MEDIA & SOCIETY
Latinos Plan Boycott of Network TV (WP)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
The Digital Divide: Bridging the Technological Gap (NTIA)
ITAA Tells Congress: 'Digital Opportunity' Exists for High
Tech Industry and Users (Business Wire)
INTERNET
Internet Provokes Wave of Tech-Related Mergers (WSJ)
A New Breed of ISPs Emerges Filtered (CyberTimes)
U.S. Drafting Plan for Computer Monitoring System (NYT)
Can Cisco Systems and the Internet Save the Third World? (SJM)
Positions Harden in Instant-Message Fight (NYT)
Web Radio: No Antenna Required (WSJ)
CABLE
AT&T Puts Its Name on TCI Cable (ChiTrib)
Cox to Buy Gannett's TV Assets (WSJ)
TELEPHONY
More Using Cell Phones Instead of Home Phones (USA)
BT to Acquire Rest of Cellnet for $5 billion (WSJ)
ECOMMERCE
Chicago-Based Network Wants to Transform Into a Stock Exchange (ChiTrib)
Telecom Subcommittee To Markup Bliley E-Sign and Database Bills (House)
POLITICS
Technology Industry Lags Behind in Campaign Contributions (CyberTimes)
Industry Skepticism Clouds Agenda Gore Is Pushing in High-Tech
Policy (WSJ)
MEDIA & SOCIETY
LATINOS PLAN BOYCOTT OF NETWORK TV
Issue: Media & Society
"If these networks don't want to hire us, then we don't have to watch their
product," said Alex Nogales, spokesman for the National Hispanic Media
Coalition, one of 10 Latino civil rights, professional and community
organizations that have launched a week-long boycott of the four major
television networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. Leaders of the alliance have
blasted network executives for the "virtual absence of Latino images" and
are asking Hispanics not to watch any programming on the four networks on
the week beginning September 12th. This "national brownout" is the first
step in the alliance's year-long campaign to pressure the networks into
casting more Hispanic actors in more positive roles. The recent criticism
from Hispanic associations and the National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP) has prompted the networks to defend themselves.
They have called diversity a "priority" and challenged civil rights groups,
citing the number of minority roles already on prime time shows.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (C1), AUTHOR: Michael A. Fletcher]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-07/28/128l-072899-idx.html)
See Also:
LATINOS URGE TUNING OUT SO TV WILL PLUG IN DIVERSITY
[SOURCE: USA Today (1D), AUTHOR: Jefferson Graham]
(www.usatoday.com)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: BRIDGING THE TECHNOLOGICAL GAP
Issue: Digital Divide
NTIA Administrator Larry Irving testified on "The Digital Divide: Bridging
the Technological Gap" before the Empowerment Subcommittee of the House
Committee on Small Business: Access to new technologies, such as the
computer and the Internet, will be key to the future economic success of
American businesses, communities, and individuals. To begin with, the
Internet is becoming an important tool for personal success and professional
advancement. Increasingly, Americans are using it to find jobs, contact
colleagues, locate public information, or take courses online. Familiarity
with new technologies will also prepare more Americans for the high-tech
workplace of the 21st century. (Text of testimony at URL below)
[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/congress/li_empsub19990727.htm)
ITAA TELLS CONGRESS: 'DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY' EXISTS FOR HIGH TECH INDUSTRY AND
USERS
Issue: Digital Divide
Harris N. Miller, President of the Information Technology Association of America
(ITAA), today testified before the House Small Business Subcommittee on
Empowerment, rejecting the concept of a "digital divide," and instead
calling it a "digital opportunity." [You say, potato, and I say, business
opportunity] Mr Miller said that Internet penetration has grown 3 times as
fast as previous technologies and that the industry will reach segments of
population not yet online through reducing price, providing targeted
content and improving competitive access. "Affordable price, compelling need
and easy access are industry's building blocks for the bridge over the
technology gap. The marketplace is working quickly to capitalize on the
'digital opportunity', where addressing the needs of all current and future
customers becomes an economic priority in order to grow the high tech
industry," Mr. Miller said. "ITAA has set itself on a course to attract
minority workers into the high tech industry, where the numbers of degrees
awarded to minorities are disturbingly low. Creating a vested interest in
the technology is another way industry is bringing in new users." Learn more
about ITAA and its positions
on the issues by connecting to its web site at http://www.itaa.org .
