May 2000

MEDIA & SOCIETY
Cartoons That Aren't for Kids (WP)
No Big Surge in Sex Programs Is Expected From Cable Ruling (NYT)

CORPORATE INITIATIVES
AOL Gets Its Name in Front of Students With
New Service (CyberTimes)
An Oops in Time Warner's Battle for the Internet (NYT)

PRIVACY
Kennard Says U.S. Should Wait Before Regulating Net Privacy (WSJ)
Internet Privacy Hearing (Senate)
Tougher Internet Privacy Rules Would Help Consumers,
Boost Confidence In E-Commerce (CU)

HEALTH ONLINE
Health Coalition Urges Warnings On Internet Medical
Treatment (SJM)
Enforcing the Laws on Internet Pharmaceutical Sales: Where are the
Feds? (House)

SPECTRUM
Global Mobile Phone Standards Urged (SJM)
Wireless Innovations in Communications Initiative (NTIA)
Secondary Markets in Radio Spectrum (FCC)

BROADBAND
Deployment of Broadband (House)

MEDIA & SOCIETY

CARTOONS THAT AREN'T FOR KIDS
Issue: Media & Society
In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the
Harvard School of Public Health is recommending that the Motion Picture
Association of America amend its rating system to reflect the content of
movies, a change to the current system that only reflects age categories.
Social researchers at Harvard were moved to call for the change after
completing a review of 74 G-rated animated movies released since 1937. The
researcher found that the length of times spent portraying violence -
"intentional acts where the aggressor make some physical contact that has
potential to inflict injury or harm" - grew dramatically in the 1990s. While
the authors noted a steady increase in violence since 1937, 9 of the 10 most
violent features were released in 1990 or after. "A G rating does not
automatically signify a level of violence acceptable for very young
viewers," wrote the study's authors. The Harvard study is the first to
attempt to systematically document acts of violence in more than 60 years.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (C01), AUTHOR: Paul Fahri]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59337-2000May23.html

NO BIG SURGE IN SEX PROGRAMS IS EXPECTED FROM CABLE RULING
Issue: Cable
The Supreme Court's decision on Monday striking down a law that required
many cable systems to limit sexually explicit channels to late-night hours
will most likely reap a modest increase in profits for programmers but is
not expected to hasten a vast explosion of sexually oriented material on
cable. "I view this primarily as a technical ruling that is more important
for its First Amendment implications," said Chris Dixon, a media analyst for
PaineWebber. "The problem is not whether or not programming is appropriate,
it's whether or not there is space available on the dial or on the set-top
box." Some believe the FCC's rule would have been obsolete within a few
years anyway, as scrambling became universally effective. The ruling really
only affects cable systems that reach ~18 million subscribers.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A14), AUTHOR: Jim Rutenburg]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/politics/scotus/articles/052400cable-review.
html)
See Also:
STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN WILLIAM E. KENNARD ON USA V. PLAYBOY ENTERTAINMENT
GROUP
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/Statements/2000/stwek039.html)

CORPORATE INITIATIVES

AOL GETS ITS NAME IN FRONT OF STUDENTS WITH NEW SERVICE
Issue: EdTech
AOL( at )School, a version of the America Online's consumer Internet software
that is customized for educators and students, is raising new concerns about
commercialization in schools. Although the service is free, some are dubious
about AOL's intentions. Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center
for Media Education, a Washington-based public interest group, said the
online giant wants to build a new generation of AOL users and pull in their
parents as well. "There's a strategy here to sort of surround the user," he
said. "If they're using it at school, they'll want the service at home. AOL
wants to come in and potentially monopolize the education market." Ann
Flynn, director of education technology partnerships for the National School
Boards Association (NSBA), said AOL( at )School is one of a number of methods
companies are using to get technology, and their product names, into the
classroom. "It's a business," she said. "This is coming out of the business
unit. But it's a free resource for schools, and we're all still struggling
with what these models are and what works."
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Rebecca Weiner]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/cyber/education/24education.html)

AN OOPS IN TIME WARNER'S BATTLE FOR THE INTERNET
Issue: Corporate Initiatives
In Houston, Time Warner offered employees $100 to order high-speed Internet
access from competitor Southwestern Bell -- and then cancel the order, of
course, after it was confirmed. The plan was to find out where SBC's DSL
service was NOT available and then to exploit any weaknesses in the market.
Some Time Warner employees, however let SBC know what was up -- and now SBC
is a little mad. The local phone giant says it will file complaints
Wednesday with the Federal Communications Commission and the Texas Public
Utilities Commission. TW says it was an error of judgement at the local
level that was quickly corrected when regional mangers found out about it.
SBC is claiming the cost for canceling a confirmed order can be as much as $370.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A1), AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/biztech/articles/24net.html)

PRIVACY

KENNARD SAYS U.S. SHOULD WAIT BEFORE REGULATING NET PRIVACY
Issue: Privacy
Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard said
the government should give the information industry a chance to regulate
itself before stepping in with rules governing privacy and other matters.
There are "powerful market incentives for companies to develop their own
means of regulating these privacy issues," said Mr. Kennard. His position
contradicts a recent Federal Trade Commission report to Congress that
asked for more power to regulate Internet privacy. Chairman Kennard, who was
speaking at an international economic conference at the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, also said he won't be the "national censor" in charge of approving
the appropriateness of some 50 million Web sites. Instead, he said, the
answer lies in industry, in filtering technology, and people themselves.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (Interactive), AUTHOR: Mark Wigfield]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB959098608743939143.htm)

