US ISPA Statement on the Arrest of Alleged Virus Writer in Germany

Washington, DC - May 10, 2004 - The arrest of the alleged writer of the “Sasser” worm by German authorities is a strong step forward in deterring criminal cyber attacks. For too long, perpetrators of computer crimes have gone undetected and undeterred. US ISPA member companies are directly affected by these crimes, and we believe this arrest signals a turn of the tide against cyber criminals.

We congratulate the German authorities, and we congratulate the FBI, the Secret Service, Interpol and Microsoft for the role their “Rewards” program played in causing an individual to volunteer information leading to the arrest.

We look forward to continuing to work with law enforcement to deter cyber criminals and will follow this case as it moves forward.  US ISPA believes this arrest sends a clear message that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated and will be investigated to the fullest extent of the law.         

US ISPA Statement on the Passage of Anti-spam Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC - December, 11, 2003 - The United States Internet Service Provider Association (US ISPA) congratulates Congress on the passage of the first Federal law dedicated to fighting spam.  This critical legislation provides law enforcement and Internet service providers (ISPs) with valuable and uniform tools to combat even the most offensive and pervasive spammers.

US ISPA applauds the tough criminal provisions in the Act and pledges to continue to work closely with law enforcement to bring about successful prosecutions.  

Our members recognize, however, that legislation is but one approach in the fight against spam. US ISPA member companies will continue to support the development of more sophisticated and effective anti-spam technologies, and to work with government agencies and others in furthering consumer education efforts and with law enforcement agencies to develop new capabilities to reduce fraud and fight viruses and other unwanted side-effects of spam.

United States Internet Service Provider Association ("US ISPA")
Launched as New Association to Represent Internet Service Providers

WASHINGTON, DC - January 11, 2002 - A group of the Internet's leading companies announced today the creation of a new association designed to represent the interests of Internet service providers - the United States Internet Service Provider Association ("US ISPA").

"We are very excited about the new focus and membership of US ISPA," voiced the association's President, Clint Smith (Vice President and Chief Network Counsel of WorldCom, Inc). "As the ISP community has matured, so have its needs for an organization that could represent the growing legal and policy issues common to ISPs. The Association combines the experience and expertise of the industry's leading companies to represent the interests of all ISPs at the national level."

Smith's sentiments were echoed by the association's new Vice-President, Tom Dailey (General Counsel of Verizon Online): "The US ISPA will serve as an effective voice for the ISP community on a wide variety of compliance and liability issues of common interest to ISPs. Some of the major issues we will be looking at are Internet security, on-line liability and compliance with the new anti-terrorism law, the USA-Patriot Act, as well as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime."

"One of the Association's principal focuses will be on forging closer relationships with law enforcement, while simultaneously protecting the privacy of our customers and the integrity of our networks," explained John Ryan (Associate General Counsel of America Online Inc.) who co-chairs US ISPA's new Security Council along with Tom Dailey. "The Association will also provide a forum for critical infrastructure and cyber-security issues, and looks forward to working closely with the federal government on several of the efforts it has launched since September 11th."

Dave Baker (Vice President of Law and Public Policy of EarthLink) and Tod Cohen (Associate General Counsel, Global Policy of eBay Inc.), co-chairs of the association's Policy Committee, noted that the association "will also advance a variety of other policy and legal issues of concern to ISPs, such as Internet privacy, content regulations and intellectual property."

The US ISPA was created from the former Commercial Internet eXchange ("CIX"), which announced today that it was disbanding and being reconstituted with an entirely new membership group and Internet focus under the US ISPA name. Founding members of USISPA's Board include representatives from America Online, Cable & Wireless, EarthLink, eBay, Teleglobe, Verizon Online and WorldCom. The Washington, D.C. law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP has been selected to serve as legal counsel to the organization.