[SOURCE: Business Wire]
INTERNET
INTERNET PROVOKES WAVE OF TECH-RELATED MERGERS
Issue: Mergers
Broadview Associates of Fort Lee, New Jersey notes that
information-technology, communications and media companies announced 2,900
deals valued at $545 billion in the first six months of this year. That
exceeds the $488 billion from all of last year. Forty-seven digital media
companies went public in the first half of this year, far more than the 18
companies in all of 1998. The big-fish-eat-little-fish trends include: 1)
small Internet companies gobble up smaller Internet companies for a bigger
presence on the Web and 2) large companies are gobbling up companies that
will bring them into the market of emerging technologies and services. For
example, Lucent and Nortel are buying up companies that are experts in
Internet traffic and Intel and Texas Instruments are acquiring chipmakers.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, B2, AUTHOR: Scott Thurm]
(http://wsj.com/)
A NEW BREED OF ISPs EMERGES FILTERED
Issue: Internet
Two high-profile developments might spur the growth of "filtered ISPs" that
would make it easy for families to keep objectionable material off their
computer screens. Tim Robertson, son of the evangelist Pat Robertson and the
former chief executive of The Family Channel, plans to start a filtered ISP
in the fall called FamilyClick.com. Another group plans to launch its own
filtered online service, this.com. There are at least two dozen filtered
ISPs in the U.S. and the companies say filtered ISPs are a safer bet than
blocking software installed on home computers because the ISPs are not as
easy for clever youngsters to circumvent. Most of the services were started
by people of religious backgrounds, but Robertson says, "This is for
families. We don't care what religion they are." Brad M. Daniel, chief
executive of Florida-based this.com, says, "The whole goal here is to
protect kids, whether your background is Jewish, Christian, whatever,"
adding that his company is not tied to any religious group. Though filtered
ISPs are expected to continue to grow, criticism of the technology remains.
They may not be foolproof and there is concern they will be used in schools
and public institutions.
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Pamela Mendels]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/07/cyber/education/28education.html)
U.S. DRAFTING PLAN FOR COMPUTER MONITORING SYSTEM
Issue: Security
The U.S. government is creating a computer monitoring system intended to
protect the nation's crucial networks from intruders. "Our concern about
organized cyber attack has escalated dramatically," said Jeffrey Hunker, who
oversees the development of a plan at the National Security Council. "We do
know of a number of hostile foreign governments that are developing
sophisticated and well-organized offensive cyber attack capabilities and we
have good reason to believe that terrorists may be developing similar
capabilities." Civil liberties groups, however, are concerned about the
implications of the National Security Council's plan for a sophisticated
software system to monitor activities on non-military government networks
and a separate system to track networks used in the banking,
telecommunications and transportation industries. Critics of the proposed
system say it could eventually be used to create a surveillance
infrastructure with great potential for misuse.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A1), AUTHOR: John Markoff]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/07/biztech/articles/28compute.html)
CAN CISCO SYSTEMS AND THE INTERNET SAVE THE THIRD WORLD?
Issue: Internet
In the 80s there was Live Aid, now we have NetAid. Cisco Systems and the
United Nations Development Program, along with others, are planning a
global musical extravaganza to raise money for Third World anti-poverty
programs. The co-sponsors are developing a massive NetAid Internet site --
designed to handle up to 60 million hits in an hour -- that will feed real
time video of the concerts. More than just raising money, the site is
intended to help people become knowledgeable about, and involved in,
efforts to end hunger and disease. Cisco is also creating the NetAid
Foundation, which will oversee the grants to U.N. development programs.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: John Fensterwald]
(http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/viewpoints/docs/jf072899.htm)
POSITIONS HARDEN IN INSTANT-MESSAGE FIGHT
Issue: Internet
The dispute between Microsoft and AOL, which broke out when Microsoft
introduced new software that lets users send instant messages both to users
of Microsoft's Hotmail and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) software, continues
this week. America Online said that Microsoft was acting like a hacker,
connecting to its system without authorization. Microsoft, however, contends
that it is guilty of no wrongdoing. "There has been and is no unauthorized
use or access of AOL's services or products," wrote Brad Chase, a vice
president of Microsoft. "Nor has Microsoft violated the privacy or security
of any AIM users." Microsoft has declined an invitation from AOL to discuss
a possible accord.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C2), AUTHOR: Saul Hansell]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/07/biztech/articles/28mail.html)
See Also:
AOL, MICROSOFT STILL DEADLOCKED ON MESSAGING
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E3), AUTHOR: Rajiv Chandrasekaran]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-07/28/118l-072899-idx.html)
WEB RADIO: NO ANTENNA REQUIRED
Issue: Radio/Internet
Operating a radio station used to mean building a transmitter, winning a
license from the Federal Communications Commission and following numerous
complex rules. Now, with cyber-radio, all operators would need is a server
computer with a high-powered Internet connection and software capable of
streaming audio files online. The listeners only need an audio software
package, such as Real Network's Real Audio, which is either pre-loaded on
some computers or can be downloaded off the Web for free. People listen to
online music a lot at work through high-speed connections, which
make the sound much smoother. Some sites for cyber-radio are spinner.com,
imagineradio.com, netradio.com, gogaga.com and swingradio.com. Once again,
the Internet is taking the power of mass media and putting it in the hands
of the masses. (My colleagues listen to jazz but when they leave the room I
find the cool 80s tunes -- rock on Pat Benatar!)
