Miami High Tech, by Miami Today reporter Candice Ventra, condenses the latest news in the Miami Internet and technical worlds.

LOCAL SELECTION: Miami-based initiatives Corp. was selected to join MicroSoft's 2000 eCommerce Partner Advisory Council. Initiatives Corp. is a web-centric professional services provider, promoters said. The council, which is chosen through nominations, is made up of executives at 50 high-tech companies who will identify trends and important issues in the industry. Details: initiatives.com.

FREE ACCESS: Winfire FreeDSLTM launched a free high-speed Internet service in Miami. Users can access movies, CD-quality music and several programs using the technology, promoters say. Details: (213) 623-4200.

PASSING BY: Now people can download US passport applications via the web. Interested parties can go to globalpassport.com on the worldwide web to get applications and step-by-step directions. Details: (305) 285-9255.

DIRECT MONEY: DollarsDirect.com — an Internet site for the remittance of money from the US to overseas destinations — was launched in Miami this week. The service is available over the worldwide web in cities in 33 states including Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and California.

OPENING ACT: Openclose.com, a Sunrise-based Internet site for mortgage professionals to meet and exchange business, will offer a business-to-business e-commerce service. Users will be able to create, execute, store, retrieve and transfer electronic versions of mortgage-related documents via the web, executives say. The service is in partnership with the site's parent company, Mortgage.com, and e-commerce company eOriginal.

PLANTING SEEDS: Miami & Miami-Dade Weed & Seed, a high-tech school for inner-city youth and adults, will open July 5. The school, which is at the Belafonte Tacolcy Center, 6161 NW Ninth Ave., will among other things help people obtain a general equivalency high school diploma and develop computer skills. Details: (305) 751-1295.

LIGHT IT UP: BizProLink.com signed an agreement with Internet search engine NorthernLight.com to offer a search engine of 20 million articles and 6,700 sources, promoters say. Boca Raton-based BizProLink is an Internet business service provider for 124 industry sectors, company executives say. Details: (561) 367-8900

SPORTS RADIO: Radio Unica and SportsYa.com have teamed up to offer a 24-hour Spanish-language sports network. As part of the agreement Radio Unica — a nationwide Spanish-language radio network — will invest $3 million in SportYa, promoters say. Details: (305) 463-5140.

E-ALLEGIANCE: Publicists have announced the arrival of Allegiance Telecom in Miami, where executives say they can offer an economical alternative for phone and telecom services. Allegiance, which targets businesses only, offers a complete service package on a single bill — local & long-distance calling, high-speed data transmissions, Internet and e-commerce. The local exchange carrier now has operations in 24 US markets, says Senior Vice President Tony Parella. Details: (305) 436-1830.