INTERNET PRIVACY HEARING
Issue: Privacy
The hearing on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) survey of Internet privacy
policies is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at 9:30 a.m. in room 253 of the
Russell Senate Office Building. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will preside. To access
the hearing live on the Internet on Thursday please go to the Commerce
Committee website at http://commerce.senate.gov, or if your computer is
already equipped with Real Player please go to:
pnm://video.srt.net/~srs_live/commerce.rm.
[SOURCE: US Senate]
(http://www.senate.gov/~commerce/press/106-169.htm)

TOUGHER INTERNET PRIVACY RULES WOULD HELP CONSUMERS, BOOST CONFIDENCE IN
E-COMMERCE
Issue: Privacy
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is expected to present Congress today
with recommendations
for new privacy rules for Internet businesses. Consumers Union (CU) has
expressed great concern about the ways that Internet companies collect and
use private information
about consumers. The May 2000 issue of the CU publication Consumer Reports
featured a special report ("Big Browser is Watching You") about how
companies gather and use personal data about even the most casual Internet
users, often without the consumers' knowledge. Based on Consumer Reports'
findings, CU wrote the FTC to urge regulators to step up their efforts to
help consumers protect their online privacy.
[SOURCE: Consumers Union]
(http://www.consumersunion.org/finance/522pridc00.htm)

HEALTH ONLINE

HEALTH COALITION URGES WARNINGS ON INTERNET MEDICAL
TREATMENT
Issue: Health
A health-care coalition has created voluntary guidelines, "Health Code of
Ethics," that calls for doctors and therapists to warn patients about the
limits of online treatment. The code urges health-care providers to tell
patients when face-to-face interactions are better than cyberchats, and to
help patients find local care offline. Because the Internet is so new, says
Dr. Helga Rippen, chairwoman of the Internet Healthcare Coalition and an
official with drugmaker Pfizer Inc., some professionals may not be aware of
the limits of giving help online. While the phone carries similar
constraints, she said "it's been used for many years." The guidelines also
call for health sites to seek consent before collecting and sharing personal
information, disclose any financial ties and screen content for accuracy.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/breaking/merc/docs/037584.htm

ENFORCING THE LAWS ON INTERNET PHARMACEUTICAL SALES: WHERE ARE THE FEDS?
Issue: Health Online
Thursday, May 25, 2000 10:00 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing entitled: "Enforcing
the Laws on Internet Pharmaceutical Sales: Where are the Feds?" Witnesses
will be by invitation only.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://com-notes.house.gov/schedule.htm)

SPECTRUM

GLOBAL MOBILE PHONE STANDARDS URGED
Issue: Wireless
"We want to move quickly into a future where a phone user in the United
States or in Tokyo or in London can access the Internet on a mobile phone,"
Federal Communication Commission Chairman William Kennard told members of
the World Economic Forum. Chairman Kennard saw the need for a "harmonized
world mobile phone standard" as one of the key challenges on the
telecommunications landscape. He called on conferees "to come up with an
interoperable standard for wireless (phones) in which all manufacturers can
participate," and said that the FCC was "not going to pick a mobile
standard."
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Andrew J. Glass
(Cox News Service)]
(http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/breaking/merc/docs/006654.htm)

WIRELESS INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE
Issue: Wireless/Safety
Industry representatives will present new wireless technologies that could
be used by federal law enforcement agencies at a meeting of the Wireless
Innovations in Communications Initiative (WICI) Committee on May 31. The
meeting is in response to presentations made at the May 9 meeting by the
Federal Law Enforcement Users Group (FLEWUG) about the needs of public
safety land mobile communications users.
[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/wici/advisory053100.htm)

SECONDARY MARKETS IN RADIO SPECTRUM
Issue: Spectrum
The FCC will hold a Public Forum addressing issues related to the
development of secondary markets for radio spectrum on Wednesday, May 31,
2000, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Public Forum will be held at the
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC, in
the Commission Meeting Room.
FCC Chairman William Kennard and other FCC Commissioners will provide
opening remarks followed by three panel discussions structured around the
following questions: (1) Can spectrum demand be satisfied in part through
secondary markets? (2) What can we learn from other market models? and (3)
How can FCC policies facilitate the development of secondary markets?
For additional information contact Lisa Gaisford, Office of Engineering and
Technology, 202-418-7280, TTY 202-418-1169 or lgaisfor( at )fcc.gov. News media
contact: Meribeth McCarrick, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,
202-418-0654, TTY 202-418-7233 or mmccarri( at )fcc.gov or Linda Parris, Office
of Media Relations, 202-418-7121, lparis( at )fcc.gov.
** More info at the URL below **
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Public_Notices/2000/da001
139.html)

BROADBAND

DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND
Issue: Broadband
Thursday, May 25, 2000 11:00 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection hearing
focusing on the deployment of broadband technologies. Witnesses will be by
invitation only.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://com-notes.house.gov/schedule.htm)

--------------------------------------------------------------

(c)Benton Foundation 2000. Redistribution of this email publication -- both
internally and externally -- is encouraged if it includes this message.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The Benton Foundation's Communications Policy Program (CPP)
(www.benton.org/cpphome.html) Communications-related Headline
Service is posted Monday through Friday. The Headlines are highlights
of news articles summarized by staff at the Benton Foundation. They
describe articles of interest to the work of the Foundation -- primarily
those covering long term trends and developments in communications,
technology, journalism, public service media, regulation and philanthropy.
While the summaries are factually accurate, their often informal tone does
not represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by
Kevin Taglang (kevint( at )benton.org), Rachel Anderson (rachel( at )benton.org), and
Nancy Gillis (nancy( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.

The Benton Foundation works to realize the social benefits made possible by
the public interest use of communications. Bridging the worlds of
philanthropy, public policy, and community action, Benton seeks to shape the
emerging communications environment and to demonstrate the value of
communications for solving social problems.

Other projects at Benton include:
Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org)
Debate America (www.debateamerica.org)
Oneworld US (www.oneworldus.org)
Open Studio: The Arts Online (www.openstudio.org)
Sound Partners for Community Health (www.soundpartners.org)

CABLE
Appeals Court Upholds Constitutionality Of Rules Limiting Cable-TV
Ownership (WSJ)

PRIVACY
Fate Unclear for F.T.C.'s Privacy Push (NYT)

MEDIA & SOCIETY
TV Networks Adding Some Color for Fall (WP)
Paramount Swims Against Tide by Putting Schlessinger on TV (NYT)

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Report Proposes Update of Copyright Act (NYT)

TELECOM ACT
Examining The Telecommunications Act (NTIA)

JOBS
Web Path Opens Rich Possibilities 5-week Course Helps
Minorities Escape Poverty (WP)

MERGERS
Vodafone AirTouch May Sell Some Mannesmann Holdings (NYT)

SPECTRUM
Federal Radar Spectrum Requirements Report (NTIA)

CABLE

APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS CONSTITUTIONALITY OF RULES LIMITING CABLE-TV OWNERSHIP
Issue: Cable
A U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutionality of rules limiting
nationwide ownership of cable-television systems. The decision comes in
response to challenges by Time Warner Inc. to the 1992 Cable Act and the
rules subsequently set by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC's
rules prevent any one company from serving more than 30% of the nation's
cable subscribers. While the court hasn't yet ruled on whether the FCC's
rules are appropriate, the decision upholds the cable act's ability to limit
ownership to protect program diversity and competition. Andrew Schwartzman
of the Media Access Project, a Washington public-interest law firm that
joined the FCC in defending the law, believes that AT&T is already slightly
over the 30 percent limit, even before the approval of its merger with
MediaOne Group, which would catapult it reach to 42 percent . Judge Douglas
H. Ginsburg rejected arguments that ownership limits violated Time Warner's
free-speech rights. Congress "drew reasonable inferences, based on
substantial evidence, that increases in the concentration of cable operators
threatened diversity and competition in the cable industry," he wrote.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR: Mark Wigfield]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB958764649215483733.htm)
See Also:
US APPEALS COURT DECISION UPHOLDS STATUTE ON CABLE TV OWNERSHIP LIMITS
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/Statements/2000/stwek038.html)
(http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Tristani/Statements/2000/stgt027.html)
COURT RULING ON CABLE OWNERSHIP A "HUGE VICTORY" FOR CONSUMERS
[SOURCE: Consumers Union]
(http://www.consumersunion.org/telecom/courtdc500.htm)

PRIVACY

FATE UNCLEAR FOR F.T.C.'S PRIVACY PUSH
Issue: Privacy
On Friday, the Federal Trade Commission voted to change course and ask
Congress for new powers to control the ways Internet companies collect and
use information about consumers. But the nation's consumer protection agency
is expected to face skepticism from the Republican Congress: "A year ago,
when the performance of Web sites was rated less favorably than they are
currently being rated, the commission voted against legislation," said Rep.
Billy Tauzin (R-LA), chairman of the House Commerce Subcommittee that
oversees Internet privacy. "Today, with the finding that Web sites have
improved dramatically their privacy policies, they are now recommending
legislation," he said. "It seems to be a contradiction that needs to be
understood." Although the Internet privacy issue in Congress does not split
along party lines, Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who supports strong privacy
regulation, predicted on Friday that Republicans would block the consumer
protections. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), co-chairman of the House Internet
caucus, responded with the implication that the administration was behind
the FTC move. "This is an election year, and I think sometimes the direction
they get from up high is to stir this up a little bit."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing (jeri( at )nytimes.com)]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/biztech/articles/22priv.html)
See Also:
INTERNET PRIVACY HEARING SET FOR MAY 25
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation, today announced a hearing on Internet privacy. Members
will hear testimony on a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) survey of Internet
privacy policies to be released early next week. The Full Committee hearing
is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell
Senate Office Building. Senator McCain will preside. Following is the
tentative witness list (not necessarily in order of appearance):
Panel I
Honorable Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, FTC
Honorable Sheila F. Anthony, Commissioner, FTC
Honorable Mozelle W. Thompson, Commissioner, FTC
Honorable Orson Swindle, Commissioner, FTC
Honorable Thomas B. Leary, Commissioner, FTC
Panel II
Ms. Jill Lesser, Vice President of Domestic Public Policy, America Online
Ms. Christine Varney, Senior Partner, Hogan & Hartson, representing
Online Privacy Alliance
Mr. Jason Catlett, President, Junkbusters Corporation
Ms. Deirdre Mulligan, Staff Counsel, Center for Democracy and Technology
[SOURCE: US Senate]
(http://www.senate.gov/~commerce/press/106-167.htm)
See additional info at the Electronic Privacy Information Center
(http://www.epic.org/)

MEDIA & SOCIETY

TV NETWORKS ADDING SOME COLOR FOR FALL
Issue: Television/Diversity
Perhaps the biggest news surrounding the recent unveiling of the major
networks fall prime-time lineups is that three African American men and one
Hispanic man will star in new series. While TV screens will hardly be awash
in color come autumn, there will be four more characters of color than last
year, when the broadcasters unveiled 26 new shows for fall 1999 with not a
single black, Latino or Asian actor or actress in any lead role. The NAACP,
which spearheaded protests by a coalition of minority organizations last
summer, declined to comment on the new fall lineup. But a representative for
a Hispanic coalition was furious. "Is one Latino actor going to make an
entire 12 percent of the [U.S.] population happy? I think not," said Alex
Nogales, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition in Los Angeles.
"If this is all it is, we are sorely disappointed. We're not doing this
exercise of signing memoranda of understanding with the networks so that
when it comes to Latinos we have a repetition of last year's numbers."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A1) May 21, AUTHOR: ]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41646-2000May20.html)

