" /> 飛耳長目: September 2005 Archives

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市場化テスト

平成１７年１０月より、国民年金保険料収納業務の市場化テスト・モデル事業が開始。

Posted by dalma at September 24, 2005 |

公設民営化の学校

多治見市が考えている公設民営の保育園
・保育園の管理や保育内容についての責任は、多治見市にあり、
・保育園の運営だけを社会福祉法人などの信頼できる民間事業者へ委託するもので、
公立保育園としての信頼性をそのままに、民間事業者のノウハウを活かした柔軟で効率的な保育園の運営を期待している。<参考>保育所経営の新たな流れ（2002年1月）、公立保育園の民営化（2004年6月）、ベネッセの公設民営園

公設民営化方式の鳥取環境大学
鳥取県と鳥取市が折半で土地・建物などの創設経費を負担するとともに、県・市が中心となって新しく学校法人を設立し、その学校法人が私立大学として鳥取環境大学の運営を行っている。地域に根ざしつつ、運営面での私学の良さを発揮できる経営形態で、全国的にも数少ない先進的な大学運営形態である。

<参考>同形態の大学：
1．千歳科学技術大学（北海道）
2．東北芸術工科大学（山形県山形市）
3．東北公益文科大学（山形県酒田市）
4．長岡造形大学（新潟県）
5．静岡文化芸術大学（静岡県）
6．鳥取環境大学（鳥取県）
7．高知工科大学（高知県）
8．九州看護福祉大学（熊本県）
9．名桜大学（沖縄県）

アメリカ合衆国のチャータースクール
今後の学校の管理運営の在り方（教育行財政部会第16回2004年1月）
教育改革国民会議報告（2000年12月）

≪教育特区≫　2004年末現在、９８ヶ所
茨城県高萩市　ウィザス高等学校（2005年4月開校）
岡山県御津町　朝日学園（日本初の株式会社による中学校）
群馬県太田市　ぐんま国際アカデミー　（太田市特区第一号）
ユージーン・クーパーさん＝ぐんま国際アカデミー校長
　米国アラバマ州生まれ。６６歳。アーバーン大などで学び、ＮＡＳＡでロケットの熱伝導を研究。アリゾナ州立大で機械工学博士号を取得し、米海軍の研究施設でも勤務した。単身赴任中。
（毎日新聞　2005年5月16日　東京朝刊）

◇日本の２カ国語教育のモデル校に育てたい

　構造改革特区で全国初の英語教育特区に認定された、群馬県太田市の小中高英語一貫教育校「ぐんま国際アカデミー」。４月６日開校し、初代校長に就任した。「知識は知らないうちに身につくもので、詰め込んだり、苦しんで学ぶのではない。学習は楽しいものでなければならない」が教育理念だ。

　元々は熱伝導に関する研究者で、ＮＡＳＡでスペースシャトル開発に携わったこともある。妻アネットさん（６７）が小学校の教師だったことから「自分も海外の大学で教べんを執りたい」との思いを募らせていた。希望がかなって９７年１０月から５年半、栃木県足利市の足利工業大で英語などを教えた。アカデミー校長の話が舞い込み、帰国後の「家族会議」を経て約１年前に再来日した。

　同校は、国語と社会以外の授業は英語で行う。「アカデミーは『分析的思考能力』を養う、これまで日本になかった学校にする。３、４年後には独自の能力試験で全体のレベルをはかり、その後の研究材料にする」。工学博士らしい緻密（ちみつ）な計画の一端を語る。

　スタッフは外国人８人、日本人６人の教員と事務職員。職員らの評は「まじめで、いつも物静かに先を考えている人」。まずは１年生１０７人、４年生５９人の１期生の教育に全力を注ぐ。「体力に自信はあるが、やや疲れ気味かな」と苦笑もまじるが、「日本の２カ国語教育のモデル校に育てたい」と意欲を見せる。＜文と写真・佐藤貢＞

Posted by dalma at September 24, 2005 |

FireAnt

To see how you can get the most out of FireANT, please see the FireANT instructional screencast at:http://antisnottv.net/screencast

A Short List of FireANT Features
1. Subscribe to all rich media channels (RSS and Atom feeds). FireANT downloads the freshest media (video and audio) content available on the Internet. This includes Podcasts.
2. FireANT provides an integrated media player that seamlessly handles Windows Media, QuickTime, Flash, Real formats.
3. Full BitTorrent support. FireANT downloads and plays media in BitTorrents containing one or more media files.
4. Tagging support. FireANT allows you to tag your videos for easy categorization, search, and retrieval.
5. Scheduling for downloading your media files. Choose the times you want FireANT to download your subscribed content.
6. Yahoo! Video search. Find any videos searchable through Yahoo’s media database. FireANT is completely MediaRSS compliant.
7. Built-in support for Sony's new PSP! Subscribe to your favorite feeds, and synchronize your favorite videos and watch them on you PSP! Become one of the first PSPcasters ever!
8. Bend FireANT to your will. Subscribe to content and watch your videos (or listen to your Podcasts) from your inbox. Or browse videos by feed (channel). FireANT's user interface is totally customizable. You can drag and dock your windows to suit your tastes, and FireANT will remember them for you when you start up the next time.
9. Support for streaming media preview mode, which means you can check out a video (or Podcast) before deciding to download it.
10. Subscribe to Atom and older RSS feed formats using FireANT, and view feed text content like you would with any other RSS aggregator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which video and audio formats does FireANT for Windows support?
A: The short answer: anything you can play supported by Windows Media Player, QuickTime, Flash or RealPlayer.
The longer answer: there are many video and audio formats available that are not supported by default by either Windows Media or QuickTime, Indeo, FLAC, and others. This does not mean that FireANT cannot play them at all, ever, though. It simply means that to view these file types, you will need to install the appropriate encoder/decoder (commonly called a "codec") for the file type in question. Many codecs are available for free, and install easily. Others may cost you some money. Some may come with the purchase of consumer hardware devices as well. Because there are so many media formats, it's impossible for us to support everything out-of-the-box. A little poking around on the Internet can usually help you to find what you need.
One important implication of this is that when you are producing your videos for others to view inside of FireANT, please try, as much as you are able, to use a standard format--standard here meaning those formats that ship as a part of the Windows Media Player or Apple QuickTime players. And even here, it gets a bit tricky, because there are a number of video production tools that output the mentioned formats, but aren't so friendly about the way they do it, resulting in videos that sometimes refuse to play in FireANT.
Q. How do I sync video blogs to the new Sony PSP ?
A: To synchronize a media file with the PSP, right-click on any video clip in the playlist and select "Synchronize to PSP". This will convert the video file to the PSP MPEG4 format. When you connect your PSP and set it to USB mode, FireANT will automatically synchronize your converted media files to the Movies folder on your PSP, along with the video blog information, assuming the conversion was successful.
One important caveat: FireANT uses the tool ffmpeg to perform its video conversions. Conversions are not always successful, since there are quite a few media files out there that have formats which ffmpeg is unable to read for one reason or another. In other words, don't expect everything to convert perfectly. If you know of any better transcoding solutions for the finicky PSP, please let the ANT team know.
Q. I don't want to see my videos in a playlist. I want to browse by feeds instead. How do I do this?
A: FireANT supports two primary media playback modes: playlist and feed browsing. To watch video by feed, simply open the "Feed Items" window from the "View" menu, and double-click on any feed item with an attached media file. Items with attached media will display either a video clip icon or a music icon beside them.
***
Last important note: FireANT is still in Beta, which means that it isn't perfect just yet. But we're working really, really hard to get it there, and your feedback is greatly appreciated, and, in fact, greatly needed. If you have any comments or suggestions, positive or negative (but if they're negative, please try to be polite and constructive), we are really responsive to things like specific feature requests and enhancements. Most of the features are the result of the feedback we've gotten from folks like you.
And of course, if you do happen to find any bugs (in beta software? naah, never!), please do let us know, and we'll do whatever we can to make sure you won't find them in the final release. When you report a bug, it is also helpful to provide as much detail as possible about what you were doing when it happened. A lot of times it can come down to things like bad media files that just won't play, or that FireANT has not been configured for a network that uses a proxy server, and so on.
Be sure to visit often for the latest news about FireANT. And if you need assistance, first try visiting our help wiki at to see if the answer to your questions are already there (but please be patient because it is still in development). Also, feel free to contribute any tips or suggestions on using FireANT as well, so others can benefit from your unique experiences. We are building a community, and one of our driving principles is the belief in the idea that everyone has a voice and deserves to be heard.
Also, mad props to Arvid Norberg for his libtorrent project at .
The FireANT Team

Posted by 達磨居士 at September 21, 2005 |

UK Consumer Credit Bill

英国貿易産業省

Consumer Credit Billホームページ
Consumer Strategyメインページ

2005年7月 消費者信用法Consumer Credit Bill　(pdf)
19 July 2005 Bill introduced into the House of Lords

Regulatory Impact Assessment
2005年7月法案の規制による影響を評価した報告書

この法案のバックグラウンド文書


2000年10月「過重債務問題に関するタスクフォース」が設立され、2001年7月に第一次報告。
REPORT BY THE TASK FORCE ON TACKLING OVERINDEBTEDNESS, July 2001
（早稲田大学･消費者金融サービス研究所から翻訳版をダウンロードできる）

第二次報告に消費者保護強化に対する提言がある。
"Task Force on Tackling Over-indebtness: Second Report", January 2003

　業者による金銭アドバイス･サービスの推進、返済保障保険の推進と消費者保護の強化、クレジット契約書の書式と内容に関する法的な見直し等、主に８つの具体的提言がなされている。

【タスクフォースのメンバー】
　・貿易産業省（DTI）、Fiona Price長官
　・英銀行協会（British Banking Association: BBA）、Tim Sweeney / Mike Young / Jerry Fearnley
　・消費者信用組合（Consumer Credit Association: CCA）、David Rees
　・住宅購入資金貸付組合（Council of Mortgage Lenders: CML）、Michael Coogan
　・エクスペリアン（Experian）、John Saunders / Jill Stevens / Gillian Key-Vice
　・金融・リース業組合（Finance & Leasing Association: FLA）、Martin Hall
　・金融サービス機構（Financial Service Authority: FSA）、Christine Farnish/Sarah Wilson/Deborah Arnottほか
　・全国市民助言局協会（National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux: NACAB）、Teresa Perchard
　・公正取引局（Office of Fair Trading: OFT）、Caroline Banks / Martin Goulden
　・パーソナル・ファイナンス・リサーチセンター（Personal Finance Research Centre: PFRC）、Elaine Kempson

『消費者信用指令（Consumer Credit Directive）の改正に向けた欧州委員会の提言』にはタスクフォースの報告書で扱う問題と関連する多くの提言が含まれているが、残念ながらその影響に関してここでは検討できなかった。それは加盟諸国間の交渉による最終的な結果に依存すると考えられるが、その結果が出るにはまだしばらく時間がかかるであろう。

支援やアドバイスを受けられる所
・市民相談所（お近くの相談所の電話番号は電話帳でお調べください）
・地方自治体の取引基準局事務所
・大学の学生福利厚生担当者
・消費者信用カウンセリングサービス−0800 138 1111
・全国負債ライン（National Debt Line）−0808 808 4000

詳しい情報の入手先
・ www.adviceguide.org.uk
・ www.consumer.gov.uk
・ www.nacab.org.uk （お近くの市民相談所を探す際は、このサイトを見るか、もしくは電話帳でお調べください）
・ www.oft.gov.uk （消費者電話ライン：08457 22 44 99）
・ www.fsa.gov.uk （消費者ヘルプライン：0845 606 1234）

消費者の苦情処理受付
Citizens Advice
Trading Standards Departments
Office of Fair Trading


European Directive on Consumer Credit

The Consumer Credit Act implements the European Directive on Consumer Credit.
欧州委員会の消費者信用指令1987は、現在のクレジット市場・業界の変化を反映していない。消費者を保護する視点から改正案を策定中である。各国の事情を反映した合意が形成されるにはまだ時間がかかる。
最初の改正案は、2002年9月11日に公表された。
DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL


英国消費者信用法1974改正
この欧州委員会案に基づき、英国貿易産業省は消費者信用法1974の改正に取り組んだ。

消費者のクレジットに関する意識調査（DTIがMORI-Market & Opinion Research Internationalに委託。2003年12月公表）
Publication of Consumer Credit Awareness Poll

消費者信用白書
Consumer Credit White Paper- "Fair, Clear and Competitive - The Consumer Credit Market in the 21st Century"（2003年12月）

消費者信用法1974のADR条項改正意見（2004年3月締め切り）
Consultation on the provision of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for disputes arising under the Consumer Credit Act 1974
ADR Consultation Document
Regulatory Impact Assessment

2004年12月　規制
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Electronic Communications) Order 2004
The Consumer Credit (Enforcement, Default and Termination Notices) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
Regulatory Impact Assessment on provisions to enable electronic credit agreements
Guidance on provisions to enable electronic credit agreements

Posted by dalma at September 21, 2005 |

Consumer Financial Rights

Source: FDIC Consumer Financial Rights

Consumers' financial rights are protected by federal and state laws and regulations covering many services offered by financial institutions. This brochure will assist organizations which often receive complaints about banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions in referring complaints to the proper regulatory agency.

消費者の信用情報の保護に関する連邦法、州法、条例の一覧と概要を紹介している。
連邦法もFCRA以外にさまざまな法律があり、これらの法令順守のために監督官庁がさらに運用ガイドラインをつくり、業者の活動をモニタリングするとともに消費者の苦情を収集・分析している。

FEDERAL LAWS

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Loans
Adjustable-rate mortgage loans are covered by regulations that require, at a minimum, disclosure of the circumstances under which the rate may increase, any limitations on the increase, the effects of an increase and an example of the payment terms that would result from an increase.

Community Reinvestment Act
The Community Reinvestment Act requires federal agencies to encourage depository financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate- income neighborhoods. The regulatory agencies assess the institutions' records of meeting those credit needs by preparing a written evaluation of the institutions and assigning a rating with facts supporting the conclusions. Such ratings shall be disclosed to the public for examinations beginning July 1, 1990. The Act also requires regulatory agencies to consider an institution's record of helping to meet community credit needs when evaluating certain corporate applications, such as permission to establish a branch, to relocate a branch or home office, or to merge.

Consumer Leasing Act
The Consumer Leasing Act requires disclosure of information that helps consumers compare the cost and terms of various leases and the cost and terms of buying on credit versus cash. The Act does not apply to real estate leases or to leases of four months or less.

Credit Practices Rule
The Credit Practices Rule prohibits lenders from using certain remedies, such as confessions of judgment; wage assignments; and nonpossessory, nonpurchase money, security interests in household goods. The rule also prohibits lenders from misrepresenting a cosigner's liability and requires that lenders provide cosigners with a notice explaining their credit obligation as a cosigner. It also prohibits the pyramiding of late charges.

Electronic Fund Transfer Act
The Electronic Fund Transfer Act provides consumer protection for all transactions using a debit card or electronic means to debit or credit an account. It also limits a consumer's liability for unauthorized electronic fund transfers.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination against an applicant for credit because of age, sex, marital status, religion, race, color, national origin, or receipt of public assistance. It also prohibits discrimination because of a good faith exercise of any rights under the federal consumer credit laws. If a consumer has been denied credit, the law requires notification of the denial in writing. The consumer may request, within 60 days, that the reason for denial be provided in writing.

Expedited Funds Availability Act
The Expedited Funds Availability Act requires all banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, and credit unions to make funds deposited into checking, share draft and NOW accounts available according to specified time schedules and to disclose their funds availability policies to their customers. The law does not require an institution to delay the customer's use of deposited funds but instead limits how long any delay may last. The regulation also establishes rules designed to speed the return of unpaid checks.

Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act
The Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act requires new disclosures on credit and charge cards, whether issued by financial institutions, retail stores or private companies. Information such as APRs, annual fees and grace periods must be provided in tabular form along with applications and preapproved solicitations for cards. The regulations also require card issuers that impose an annual fee to provide disclosures before annual renewal. Card issuers that offer credit insurance must inform customers of any increase in rate or substantial decrease in coverage should the issuer decide to change insurance providers.

Fair Credit Billing Act
The Fair Credit Billing Act establishes procedures for the prompt correction of errors on open-end credit accounts. It also protects a consumer's credit rating while the consumer is settling a dispute.

Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act establishes procedures for correcting mistakes on a person's credit record and requires that a consumer's record only be provided for legitimate business needs. It also requires that the record be kept confidential. A credit record may be retained seven years for judgments, liens, suits, and other adverse information except for bankruptcies, which may be retained ten years. If a consumer has been denied credit, a cost-free credit report may be requested within 30 days of denial.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is designed to eliminate abusive, deceptive and unfair debt collection practices. It applies to third party debt collectors or those who use a name other than their own in collecting consumer debts. Very few commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions are covered by this Act, since they usually collect only their own debts. Complaints concerning debt collection practices should generally be filed with the Federal Trade Commission.

Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status or national origin in the financing, sale or rental of housing.

The Federal Trade Commission Act
The Federal Trade Commission Act requires federal financial regulatory agencies to maintain a consumer affairs division to assist in resolving consumer complaints against institutions they supervise. This assistance is given to help get necessary information to consumers about problems they are having in order to address complaints concerning acts or practices which may be unfair or deceptive.

Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act
The Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act requires lenders to disclose terms, rates and conditions (APRs, miscellaneous charges, payment terms, and information about variable rate features) for home equity lines of credit with the applications and before the first transaction under the home equity plan. If the disclosed terms change, the consumer can refuse to open the plan and is entitled to a refund of fees paid in connection with the application. The Act also limits the circumstances under which creditors may terminate or change the terms of a home equity plan after it is opened.

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Aggregation Project
Using loan data collected from each covered institution, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) prepares disclosure statements and various reports for individual institutions in each MSA, showing lending patterns by location, age of housing stock, income level, sex and racial characteristics. The disclosure statements and reports are made available to the public at central depositories located in each MSA. Requests for the list of central depositories should be forwarded to the FFIEC.

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
2100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20037

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA)
The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) requires certain lending institutions to report annually on their originations and purchases of home purchase and home improvement loans as well as applications for such loans. The type of loan, location of the property, race or national origin, sex and income of the applicant or borrower is reported. Institutions are required to make information regarding their lending available to the public and must post a notice of availability in their public lobby. Disclosure statements are also available at central depositories in metropolitan areas. This information can help the public determine how well institutions are serving the housing credit needs of their neighborhoods and communities.

National Flood Insurance Act
National Flood Insurance is available to any property holder whose local community participates in the national program by adopting and enforcing flood plain management. Federally regulated lenders are required to compel borrowers to purchase flood insurance in certain designated areas. Lenders also must disclose to borrowers if their structure is located in a flood hazard area.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act requires that a consumer be given advance information about the services and costs involved in the closing of a residential mortgage. It also limits the amount that can be collected for mortgage escrow.

Rights to Financial Privacy Act
The Right to Financial Privacy Act provides that customers of financial institutions have a right to expect that their financial activities will have a reasonable amount of privacy from federal government scrutiny. The Act establishes specific procedures and exemptions concerning the release of the financial records of customers and imposes limitations on and requirements of financial institutions prior to the release of such information to the federal government.

Savings and Time Deposits
Savings and time deposits are covered by regulations that prohibit inaccurate or misleading advertising.

Truth in Lending Act
The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the "finance charge" and the "annual percentage rate"--and certain other costs and terms of credit--so that a consumer can compare the prices of credit from different sources. It also limits liability on lost or stolen credit cards.

STATE LAWS
Many State Laws also provide rights and remedies in consumer financial transactions. Unless a state law conflicts with a particular federal law, the state law usually will apply. Some states have usury laws, which establish maximum rates of interest that creditors can charge for loans or credit sales. The maximum interest rates vary from state to state and depend upon the type of credit transaction involved.

Complaint Filing Process
If the consumer has a complaint against a financial institution, the first step is to contact an officer of the institution and attempt to resolve the complaint directly. Financial institutions value their customers and most will be helpful. If the consumer is unable to resolve the complaint directly, the financial institution's regulatory agency may be contacted for assistance.

The agency will usually acknowledge receipt of a complaint letter within a few days. If the letter is referred to another agency, the consumer will be advised of this fact. When the appropriate agency investigates the complaint the financial institution may be given a copy of the complaint letter.

The complaint should be submitted in writing and should include the following:

Complainant's name, address, telephone number;
The institution's name and address;
Type of account involved in the complaint--checking, savings, or loan--and account numbers, if applicable;
Description of the complaint, including specific dates and the institution's actions (copies of pertinent information or correspondence are also helpful);
Date of contact and the names of individuals contacted at the institution with their responses;
Complainant's signature and the date the complaint is being submitted to the regulatory agency.
The regulatory agencies will be able to help resolve the complaint if the financial institution has violated a banking law or regulation. They may not be able to help where the consumer is not satisfied with an institutions's policy or practices, even though no law or regulation was violated. Additionally, the regulatory agencies do not resolve factual or most contractual disputes.

The following information will help in determining which agency to contact.

National Bank
The Word "National" appears in the bank's name, or the initials N.A. appear after the bank's name.
Agency to Contact: Comptroller of the Currency

State-Chartered Bank, Member of the Federal Reserve System
Two signs will be prominently displayed on the door of the bank or in the lobby. One will say "Member, Federal Reserve System." The other will indicate deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and/or "Deposits Federally Insured to $100,000--Backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the United States Government." The word "National" does not appear in the name; the initials N.A. do not appear after the name.
Agency to Contact: Federal Reserve Board for federal laws; State Banking Department for state laws.

State Non-Member Bank or State-Chartered Savings Bank, Federally Insured
A sign will be prominently displayed at each teller station that indicates that deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and/or "Deposits Federally Insured to $100,000--Backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the United States Government." There will not be a sign saying "Member, Federal Reserve System." The word "National" or the initials N.A. will not appear in the name.
Agency to Contact: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for federal laws; State Banking Department for state laws.

Federal Savings and Loan Association or Federal Savings Association, Federally Insured
Generally, the work "Federal" appears in the name of the savings and loan association or its name includes initials such as "FA" which indicate its status as a federal savings and loan association. A sign will be prominently displayed at each teller station that says "Deposits Federally Insured to $100,000--Backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the United States Government."
Agency to Contact: Office of Thrift Supervision

Federal Savings Bank, Federally Insured
Generally, the work "Federal" appears in the name of the savings bank or its name includes the initials such as "FSB" which indicate its status as a federal savings bank. A sign will prominently displayed at each teller station that says "Deposits Insured to $100,000--Backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the United States Government."
Agency to Contact: Office of Thrift Supervision

State-Chartered Federally Insured Savings Institution
There will be a sign prominently displayed at each teller station that says "Deposits Federally Insured to $100,000--Backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the United States Government."
Agency to Contact: Office of Thrift Supervision.

State Chartered Banksor Savings Institutions without Federal Deposit Insurance
Institution has none of the above described characteristics.
Agency to Contact: State Banking Department for state laws; Federal Trade Commission for federal laws.

Federally Chartered Credit Union
The term "Federal credit union" appears in the name of the credit union.
Agency to Contact: National Credit Union Administration

State-Chartered, Federally Insured Credit Union
A sign will be displayed by stations or windows where deposits are accepted indicating that deposits are insured by NCUA. The term "Federal credit union" does not appear in the name.
Agency to Contact: State Agency that regulates credit unions or Federal Trade Commission.

State-Chartered Credit Unions without Federal Insurance
The term "Federal credit union" does not appear in the name.
Agency to Contact: State Agency that regulates credit unions or Federal Trade Commission.

Other
Institutions have none of the characteristics described. Agency to Contact: Appropriate State Agency for state laws; Federal Trade Commission for federal laws.

COMPLAINTS
Complaints should be mailed to the appropriate agency with copies of all relevant documents. Original documents or currency should not be sent. Addresses for the federal agencies are:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Regulates state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System, bank holding companies, and branches of foreign banks
Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Stop 801
20th and C Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20551
202-452-3693
www.federalreserv.gov


Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Regulates commodity brokers, commodity trading advisors, commodity pools, and introducing brokers
Privacy Officer, Office of Chief Counsel
Division of Trading and Markets
Three Lafayette Center
1155 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20581
202-418-5430
www.cftc.gov


Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Regulates state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System
Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs
550 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20429
877-ASK-FDIC or 877-275-3342 toll-free
www.fdic.gov


Federal Trade Commission
Regulates any financial company not covered by the other federal regulators such as mortgage brokers, tax and investment services, finance companies, credit bureaus, nonbank lenders, auto dealers, leasing companies, appraisers, real estate settlement services, credit counseling services, and collection agency services
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
877-FTC-HELP or 877-382-4357 toll-free
www.ftc.gov
Also see www.consumer.gov/idtheft/


National Credit Union Administration
Regulates federally chartered credit unions
Office of Public and Congressional Affairs
1775 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3428
703-518-6330
www.ncua.gov


Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Regulates national banks, District of Columbia banks, federal branches and federal agencies of foreign banks, and subsidiaries of such entities. These typically include banks with "national" or "N.A." in their names.
Customer Assistance Group
1301 McKinney Street
Suite 3710
Houston, TX 77010
800-613-6743 toll-free
www.occ.treas.gov


Office of Thrift Supervision
Regulates federal savings and loan associations and federal savings banks
Consumer Programs
1700 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20552
800-842-6929 toll-free
www.ots.treas.gov


Securities and Exchange Commission
Regulates brokerage firms, mutual fund companies, and investment advisors
Office of Investor Education and Assistance
450 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20549-0213
202-942-9634 fax
www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml

Posted by dalma at September 19, 2005 |

FDIC

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an independent U.S. federal executive agency designed to promote public confidence in banks and to provide insurance coverage for bank deposits up to $100,000. The corporation was established in 1933 to prevent a repetition of the losses incurred during the Great Depression when bankrupt banks could not return the money deposited in them. It is managed by a five-member board of directors, appointed by the president with the consent of the U.S. Senate. The FDIC provides coverage for deposits in national banks, in state banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System , and in other qualified state banks. ( Mutual funds and other securities are not covered.) It may also make loans to insured banks in the interest of protecting the depositors. The corporation derives its income from assessments on insured banks and interest on government securities. Since 1989 the FDIC has supervised the Savings Association Insurance Fund, the agency that was created to provide coverage for savings and loan associations when the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation became insolvent. A sharp increase in bank failures in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to the insolvency (1991-92) of the FDIC as well, forcing it to seek government loans. The fund recovered by the mid-1990s.

Posted by dalma at September 19, 2005 | | Comments (0)

CBCInnovis

CBCInnovis
１９４８年に設立されたCredit Bureau of Columbus, Incが母体で１９６７年から個人信用取引情報のオンライン収集と電子化を推進。いくつかの合従連衡を経て、現在の企業体になる。最も最近では１９９９年に取引情報データベースで補完的関係にあったInnovis Data Solutionsを買収し、信用情報機関としての事業を強化した。顧客数は約50,000社。

CBCInnovis is part of a privately-held family of companies established in 1948, currently employing almost 2000 people, that provides risk management and marketing services to customers in the business, government and not-for-profit sectors. CBCInnovis serves more than 50,000 customers.

Headquartered in Columbus Ohio, CBCInnovis provides solutions such as credit reports, property information services, receivables management, marketing services, employment and resident screening, and loan application processing software services.

Posted by dalma at September 19, 2005 | | Comments (0)

US Law

米国の法律・行政情報データベース

  • 米国議会図書館(Library of Congress)
    アメリカ合衆国国会図書館の蔵書検索システムです。10万冊の蔵書のカタログデータベースが収録されている。また、書籍や雑誌、文献類の他、音楽、フィルム、ポスター、写真などの画像・映像類、コンピュータのファイル、カタログなどの資料がデータとして保存されている。
    LOCIS(Library of Congress Information System)と呼ばれるこの図書館ネットワークは、単に図書館のデータ管理だけでなく、連邦政府の法案データベースとしても設計されている。1973年以降の全ての連邦法案についての要約、詳録などが登録されており、新しい法案については、48時間以内に常にアップデートされている。

Posted by dalma at September 17, 2005 | | Comments (0)

OECD

OECD個人情報保護に関連した会議・資料

PRIVACY PROTECTION IN A GLOBAL NETWORKED SOCIETY

AN OECD INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BIAC)
OECD, Paris, 16-17 February 1998

議長：Michelle d’Auray,
Executive Director of the Electronic Commerce Task Force, Industry Canada
事務局長：Anne Carblanc （根津OECD科学技術産業局長）
基調講演：
Lord Williams of Mostyn, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, UK
Guy Braibant, President de section honoraire au Conseil d’Etat, France; and
Mozelle W. Thompson, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission

この国際会議に続いて各国省庁長官クラスの会議がOttawa on 7-9 October 1998で開催。
The protection of privacyin the context of global information and communication networksが中心課題。
富士通からは、山本名誉会長が基調講演。Michelleは後にeGovernmentのCIOとなる。
2003年に来日しFRIで討議する。

INFORMATION SECURITY IN A NETWORKED WORLD

Tokyo, 12-13 September 2001 Conference jointly organised by
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and
the Government of Japan (GOJ) with support from the Information-Technology Promotion Agency (IPA), Japan

24カ国から250人が参加。議長：Peter Ford, WPISP会長。鳴戸副会長が基調講演。

TRUST AND RELIANCE.ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE:
ENHANCING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACE
By Rufus Pichler, May 2000, Stanford University

Building Trust in the Online Environment: Business-to-Consumer Dispute Resolution

13-Jun-2001 Presentation by Christopher Kuner
Prepared by the Brussels office of Morrison & Foerster LLP
On behalf of the Global Business Dialogue for Electronic Commerce (GBDe),
EU/Africa Region, Consumer Confidence - ADR Working Group

The Guidelines: One Year Later -- Biographies of Speakers
07-Jun-2001
Workshop hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, 13-14 March 2001, Berlin Germany.
Related documents:
First Report: Government and Private Sector Initiatives to Promote and Implement the OECD Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce
Inventory of Consumer Protection Laws, Policies and Practices Applied to Electronic Commerce
Cross-border Co-operation in Combatting Cross-border Fraud: The US/Canadian Experience
OECD Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce (1999)

Consumer Protection Across Borders
OECD Work to Build Consumer Trust in the Digital Economy
07-Mar-2003 ICT Forum presentation - Michael Donohue

Information Security and Trust - Focus on Privacy
07-Mar-2003 ICT Forum presentation - Anne Carblanc

OECD Global Forum on Information Security and Networks Security
08-Apr-2004
The Norwegian Government hosted the Global Forum on Information Systems and Networks Security: Towards a Culture of Security, in Oslo on 13-14 October 2003. The event was part of the OECD Global Forum ...

Annual Reports on Consumer Policy in OECD Countries
31-Jan-2004
From 1999 to 2002, the OECD regularly published annual reports which had been produced and submitted by OECD member countries. In 2003, the Committee on Consumer Policy decided to discontinue publishing ...

OECD Annual Report - 2004 (pdf, 5Mb,English)
30-Apr-2004
This Annual Report highlights some of the OECD’s most important achievements of the past year and describes how the Organisation is evolving to assist its members and the international community in responding to new and often quite different challenges that we see lying ahead.

Posted by dalma at September 17, 2005 |

EPIC

http://www.fsisac.com/EPIC(Electronic Privacy Information Center)
電子プライバシー情報センター

米国のワシントンに本部がある非営利人権擁護団体で、1994年に設立された。世界で起こっているサイバースペース内の盗聴、著作権保護、ワイセツ画像の規制など、プライバシーに関する情報規制や米国議会の動向、法律など、「サイバースペース内のプライバシー」について情報を提供している。

毎年EPIC Cryptography and Privacy Conferenceが開催され、多くの意見交換が実施されている。
1998年6月8日の1998 EPIC Cryptography and Privacy Conferenceに関してはここで知ることができる。また、電子メール新聞として、「EPIC Alart」というEPIC-News Listも発行している。ニュースを申し込みはここからできる。さらに、1998年からは毎年Privacy and Human Rights(プライバシーと人権)を公開している。書籍版はEPIC Bookstoreで購入でき、オンライン版も読むことができる。EPIC Bookstoreではさらに、「Litigation Under the Federal Open Government Laws」「Privacy Law Sourcebook」「Filters and Freedom」「Cryptography and Liberty」「Consumer Law Sourcebook」なども購入できる。

EPICは1998年10月26日に、サイバーテロを防ぐために米国政府が採っているISAC（Information Sharing and Analysis Center）の設立などという方策は、言論の自由など市民の基本的人権を侵す可能性があることを懸念して「Critical Infrastructure Protection and the Endangerment of Civil Liberties」という報告書を公開している。

米国には法律関係の求人、論文募集、イベント案内などが求められたメーリング・リストLSN(Legal Scholarship Network)がある。また、法律を知るにはかなり専門的な知識を要することから、自由国民社は「図解による法律用語辞典」を出版している。愛知大学法学部は法律検索ができる「法令データ提供システム」を公開している。また、2000年10月から弁護士の広告が解禁されることから、インターネットのウェブサイトを活用して、不動産、相続・遺言、離婚、労働、損害賠償、刑事、税務などの各分野で有料の法律情報提供サービス「インターネット総合法律サービス」が登場した。法律情報のポータルサイトはここ。

EPICは、DOJ(Department of Justice/米国司法省)が発案したCyberspace Electronic Security Actに対し、個人の家とビジネス空間に前例がない侵入を許す法案で、Bill of Rights(権利章典)を無視した法案であると警告した。1999年12月には、米国のNSA(National Security Agency 国家安全保障局)をインターネットの米国内の通信を違法に盗聴しているとして提訴した。EPICは2001年3月1日にコマーシャルの世界におけるプライバシーについて実施したヒヤリングの結果とステートメントを発表した。また、米国では教育目的で、セキュリティ情報サイトで、ハッカー情報やハッキ ング情報などを提供しているOnline上にあるAntiOnlineが登場した。また、Privacy Foundationは2001年9月5日に、A Report on the Privacy Practices of Monster.comを公開した。

EPICは2001年11月7日に、プライバシーに関するMicrosort Passportの対応に関する質問状をFTCのチェアーマンTimothy Murisに提出することを発表した。EPICはNational Press Clubで2001年11月30日に、2001年9月11日に起こった同時多発テロ以降に展開されている政府のセキュリティという名目で実施する行為が過激になり、今後政府が導入しようとしているセキュリティ・システムが、全国民を監視する領域にまで侵入してきていることから、そのセキュリティ・システムの技術的信頼性と密接な関係にあるプライバシーについてまで踏み込んだ「Security or Surveillance?(セキュリティか？監視か？)」について話し合う必要性を訴えた。イギリスのCyber-Rights & Cyber-Libertiesは1997-2002のステートメントをPDFで公開した。また、インターネット上には、Internet Law(インターネット法), Cyber Law(サイバー法), E-Commerce Law(電子商取引法), Domain Name Law(ドメインネーム法), Intellectual Property Law(知的財産法), Copyright Law(著作権法) and Trademark Law(商標法)などに関する資料があるインターネット法律電子図書館(Internet Law Library)もある。

米国のGAO(General Accounting Office/米国連邦会計監査院)は2002年4月16日に、情報保護に関する「Information Security: Subcommittee Post-Hearing Questions Concerning the Additional Actions Needed to Implement Reform Legislation. GAO-02-649R, April 16.」を公開した。EPICは2002年4月25日に、米国国民にとって、FTCが2002年4月26日にSenata Bill No.S.2201としてCommission RespondingメンバーのJohn McCain上院議員が発表した「The Online Personal Privacy」の重要性をコメントを発表し、全文を公表した。

EPICは2002年6月18日に、FCCが公表したCATVインターネット接続環境に対するケーブル・モデムのプロテクション設定は、プライバシーを侵害する可能性があり、同時にマスメディア集中排除の原則に違反している可能性があるコメントを発表した。また、一般市民の利益を求めるCivil Rightsという団体もある。

米国のGAO(General Accounting Office/米国連邦会計監査院)は2002年8月30日発表された、1996年に制定された「Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments」の修正を発表した。

米国のGAO(General Accounting Office/米国連邦会計監査院)は2003年6月27日に、ビジネス管理システムとリスクに関する報告書「Business Systems Modernization: IRS Has Made Significant Progress in Improving Its Management Controls, but Risks Remain. GAO-03-768」を公開した。米国のGAO(General Accounting Office/米国連邦会計監査院)は2003年7月8日に、DOD(Department of Defense 米国国防総省)におけるIT技術の導入によるビジネス管理システムの近代化と予算に関する報告書「Business Systems Modernization: Summary of GAO's Assessment of the Department of Defense's Initial Business Enterprise Architecture. GAO-03-877R」を公開した。

