOP data from
Metro computer, The Tennessean, Nov. 11, 3B,
here.
Metro's request for
bids (51253/EB)
on video technology for surveillance closes
10:30 a.m., today.
BellSouth PC Exit:
Metro government (RFP
03-144) seeks successor to
BellSouth Public Communications for payphones,
pro-proposal meet is Nov. 20, proposals due Dec.
4. (As reported in our Nov. 5 news summary, the
State recently asked for proposals to provide
smart payphones at State-designate locations,
under RFP
317.03.103-04
[Reissued], which will also produce a successor to
BellSouth Public Communications. The State aims to
net revenues from the arrangement, which ensures
phone access at key sites, despite waning of
payphones due to cellphone proliferation.)
SECURITY: By about Nov. 14th, the Homeland
Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA)
of the Department of Homeland Security Science and
Technology Directorate will issue a Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Solicitation,
inviting small businesses (500 or fewer total
employees) to submit innovative research proposals
that address specified priorities of DHS. Details
will soon appear at the FedBizOpps
site.
Direct-marketers
trying to influence Congress on SPAM, USA
Today, Nov. 11, here.
Regional Bell
Operating Companies and allies seek less
government regulation, Knox. News Sentinel,
Oct. 29, here. BellSouth, Verizon Comms., others
reportedly in lobbying effort against regulation,
Washington Post, Oct. 31, here.
BellSouth / AT&T battle continues, Oct. 31,
Tennessean, here.
Congressman may seek antitrust investigation of
RBOCl lobbying initiative, vendors' roles, Los
Angeles Times, Nov. 8, (free registration) here.
SARBANES-OXLEY --Steve
Tisdell of Nashville
Management Group told his
NTC Tech Roundtable audience, Nov. 6, that
capitalization, write-offs and depreciation of
software development and purchases, as well as
computer-tech expenditures should be scrutinized.
Tisdell also noted that IT resources and
management practices must ensure that any public
company is capable of closing its books within 20
days. Other notes: Management may confront
problems if operations are supported by older
versions of software. And, it's no longer adequate
to have data-recovery plans on paper; rather,
proof of testing of those plans and results,
thereof, must be documented, as should corporate
understanding of disaster consequences. Management
may also be liable for performance of their
companies' vendors. Related:Nashville Post magazine (Nov.
03, p. 77) features prominent local accountants
discussing public confidence, auditor
independence. Also, Larry Bridgesmith discusses
implications for privately held business, Nash.
Bus. Journal, p. 25, Nov. 7, here.
Decision-makers:
Profile of Richard McKinney, Metro Government
CTO, Director-Information Technology Services,
Government
Technology, July
2003.
Oracle exec moves to
Bearingpoint with state/local government
duties, Release, Nov. 4, here.
Vagueness of Computer
Fraud and Abuse Act leads to apparently legitimate
whistleblower having to defend himself, San
Jose Mercury News, Oct. 25, here.
Diebold Election
Systems voting technology continues to draw
controversy for poor encryption, perceived
political ties of management, New York Times, Nov.
9, here.
State of Tennessee
Agencies' Information-Systems Contacts
Directory (10/03), here.
State of Tennessee
2002-03 Information-Systems Plan, Policies,
Resources gateway, here.
WEST & EAST
TENN:
East TN Jobs Now!
attracts $9.5 million for 5-year push, Knox.
News Sentinel, Nov. 6, here.
Oak Ridge National
Lab in line for new
investment in supercomputing, Spallation Neutron
upgrades, molecular and isotope research
facilities, Knox. News Sentinel, Nov. 11,
here.
200 IT Managers meet
in Memphis, discuss IT alignment with
enterprise, Commercial Appeal, Nov. 7, here.
TVA installs Cannon's
substation-monitoring, reporting technologies
for Cordova/Memphis and Chattanooga sites, Cannon
release, Oct. 29, select News, here.
RESOURCES:
U.S. cities are in a
war for brains, with the only defense a critical
mass of talent and a tolerance for oddballs.
Bill Gates invest millions to give Seattle edge in
Biotech. Washington Post, Nov. 9, here.
'Startling' U.S.
productivity increases reported as technology and
tech-linked practices penetrate the Services
sector. FedEx is one example. Benefits of
previous investments and organizational changes
are emerging, as wireless, general bandwidth and
interoperability improve dramatically, Wall St.
Journal, Nov. 7, (sub) here. Also: The improving economy, NY
Times, Nov. 8, here.
