On January 12, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected a challenge by Core Communications, Inc., the Public Service Commission of the State of New York, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners to a November 2008 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order setting forth the basis for its authority to institute rate caps on intercarrier compensation for telecommunications traffic bound for internet service providers (ISPs).  Core Communications, Inc. v. FCC, Nos. 08-1365, 09-1046, 08-1393 & 09-1044, 2010 WL 86672, at *1, *7 (D.C. Cir. Jan. 12, 2010).

Perkins Coie's Susan Lyon and John Roche co-authored an article, published by SmartGridNews.com, entitled "Smart Grid Privacy Part 1: How to Keep Your Customer Data Protected — and Keep Your Customers."

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today sued Health Net of Connecticut, Inc. for failing to secure private patient medical records and financial information involving 446,000 Connecticut enrollees and promptly notify consumers endangered by the security breach. http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=453916&A=3869

The 13th Annual EUEC (Energy and Environment Conference) will be held on February 1-3, 2010 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. This year's conference will bring together senior management professionals at the onset of what is likely to be an active year for energy and environmental policy particularly with the new proposed initiatives and legislation on climate change and renewable energy in the United States.

Perkins Coie Of Counsel Susan Lyon will serve as a panelist at the 2010 Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal Symposium on the topic of "The Smart Grid: How Smart is Too Smart."

Perkins Coie Of Counsel Susan Lyon will be speaking at the Email Evolution Conference on the topic of "Stay Compliant and Protect Your Reputation," which will cover the basics through advanced email compliance concepts with a focus on CAN-SPAM.

In the 2009 economic stimulus package, the U.S. allocated $4.5 billion to develop technologies for the "smart grid," a revamped energy-saving digital delivery system for electricity. But, according to the Security Magazine article "Resiliency: Spring Back; Don't Fall Forward," there are several concerns about the new technology, including increased vulnerability to terrorist attacks and an increased concerns about privacy.

Perkins Coie Privacy & Security Of Counsel Susan Lyon authored the chapter "Personal Information Security" for the 2009 edition of the Washington Nonprofit Handbook: How to Form and Maintain a Nonprofit Corporation in Washington State, published by Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations and the King County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

The Federal Trade Commission today issued a report that examines the incidence of sexually and violently explicit content in online virtual worlds.  The report analyzes how easily minors can access explicit content in virtual worlds, and the measures virtual world operators take to prevent minors from viewing it.