Technology

• A computer is infected with spyware that re-directs the user to the hacker's site (Good anti-virus and firewalls can help protect against this).
• The hacker creates a website with a name/address similar to the legitimate one. For instance, the legitimate site might end with .com while the hacker's site would end with .net.
• DNS poisoning involves hackers corrupting the Domain Name Service servers causing users to be hijacked to the illegitimate site despite entering the correct address.

CAN-SPAM Act
The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM) is national anti-spam legislation that outlaws misleading subject lines and false "from" addresses. The legislation should not impact legitimate, ethical email used for direct marketing to those who are part of a legitimate (the consumer opted in) database. There are a few points to be aware of:

• Email must include a way for consumers to opt out of receiving any future messages.
• Senders should include their physical (postal) address on the emails.
• Although individuals are unable to sue spammers, ISPs can.
• The law pre-empts several state laws including the more stringent California legislation. State provisions about falsity and deception are not affected.

Broadband Internet Access on the Rise
Nearly 39 percent of households have broadband Internet access. In the next five years that number is expected to increase to 79 percent.

Use Filters to Lessen Workplace Spam
Those unsolicited pornographic emails at work could have serious legal consequences for employers if it is found that these emails create "a hostile work environment." Although the employer may have nothing to do with the spam, offended employees could file a lawsuit. Employers are advised to have adequate filtering software to prevent problems. No cases have been filed, but legal experts warn that lawsuits will "begin to crop up" if adequate filtering software in not installed.
Information courtesy of the Apartment Professional, January/February 2004.

Surveys Made Easy
Using an online survey is an easy way to poll employees, residents or professional group members. One site, SurveyMonkey allows users to create and adminster surveys online in several different formats. Short surveys with small numbers of respondents are free. There is a charge for larger surveys with more respondents. Other sites offering online polling are www.surveyworld.net and www.formsite.com. Results are tabulated automatically online and can be viewed immediately by the administrator and include graphics.

Senate Unanimously Approves Anti-Spam Legislation
The Senate unanimously passed a bill (S. 877) that would ban deceptive unsolicited commercial email and create criminal penalties for violating the law. The bill would require advertisement identification; electronic and physical return addresses and the ability for consumers to opt-out of further mailings. It also authorizes the creation of a national "Do Not Spam" Registry similar to the Do Not Call Registry. It is unclear whether the house will pass the bill. The bill may be subject to the same challenges facing the Do Not Call and Do Not Fax registries.

Anti-Microbial Steel Buildings
Anti-microbial steel building material has been introduced by AK Steel Corporation of Middletown Ohio. The steel has been treated with a germ-resistant coating, which makes it resistant to microbes that can cause sickness. The material has already been used in the construction of buildings in Los Angeles and Atlanta where molds are a concern. Currently about five percent of U.S. homes have steel framing, but the number is growing. Currently steel building materials cost about the same as traditional wood materials. AK Steel has not released the price of its anti-microbial steel, but experts estimate the cost to be 25 percent more than normal steel building materials.
Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune.

Good Digital Picture Quality
Here are a few tips found in the San Diego County Real Estate Executive, for taking good digital photos:

1. Get a camera that is user-friendly.
2. Set your camera to take pictures using its mid-range for picture quality. Most cameras let you adjust the number of pixels (dots-per-square-inch). The more pixels, the higher the picture quality.
3. Familiarize yourself with your camera's settings.
4. Take several pictures of the same subject at different angles.
5. E-mail or burn CDs to share photos when possible - it is less expensive than printing a digital photo.
6. Use the camera often to develop a better "eye" for taking pictures.

Do-Not-Fax Rule Not to Take Effect Until 2005
The FCC delayed the enforcement of its law pertaining to fax marketing until January 1, 2005. Originally, the law was supposed to take effect on August 25, 2002. The law prohibits fax marketing of any kind unless they receive prior written consent from the business they are sending material too. Even with the extension, however, businesses should keep in mind that the FCC still prohibits fax marketing where there is no prior business relationship.

E-commerce Matures
An estimated 36 million American households will shop online by 2007 and will spend an estimated $218 billion in total retail sales. In addition, the demographics of e-commerce customers are also changing. Initially, e-commerce customers were generally young, wealthy men; now more customers are female and come from lower-medium and medium income brackets. E-commerce sites are becoming more customer service oriented, as shoppers are demanding better service and better fraud protection. Starting next year 31 states will start collecting sales tax on Internet purchases following the end of the Federal moratorium on collecting taxes across statelines on Internet purchases.
Information courtesy of the California CEO, "The Status of E-Commerce," July 2003.