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, B1, AUTHOR: Thomas E. Weber]
(http://wsj.com/)
CABLE
AT&T PUTS ITS NAME ON TCI CABLE
Issue:
"They are taking a risk putting their brand name on the TCI network at this
early stage when TCI is not known for the same quality and reliability that
AT&T is," said Jeffrey Kagan, an Atlanta-based telecommunications
consultant. "You have to wonder if they aren't jumping the gun and putting a
Mercedes name on a lemon." It may have been inevitable, but some are
questioning the timing of AT&T's move before upgrading TCI's cable systems
and enabling them to deliver high-speed Internet and local phone service.
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 3, p.1), AUTHOR: Jon Van]
(http://chicagotribune.com/business/printedition/article/0,2669,SAV-99072801
37,FF.html)
See also:
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
[SOURCE: New York Times (C11), AUTHOR: Stuart Elliot]
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/att-ad-column.html)
COX TO BUY GANNETT'S TV ASSETS
Issue: Television
In another deal to further the consolidation for the cable business, Cox
Communications bought Gannett's cable-TV assets for $2.7 billion in cash. This
means that Cox is paying $5,100/subscriber as it will get about 525,000
subscribers in Oklahoma, Kansas and North Carolina. These systems are 75%
upgraded for interactive TV, Internet access, high-speed data connections and
telephone service. Cox will get a tax savings of $350 million for this deal.
This just goes to show the digital craze as years ago, cable customers were
only worth $1,500 each but with the latest AT&T deals, those numbers have
soared. This deal puts Cox in contention for the number three spot in the U.S.
cable industry. (My mother always said I'd be worth a lot of money...well look
at me now at $5,100!)
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, A3, 7/26/99 AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
(http://wsj.com/)
TELEPHONY
MORE USING CELL PHONES INSTEAD OF HOME PHONES
Issue: Cellular
According to a survey by the Yankee Group, a growing number of customers
are disconnecting their home phone and using their wireless phone instead.
With prices dropping an average of 30% a year, handsets getting lighter,
batteries lasting longer, coverage of areas improving and the availability
of additional services (such as hooking up your computer to the cell
phone), people are using their cellular phones more. There is an estimated
72 million cellular customers and 2% use their cellular as their only
phone. That number is up from only a handful in 1998. Omnipoint says 9% of
its customers who signed up in the past year do not have a wired phone. The
minutes of use are also up from 115/month in 1997 to approximately 400/month
today. Yankee analyst Mark Lowenstein said the cell phone is great for
college students who do not want to share a phone or a bill with their
roommates as well as single people who are always on the go. He also
speculated that soon wired networks would mostly be used for Internet
connections.