1966年7月4日にU.S. FOIAとして施行されてから、2003年7月4日で37周年を迎えたFreedom of Information Act(情報の自由法)に付いて「Freedom of Information Act 37th Birthday Report」が公開された。AlterNetは2003年7月18日に、多くは「道徳」という政治的正義に無視され続けてきたSEX産業で働く女性の市民権について、Kari Lydersenが書いたコラム「SEX WORKERS AND CIVIL RIGHTS」を公開した。米国のGAO(General Accounting Office/米国連邦会計監査院)は2003年11月6日に、市民権会議の活動と経済的状況に関するレポート「U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: More Operational and Financial Oversight Needed. GAO-04-18」を公開した。詳細情報はURL(http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-18)で知ることができる。外務省は2003年11月11日に、第58回国連総会第3委員会 議題117(b)「人権及び基本的自由の効果的な享受の向上に向けた異なるアプローチを含む人権問題」及び議題117(c)「人権状況と特別報告者及び特別代表の報告」に関する原口国連常駐代表演説(仮訳)を公開した。詳細情報はURL(http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/enzetsu/15/un_1110.html)で知ることができる。米国のAdministrative Office of the U.S. Courtsは2003年1月1日から12月31日までの盗聴を報告した「2003 Wiretap Report」を公開した。詳細情報はURL(http://www.uscourts.gov/wiretap03/contents.html)で知ることができる。米国のGAOは2005年2月11日に、米国国防総省(DOD/Department Of Defence)の近代化と統合軍事の人的資本管理プログラムについてのレポート「DOD Systems Modernization: Management of Integrated Military Human Capital Program Needs Additional Improvements. GAO-05-189」を公開した。詳細情報はURL(http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-189)で知ることができる。

Posted by dalma at September 17, 2005 |

UK Directory

イギリス情報・地図
グレートブリテン・北部アイルランド連合王国（United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland）イギリスはポルトガル語の Inglez から。漢字表記は英吉利。

英国の情勢〈外務省）
Wikipedia:イギリス（日本語）
Wikipedia:United Kingdom（英語）
英国観光地図〈英国政府観光庁）

World City Guide -London-
Europe (Reference Map) 2004 (pdf389KB)　UT Library Online
United Kingdom (Shaded Relief) 1987 (jpg268KB)　地形図
United Kingdom (Political) 1987 (jpg229KB)　地理図
The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map
The Megalith Map UK and Ireland

Lonely Planet 各地の解説付き地図
- England Map　 - Scotland Map 　- Ireland Map
multiMap.com　1/5000区分地図サイト
Streetmap.co.uk
Map24 UK
old-maps.co.uk　古地図

観光その他
Yahoo!天気予報
(株)日本航空・天気情報　
英国政府観光庁　
JAL City Guide ロンドン

Posted by dalma at September 17, 2005 | | Comments (0)

ICC

ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) is the voice of world business championing the global economy as a force for economic growth, job creation and prosperity.

Because national economies are now so closely interwoven, government decisions have far stronger international reper-cussions than in the past.

ICC - the world's only truly global business organization responds by being more assertive in expressing business views.

Posted by dalma at September 16, 2005 |

WebTrust 1.1

電子商取引の信頼性を監査するWeb保証サービスの一種で、会計監査の枠組みの中で実施される。独立的立場にいる第三者が実施主体となる。アメリカ公認会計士協会とカナダ勅許会計士協会によって開発され、１９９７年１２月に第一版が公表された。

<資料>
１．WebTrust Principles and Criteria　(http://www.aicpa.org/webtrust/princrit.htm)
２．企業と消費者の間の電子商取引のためのWebTrust原則および規準 1.1版、経営情報科学 Vol.12、斉藤隆（東京情報大学）翻訳、2000年3月
３．保証業務特別委員会（通称エリオット委員会）報告、Report of the Special Committee on Assurance Services, 1997,
４．情報の信用力についての報告、Reporting on the Credibility of Information, 1997, IFAC
５．WebTrust保証EC事業者一覧 (1999年末19社）　http://www.verisign.com/webtrust/siteindex.html
６．その他のWeb保証サービス（欧米）
　・BBB Online (http://www.bbbonline.org)
　・TRUSTe (http://www/truste.org)
７．日本の類似サービス
　・セコム認証サービス (http://www.secom.ne.jp/lock.html)
　・商工会議所のオンラインマーク制度？ (http://www/jcci.or.jp/o_mark/mknotice.html)

電子商取引の危険性
　見知らぬ人同士の商行為で、外観は嘘をつくことができる。不正による消費者の損害を防止できるか、安心して商行為を遂行できるかが問われる。
　・消費者の注文を事業者が本当に履行するか
　・返品を認めるか、製品保証があるか
　・個人信用情報が保護されているか
　・身分を騙って他人の口座を使わないか（ID窃盗）

商行為の完全性・電子商行為および電子文書を変更し複写し消失することや、不正確な処理が行われないように、事業者が適切な統制を行っているか
・商行為を正確に漏れがなく迅速に処理し、合意した条件にしたがって顧客に請求している履歴があるか

情報の保護
・事業体が顧客の個人情報を保護するために適切な手段をとっているか
・情報保護に対する有効な統制があり、また事業体に顧客の個人情報保護している履歴があるか

WebTrust原則

(1) ビジネス内容の開示 事業体は電子商取引上の商行為に関するビジネス内容を開示し、開示したビジネス内容にしたがって商行為を実行すること

(2) 商行為の完全性
　事業体は、電子商取引を利用する顧客の商行為は合意されたように完遂され請求されるということを合理的に保証するために、有効な統制を保持すること

(3) 情報の保護
　事業体は、電子商取引の結果として入手した顧客の個人情報が、事業体のビジネスに関係しない使用から保護されるということを合理的に保証するために、有効な統制を保持すること


WebTrust規準


　WebTrust原則を満たすために、より明確なガイダンスを提供する。これは、事業体が当規準への準拠性を自己評価するすることが可能となる判断基準を提供し、また実務家がウェブサイトをテストし評価するための首尾一貫した評価尺度を提供する。

　事業体はある一定期間（２ヶ月以上）、次の点を立証しなければならない。
(1) 事業体は電子商取引上の商行為に対して開示したビジネス内容に従って商行為を実行した。
(2) 事業体の統制は有効に機能した。
(3) 事業体は開示するビジネス内容を信頼できるものとし、統制を有効なものとするための統制環境を保持する。
(4) 事業体は当該ビジネス内容が正確であり続け、当該統制が有効であり続けることを保証するモニタリング手続きを保持する。

Posted by dalma at September 15, 2005 | | Comments (0)

U.S. Government sites

  Executive Branch　行政府
  Legislative　立法府
  Judicial　司法府
  Other Government　その他の政府機関
  U.S. Military Links　米軍
  State and Local Governments　州・市町村政府

Other sites:
  研究機関
  国際機関
  メディア
  教育交流・市民交流
  助成財団
  アメリカ社会についての情報源
  旅行関連サイト

Department of State
  国務省
  国務省主要部門
  国務省国際情報プログラム
  イラク写真集
  各国の米国大使館
  「日本のプロフィール」

Posted by dalma at September 11, 2005 | | Comments (0)

