Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.tech From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: tech Thu, Apr 30 1992 Date: Thu, 30 Apr 92 05:41:14 EDT Message-ID: 04-30 0000 DECISIONLINE: Technology USA TODAY Update April 30, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network SPACE STATION STAYS ALIVE: By a 254-159 vote, the House defeated an amendment aimed at killing federal authority to spend the $2.25 billion needed to cover next year's share of the space station's development costs. The amendment, proposed by Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Ind., would have directed $1.1 billion of the money to reducing the budget deficit and another $1.15 billion to other NASA programs. BILL AIMED TO HELP AEROSPACE: Lawmakers launched a bid Wednesday to pass legislation aimed at stimulating the aerospace industry, which has been stung by the recession, cuts in defense spending and rising foreign competition. The bill, estimated to cost more than $1 billion, is "designed to give our industries the support they need to compete in the global marketplace," said House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo. (For more, see special Aerospace package below.) IBM'S TO BE SOLD BY MAIL: IBM is entering the mail-order market to sell some of its personal computers. The move is a big change for IBM, which has traditionally sold its products through dealers. IBM will sell its less expensive PS:2 models through an 800 telephone number. IBM says its mail-order operations will be based in Atlanta and will start within the next week. EQUIPMENT TEST MARKET GROWING: The world's telecommunications and data communications test equipment market will grow from $1.8 billion in 1991 to $3.2 billion in 1998, or an annual rate of 8.8%, forecasts a study released Wednesday by Market Intelligence. Leading the way will be growth in demand for fiber optic test equipment and transmission impairment measurement sets. COMPETITORS FACED WITH DECISION: Price competition is intense in much of the data and telecommunications test equipment markets. A Market Intelligence study concludes competitors must choose between low-cost strategies and focusing on niches. Many users now consider test equipment commodities, which leads to an emphasis on price comparison rather than brand loyalty. CRASH WON'T HURT PROGRAM: The crash of the only flyable prototype of the F-22 Stealth fighter will have little impact on the $75 billion program, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill McPeak told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. The crash occurred Saturday. The program calls for 650 of the planes in service in 2002. SOFTWARE AIMED AT CAMPERS: Corinthian Concepts Inc. said Wednesday it has introduced MicroCamp, the first personal computer software for campers. The IBM-compatible product locates Western U.S. campgrounds and RV parks and creates customized printouts. Census figures show that 24% of the population are campers, says Corinthiam's Barbara Puett. She said campers can use the program to compare facilities. IBM, TIME WARNER MAY MAKE DEAL: IBM and Time Warner are negotiating a global alliance to link the computer maker's technology with Time Warner's vast library of movies and TV shows and its cable TV systems, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The venture could result in "movies on demand" - consumers could call up a movie at any time on their TV from a huge library, as well as interactive TV. HIGH-SPEED TRAIN SUPPORT URGED: Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., on Wednesday urged Congress to spend at least $2 million next year to launch a high-speed rail experiment the Bush administration wants to keep on the shelf for now. Magnetically levitated trains - or "maglev" - would be powered by magnets. She said her request "recognizes severe budget restrictions" for the 1993 fiscal year starting Oct. 1. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON AEROSPACE: INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DECLINING: Last year, the U.S. aerospace industry cut 106,000 jobs, an 8% decline that marked the field's worst employment losses in two decades. Legislation proposed by House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., and Reps. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and San Gejdenson, D-Conn., calls for a more than $1 billion be spent to try to revive the industry. BILL WOULD GIVE LOAN GUARANTEES: The bill would set up an economic-transition fund to provide up to $5 billion in loan guarantees to aerospace companies and other high-tech firms wounded by defense cuts and competition from heavily subsidized foreign companies. It would direct NASA to give U.S. companies first access to technological developments that might offer them advantages in the international marketplace. TRAINING GRANTS WOULD BE GIVEN: The proposed legislation would establish a training program to help displaced aerospace workers convert their skills to other fields. The multi-year program, estimated to cost a total of $60 million, would offer grants up to $6,000 per person to retrain engineers and other workers. PROVISIONS WOULD BE SPLIT: Most of the legislation's provisions will be split up and passed as amendments to other bills as they move through Congress, Gephardt said. He predicted the bill would draw major criticism, but said it would be money well spent. "Those are monies that are going to be paid back" through increased productivity and the revenues that productivity would generate, Gephardt said. (End of package.) Technology Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM