Full House by wide margin approved conference report (H. Rpt. 107...

Full House by wide margin approved conference report (H. Rpt. 107-278) on FY 2002 Commerce, Justice and State Depts. appropriations bill (HR-2500). Measure, which passed 411-15 in roll call vote Wed., provides for investment of several hundred million dollars into govt. information technology and telecom infrastructure projects (CD Nov 14 p2) and funding for various cybercrime and intellectual property enforcement initiatives. It approved $154 million for Office of Justice Programs-administered law enforcement technology program, much of which will be distributed to state and municipal agencies to acquire or upgrade communications and data systems. It also contains provision that prohibits funding of “activities authorizing the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies or affiliated organizations to tax any aspect of the Internet.”