US Executive Branch

米国行政府

Departments （省）

Department of Agriculture （農務省） Department of Commerce （商務省） Department of Defense （国防総省） Department of Energy （エネルギー省） 　 Department of Health and Human Services （保健・福祉省） Department of Homeland Security　（国土安全保障省） Department of Housing and Urban Development（住宅・都市開発省） Department of the Interior （内務省） Department of Justice （司法省） Department of Labor （労働省） Department of State　（国務省） Department of Transportation （運輸省） Department of the Treasury （財務省） Department of Veterans Affairs　（復員軍人省）

Posted by dalma at September 11, 2005 | | Comments (0)

キルギス Kyrgyzstan

キルギス　Kyrgyz Republic

北海道の３倍くらいの面積で、人口は約５００万人。

【交通】
　アエロフロートはモスクワ経由、ウズベキスタン航空はタシケント（週３便）経由になる。
　北京経由で鉄道の旅もいいかもしれない。

【治安】
　民族紛争がなく治安はよい方である。旧ソ連邦からの独立後も、民主化が順調に進んでいる。ただ、共産主義が崩壊した後、貧富の差がはっきりしてきたため一部で政治的には不安定になっている。とくに南部地方（オッシュ周辺）は人口増加と失業率が高いため政治的に不安定といわれる。

【宗教】
　イスラム教。旧ソ連邦の支配下にあったため、イスラムの宗教色は薄まっている。

【人種】
　モンゴロイド族。見た目はモンゴル人。分類学上は同じモンゴロイド族なので、なかには日本人と区別がつかないほど日本人と似ている人もいる。旧ソ連からの移民（ロシア人）は１０数％を占める。

【産業】
　羊などの放牧が盛んで、観光地としても知られる。シルクロードにあり、山岳地帯が美しいため世界中（特にヨーロッパ）から観光客を集めている。

≫LINK≪
外務省の安全情報
キルギス旅行情報（英文）
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/central_asia/kyrgyzstan/

キルギスの一般的な情報（英文）
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/kg.html

Posted by dalma at September 10, 2005 |

FTC

FTC: Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580
A History of the Federal Trade Commission
A Guide to the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection
A Positive Agenda for Consumers: The FTC Year in Review [PDF] April 2003 Chapter 2 Consumer Protection Law Enforcement and Rulemaking

credit
Summaries of Rights
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Identity Theft

Consumer Reporting Agencies
・Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
・Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com
・TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com

ID Theft
CRS Report: Identity Theft: The Internet Connection

Posted by dalma at September 8, 2005 | | Comments (0)

GLBA Resource Library

Figuring out how to comply with the GLBA and ensure the security of customer information isn't easy. The first step is familiarizing yourself with the Guidelines so that you can better understand what is being asked of your organization. Within the Resource Library there is a compilation of GLBA-related links that can help you accomplish this.

Regulatory Documents
Read the following final rules handed down regarding GLBA:
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Title V - Privacy
Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safeguarding of Customer Information: Final Rule
National Credit Union Administration's Guidelines for Safeguarding Member Information

Guidance Documents
The following are some guides to help determine if a financial institution has established an adequate written Information Security Program.
Federal Reserve System Examiner Guidance
This document provides a sample questionnaire.
FFIEC Information Security Booklet
OCC Examination Procedures to Evaluate Compliance with the Guidelines to Safeguard Customer Information
OCC Privacy Preparedness Questionnaire

Banking, Finance and Insurance Governing Bodies
Visit the Web sites of these important Federal offices that oversee the financial sector.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
The FDIC insures deposits and promotes safe and sound banking practices.
Federal Reserve System (also known as the "Fed")
The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, aims to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. To that end, the Fed supervises and regulates banking institutions and protects the credit rights of consumers.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
The OCC charters, regulates, and supervises national banks to ensure a safe, sound, and competitive banking system that supports the citizens, communities, and economy of the United States.
Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
The OTS is the primary regulator of all federally chartered and many state-chartered thrift institutions, which include savings banks and savings and loan associations.
Nation Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
The NCUA is the independent federal agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions.
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC)
The FFIEC prescribes uniform principles, standards, and report forms for the federal examination of financial institutions by the Fed, FDIC, OCC, OTS, and NCUA.
Securities Exchange Commission (SEC)
The SEC oversees key participants in the securities world, including stock exchanges, broker-dealers, investment advisors, and mutual funds in order to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.

Posted by dalma at September 8, 2005 | | Comments (0)

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) made the affiliation of banks, investments firms, and insurance companies possible. In turn for granting greater freedom to the financial industry, the Act put regulations in place to protect customer privacy.

GLBA Resource Library

Title V of the GLBA outlines privacy requirements and calls for the protection of customer non-public personal information.

Title V, Privacy Provisions:

Section 501: Mandates that the financial industry's governing bodies create guidelines for the safeguarding of customer information.
Section 502: Forces companies to allow customers the option of prohibiting their personal information from being shared with non-affiliated third parties.
Section 503: Requires the disclosure of privacy policies to customers on at least an annual basis.
Section 521: Criminalizes fraudulent access to customer information, specifically via telephone. A practice known as "pretexting".

Safeguarding Customer Information
Section 501 of Title V, safeguarding customer information, brought about the creation of the Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information (Guidelines). The stated objectives of the Guidelines are to:

Ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information;
Protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information; and
Protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.
The governing agencies of the Banking, Finance and Insurance industry created these Guidelines as a way to set standards in the previously unmonitored area of customer information safeguarding.

GLBA Resource Library

Posted by dalma at September 7, 2005 | | Comments (0)

Sarbanes-Oxley Act　米国企業改革法

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002（サーベンス･オクスリー法）　Web site Forum
トーマツ企業リスク研究所　「日本版『企業改革法』への対応」
[出典]　Symantec社Webサイト, 2003年10月21日

米国証券取引所（SEC）に上場している企業にとって、財務報告の新たな時代が幕を開けました。合衆国の法律に準拠した正確な財務資料の作成が、今ほど求められたことはありません。ここ数年の展開を見ていきます。

1999 年、米国議会はそれまで銀行、仲介業、保険会社の業務に適用されていた一部の規制を撤廃し、Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act（GLBA）（グラム･リーチ･ブライリー法：金融機関向け顧客情報守秘に関する法律）を通過させました。このGLBAのもと、今や金融機関は、顧客の個人情報の安全を守る義務があることが定められています。2003 年 5月に同法のセーフガード規則が発効され、金融機関に顧客情報保護のための手段を策定、導入し、これを維持することが義務付けられました。

2002 年の Sarbanes-Oxley Act（サーベンス･オクスリー法：米国企業改革法）は、Enron および WorldCom の不正会計処理事件を受けて制定されたものであり、1934 年のSecurities Exchange Act (証券取引法)以来、もっとも広範な影響を上場企業に及ぼす法律であると言えます。上場企業の財務報告に対する投資家の信頼を取り戻すために、このSarbanes-Oxley Act では、企業の財務資料に虚偽の陳述があった場合、企業の役員が個人として責任を問われることになっています。企業の役員が虚偽の財務報告書に故意に署名をした場合には、100 万ドル以下の罰金および 10 年以下の禁固が科されます。同法は昨年議会を通過しましたが、U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission（SEC）（米国証券取引委員会）が遵守期限を設け、要件および遵守規則を公布することになっているため、今後さらなる進展が予想されます。AMR Research が行った調査によれば、全上場企業の約 85 パーセントが同法遵守の一環として自社 IT システムの変更を計画しています。また、同法遵守のために企業が費やすコストは、2003 年だけで約 25 億ドルにのぼると AMR は予測しています。