Computer Worm Causes Problems Worldwide
A computer worm known as Blaster, MSBlaster, LoveSan and several other names has been wreaking havoc worldwide by causing computers to shut off automatically without user intervention. Often the shut down happens so quickly that users are unable to download the patch to fix it. It does not destroy any data. The worm works differently than a computer virus because it can infect a computer without the user taking any action such as opening an infected email attachment. The worm targets Windows 2000, Windows XP and Server 2003 operating systems, according to Microsoft. Once the worm infects one computer it seeks out other computers to infect starting with networked computers and then spreading to more remote computers. Microsoft users are encouraged to download the patch before a problem occurs. You can download the patch and get more information about the worm at www.microsoft.com.
Information courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune.

If These Walls Could Talk
Building bricks are getting "smarter." Through the use of electrical nanotechnology, smart bricks and other construction materials may be able to transmit data concerning the condition of the structure they are used in. Smart construction materials have tiny sensors that monitor a buildings temperature, vibration and movement. The information can be transmitted both in the event of an emergency and for regular maintenance. The innovation was created by a graduate student and a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A finished product is expected in about half a year.
Information Courtesy of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer, August 1, 2003.

Internet vs. T.V.
More teens and young adults are favoring the Internet over television according to a survey by Harris Interactive and Teen Research Unlimited. The study found that 13-to-24 year-olds spent an average of 16.7 hours online per week; not including time spent checking their email. People in the same age group spent 13.8 hours watching television.

Battery Technology Gets a "Charge"
The days of waiting several hours to use your portable device to recharge may be coming to an end. In the past, battery technology couldn't seem to keep up with the increasingly more complex portable technology (cell phones, PDAs, laptops, digital cameras, etc.,) but a new line of rechargeable batteries and portable fuel cells may soon alleviate the problem. Most consumers are used to having to recharge their batteries at least once a day or are familiar with standard batteries that die all too quickly. Rayovac is planning to introduce a line of batteries that use "smart" batteries that can recharge in 15 minutes without damaging the battery. Generally, rechargeable batteries can take several hours or even overnight before they recharge. Toshiba, NEC and a few other companies are planning to market a miniature fuel cell that runs on methanol by the end of next year. A portable rechargeable device may also hit the market in the next year or two.
Information courtesy of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Volume of Junk Email Increases
The volume of junk email or "spam" continues to increase, despite a better filters and lawsuits against spammers by AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo! The ISPs filter out an estimated 2 billion junk emails a day, but a lot still gets through. Last year an estimated 261 billion pieces of junk email got through the filters. Every day the average American worker wastes a least 15 minutes getting rid of spam according to one estimate. Spam is difficult to stop for a variety of reasons. Most spammers go to great lengths in order to hide their true identities. In addition, the use of "creative" spelling, odd spacing and hyphens, random dots, forged identities and hiding fake content make it more difficult to filter out unwanted email.
Information courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune.

Broadband vs. Dial-up
Despite claims that broadband Internet connections are up to 50 times faster, they may not be that much faster that dial-up Internet connections in some circumstances. Broadband offers Internet users the advantage of being "always on." In addition, it is much faster than a standard dial-up connection when it comes to downloading large files such as computer programs and movies (minutes as opposed to hours or days). There are some limitations, however. A connection may be capable of moving between 25 and 50 kilobytes per second (Kbps), but it may be limited by the speed of the computer or server at the other end. Viewing webpages with large amounts of graphics and sound files is faster on broadband, but the difference can be measured in seconds. Broadband is better for computers that are always on or that are networked. Which connection is better depends on the individual user. People who download a lot of large files, have networked computers or need an always-on connection may want to consider a broadband connection. Otherwise, you may ask yourself whether it is worth the approximately $400 extra a year.
Information courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune, May 19, 2003. "Speed claims for net access are often hype."

Spam Reduction Bill Introduced to Congress
Rep. Richard Burr (R) of North Carolina introduced a bill known as the "RID Spam Act," that e-mail marketers disclose their real addresses and honor requests to be taken off of mailing lists. The bill would also require pornographic e-mails to be labeled as pornographic. People who violate the law could be fined up to $1.5 million and jailed for up to two years. It is unknown whether the bill will be enforceable or not.
Information courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune June 2, 2003.

