Today NTC Tech Roundtable Paul Cleckner US Director of Client Service Technology) Deloitte- covering Deloitte implementation of Microsoft -Net- CMS and Sharepoint- which Deloitte has leveraged in building its US firm portal- now receiving 1 million visits per month- plus knowledge management platforms and applications that support service delivery- Register here.

.Tomorrow. Chamber Behind the Business series Friday March 5 features ATIBA Software and Consulting CEO JJ Rosen and Josh Crane) director of sales) discussing how ATIBA began) issues the firm faced during industry downturn) and current growth of the company) Program begins with 8 am networking) presentation from 0830 ending 1000) For details on this program or BTB series visit here.

Note. Software problems delayed this issue two days and result in numerous auto.generated typos throughout. We will have this rectified by our next issue. March 17.

(Corrected) CAT Financial has named Larry McCoy Chief Information Officer. Tom?DePauw,?previously?CIO, is now Global Program Director, responsible for design and deployment of CAT's Core System.

Gibson Guitar consolidates voice and data with XO Communications, Feb. 23, XO release.

Kroll Background America Inc. nabs deal with American International Group, serving private-client policyholders with checks on their personal staffs, Tennessean, 3E, March 2. Nash. Bus. Journal, March 2.

Information System Security Association (ISSA) Mid-Tenn Chapter announced Mark Burnette (Willis), president, Kimberly Len (VU Medical Cntr), vice president, and other officers, here.

Avnet teams with FedEx for supply-chain and shipping electronics, release Feb. 19.

Connective Technologies signs Consumers Insurance for agents' Internet download of policy information, p. 12, Nash. Bus. Journal, Feb. 27, not on web.

Equinox IS licensed call detail and billing records product to Union Telephone Co., MT. NashvillePost.com, Feb. 24.

Amsouth ranks high in Online customer satisfaction, Nash. Bus. Journal, Feb. 27.

Fleet One designed nationwide fuel card for Petroleum Card Svcs., 3E, Tennessean, Feb. 20, scroll here.

Nashville's Rex Hammock of Hammock Publishing gains national notice by blogging his meeting with Hon. George Bush, President of the United States, Washington Post, Feb. 20.

TN Center for Performance Excellence 2003 awards go to Back/Arnley (Dana Corp.), Nashville District-US Army Corps of Engineers and Workforce Essentials, Tennessean, 3E, Feb. 19, here.

Neel-Schaffer receives state engineering award through American Council of Engineering Companies, Tennessean, 3E, March 3.

American Fiber Systems names D'Angelo VP-sales and marketing, release, Feb. 25.

Cingular Wireless named Mid TN Workforce Investment Board's Employer of the Year, for support of employees' career development and quality of life, Tennessean, 3E, March 2, scroll down here.

Smart Data Strategies names Steve Byington controller and CFO, Nash. Bus. Journal, p. 18, Feb. 27, not on web.

Xerox - Pharos solution helps Nashville, Memphis/Shelby?public libraries with doc management, Feb. 25, release.

Decline of manufacturing, plight of rural households in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky reported March 2 through project funded by Annie E. Casey Foundation, report here.

Tennessee Valley Authority and CEO Baxter attacked for offshoring computerization of drawings via Access Systems, Knox. News Sentinel, March 3, here.

TRICOR staff said?yesterday that RFP 316.08-168 attracted bids from Pomeroy IT Solutions (Hebron, Ky.) and Edgeware, and Pomeroy was the best-evaluated bidder. Project would replace TRICOR supplier system with hardware, server, applications software, services package. Also, see news-summary editions of Oct. 23 and Nov. 5, 2003; and, Jan. 7, 2004, and/or use Search tool, all here.

THE VOUGHT LOSS:? Vought's closing offers Nashville opportunity for new industrial park, Tennessean, 1E, March 2, here. Vought release, Feb. 26, here. Senator Frist creating team to aid laid-off workers in Warren and Davidson Counties, Feb. 28, Tennessean and Knox. News Sentinel. Vought silence signaled intent to leave, Tennessean, Feb. 29. Texas' win of Nashville's Vought operation underscores cowboy commitment to knowledge economy (opinion), Star Telegram, March 1. Earlier stories: Tennessean and Nash. Bus. Journal, Feb. 27. NashvillePost, Feb. 26. Tennessean, Feb 26 and Feb. 25. City Paper, Feb. 25.

Coordinator Rhonda Hicks told NTC yesterday that none of the bids received?was deemed "responsive" for State of Tennessee's Electronic Payment Acceptance and Services RFP 317.05-020, so the project will probably be handled through an alternative competitive process, which under state law will include firms that offered under the RFP and a specified number of minority and disadvantaged firms. An earlier RFP effort failed to secure a contractor for this work, last fall, we are told.

Tenn. Finance officer Goetz comments on?delays in TennCare?systems completion by EDS, Times Free Press, 1A, March 2.

Metro Schools holds a bidders conference?tomorrow (March 4) regarding Metro RFP 04-19 for online support of professional development within the Nashville school district, proposals due March 17.

Metro Government:? Mayor's Office of Emergency Management (RFP 04-05) seeks contractor for conducting emergency drill known as "A Bad Day Gone Worse," a two-day simulation of a terrorist attack on Nashville, proposals due March 25.

Tennessee network for education, Homeland Defense first-responders, et al, gets a boost with USDA grants to Martin and Cookeville public-television stations, also benefiting Nashville's WNPT Channel 8, which serves as hub for emerging network. Release from office of Sen. Frist here.?