PARAMOUNT SWIMS AGAINST TIDE BY PUTTING SCHLESSINGER ON TV
Issue: Media & Society
A number of successful TV shows have homosexual characters and Fox has a new
show featuring a gay character set for next fall. In this environment, some
are asking why Paramount is thinking about introducing a syndicated talk
show with Dr. Laura Schlessinger who has shared stern anti-homosexual
declarations with her radio audience. "Offending gay people is not
acceptable the way it may have been even five years ago," said Paul Poux,
principal at the Poux Company in New York, an agency specializing in
marketing to gay consumers. "Advertisers are becoming more aware of all
their customers," he added, "so maybe standards for talking about gay people
are being brought into line with those for other groups." Procter & Gamble,
the nation's 2nd-largest advertiser, announced that it will not advertise on
Schlessinger's show; many advertisers "would not go below the standards" of
a marketing giant like P.& G., said Gene DeWitt, chairman and chief
executive at Optimedia International U.S. Asked whether Paramount executives
would suspend production of the show at this point, Mr. DeWitt replied, "Not
if they can still make money." "Morality may have moved as far West as
Cincinnati," he added, referring to the headquarters of Procter & Gamble,
"but it hasn't made it to the Coast yet."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C17), AUTHOR: Stuart Elliot]
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/schlessinger-tv.html)

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

REPORT PROPOSES UPDATE OF COPYRIGHT ACT
Issue: Intellectual Property
The Progressive Policy Institute, which is affiliated with the Democratic
Leadership Council, is recommending that a law meant to protect intellectual
property on the Internet needs to be updated. A policy brief, "Napster and
Online Piracy: The Need to Revisit the Digital Millennium Copyright Act,"
will released on Monday in preparation for the House Small Business
Committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday to examine Internet music
technologies. The report proposes outlawing technologies like the
controversial Napster software, which enables Internet users to trade music
files with little regard to copyrights. The report recommends that the
digital copyright law be amended "to hold Napster, its users, and similar
services accountable for copyright violations while maintaining protections
from liability for service providers that are innocent bystanders to digital
piracy." The civil libertarian community, on the other hand, opposes any
such limits on access to works that belong in the public domain. "To say you
are going to take a whole new category of software and strangle it in its
infancy because one of its first uses resulted in piracy -- that's a bad
idea," said John Gilmore, president of the Electronic Frontier Foundation,
an online liberties group based in San Francisco.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C6), AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing (jeri( at )nytimes.com)]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/biztech/articles/22naps.html)

TELECOM ACT

EXAMINING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT
Issue: Competition
Remarks by Assistant Secretary Rohde at the Dialogue on Diversity:
The recent activity on Capitol Hill to gut the Telecommunications Act of
1996 by excluding data and other advanced services from competition seems to
be a change of mind for many legislators. The Administration does not
believe that we need to change course at this time. In fact, we believe that
the results are evident that competition is working and now is the time to
stay the course and continue to promote competition.
Many appear to be mistaken about a fundamental principle of the
Telecommunications Act that sequence matters. The Act is indeed about
de-regulation, ultimately. However, consumers will not benefit through
deregulation of monopoly service. That is why the Act is structured as it
is: the first step is to establish a pro-competitive environment. Only after
effective competition has been established can de-regulation follow. Those
who speak about the need to de-regulate and cite the Act as the defense fail
to appreciate that competition is a necessary requirement. Only a
pro-competitive environment is going to create opportunities for new
entrants - including women and minority businesses. There is no more dynamic
aspect of our economy than the area of telecommunications and information
services. Keep in mind that this industry has leaders such as Meg Whitman,
President of e-bay, and Candice Carpenter, founder of i-Village and others
have benefited from the pro-competitive model that we should not jeopardize.

[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/new.html)

JOBS

WEB PATH OPENS RICH POSSIBILITIES 5-WEEK COURSE HELPS MINORITIES ESCAPE
POVERTY
Issue: Jobs/Digital Divide
A five-week crash course on Web design, offered by San Francisco OpNet more
than helped Tracy Johnson, 25, move herself and her daughters from a San
Francisco homeless shelter to a an apartment east of the city. The course is
part of the offerings of Bay Area program which also offers low-income
candidates job counseling and placement. Of 130 people who have been through
the course, half have found full-time employment at area technology outfits
and many others have part-time work. "We want these people to be the face of
what is possible," says OpNet strategic planning director Kelly Brown, who
is exploring ways to take the program national. OpNet's formula has caught
the eye of no less than Vice President Gore, has said OpNet is "absolutely
critical to closing the digital divide." Said one alum: "Before OpNet, I
just assumed you had to go to college to get this kind of job. Now, I am
productive and I am loyal, and I know that if one company doesn't want me,
another one will."
[SOURCE: USA Today (6D), AUTHOR: Marco R. della Cava]
(http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20000522/2283823s.htm)

