MEDIA OWNERSHIP
A No-Frills Fighter Stuns The FCC, Media Goliaths
Senate Panel Fires Shot Across FCC's Bow
CCC Petitions FCC to Reconsider Ownership Rules
E-GOVERNMENT
Commentary: Confounding E-Government Skeptics
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Report: Wired for Work? ICT and Job Seeking in Rural Areas
What's in Store for 'Generation Next'?
LIBRARIES
Launch of Public Library Geographic Database Beta Website
TRANSITIONS
You're a Good Man, Charlie Meisch!
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MEDIA OWNERSHIP
A NO-FRILLS FIGHTER STUNS THE FCC, MEDIA GOLIATHS
Andy Schwartzman strikes some as the least likely of heroes in the battle
over media ownership. In the Washington world of slick-suited, high-priced K
Street attorneys, the Media Access Project's president and chief executive
stands out for his no-frills, cut-to-the-chase approach. This week, however,
Schwartzman stands out for an altogether different reason. Taking on the FCC
and the media industry's top counselors, Schwartzman convinced a federal
court to grant a stay of the commission's new rules. Although the decision
marks a rare court victory for Schwartzman, he has earned the respect of his
opponents over the years. "When I was at the FCC, even when he was berating
me publicly, I always tried to listen to what he said because he was so
often right," says former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt. "As a lawyer, he is more
than a match for any of the lawyers the agency has or these [media]
companies can hire."
SOURCE: The Wall Street Journal; AUTHOR: Yochi J. Dreazen
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB106271067476704400-H9jeoNklaR2m...
XSGb6qEm4,00.html
SENATE PANEL FIRES SHOT ACROSS FCC'S BOW
The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday added insult to the FCC's
injuries this week, adding an amendment to a spending bill that would
prevent the commission from raising its cap on the reach of broadcast
television networks. The amendment, introduced by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
mirrors a similar measure passed in the House denying the FCC funding to
implement the new rule allowing networks to buy more stations. Since the
amendment was attached to a spending bill, it is likely to pass the full
Senate later this month. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced that he would
move ahead with plans to introduce a resolution of disapproval, which would
eradicate all of the FCC's ownership rule changes, prior to the vote on the
spending bill. Failing its passage, Dorgan said he plans to introduce a bill
to eliminate the newspaper-TV cross-ownership rule.
SOURCE: The Washington Post; AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27818-2003Sep4.html
CCC PETITIONS FCC TO RECONSIDER OWNERSHIP RULES
"The [Federal Communications] Commission's 2002 Biennial Media Ownership
Report and Order is fundamentally flawed and must be reconsidered," says
Jonathan Rintels, Executive Director of the Center for the Creative
Community, who today petitioned the FCC to do just that. The commission
contradicted itself by noting that media concentration harms viewpoint
diversity -- but then acting to promote further consolidation in its new
rules, ignored evidence submitted by groups such as CCC. For instance,
argues Rintels, "[f]ive giant media conglomerates ... own broadcast and
cable outlets that control approximately a 75 percent share of prime-time
viewing, roughly the same share of TV households in prime time as the three
broadcast networks did 40 years ago, pre-cable."
SOURCE: Center for the Creative Community; AUTHOR: Jonathan Rintels
http://www.creativecommunity.us
E-GOVERNMENT
CONFOUNDING E-GOVERNMENT SKEPTICS
[Commentary] Ian Kearns, associate director of the UK's Institute for Public
Policy Research, analyzes the problems and successes of digital government
and concludes "digital government is working." Problems include skills
shortages in the private sector, weaknesses in policy leadership, and
confusion in the government's relationship with IT companies. Successes
include the positive relationship between IT use and educational
achievement, London's congestion charge scheme and the Department of
Health's digital interactive television pilots. The congestion charge scheme
uses digitally networked technology to record license plates and charge fees
to vehicles entering a certain zone, which has had a positive effect on
traffic congestion levels. More than 60 percent of users of the information
and services provided through the health television pilots believe there has
been a beneficial impact on their health. Kearns notes that even success
brings its own problems, particularly social justice issues related to the
digital divide. Nevertheless, he encourages a focus on overcoming problems
and articulating the benefits that technology can and does deliver.
SOURCE: Guardian Unlimited; AUTHOR: Ian Kearns
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1034803,00.html
DIGITAL DIVIDE
REPORT: WIRED FOR WORK? ICT AND JOB SEEKING IN RURAL AREAS
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a new report entitled "Wired
for Work? ICT and Job Seeking in Rural Areas," an investigation of the
current and potential role for information and communications technologies
(ICT) in delivering job search services for unemployed people. Drawing on
surveys and focus groups conducted in Scotland, the report finds that ICT is
currently of limited importance to most unemployed people, but has the
potential to be much more valuable to them. The study concludes with a
discussion of policy implications and potential improvements to national
Internet and telephone-based services.
SOURCE: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The paper can be downloaded for free from:
http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/details.asp?pubID=552
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 'GENERATION NEXT'?
Some observers are concerned for children growing up in "Generation Next"
yet may be left behind by a lack access to high-tech devices at home or at
school. But others caution against using technology as a panacea to help
kids learn. Omar Wasow runs Community Connect, a website that brings
together African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Latinos. He says he is more
concerned with the "literacy divide," that is, getting kids hooked on
reading and writing before they learn to type or surf the web. "We need to
figure out why our public education system is failing to ignite the learning
process in some of the poorest students," Wasow said. Warren Buckleitner, an
editor at Children's Software Revue, recommends devices that help bring
children into "Generation Next" without skipping the essentials. These
include laptop-style machines that help with learning phonics, identifying
objects and reading. Such devices, he says, are priced under $50, are
durable and offer an alternative to the use of traditional computers.
SOURCE: CNN.com; AUTHOR: Daniel Sieberg
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/09/03/hln.wired.literacy.divide/
LIBRARIES
LAUNCH OF PUBLIC LIBRARY GEOGRAPHIC DATABASE BETA WEBSITE
Florida State University's GeoLib program is seeking feedback on the beta
version of their Public Library Geographic Database (PLGDB). The website
contains data for over 16,000 libraries in the US, mapping them in a
geographic database. Unlike many national library-mapping databases, PLGDB
is overlaying the map with census data. This will allow users to compare
library locations with local census statistics, such as population density,
neighborhood racial and gender makeup, etc. Currently the database only
contains population density data, but other data sets will be added in the
future.
SOURCE: Florida State University
US Public Library Geographic Database (beta)
http://geolib.latitudegeo.com/imf.jsp
Description and Powerpoint tutorial:
http://www.geolib.org/PLGDB.cfm
TRANSITIONS
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE MEISCH!
Today's edition of headlines is the last official edition that will be
co-written by Benton policy intern Charlie Meisch. For the last year,
Charlie has served as senior writer to Headlines, focusing particularly on
media ownership and telecom regulatory issues, while completing his Master's
degree at George Mason University. Charlie has now graduated and accepted a
policy position a new media law firm here in Washington. Charlie's writing
ability and telecom analysis skills have been a true asset to Benton over
the last year. Please join us in congratulating Charlie as he embarks on his
post-grad-student career. Thanks, Charlie!
SOURCE: The Benton Foundation; AUTHOR: the Headlines Gang
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