Protect Yourself
Do you know whether everything at your website is legal? Here are a few general guidelines that can reduce your risk of being sued and help protect your investment. It may be a good idea to have a lawyer review your site.

• Make sure you have complete ownership of your website so that the developer can't re-package it and sell it to another client.
• Develop terms of use.
• Don't steal copyrighted materials.
• Have a privacy policy to protect personal information.
• Be unique. It's a good idea to avoid being too similar or have a name that's too similar to a well-known domain. It will help avoid infringement.

E-business Cards
The traditional business card may be on its way out thanks to CD cards. These miniature CD ROMs are capable of holding much more than the traditional name and contact information. The "cards" can hold photos, graphics, audio clips, presentations, links to websites and e-mail addresses. The cards are relatively easy to make by using presentation software and burning the information onto the CD or by hiring a professional. The cards cost between 85 cents and $2.50 each. Some information courtesy of the Costco Connection.

Old PCs
Got an outdated computer collecting dust? There are three things you can do to reuse or recycle it:

• Consider upgrading. Sometimes extra memory, a new drive or monitor may be all a computer needs to make it useable again. However, eventually the cost of upgrading will be more expensive than getting new equipment.
• Donate it to an organization that collects used PCs for distribution to needy groups and schools either domestically or overseas.
• The environmental conscious can find a computer recycler.

Virtual Leasing
It may only make up a small share of the market, but virtual leasing is becoming increasingly important. It is part of a trend that shortens the leasing cycle and may give leasing agents an advantage over the competition. Virtual tours provide a panoramic 360-degree tour of both the interior and exterior of the property. It benefits the customer by allowing them to view potential properties early on and avoid unnecessary trips to the properties. In addition, leasing agents and brokers are benefited by generating fewer, but more qualified prospects. According to REALTOR.com, the average listing with pictures gets 40 percent more leads than one without. A lower cost alternative is a visual tour, which shows a series of digital still photos of the property.

Job Search Online May Lead to Identity Theft
Scam artists are taking advantage of some online job seekers. Potential employers often ask job candidates for more detailed information. Scam artists will often ask for personal information such as Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers and the candidate's mother's maiden name to conduct "background checks." They may also ask the candidate to create a 4-digit PIN to access a special website. Most people re-use PINs; something which a scammer will take advantage of to get to bank accounts. This information gives them the ability to commit identity theft and often drain bank accounts and run up credit charges. For more information on protecting yourself, read Monster.com's article Protect Your Personal Info.

Used Computers May Not Be Clean
Deleting files or re-formatting the hard drive may not be enough to clean your personal files off your hard drive. An MIT study found that many secondhand computers still have information on them. Of 129 functioning used hard drives purchased; 69 still had recoverable files on them. Forty-nine of these computers have sensitive personal information including medical correspondence, love letters, pornography, 5,000 credit card numbers, and on one a year's worth of transactions from an ATM machine including account numbers. The study estimated that 150,000 computers are retired each year, many of which are re-sold or donated. The only sure way to eliminate old data is to "squeeze it" or overwrite all old files several times. Unix users can overwrite old files fairly easily. For those who use other systems, it is recommended they buy inexpensive software to overwrite files or hire a computer expert.

Tanked Out
The traditional water heater with its large insulated tank may be on its way out. Tankless water heaters offer an efficient, low-energy alternative. That's because water is heated quickly through a copper coil pipe instead of in a large tank. This enables tankless heaters to deliver an unlimited supply of hot water. In addition, tankless models cut power costs because no energy is wasted due to radiation or periodic reheating. There are a few things to think about when considering tankless heaters.

• The number of hot water using devices in use and what the flow rates are. This will determine what size heater you will need.
• The maximum flow rate of a tankless heater is affected by two things:
  • Water temperature
  • The power output of your heating element
• Look for a model with a digital output temperature control to ensure consistently hot water from the tap.
• What type of ignition would work best for your needs.