SPECTRUM

FEDERAL RADAR SPECTRUM REQUIREMENTS REPORT
Issue: Spectrum
From Press Release: The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA) released a report that identified
spectrum necessary to support radar spectrum requirements for various
Federal agencies. The report entitled, Federal Radar Spectrum Requirements,
discusses present and future U.S. radar spectrum requirements needed to
support continued and evolving radar requirements in the United States. The
report revisits the NTIA's March 1995 NTIA Requirements Study which
indicated the spectrum allocated for the radionavigation, radiolocation, and
meteorological radars was considered to be adequate to the year 2004.
Specifically, the report noted the long leadtimes (usually 15 years) for
radar development and the requirement for the user to amortize the radar
investment in the out years to accomplished the radar's intended mission
support.
[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/reports/ntia00-40/)

MERGERS

VODAFONE AIRTOUCH MAY SELL SOME MANNESMANN HOLDINGS (NYT)
Issue: Mergers
Vodafone AirTouch P.L.C., the world's largest wireless telephone operator,
is considering selling the fixed-line assets it acquired when it bought
Mannesmann. It is also considering selling Orange P.L.C., Britain's
third-largest cellular operator, to raise more than $60 billion, said
sources close to the company. Vodafone had initially planned to spin off
Orange, which it must get rid of in about a month to satisfy regulators as
part of its acquisition of Mannesman, and sell shares to the public, but it
recently reversed course, holding talks with several suitors about a
possible sale.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C10), AUTHOR: Andrew Ross Sorkin]
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/vodofone-mannesmann.html)

--------------------------------------------------------------

(c)Benton Foundation 2000. Redistribution of this email publication -- both
internally and externally -- is encouraged if it includes this message.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The Benton Foundation's Communications Policy Program (CPP)
(www.benton.org/cpphome.html) Communications-related Headline
Service is posted Monday through Friday. The Headlines are highlights
of news articles summarized by staff at the Benton Foundation. They
describe articles of interest to the work of the Foundation -- primarily
those covering long term trends and developments in communications,
technology, journalism, public service media, regulation and philanthropy.
While the summaries are factually accurate, their often informal tone does
not represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by
Kevin Taglang (kevint( at )benton.org), Rachel Anderson (rachel( at )benton.org), and
Nancy Gillis (nancy( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.

The Benton Foundation works to realize the social benefits made possible by
the public interest use of communications. Bridging the worlds of
philanthropy, public policy, and community action, Benton seeks to shape the
emerging communications environment and to demonstrate the value of
communications for solving social problems.

Other projects at Benton include:
Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org)
Debate America (www.debateamerica.org)
Oneworld US (www.oneworldus.org)
Open Studio: The Arts Online (www.openstudio.org)
Sound Partners for Community Health (www.soundpartners.org)

INTERNET
Site Sparks Campaign Dispute (NYT)
Life in the Slow Lane (NYT)
E-Power to the People (WP)

ANTITRUST
Justice Department Recommends Blocking Worldcom-Sprint Deal On
Antitrust Issues (WSJ)
Response by U.S. Faults Microsoft Alternative to Breakup Plan (WSJ)

CABLE
Walt Disney Campaigns Against AOL-Time Warner (WSJ)

CENSORSHIP
Belgrade Shuts TV Station and Paper(WP)

WIRELESS
At&T Wireless Offers Free Net Access (NYT)

INTERNET

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE
Issue: Internet/Rural
High-speed broadband Internet access such as cable modem service and DSL is
becoming more common in America's densely populated urban areas, but in
rural communities the deployment of such high speed services has been slow
and limited. Internet service providers of rural America rely, primarily,
upon local telephone carriers to transmit data, with a resulting
connectivity speed limit of 33.3 bps. A report released last month by the
Department of Commerce finds that less than one percent of residents in
towns with fewer than 10,000 people have access to DSL, while this number
increases to 86 percent for cities with populations above 100,000.
Approximately one percent of residents in towns with less than 10,000 people
have access to cable modem service, while 72 percent of residents in cities
with populations above 250,000 have such access. However, the slow speed of
connectivity is not the only problem rural America is facing. Because of
crowded phone, customers attempting dial-up access are often greeted with a
busy signal. Additionally, in many rural communities, customers of national
ISP's such as AOL and EarthLink have to pay toll charges due to the lack of
local access points. And news and information specific to these communities
is sparse or non-existent.
[SOURCE: New York Times (E1) AUTHOR: Peter Lewis]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/circuits/articles/18rura.htm)

SITE SPARKS CAMPAIGN DISPUTE
Issue: Political Discourse
An Internet start-up company's request to federal regulators to clarify
rules regarding political campaign information on commercial Web sites like
its own, has pitted the company against both major political parties.
Officials for both parties said Wednesday that they plan to file a joint
statement with federal regulators opposing changes in current
interpretations of election law. Voter.com, a company founded last year,
asked the Federal Election Commission for an opinion on whether commercial
sites that allow campaigns to post information for free, or that link to
campaign sites, are making illegal campaign contributions. Richard W. Hess,
spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, explained his party's
concern: "If there were to be a recommendation that a political party would
have to count links as contributions, that would interfere with the party's
attempt to spread information." Tracy Westen, chairman of Grassroots.com --
Voter.com's major competitors -- which does not charge campaigns to post
information, said that if Voter.com gets its way with the commission, the
ruling could diminish the potential power of the Internet to reduce the
influence of money in campaigns. "To try and require that this be for pay is
completely in the wrong direction," Westen said. "Free speech also means
speech you don't have to pay for."
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Rebecca Fairley Raney]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/cyber/articles/18campaign.html)