Mid-Tenn's stable
economy makes U.S. recovery less apparent,
Tennessean, Nov. 10, here.
Momentum builds in
online retailing, New York Times, Nov. 9,
here. E-commerce and broadband
penetration, plus globalization spur
gains.
Monitoring Metro and
State Requests for Proposals and Bids
State of
Tennessee:
Tennessee Lottery, here.
Lottery procurement policies, here.
Capital Projects
Management,here.
University of
Tennessee:
University of Tennessee
purchasing, here.
UT contracts list, here.
TN Board of Regents IT
Contracts, here.
Cities/Counties:
Metro Nashville/Davidson
County, here.
City of Memphis, here.
Shelby County, here.
City of Chattanooga,
here.
Scheduled
Events: Asterisk ( * ) denotes new or
revised item.
(Ends Nov. 12)
Healthcare Delivery Solutions Congress,
co-sponsored by NTC, for details, click.
Speakers announced, here.
(Nov. 12) Using
Internet to connect with existing and potential
customers, City Paper, Oct. 29, p. 19. American Marketing
Assn.
(Nov. 12) Northeast
Tennessee Technology Council, Juniper Networks
cosponsor ⦥uro;?IPv6 - The Protocol That Will Save
the Internet," with John Johnson of Juniper.
11 a.m., NE State Community College Library,
Blountville. Details, here.
(Nov. 12) East TN Tech Council
Technology Applications Roundtable,
5 p.m. EST, for companies for which technology is
vital, but which do not, themselves, create the
technology. Topic: "How to position your
company for the next generation of wireless
business technology." Write here or
call (865) 220-2020.
(Nov. 12-15) American
Society of Civil Engineers, national
conference and expo, Nashville, here.
* (Nov. 13)
Chattanooga government purchasing seminar,
scroll down here. Register (423) 756-8668 or write
here.
(Nov. 13) Bur. of
Industry/Security Outreach + Educational Services
Division, "Essentials of Export Controls,"
BellSouth Tower, 7:30 a.m. registration, program
8:30a.m.-4:30 p.m., details here.
(Nov. 13) HIPAA Impact
on IT, Ed Miller, CTO of Digichart, AITP
Nashville, register, here.
(Nov. 13) Dr. Duncan T.
Moore, Prof.-Optical Engng., Univ. Rochester,
former Assoc. Director for Technology in The White
House Office of Science and Technology Policy,
discusses "Establishing
Federal Priorities in Science and
Technology," Jacobs Audit., Featheringill
Hall, VU School of
Engineering.
(Nov. 17-19) TN
Venture Forum, by TN Tech. Development Corp.,
Chattanooga, details, here.
(Nov. 18) Project
Management Institute, Nashville chapter,
"Value-Based Project Selection and
Prioritization," by James T. Brown Ph.D., SEBA
Solutions: 11:30 a.m. Register www.pminashville.com.
* (Nov. 19) Fed Ex
institute grand opening, Univ. of Memphis,
details here.
(Nov. 19-20) ITEC,
Memphis. TN OIR Deputy Commissioner Richard
Rognehaugh and City of Memphis CIO Darryl Anderson
are the keynote speakers, here.
* (Dec. 3) Directors
and Officers Liability Risks, panel discusses
how to retain, protect the best public or private
board members, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell
& Berkowitz, PC, with Nashville Post
magazine. Register by Nov. 24, here.
(Dec. 3-5) Tennessee
Education Technology Conference, details here.
Related, here.
(Dec. 4) Seminar on
Liability issues for engineers, Tennessee
Engineering Center, Adventure Sci. Center, Don
Friedman of Crow Friedman Group, presented by TN
Society of Professional Engineers, et al, write
ctoler@tnec.org
for details or call (615) 242-2486.
(Dec. 4) NTC
Technology Round Table, "State of Tennessee IT:
Strategic Planning, Project Management, &
Cyber Security," Richard Rognehaugh, Deputy
Commissioner - Office of Information
Resources, State of Tennessee, reception and
dinner. Details, here.
(Dec. 9) Nashville
Technology Council "Holiday Business Mixer,"
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Two Doors Down, Demonbreun
Street, cash bar. Map, here.
(Dec. 11) AITP
Nashville chapter meeting, Dr. Sonny Reynolds
(humor). Register, here.
Nashville Technology
Council
For information about
Nashville Technology Council programs, services
and sponsorships:
For previous editions
of "News of Nashville Technology," click here.
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