• SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Last Update on March 16, 2010 03:09 EDT

IN THE NEWS: FCC UNVEILS HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS PLAN

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The federal government is out with its blueprint for how to expand the nation's access to high-speed Internet surfing. Under the plan being unveiled today, more parts of the nation would have fast Internet access -- and those who already have access will be able to do so at even higher speeds. The Federal Communications Commission plan is aimed at outlining the nation's strategy for broadband for the next decade -- and beyond. The Obama administration has expressed concern that the nation that invented the Internet is in danger of falling behind the development of online applications in other countries that have faster broadband speeds at lower prices.

IN THE NEWS: CUBA UPSET WITH U.S. RULING ON INTERNET

HAVANA (AP) -- It's fair to say Cuba is unhappy with a U.S. plan to provide additional Internet capability to the communist island nation. A top Cuban official says the U.S. move is part of a plot to destabilize the country, not ease the nearly 50-year-long economic embargo against Cuba. Josefina Vidal Ferreiro of the Cuban Foreign Ministry says it appears the U.S. is using Internet access "as a tool of subversion and destabilization." Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department said it would allow the export of Internet communications services and software like instant messaging, e-mail and Web browsing to Iran, Sudan and Cuba to help people in those countries communicate.

Cuba has the lowest level of Internet penetration in the Western Hemisphere.

ON THE WEB: MASTERS TO GET NEW "DOMAIN"

CYBERSPACE (AP) -- Wanna see The Masters as you've never seen them before? You can this year -- because for the first time the golf tournament will be broadcast in 3-D. Augusta National announced yesterday that the tournament will be the first 3-D sports event on TV in the United States. The previous experiments used movie theaters. If you want to take advantage of the technology, it will cost you -- the first 3-D sets have just hit the market and they carry a 3-grand price tag.

On the 'Net:

Masters site: http://www.masters.org