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Army going electric for light-use vehicles

The Big 3 of Detroit aren't the only ones singing the praises of electric vehicles this week.

The U.S. Army on Monday announced an initiative to potentially replace up to 28,000 gas-powered vehicles at more than 155 Army installations with Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) in the coming years.

NEVs are not highway-legal electric vehicles, but rather light-use electric vehicles with a maximum speed of 25 mph. The Army intends to use them for nontactical things like on-base transportation for visitors, or maintenance personal and their equipment, according to Paul Bollinger, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for … Read more

Ruling against Rambus highlights tactics

In a U.S. District Court patent ruling against Rambus, the judge highlighted some of the company's aggressive tactics for targeting and suing memory chip manufacturers.

On Friday, Judge Sue L. Robinson, in the U.S. District Court in Delaware, ruled that Rambus' patent suit against Micron Technology is "unenforceable," citing "spoliation," defined as the "destruction or alteration of evidence." This occurs when a party has "intentionally or negligently breached its duty to preserve potentially discoverable evidence," Judge Robinson wrote in her opinion.

As a result, 12 Rambus patents are not … Read more

U.S. Chamber seeks climate solutions from tech sector, not EPA

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday it is optimistic about the stimulus package currently in the works yet warned that the group may butt heads with Democratic leaders over issues like climate change regulation and energy policy.

"The chamber is very encouraged by the direction the President-elect is taking with his recovery package," Chamber CEO Tom Donohue said Wednesday, as he presented his organization's 2009 State of American Business report and its proposals for economic recovery. "Even so, we will not hesitate to vigorously fight wrong-headed proposals when necessary."

The chamber remains optimistic … Read more

Business groups sue over Homeland Security E-Verify program

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations filed suit against U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff last week, complaining that the Homeland Security Department cannot legally require federal contractors to use its online worker verification database.

Beginning January 15, 2009, the department will require certain federal contractors and subcontractors to use its E-Verify system, an online database run by the Homeland Security Department and the Social Security Administration against which employers can check a person's work status. Use of the system is voluntary, but President George Bush signed an executive order earlier this year requiring … Read more

Chamber backs broadband deployment--without Net neutrality laws

Broadband development should not be stifled by federal regulation that intends to make networks more "neutral," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is arguing through two papers released Monday.

The papers, the first in a series of five that will examine the impact of broadband on certain user groups and for certain purposes, argue that the federal government's current loose regulatory structure has enabled broadband to become a "life-altering tool" both for the general population and for senior citizens specifically.

"An estimated $60 billion has been invested in broadband infrastructure by the communications industry … Read more

CNET News Daily Podcast: Watching E.T. in real time

CNET News' Daniel Terdiman has the latest on what's going on at the Allen Telescope Array, the world's first large-scale telescope meant for the full-time use of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Today's stories:

Andy Grove urges Intel to build car batteries

SETI's large-scale telescope scans the skies

RadioShack sells $99 Netbook with 2-year AT&T contract

Postal Service's 'Click-N-Ship' glitch resolved

Postal Service's 'Click-N-Ship' glitch resolved

Updated at 9:50 a.m. PDT with new information.

While the federal government scrambles to find ways to stimulate economic activity, one of the U.S. Postal Service's most popular online services was malfunctioning and temporarily out of service during the Post Office's second-busiest week of business for the year.

The U.S. Postal Service Web site experienced a system-wide failure Monday morning, bringing to a halt one programs such as one Web tool that powers 20 online services including the site's free package pick up service, its zip code locator, and its rate estimator. Those … Read more

EFF, Bush administration spar over telecom immunity

SAN FRANCISCO--A federal judge on Tuesday heard arguments in a case that centers on an important constitutional principle: can the Feds immunize any telecommunications company that violated the law by opening its network to government snoops?

That was the question debated in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker on Tuesday. Lawyers with the U.S. Justice Department, who sought to persuade Walker to throw out lawsuits pending against the telecommunications companies, told him the government engages in a variety of activities designed to "protect the heartland." Those in the Bush administration have said the lawsuits … Read more

Hawaii's new wave power

Ocean Power Technologies announced Thursday that it will be installing a water-power buoy system to tie into Hawaii's Oahu Island power grid.

The New Jersey-based company makes ocean buoys that harness the energy of ocean waves to generate electricity that is then sent back to shore via underwater cable.

Through a partnership with the U.S. Navy, Ocean Power has been developing technology that could supplement electricity needs for the military in Hawaii .

"We are pleased to be a part of the Navy's effort to develop and commercialize new technologies to reduce the Navy's dependence on … Read more