What's New @ IEEE-USA - Eye On Washington Vol. 2011, No. 9 (27 June 2011)

Dear Reader,

The latest issue of IEEE-USA's Eye on Washington is now online.  For complete text and links to additional resources, please visit: http://ieeeusa.org/policy/eyeonwashington/2011/10eow2011.asp

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Summary:

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IEEE Volunteers Needed To Develop IEEE-USA Position on Cybersecurity - IEEE-USA's Committee on Communications Policy is seeking volunteers to assist in reviewing pending cybersecurity legislation and related Administration proposals with the goal of developing an IEEE-USA position statement. If you would like to be part of this effort, please contact the CCIP Chair Eric Burger.

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CAPITOL HILL

Senator Conrad Unveils Sweeping National Energy Plan: Legislation Would Boost Domestic Production, Bring Relief to Consumers - Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced comprehensive energy legislation intended to lessen America's dependence on foreign oil, reduce gas prices, and strengthen the national economy.

Bipartisan Public Power Advocates Look to Replenish Renewable Funding - Jim Dermott (D-Wash.) a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Senate Finance Committee member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) are drafting legislation to replenish the Treasury Department’s Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) program. The bonds allow publicly owned utilities and nonprofit rural electric cooperatives to issue bonds for renewable projects, providing investors with a federal tax credit instead of interest payments.

House Passes Patent Overhaul; Senate Trouble Looms - The House passed a broad overhaul of the U.S. patent system last Thursday, after overcoming opposition to changes in provisions related to patent office fees.  The bill makes changes to the way patents are awarded, reviewed and challenged. If passed into law, the basis for awarding patents would be changed from "first to invent" to "first inventor to file." In other words, if you have the money and resources to get to the patent office before someone else, you get the patent. But if there are two or more you who get there first, the patent will be awarded to the inventor who is willing to pay an expediting fee to win the race. In other words, inventors, save your pennies. Only the rich will get patents from here on out.

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THE WHITE HOUSE

The President in Pittsburgh - with Robots - Speaking from Carnegie Mellon University, President Obama discusses the vital role advanced manufacturing will have in strengthening our economy and creating good, middle-class jobs. More info in Spectrum.

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FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIVITY

FERC seeks comment on policies for ancillary services, electric storage technologies - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) launched an inquiry into how to bring greater competition to markets for supply services that help keep the grid operating smoothly, and how to remove potential barriers to the expanded use of electric storage technologies.

FERC Hearing Testimony - Protecting the Electric Grid: the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act  - Testimony of Joseph McClelland Director, Office of Electric Reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power United States House of Representatives, May 31, 2011

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AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS & GRANTS

Deadline for TBED Award Applications Less than a Month Away!

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REPORTS, DOCUMENTS OF NOTE & INFO RESOURCES

NSB/NSF Seeks Input on Proposed Merit Review Criteria Revision and Principles

The White House - 2011 U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT COORDINATOR JOINT STRATEGIC PLAN: One-Year Anniversary