The FDA Targets Websites Over Drug Sales

The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on 136 websites it says were selling illegal or misbranded drugs to U.S. consumers.

The FDA says none of the websites are for pharmacies in the United States or Canada.

The agency has sent 22 warning letters to the operators of these websites and notified Internet service providers and domain name registrars that the websites were selling products that violated U.S. law.

The FDA says in many cases, because of the violations, Internet service providers and domain name registrars may have grounds to terminate the websites and suspend the use of domain names.

"The FDA works in close collaboration with our regulatory and law enforcement counterparts in the United States and throughout the world to protect the public," said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.

"Many U.S. consumers are being misled in the hopes of saving money by purchasing prescription drugs over the Internet from illegal pharmacies. Unfortunately, these drugs are often counterfeit, contaminated, or unapproved products, or contain an inconsistent amount of the active ingredient. Taking these drugs can pose a danger to consumers."

The FDA's latest move was part of a coordinated, weeklong, international effort, called the International Internet Week of Action, aimed at curbing illegal activity involving medical products.
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HP Buys 3Com for $2.7 Billion

HP announced today that it is acquiring 3Com, makers of network switching, routing, and security solutions, for $2.7 billion in cash (at 7.90 per share). Both boards have already approved the transaction.

HP says the combination of these two companies will transform the networking industry and "underscore HP's next-generation data center strategy." The company believes this will help customers simplify networks and improve IT service delivery capabilities.

"Companies are looking for ways to break free from the business limitations imposed by a networking paradigm that has been dominated by a single vendor," said Dave Donatelli, executive vice president and general manager, Enterprise Servers and Networking, HP. "By acquiring 3Com, we are accelerating the execution of our Converged Infrastructure strategy and bringing disruptive change to the networking industry. By combining HP ProCurve offerings with 3Com’s extensive set of solutions, we will enable customers to build a next-generation network infrastructure that supports customer needs from the edge of the network to the heart of the data center."

HP's Ethernet switching offerings will see a significant expansion as a result from the acquisition. It will also add routing solutions, and greatly strengthen  HP's position in China. They will also be adding a large research and development team in that country.

"Our extensive product line and innovative technology together with HP’s breadth and scale will expand our global opportunity," said 3Com CEO Bob Mao. "3Com's networking products are based on a modern architecture which has been designed to offer better performance, require less power and eliminate administrative complexity when compared against current network offerings. Our products are enterprise proven and widely deployed in the world’s largest banks, manufacturers, Internet service providers, public utilities and retailers."

HP will be getting 3Com's security solutions, which include its TippingPoint line, which is apparently used among 30% of Fortune 1000 companies.

The deal is still subject to domestic and foreign regulatory approval, as well as approval from 3Com's stockholders. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of next year.

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Missouri Asks For $142M In Stimulus For Broadband Access

Missouri is applying for $142 million in federal stimulus money to help expand the reach of broadband Internet access to rural areas in the state.

The initiative would expand broadband accessibility to 91.5 percent of the total population, a significant increase from the current projected accessibility of 79.7 percent.

Under the application filed Thursday with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S Department of Commerce, the state and Sho-Me Technologies will request $142,300,000 in federal recovery funds to help lay 2,500 miles of fiber -optic cable and construct 200 new broadband towers across the state.

The state of Missouri would provide $25.2 million in matching funds if the application is approved, and Sho-Me Technologies would contribute $8.3 million in fiber lines along the new network.

"Just as the railroads and interstates transformed Missouri communities in decades past, this massive undertaking would truly help connect every corner of Missouri with the information superhighway of the future," Gov. Nixon said.

"We will compete for every possible dollar to turn this project into reality and bring the tremendous resources of broadband Internet to homes and businesses in nearly every community in the Show-Me State."

Nixon said Missouri is also working with local Internet service providers to apply for stimulus funds to build "last-mile" connections for broadband access.

"The Internet holds the potential to help every Missourian lead a healthier, more productive life, and to bring about real savings for the people of our state," Gov. Nixon said.

"It's time to close the divide between communities with broadband access and those without, and this project will help us accomplish that goal."