MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Move to Ease Media Ownership Rules Given Cool Reception in Seattle
INTERNET
Afghanistan Internet Domain Launches
Australian Top Pick for Global Internet Body
Wireless Net Offered with a Pint
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
MOVE TO EASE MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES GIVEN COOL RECEPTION IN SEATTLE
FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein participated Friday
in a University of Washington forum on media ownership rules. The majority
of speakers at the forum expressed concerns over an FCC proposal to relax
these rules, which currently place limits on the number of media outlets
that companies can own in US markets. Commissioner Copps, speaking to an
audience of approximately 200 people, stated that a recent survey showed
that three-quarters of Americans are unaware of the proposed rule changes,
and that forums such as the Seattle meeting -- even though it wasn't an
official FCC proceeding -- are an important source for public input. Seattle
Times publisher Frank Blethen testified that relaxing the rules would allow
companies to increase their bottom line at the expense of the public. "From
a business perspective [the proposal] makes sense, but not from a
public-service perspective," he said.
[SOURCE: Seattle Times, AUTHOR: Alwyn Scott]
(http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134648766_fcc080.html)
INTERNET
AFGHANISTAN INTERNET DOMAIN LAUNCHES
"Officially planting its flag in cyberspace," the nation of Afghanistan
launched its own Internet top-level domain name today, announced the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Afghan Ministry of
Communications. The establishment of the .af domain is an important step for
Afghanistan as it attempts to rebuild its infrastructure after decades of
civil war and strife. "For Afghanistan, this is like reclaiming part of our
sovereignty," Communications Minister Mohammad Moassom Stanakzai said. But
Afghanistan has a long way to go before the Internet has much of an impact
on the average citizen. As of today's launch, there are only two websites
registered under the .af domain -- to no surprise, the local UNDP office and
the Ministry of Communications. Several cybercafes have sprung up in Kabul,
but few locals can afford to use them, with the average Afghan earning less
than a dollar a day.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,57978,00.html)
AUSTRALIAN TOP PICK FOR GLOBAL INTERNET BODY
According to the Washington Post, the organization that manages the
Internet's domain name system may soon find itself led by a non-American for
the first time. According to sources, the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN) is on the verge of selecting Paul Twomey of
Australia as its new president. Twomey is the former director of Australia's
National Office for the Information Economy and co-founder of the consulting
firm Argo Pacific. Colleagues praised Twomey's government experience,
stating that an ICANN president has to be "thick skinned" in order to deal
with the position's many political pressures. However, ICANN critic Michael
Froomkin pointed out that Twomey was also a member of the secretive
Government Advisory Committee, which has been criticized for attempting to
wield undue influence over ICANN.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: David McGuire]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58264-2003Mar7.html)
WIRELESS NET OFFERED WITH A PINT
The number of wi-fi Internet hotspots in Britain will increase more than
tenfold in July when "The Cloud" descends upon thousands of pubs across the
country. A new broadband venture by Intel, Ericsson, and Inspired Broadband
Networks, The Cloud will deploy wireless Internet access points in 3,000
drinking establishments. "Pubs are already the business lunch venue of
choice in many parts of the country and this will allow us to offer services
that may well attract additional customers and keep customers in our venues
longer," said John Appleton, director of one of the pub chains involved in
the venture. In addition to attracting the lunchtime business crowd,
entrepreneurs hope The Cloud will attract evening users interested in
gaming, entertainment and informal networking with other users.
[SOURCE: BBC Online]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2829257.stm)
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