E-POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Issue: Internet
Two months ago, Justin Frankel created software that allows users to bypass
Internet service providers and communicate directly among themselves,
essentially making each computer both server and host to other computers
using the software. Within 24 hours, Frankel's employer, AOL, had removed
the tool, GNUTELLA, from its development house labeling it an "unauthorized
freelance project." For some, Gnutella is a step closer to gatekeeper-free
exchange of information on the Internet, a way of allowing Net users to
communicate peer-to-peer without intermediary ISPs or content service
providers. The software will also allow its users to search the Internet by
passing a request to a computer that asks 10 computers, which will then ask
ten each, and so on. Within ten seconds a Gnutella user can search millions
of computers without having relied on an ISP or a search engine
intermediary. This, of course, subverts the work devoted to constructing
corporate search engines or content repositories like AOL service. Some see
this software as a step in shifting the power of Web publishing from an
elite set of corporations to anyone who has a computer. Before Gnutella was
removed from the Web, there were nearly 10,000 downloads of the software.
Currently it is being refined by about 50 developers hoping to encourage its
open platform potential.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A1), AUTHOR: Ariana Eunjung Cha]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21559-2000May17.html?GXHC_gx
_session_id_FutureTenseContentServer=91bc85e324cc4f65)

ANTITRUST

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS BLOCKING WORLDCOM-SPRINT DEAL ON ANTITRUST
ISSUES
Issue: Mergers/Antitrust
Federal antitrust enforcers have recommended that the Justice Department
block WorldCom Inc.'s $115 billion buyout of Sprint on the grounds that it
would violate antitrust law, lawyers and industry executives said.
Concluding a six month investigation, Justice Department staff forwarded a
formal recommendation to the department's antitrust chief, Joel Klein, who
has not yet taken a position on the transaction, say sources. The
recommendation is based on the fact that the deal would combine the second
largest and third largest long distance carriers and would result in a
company that could dominate Internet switching services. The two companies
argue that changes in the communications industry are bringing about plenty
of new competition. "We believe that the market and the technology today are
changing so fast that no one company can monopolize the Internet," said one
Sprint official said. WorldCom's plans to buy Sprint, which were announced
on Oct. 5, would create a telecommunications giant with revenue of more than
$50 billion, making it one of the world's largest companies.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A3), AUTHOR: John R. Wilke and Rebecca
Blumenstein]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/article1.htm)

RESPONSE BY U.S. FAULTS MICROSOFT ALTERNATIVE TO BREAKUP PLAN
Issue: Antitrust
The government filed documents with a federal judge on Wednesday that
criticized Microsoft's alternative proposal to the governments plan to break
up the company. Microsoft filed a brief last week, in which the company
proposed several narrow restrictions on its conduct that it said would be
more appropriate penalties than breaking up the company. In the brief,
Microsoft denounced the idea of a breakup and said that "cross-pollination
between engineers working on different products such as Windows and Office
has led to numerous innovations." The government's brief said that
Microsoft's proposal would be no more than "a cosmetic remedy that would
have virtually no competitive significance," and "...does not address some
of the most important violations found by the court," including a
declaration that the company had illegally linked its Web browser to the
Windows operating system. Under the government's plan, Microsoft would be
split in two, with one company holding the Windows operating system and the
other with everything else, including the Office package of applications
programs that includes Word and the spreadsheet program Excel.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: Joel Brinkley]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/biztech/articles/18soft.html)

CABLE

WALT DISNEY CAMPAIGNS AGAINST AOL-TIME WARNER
Issue: Cable/Mergers
Walt Disney is going local with its vocal critique of America Online's
planned buyout of Time Warner. Disney executives have visited several cities
in California and other parts of the country that are scheduled to make
decisions on Time Warner's applications to transfer its cable franchises to
AOL-Time Warner. Disney has taken these speaking to local governments to
warn against the impending merger -- and it found a receptive audience among
many local officials. Mary Morales, executive director of Public Cable
Television Authority, which represents several cities in Orange County,
Calif., says Disney executives painted AOL-Time Warner as a "Big
Brother-type" of company. "They said, 'If they can do this to Disney, what
will they do to other [Internet service providers]?'" she says. Disney's
campaign highlights the damage caused by the spat with Time Warner earlier
this month that left 3.5 million cable subscribers without ABC network
shows. "You see the power of the cable companies; people finally get it,"
says Mark Cooper, director of research for Consumer Federation of America.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B14), AUTHOR: Kathy Chen]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB958600752493763518.htm)

CENSORSHIP

BELGRADE SHUTS TV STATION AND PAPER
Issue: Censorship
Yugoslav police shut down the last major independent television station and
newspaper yesterday for its criticism of President Slobodan Milosevic. The
closure of Studio B and the daily newspaper BLIC came on the heels of a call
by Vuk Draskovic to those in the judiciary, police and military to "become
disobedient" to a government filled with murders and terrorists. Draskovic
is a member of the controlling political party of Belgrade city that owns
Studio B.
[Source: Washington Post (A18), R. Jeffrey Smith]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22013-2000May17.html)

WIRELESS

AT&T WIRELESS OFFERS FREE NET ACCESS
Issue: Wireless
AT&T Wireless has announced a plan that will customers who use its digital
wireless service and buy one of two new phones will get access to 40 Web
sites at no extra charge. For $6.99 a month, customers can buy wireless
e-mail and fax service on either Ericsson A.B. or Mitsubishi phones designed
for the AT&T Wireless service. Mohan Gyani, president and chief executive of
AT&T Wireless Services said he sees an opportunity to increase revenue even
from the free service because AT&T will get a share of any Web transaction
its customers complete with their phones. A recent study by the Strategis
Group found that most cellular customers are willing to pay an extra $13 a
month to get Web access on their phones.
[SOURCE: New York Times(Online), AUTHOR: Bloomberg News]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/biztech/articles/18wireless.html)

--------------------------------------------------------------

(c)Benton Foundation 2000. Redistribution of this email publication -- both
internally and externally -- is encouraged if it includes this message.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The Benton Foundation's Communications Policy Program (CPP)
(www.benton.org/cpphome.html) Communications-related Headline
Service is posted Monday through Friday. The Headlines are highlights
of news articles summarized by staff at the Benton Foundation. They
describe articles of interest to the work of the Foundation -- primarily
those covering long term trends and developments in communications,
technology, journalism, public service media, regulation and philanthropy.
While the summaries are factually accurate, their often informal tone does
not represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by
Kevin Taglang (kevint( at )benton.org), Rachel Anderson (rachel( at )benton.org), and
Nancy Gillis (nancy( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.