興味深いことに、多くの企業は広範な影響を及ぼすこうした新しい法律への準拠に取り組む中で、それが必ずしも企業にとって負担になるだけのものではないことに気づきつつあります。事実、自社の Sarbanes-Oxley 準拠の取り組みを Y2K 問題への対処に例え、財務報告のあり方を根本的に改革する、全社的なビジネス変革のチャンスと見る企業もあります。また、金融機関の役員の中には、Sarbanes-Oxley Act で求められている迅速な報告義務が、いわゆる「リアルタイム･エンタープライズ」を創出する起動力になると指摘する人もいます。

AMR が Fortune 1000 企業の 60 社を対象に行った調査によれば、ほとんどの企業はSarbanes-Oxley Act の第 1 段階で求められている変更についてはすでに対処済みで、現在はさらにドキュメンテーションに取り組んでいます。この調査ではまた、回答企業各社が、自社の Sarbanes-Oxley プロジェクトの範囲を「財務報告手順の範囲をはるかに超えた、処理手順および管理に関するドキュメンテーション、企画、導入」にまで拡大していることも判りました。その理由を見つけるのは、さほど難しいことではありません。

Background Documents:


Guidance and Tools for Implementing Sarbanes-Oxley

GAO Studies Mandated by Sarbanes-Oxley

Federal regulatory activities related to Sarbanes-Oxley for non-public entities:

Summary of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Section 3: Commission Rules and Enforcement.
A violation of Rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("Board") is treated as a violation of the '34 Act, giving rise to the same penalties that may be imposed for violations of that Act.

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Section 101: Establishment; Board Membership.

The Board will have five financially-literate members, appointed for five-year terms. Two of the members must be or have been certified public accountants, and the remaining three must not be and cannot have been CPAs. The Chair may be held by one of the CPA members, provided that he or she has not been engaged as a practicing CPA for five years.

The Board's members will serve on a full-time basis.

No member may, concurrent with service on the Board, "share in any of the profits of, or receive payments from, a public accounting firm," other than "fixed continuing payments," such as retirement payments.

Members of the Board are appointed by the Commission, "after consultation with" the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and the Secretary of the Treasury.

Members may be removed by the Commission "for good cause."

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Section 101: Establishment; Duties Of The Board.

Section 103: Auditing, Quality Control, And Independence Standards And Rules.

The Board shall:
(1) register public accounting firms;
(2) establish, or adopt, by rule, "auditing, quality control, ethics, independence, and other standards relating to the preparation of audit reports for issuers;"
(3) conduct inspections of accounting firms;
(4) conduct investigations and disciplinary proceedings, and impose appropriate sanctions;
(5) perform such other duties or functions as necessary or appropriate;
(6) enforce compliance with the Act, the rules of the Board, professional standards, and the securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports and the obligations and liabilities of accountants with respect thereto;
(7) set the budget and manage the operations of the Board and the staff of the Board.

Auditing standards. The Board would be required to "cooperate on an on-going basis" with designated professional groups of accountants and any advisory groups convened in connection with standard-setting, and although the Board can "to the extent that it determines appropriate" adopt standards proposed by those groups, the Board will have authority to amend, modify, repeal, and reject any standards suggested by the groups. The Board must report on its standard-setting activity to the Commission on an annual basis.

The Board must require registered public accounting firms to "prepare, and maintain for a period of not less than 7 years, audit work papers, and other information related to any audit report, in sufficient detail to support the conclusions reached in such report."

The Board must require a 2nd partner review and approval of audit reports registered accounting firms must adopt quality control standards.

The Board must adopt an audit standard to implement the internal control review required by section 404(b). This standard must require the auditor evaluate whether the internal control structure and procedures include records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the issuer, provide reasonable assurance that the transactions are recorded in a manner that will permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and a description of any material weaknesses in the internal controls.

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(省略）
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Section 302: Corporate Responsibility For Financial Reports.

The CEO and CFO of each issuer shall prepare a statement to accompany the audit report to certify the "appropriateness of the financial statements and disclosures contained in the periodic report, and that those financial statements and disclosures fairly present, in all material respects, the operations and financial condition of the issuer." A violation of this section must be knowing and intentional to give rise to liability.

本項で定める「財務報告書に対する企業の責任」は、昨年発効されました。ここでは、企業の CEO および CFO は自社の財務報告の正確性について個人名の宣誓書を提出しなければならないと定めています。また、役員が虚偽の報告書を故意に発行した場合の罰金についても規定しています。ほとんどの企業は、自社の基本的なシステムを大幅に変更せずに、本項に関する SEC の規定に準拠できたように見えます。（しかし企業は、データの正確さを証明し「改革実行」テストを乗り越えられるアプローチを、まだ完璧に導入できてはいないことに気づき始めています。）

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Section 303: Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits

It shall be unlawful for any officer or director of an issuer to take any action to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate, or mislead any auditor engaged in the performance of an audit for the purpose of rendering the financial statements materially misleading.

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Section 304: Forfeiture Of Certain Bonuses And Profits.

Section 305: Officer And Director Bars And Penalties; Equitable Relief.

If an issuer is required to prepare a restatement due to "material noncompliance" with financial reporting requirements, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer shall "reimburse the issuer for any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation received" during the twelve months following the issuance or filing of the non-compliant document and "any profits realized from the sale of securities of the issuer" during that period.

In any action brought by the SEC for violation of the securities laws, federal courts are authorized to "grant any equitable relief that may be appropriate or necessary for the benefit of investors."

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Section 305: Officer And Director Bars And Penalties.

The SEC may issue an order to prohibit, conditionally or unconditionally, permanently or temporarily, any person who has violated section 10(b) of the 1934 Act from acting as an officer or director of an issuer if the SEC has found that such person's conduct "demonstrates unfitness" to serve as an officer or director of any such issuer.

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Section 306: Insider Trades During Pension Fund Black-Out Periods Prohibited.

Prohibits the purchase or sale of stock by officers and directors and other insiders during blackout periods. Any profits resulting from sales in violation of this section "shall inure to and be recoverable by the issuer." If the issuer fails to bring suit or prosecute diligently, a suit to recover such profit may be instituted by "the owner of any security of the issuer."

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Section 401(a): Disclosures In Periodic Reports; Disclosures Required.

Each financial report that is required to be prepared in accordance with GAAP shall "reflect all material correcting adjustments . . . that have been identified by a registered accounting firm . . . ."

"Each annual and quarterly financial report . . . shall disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions" and "other relationships" with "unconsolidated entities" that may have a material current or future effect on the financial condition of the issuer.

The SEC shall issue rules providing that pro forma financial information must be presented so as not to "contain an untrue statement" or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the pro forma financial information not misleading.

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Section 401 (c): Study and Report on Special Purpose Entities.

SEC shall study off-balance sheet disclosures to determine a) extent of off-balance sheet transactions (including assets, liabilities, leases, losses and the use of special purpose entities); and b) whether generally accepted accounting rules result in financial statements of issuers reflecting the economics of such off-balance sheet transactions to investors in a transparent fashion and make a report containing recommendations to the Congress.

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Section 402(a): Prohibition on Personal Loans to Executives.

Generally, it will be unlawful for an issuer to extend credit to any director or executive officer. Consumer credit companies may make home improvement and consumer credit loans and issue credit cards to its directors and executive officers if it is done in the ordinary course of business on the same terms and conditions made to the general public.

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Section 403: Disclosures Of Transactions Involving Management And Principal Stockholders.

Directors, officers, and 10% owner must report designated transactions by the end of the second business day following the day on which the transaction was executed.

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Section 404