No Privacy on the Net
It's nearly impossible to remain anonymous on the Internet. According to a study by Pew researchers, Americans assume they have privacy when using the Internet, but don't know how their activities are observed or how to protect themselves. Most online transactions are observed and over 27 million online workers (about 1 in 3) have their Internet or e-mail under continuous surveillance. Using JavaScript, some Websites can get an e-mail address and use it to start an onslaught of spam. Simply viewing a web page can trigger tracking by ad companies. Despite this, few people use or purchase Internet privacy software that sends fake addresses to advertising companies. There are voluntary guidelines that companies can follow to let users know whether these tracking methods are used - but no laws protecting privacy online.
Some information courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune, "Many Find It's Hard to Hide from Trackers in Cyberspace," by Doug Bedell. December 2, 2002.

The Dead Zones
A Consumer Reports survey of 22,000 cell phone users found that:

• 10 percent said they couldn't get service.
• 14 percent experienced dropped calls.
• 11 percent said their calls were marred by static or other interference.

Windows Update Problems
Some users of Microsoft Windows users are unable to access the Windows Update site. The problems occur with Windows versions older than Windows XP. Microsoft has posted a web page for people having trouble.

Digital Cameras
Neophytes to the world of digital photography have a wide variety of options when it comes to making the transition from pixels to printed photos easier. Photo editing software can be used to remove flaws and create special effects to enhance photos (no more red eye). Some software comes with computers and digital cameras. There is also a wide variety of excellent programs available that are relatively low-cost; including a scaled-down version of Adobe PhotoShop. Another alternative is online photo editing. Bellamax, www.bellamax.com, offers free member and charges between 49 cents to $2.99 per photo - depending on the type of work the member wants done.
Some information courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune.

10 Signs Your Spam May be a Scam

1. You can get something (money, prizes, a cool screen saver) simply by forwarding the e-mail to a certain number of people. A similar one offers to donate money to a charitable organization for each e-mail that's forwarded. It's impossible to track an e-mail once it's forwarded.
2. You've won a prize from a company you've never heard of in a contest you've never entered. Be especially wary if you need to send money or buy a product.
3. The author of the e-mail is trying really hard to convince you that it's legitimate (including quotes from television and/or magazines). If it has to prove it's legitimate, then it's probably not.
4. An e-mail from someone you don't know says you need to call or fax an 809 or other Caribbean area code to get information on a sick relative, employment offer, prize, etc. There's a strong likelihood that it's a pay-per-call (like a 900 number) that could cost thousands a minute.
5. The content has a really scary warning. These range from virus and crime warnings to stories about poisonous spiders in toilet seats. Some are true - most are not.
6. It involves an "organization" with an official sounding name similar to a legitimate society. This is especially common in hoaxes about dying or missing children.
7. You're expected to give your bank account number or the author of the e-mail insists on cash, money orders or personal checks. It may also ask that you fax a check.
8. It involves any sort of pyramid or multilevel marketing.
9. The solicitation involves anything illegal (fake I.D.'s, money laundering for an African government, etc.).
10. It sounds too good to be true.

National ID Card
A standard national identification system may be closer. Officials from all 50 states have agreed to cooperate in upgrading the security features on their driver's licenses in order to improve national security. Many of the highjackers on Sept. 11 were discovered to have obtained licenses in states that were notoriously lax about their security standards. The improvements would standardize the I.D. cards and make it more difficult to obtain a license using forged documents. In addition, law enforcement agencies from all over the nation would be able to share information. The committee is also considering additional security features such as computer chips and fingerprints.
Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune, "Driver's License Security Focus of All-State Initiative," by Ross Kerber of the Boston Globe. January 21, 2002.

Junk E-mail on the Rise
Since September 11, Americans have seen a significant jump in the amount of spam (junk e-mail) that they receive. Between November and January, consumers received 46 percent more spam than they had previously according to Brightmail, company that develops anti-spam software.

Spam may seem harmless, although annoying, but it's becoming costly to companies that use e-mail as a way to communicate with customers. Employees are forced to wade through a deluge of junk e-mail in order to find legitimate messages. There are some things you can do to reduce the amount of spam:

• If there is the option to "opt out" of future e-mails: use it.
• Report spam to agencies such as Spamcop (www.spamcop.net) that will track down the spammer and report them to the system administrator in charge of that e-mail address.
• Let the Federal Trade Commission know. Spam messages can be forwarded to uce@ftc.gov.
• If the spammer uses the same Internet Service Provider, let your ISP know about it. Most ISPs are interested in blocking spam.
• Write your congressional representative a letter (regular mail). Congress is usually considering several anti-spam measures.