Karlen Evins of "Teddy Bart's Roundtable" and The Public Forum advocates mandating cable-systems' carriage of General Assembly proceedings; cable industry counters that voluntarism is a better approach, Tennessean, Feb. 29, here. Tennessean editorial urges cable-industry voluntarism, Tennessean, March 2. Story, AP via Commercial Appeal, March 2. Former State Senator Andy Womack, a Public Forum board member, indicated during the Roundtable's broadcast yesterday that he believes an attempt to mandate legislatively cable carriage is necessary in order to create a climate in which an equitable, workable solution can be achieved. Evins noted that legislation she advocates has 14 cosponsors in the Senate.

Selected proposed laws in the Tennessee General Assembly (see earlier news summaries, also):

• Anti-offshoring legislation in Tennessee General Assembly, SB2344 (Kyle). Other states' capitols here.
• Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - Authorizes the TBI to sell criminal history data to help defray TBI operational costs. HB 3379 ?(Coleman), SB3280 (Trail).
• Radio/Television - Expands municipal electric power-system cable pilot projects to one in each Grand Division. HB 2435 (Litz), SB2455 (Southerland).
• Elections - Authorizes county election commissions to develop Internet-based electronic filing for candidates for public office; and, for political campaign committees for local elections. HB 3175 (McMillan), SB2347 (Kyle).
• GPS for Corrections, Pardons - Senate hearing March 8 will include presentation by Alanco TSI representatives on use of GSM RFID technologies for tracking prisoners to reduce violence, escapes, costs. HJR0816 authorizes Department of Correction and Board of Pardons and Paroles to study use of global positioning systems (GPS) to improve operations, and authorizes demonstration project. HJR 0816 (Bowers).
• Sen. David Fowler's?incentive bill for tech commercialization?awaits scheduling in Sen. Finance?(SB 3268)Rep. Zach Wamp presses for national hydrogen fuel-cells, Times Free Press, Feb. 24, here.
• Online Education Assessment - SB2254 (Dixon) HB2976 (Jones U.) - Requires creaiton of online assessment system to measure and provide feedback re student knowledge and skills in TCAP and Gateway subject areas.
• Distance learning test - SB2255 (Dixon) HB2978 (Jones U.) Creates demonstration project for teaching by videoconferencing.
• Broadband tax exemption - "Tennessee Broadband Technology Incentive Act of 2004", SB2741 (Trail) HB2891 (Head).

Clarksville council members wanted Mayor Trotter to call meeting on financial software, Tennessean, Feb. 22.

FCC chief says over-regulation of VOIP could increase offshoring in the emerging sector, Wash. Post, Feb. 25. State governments save money with VOIP, Information Week, March 1, here. VOIP means "traditional voice communications is a goner," says UC-San Diego prof, Wall St. Journal, Dec. 2, (sub) here.How do you demonstrate your technology for legislators? Here's the DC approach, Washington Post, Feb. 23.

TN Agricultural Department launches e-news service, Knox. News Sentinel, Feb. 23.

Corporations form cybersecurity lobbying alliance, Washington Post, Feb. 25. Senators say cybersecurity coordination is lacking, Washington Post, Feb. 25.

Federal government developing?tools for national surveillance of citizenry, AP via Commercial Appeal, Feb. 29.

Business Tennessee magazine's third issue (March 04) will,?says?Editor David Fox, include tech-linked stories, for example: Tennessee's Top 10 Scientists;?the Enterprise South development at Chattanooga;?Remotec, the Oak Ridge maker of robotic machines that can be used to remove bombs. Among the scientists identified are individuals from Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt, St. Jude, University of Tenn. at Knoxville, Eastman Chemical and Oak Ridge National Lab. Content not on web.

"TechBiz," a supplement to Nashville Business Journal, has an April 23rd publication date. Additional info,?Gabrielle Collins.

Cool Springs-area businesses now have access to the Owen GSM's Walker Management Library through Williamson County business resource center, Tennessean, Williamson AM, March 2.

NAR top Realtor says buyers and sellers want Web sites that provide offerings, status changes, as well as tax, title, loan and inspection resources, Tennessean, 1E, March 3.

Homeland Security launches new Internet-based secure network to link all echelons of law enforcement, Washington Post, Feb. 26.

The Top 50 employers in Tennessee listed (excluding government units).

Ten legal considerations associated with outsourcing, Jason Epstein, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC.

Anti-piracy: FBI will lend its logo/seal to entertainment industry to deter infringement on DVDs, CDs and other digital media, Commercial Appeal, Feb. 20, (free regis) here. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's speeches on intellectual property (Feb. 27, Stanford).

Internet Home Alliance of IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, others is prototyping wireless workspaces in shopping malls, Washington Post, Feb. 26, here.

RSS Web feeds?taking the place of web browsing, Washington Post, Feb. 28.

Internet pioneer Cerf cites important tech trends,?Seattle Times, Jan. 19.

Increased T-1 services to private homes? Times Free Press, Feb. 24, here.

OFFSHORE:? MIT Students experience rigors of making outsourcing and offshoring decisions, AP via Commercial Appeal, Feb. 29. U.S. Comm. Asst. Secty Mehlman on globalization, offshoring, (various 2003 venues). (Editorial) U.S. Innovation should trump fear of offshoring, Nash. Bus. Journal, Feb. 20, p. 46.??