[SOURCE: USA Today (1A), AUTHOR: Steve Rosenbush]
(http://usatoday.com/)
BT TO ACQUIRE REST OF CELLNET FOR $5 BILLION
Issue: Mergers
British Telecommunications (BT) agreed to acquire the additional 40% of
Cellnet that it does not currently own. Until January of this year, BT was
restricted by the government from owning more than a 40% stake in any
United Kingdom mobile phone company. Cellnet is one of four British
wireless providers and second in size to Vodafone AirTouch. BT plans on
working on next generation wireless and the U.K. government is planing on
selling new service licenses in the fall -- so the wireless market has a
lot of potential for growth. One-2-One, another cellular rival is up for
sale as well. Cable & Wireless and the MediaOne Group own One-2-One.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, A20, AUTHOR: Gautam Naik]
(http://wsj.com/)
ECOMMERCE
CHICAGO-BASED NETWORK WANTS TO TRANSFORM INTO A STOCK EXCHANGE
Issue: Ecommerce
Chicago-based Archipelago announced yesterday that it will apply with the US
Securities and Exchange Commission by August 1 to convert its electronic
trading network into a self-regulated stock exchange. Electronic
communications networks (ECNs) like Archipelago electronically match stock
sellers and buyers and tout their ability to make trades more quickly and
cheaply than traditional stock exchanges by cutting out a middleman, Zajac
writes. 20% of trades on the Nasdaq stock market, for example, are executed
by ECNs. But systems like Archipelago have not been able to get their prices
published in national quote systems shared by stock exchanges: "It seems to
us that the only way to break through this barrier is to become an
exchange," said Archipelago CEO Gerald Putnam.
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 3, p.1), AUTHOR: Andrew Zajac]
(http://chicagotribune.com/business/printedition/article/0,2669,SAV-99072801
35,FF.html)
TELECOM SUBCOMMITTEE TO MARKUP BLILEY E-SIGN AND DATABASE BILLS
Issue: Legislation
From Media Advisory: Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and
Consumer Protections Chairman U.S. Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA) has
announced that his panel will meet Thursday, July 29, 1999, to markup two
electronic commerce bills authored by full Committee Chairman Tom Bliley
(R-VA). The Subcommittee will markup H.R. 1858, the Consumer and Investor
Access to Information Act of 1999, and H.R. 1714, The Electronic Signatures
in Global and National Commerce Act in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office
Building, at 10:00 a.m. The Subcommittee will also consider the following
two bills this Thursday: H.R. 486, Community Broadcasters Protection Act of
1999; and the NTIA Reauthorization Act of 1999.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://com-notes.house.gov/cchear/hearings106.nsf/eeae8466ba03a2158525677f0
04b4d11/210a4e4d2e1842da852567bb006e3663?OpenDocument)
POLITICS
TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY LAGS BEHIND IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
Issue: Politics
Although Presidential candidates engaged in high-profile courtships of the
technology industry, their efforts resulted in less than $1 million in
contributions in the first half of the year. Seven candidates received
about $832,000 from employees of technology companies compared with $9.2
million given by lawyers and lobbyists and $3.5 million from the real
estate industry. According to Holly Bailey, a researcher who conducted the
analysis for the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, "We're
seeing politicians trying to ally themselves with the economy of the
future. With high-tech, this is new wealth. They're not used to currying
favor with Washington yet." The analysis covered the candidates who filed
electronically with the Federal Election Commission as well as unofficial
data from Governor George W. Bush.
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Rebecca Fairley Raney]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/07/cyber/articles/28campaign.html)
INDUSTRY SKEPTICISM CLOUDS AGENDA GORE IS PUSHING IN HIGH-TECH POLICY
Issue: Politics
"A better understanding of how technological developments change the options
available leads to less government regulation, not more." That's because the
government works with industry on new alternatives, such as environmentally
friendly cars, "to leapfrog all the heavy-handed regulations," says Vice
President Gore. "Al Gore represents a point of view that says there will be
excessive regulation, that the government can figure out all the answers,"
says Floyd Kvamme, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who backs the
presidential bid of Texas Gov George W. Bush (R). "He's into technological
fixes," says Gene Kimmelman, co-director of the Washington office of
Consumers Union. "Gore has an extremely positive image of technology, almost
to a fault -- to forgetting about the human element that underlies
technology." "Technology sweeps aside traditions, patterns and institutions,
just like a flood or a tornado," said VP Gore. His technology initiatives
for the 2000 election: build a superfast version of the Internet; double the
$1.5 billion the government spends annually on computer research; identify
every human gene linked to cancer; deploy an army of online tutors to help
kids. His aides say they are working on initiatives to develop
next-generation auto fuels and new kinds of fuel-efficient homes.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (p.1), AUTHOR: Bob Davis]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB933113725299151569.htm)
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