"Cable Cuts" Most Common Cause of Communications Loss
The next time your Internet service goes down squirrels may be to blame. Almost every day underground communications cables are bent, mutilated, slashed by backhoes and chewed by animals. "Cable cuts" are the most common cause of telecommunications outages reported to the Federal Communications Commission. In March, a rat chewed a cable causing 300,000 Canadian Internet users to be cut off. The Internet is affected by cable cuts nine to ten times per month and voice mail 14 times per month according to Sean Donelan a design engineer for Equinix, a company that designs Internet hubs. The effect has become less noticeable as more cables create alternate paths.
*Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune, ComputerLink, "Net Service Down? Could be for Squirrelly Reasons," June 5, 2001

Computer Skills
On average 78 percent of a computer's capacity is unused and 53 percent of the American workforce can only perform rudimentary functions on their computers.
*Courtesy of Sales Management with a Purpose, March 2001

Technology Survey
New technologies are the way apartment residents view and use their apartments, according to a survey released this week at NMHC's Apartment Technology Conference. The National Apartment Technology Survey, conducted for NMHC by CEL & Associates, Inc., queried 30,000 apartment residents and 100 apartment managers about their technology usage. According to the survey, the majority of U.S. apartment residents have a desktop (79 percent) or laptop (61 percent) computer in their home, and they spend one to four hours per day on it. Eighty-two percent say they spend some of their "computer time" on work-related projects, with 25 percent spending at least half of their time on work projects. Seventy-seven percent are connected to the Internet. Although only 23 percent currently have high-speed Internet access, 45 percent of those who do not intend to seek such access this year. Fully 47 percent of apartment residents indicated that the availability of high-speed Internet access would affect their decision to rent a particular apartment in the future.

At the property level, 88 percent of community managers have a dedicated on-site computer and 63 percent have their own e-mail address. Most managers (92 percent) use the Internet to communicate with the central office, but a growing number use it to gather information on competitors (64 percent). Fewer use it to communicate with residents (53 percent) or vendors/suppliers (36 percent).
*Courtesy of National Multi Housing Council/National Apartment Association Washington Update April 20, 2001

Home Buyers Want to be Wired
A new national consumer survey found that homebuyers want their homes "wired" to support the technological demands of modern society. Desired features include: wiring for entertainment systems, high-speed Internet access, lots of outlets and wiring that allows a stereo system to be hooked up to multiple rooms in the house. Nearly eighty percent of consumers also need a room that is wired to use as a home office. What consumers don't want are all the high-tech, high-fluff items such as voice activated lighting and "smart" appliances.
Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune and the Washington Post, "Home Buyers Want to be Wired, But Hold the Bells and Whistles" June 17, 2001

Sloppy E-mail Hurts Companies
The quick and easy nature of communicating by e-mail can be harmful. Many e-mail messages are sloppy - full of incomplete sentences, rambling thoughts and misspellings. These traits can reflect poorly on individuals and companies. As a result observant managers are beginning to treat good e-mail writing as a skill worth having. Most individuals don't consider e-mail writing and treat it more like talking on the telephone or voicemail and forget that the effects of e-mail can last forever. E-mail is easily forwarded which spreads the damage. Prospective clients may take sloppy writing as a sign of sloppy business practices.
Courtesy of The Knight Ridder News Service, published in the San Diego Union Tribune, "Corporate e-mail missives are in a sorry mess," Candace Goforth. August 6, 2001

Secure Internet Transactions
One of the most important concerns with online transactions is security. While important, a secure password is not enough to protect Internet customers. There are six steps to creating a "safety net" for Internet customers.

1. Connect with a bank.
2. Contract with a reliable gateway or payment service.
3. Get informed about providers.
4. Weigh the risks.
5. Protect yourself.
6. Inform your customers that you're serious about security.
   

Vigilance Best Protection
Diligently following a few simple procedures can help protect your PC:

• Use strong passwords. Avoid the obvious such as birthdays or nicknames. Instead choose words that are difficult or impossible to guess. The best passwords mix letters and numbers. A different password should be used for each account.
• Back up important data at least once a month. Check all back-ups to make sure they work.
• Get a good anti-virus protection program. Update your software often and check daily for updates.
• Use a firewall program as a buffer between your computer and the Internet.
• Don't open e-mail attachments from strangers not matter how enticing they may look. Be wary of any unsolicited attachments from people you know - they may have been sent from an infected computer without the person's knowledge.
• When you receive an e-mail warning about a computer virus, check an anti-virus company's web site to see whether it is valid. Don't forward hoaxes.