The Benton Foundation works to realize the social benefits made possible by
the public interest use of communications. Bridging the worlds of
philanthropy, public policy, and community action, Benton seeks to shape the
emerging communications environment and to demonstrate the value of
communications for solving social problems.

Other projects at Benton include:
Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org)
Debate America (www.debateamerica.org)
Oneworld US (www.oneworldus.org)
Open Studio: The Arts Online (www.openstudio.org)
Sound Partners for Community Health (www.soundpartners.org)

INTERNET
For A Net 'Gift,' Teens Will Share Wealth Of Family Info (USA)
Behind the Scenes on Health Web Sites (WP)

POLITICAL DISCOURSE
Two Internet Sites Ask for U.S. Ruling Concerning Web-Based
Political Activity (WSJ)
GOP Pressures Tech Firms to Help Michigan Senator (WP)

JOURNALISM
Washington Times Owner Buys UPI (WP)
Blacked Out in Sri Lanka (WP)
Newspaper Editors See Standards Slip Online (USA)

TELEPHONY
Phone Service Complaints Hit Record (USA)
FCC Proposes Streamlining Technical Rules for Customer Telephone
Equipment (FCC)

INTERNET

FOR A NET 'GIFT,' TEENS WILL SHARE FAMILY INFO
Issues: Privacy/Internet
According to a new study released by the Annenberg Public Policy Center,
children are apt to reveal private family information over the Web in
exchange for a free gift. In their survey of 1,001 parents and 304 kids,
Annenberg found that children ages 13 to 17 were most likely to reveal
information, while younger children were less likely. For example, 59% of
older children said it was okay to describe their parents' shopping habits,
compared with 43% of younger children. "Younger kids are intimidated and
scared, and they take that to the Web. But older kids have a better sense of
self, and they think they know what they're doing," explained Professor
Joseph Turow, author of the report. The study also reported that more than
60% of parents and children said they've discussed Internet privacy, though
46% of parents weren't aware that Web sites collect information without the
user's knowledge. (Electronic copy of the Annenberg Study:
http://www.appcpenn.org/finalrepor_fam.pdf)
[SOURCE: USA Today (7D), AUTHOR: Karen Thomas]
(http://www.usatoday.com/life/lds010.htm)

BEHIND THE SCENES ON HEALTH WEB SITES
Issue: Health/Internet
More than 70 million Americans will go online this year in search health
information, but there is no telling the reliability of what they might
find. It is often very difficult to tell who is providing information, and
what the provider's ulterior motives might be. This is true for even the
most popular health-information sites. Take InteliHealth.com, a well
respected health site owned by Aetna U.S. Healthcare, for example. Nowhere
on the site is there any reference to the fact that it is owned by Aetna.
Health insurers may soon, in fact, become some of the most important
publishers of health information on the Web. As they learn to use the
Internet as a communication device with their patients they can save money
by giving customers information to manage their chronic conditions, even
interaction with care providers online. It remains to be seen however, how
reliable they are as information providers.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (HE14), AUTHOR: Craig Stoltz]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7407-2000May15.html)

POLITICAL DISCOURSE

TWO INTERNET SITES ASK FOR U.S. RULING CONCERNING WEB-BASED POLITICAL
ACTIVITY
Issue: Political Discourse
Two Web sites, Voter.com and Grassroots.com, are posing challenges to the
federal prohibition on corporate contributions to presidential and
congressional candidates by offering hyperlinks to candidate sites and
hosting campaign. Voter.com, a for-profit company that provides political
campaigns with tools and services to attract voters, wants the Federal
Election Commission (FEC) to declare them eligible to offer select services
for free. Grassroots.com, which generates much of its revenue from
advertising on it's recently acquired Dnet site, a comprehensive database of
federal, state and municipal politicians, also hosts candidate campaign
information. Both dot coms argue that their practices are nothing more than
free campaign advertising. And while the FEC has previously avoided to
regulate Internet political activity, the rise of e-commerce and the
financial power of Web-based companies may force the FEC to apply federal
campaign laws to the Internet.
[Source: Wall Street Journal Interactive, Author: Jim Vandehei and Glenn R.
Simpson ]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB958426382424550066.htm)

GOP PRESSURES TECH FIRMS TO HELP MICHIGAN SENATOR
Issue: Political Discourse
Reporting on an "exchange of e-mails obtained by the Washington Post," the
Post writes that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss) and Spencer
Abraham (R-Mich) encouraged Intel and other high-tech companies to
contribute money for radio and television spots to bolster Abraham's
campaign - at least in part because legislation favorable to the companies
would be stalled if they failed to do so. "I have heard that regardless of
our 'limitations', we need to do something for Abraham if we want to see
something moved in the Senate," wrote a lobbyist for Intel. "It must be
visible and soon." Responding to the email a lobbyist for Motorola said the
company could contribute $3000 (for a total of $7000). Both Lott and Abraham
acknowledge seeking help from the companies but say that Senate action on
tech worker visa legislation was not at issue.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A07), AUTHOR: Mike Allen]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/A8606-2000May15.html)