Internet Use Up Among U.S. Adults
Internet use among U.S. adults rose to 56 percent last year as 16 million new users went online. In addition, people are logging on more often. Fifty-six percent of Internet users are online everyday, up from 52 percent mid-year. E-mail is the most popular feature and is used by 93 percent of Internet users. The top uses for the Internet were looking for hobby information, browsing for fun and getting news. E-commerce is also up, with online shoppers making up 52 percent of Internet users. That's an additional 14 million shoppers in the last six months of 2000.
Compiled from the San Diego Union Tribune.

Home is Where the Network Is
Yankee Group research released in October showed that as many as 21 million United States households are interested in installing home computer network, and that 1.24 million of them want to get started in the next year. Homebuilders are beginning to take notice, according to research published recently by BUILDER Magazine. Associates surveyed 696 builders nationwide and found out how many of them offer whole-house network wiring in their new homes. Fifty-six percent of builders offered network wiring in new homes, 36 percent didn't offer it and eight percent didn't know or didn't answer.

Digital Divide
The gap between high- and low-income household ownership of computers, often referred to as the digital divide, is closing quickly and should disappear by 2009, according to a report from the Employment Policy Foundation (EPF). Currently, 51 percent of U.S. households have at least one computer, and 43.5 million have Internet access. By November 2002, 68.2 million households will own one computer, and 66.9 million will be able to use the Internet. Based on these growth rates, EPF expects home computers to become a standard feature in nearly all American households within the next decade, regardless of income level. The survey also shows that 40 percent of lower-income households use the Internet for research and learning, compared to just 20 percent of upper-income households. The full report is posted at www.epf.org.
*Courtesy of National Multi Housing Council/National Apartment Association Washington Update January 26, 2001

Telecom Regulations
NAA/NMHC, as part of the Real Access Alliance, have filed a motion in federal court requesting that the court stay an October 25, 2000 rule (W.T. 99-217) issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). A prior FCC ruling (Order 98-273) allows apartment residents to install individual satellite dishes and antennas to receive TV programming. This new FCC rule, however, allows residents to use individual satellite dishes to send as well as receive fixed wireless communications signals (e.g., to allow Internet access). While reception devices are generally considered safe, the Alliance's motion cites scientifically based concerns that transmission devices may present a health hazard from radio frequency radiation (RF). Since these devices can only be installed on patios or balconies, it is likely that individuals will be standing in front of them while they are transmitting. The FCC requires "safety interlock features" for commercial transmitters, but in residential settings it only requires that providers of these antennas and satellites "exercise care to protect users and the public from RF." NAA/NMHC argue that the rule makes building owners potentially liable for significant RF health hazards, which may drive housing costs up.

NAA/NMHC, as part of the Real Access Alliance, filed comments on the FCC's October 12, 2000 Forced Access Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule-making (Order 99-217). While the Order did not give competitive telecom providers the right to demand access to private buildings, it did prohibit office properties from entering into exclusive contracts with providers and it requested additional comment on whether the exclusive contract ban should be extended to apartments. Our comments stress that the FCC cannot regulate building owners, either directly or indirectly, and that it has no power to regulate building access agreements. A special section notes that the FCC should not regulate exclusive contracts in residential buildings for the same reason it does not regulate exclusive cable contracts: such contracts are the only way to encourage competition by allowing small providers to develop a toehold. Our complete comments and answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are available by contacting Amy Tubbs at NAA via e-mail at AmyT@naahq.org or at 703-518-6141, ext. 127.
*Courtesy of National Multi Housing Council/National Apartment Association Washington Update January 26, 2001

Forced Access
Telecom providers continue to press for "forced access" to apartment properties at the state and federal levels. Proposals are pending in Congress, at the White House and at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would provide virtually unlimited access to telecom service providers to inside wiring and rooftops with virtually no compensation for owners. NAA/NMHC and its partners in the Real Access Alliance (www.realaccess.org) continue to educate policy makers about the serious negative consequences forced access policies have for residents and property owners.
*Courtesy of National Multi Housing Council/National Apartment Association Washington Update March 3, 2000

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