JOURNALISM

WASHINGTON TIMES OWNER BUYS UPI
Issue: Journalism/Mergers
News World Communications, Inc. bought the nearly bankrupt United Press
International (UPI) wire service yesterday. This new change of ownership
will be the seventh since 1992. UPI's new owner is controlled by the Rev.
Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church and voice behind the
Washington Time's editorials. UPI was founded in 1907 as the United Press.
It took on its present name and incarnation in 1957 when it merged with
William Randolph Hearst's International News Service. At its height, UPI
competed with the nonprofit Associated Press (AP) service, enjoying 1500
reporters and 200 bureaus around the world. However, the service has had
financial trouble nearly since inception. "Clearly, UPI has been in a
downward spiral for 30 years, but the Unification Church doesn't do these
things to make money," said John Morton, president of Morton Research Inc, a
VA-based media consulting firm.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E01), AUTHOR: Yuki Noguchi]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7676-2000May15.html)

BLACKED OUT IN SRI LANKA
Issue: Censorship
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka has ordered
extensive censorship of the Sri Lanka press. The censorship declaration is
the second in a half-century of parliamentary democracy in Sri Lanka. The
president's measures require news agencies to submit their reports to an
official censor who can strike parts of a report or the whole report.
Descriptions of the Sri Lankan troops "beleaguered" have been censored, for
example. The restrictions also prevent travel for journalists to war zones,
ban political rallies, and restricts all but government news releases on the
army's battle with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the Jaffna
peninsula. Journalists who defy the ban risk arrest or deportation. Many
agencies are sending reports to offices in other countries to be filed.
Kumaratunga has called the measures "purely temporary."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A14), AUTHOR: Pamela Constable]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6710-2000May15.html)

NEWSPAPER EDITORS SEE STANDARDS SLIP ONLINE
Issue: Internet/Journalism
A recent study by Janna Anderson, a journalism instructor at Elon College,
and University of Memphis professor David Arant, concludes that understaffed
and rushed online newspapers fail to uphold the same ethical standards as
their offline counterparts. Of the 203 editors surveyed, 47% "agreed that
the ability to publish information immediately online has led to an erosion
of the standards of verification." And 30% said online outlets aren't as
likely to follow general ethical standards of journalism as are traditional
papers.
[SOURCE: USAToday (3D), AUTHOR: Janet Kornblum]
(http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20000516/2265150s.htm)

TELEPHONY

PHONE SERVICE COMPLAINTS HIT RECORD COMPETITION EBBING, SOME CRITICS SAY
Issue: Telephony
As the two major long-distance carriers, AT&T and MCI/WorldCom, continue to
gobble up even larger shares of the U.S. market, consumers are lodging more
complaints than ever. If WorldCom acquires No.3 carrier Sprint, as
speculated, then AT&T and WorldCom will control a combined 80% of the
consumer long-distance. Consumer advocates and some analysts fear that the
deal might only worsen the situation for consumers' by eroding competitive
pressure to reduce rates and improve service. "Competition in the
long-distance market is already less than vibrant for the average consumer,"
says Gene Kimmelman of Consumer's Union. One of consumer's main complaints
is slamming, which is when a customer's long-distance carrier is changed
without their knowledge, the Federal Communications Commission says. Other
complaints, such as cramming, long waits to reach customer service,
difficulties resolving disputes, and high minimum charges for people who
rarely make long-distance calls are also on the rise. In Texas, for example,
complaints against AT&T rose 35% in the first half of 1999, while complaints
against MCI and WorldCom nearly tripled.
[SOURCE: USAToday (3B), AUTHOR: Shawn Young]
(http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20000516/2264111s.htm)

FCC PROPOSES STREAMLINING TECHNICAL RULES FOR CUSTOMER TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT
Issue: Telephony
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) to privatize the process for developing technical
standards for and approval of customer telephone equipment also known as
customer premises equipment (CPE), which includes devises such as
telephones, faxes and modems. The proposed rules highlight the commission's
biennial regulatory review to eliminate unnecessary regulations as
competition increases in telecom markets.
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/2000/nrcc0027.html)

--------------------------------------------------------------

(c)Benton Foundation 2000. Redistribution of this email publication -- both
internally and externally -- is encouraged if it includes this message.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The Benton Foundation's Communications Policy and Practice (CPP)
(www.benton.org/cpphome.html) Communications-related Headline
Service is posted Monday through Friday. The Headlines are highlights
of news articles summarized by staff at the Benton Foundation. They
describe articles of interest to the work of the Foundation -- primarily
those covering long term trends and developments in communications,
technology, journalism, public service media, regulation and philanthropy.
While the summaries are factually accurate, their often informal tone does
not represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by
Kevin Taglang (kevint( at )benton.org), Rachel Anderson (rachel( at )benton.org), and
Nancy Gillis (nancy( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.

The Benton Foundation works to realize the social benefits made possible
by the public interest use of communications. Bridging the worlds of
philanthropy, public policy, and community action, Benton seeks to shape
the emerging communications environment and to demonstrate the value of
communications for solving social problems. Through demonstration
projects, media production and publishing, research, conferences, and
grantmaking, Benton probes relationships between the public, corporate,
and nonprofit sectors to address the critical questions for democracy in
the information age. Other projects at Benton include:
Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org)
Open Studio: The Arts Online (www.openstudio.org/)
Destination Democracy (www.destinationdemocracy.org/)
Sound Partners for Community Health (www.soundpartners.org/)