September 2003

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Senate Votes This Week on Reversing Media Ownership Rules

E-GOVERNMENT
Study: Readability is a Problem for State, Federal Govt Websites
Handful of Consumer-Savvy Federal Websites Score Big in New Survey

TELECOM POLICY
FCC: Stern Show Is 'News Interview' Show

DIGITAL DIVIDE
Patent Could Force Web Change

INTERNET
Bringing Broadband Over the Mountain

WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
Info Tech Must be Used to Improve Life in Poor Countries - Annan
Strong Commitment from Heads of State and Government for WSIS

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

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

SENATE VOTES THIS WEEK ON REVERSING MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES
This week, the Senate is expected to vote on the FCC's controversial media
ownership rules. The vote, if passed, would effectively block the FCC from
enacting the new rules. Senate critics on both side of the aisle are
concerned the rules would lead to a wave of media mergers that could stifle
diversity and locally-produced content. The White House is threatening a
veto.
SOURCE: WISH-TV; AUTHOR: Associated Press
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1442366

E-GOVERNMENT

STUDY: READABILITY IS A PROBLEM FOR STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
The Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University released the
results of their fourth annual survey reviewing the readability of US
e-government websites. The study examined over 1,600 state and local
government websites, as well as 60 federal sites. The results suggest that
the average government website is written at the 11th grade level, despite
the fact that half of all Americans read at the eight grade level or lower.
Two-thirds of websites reviewed were written at the 12th grade level, while
only 12 percent were at the eighth grade level or lower. Websites with
information presumably geared to less-education populations required some of
the highest reading levels: 83 percent of corrections department websites,
79 percent of economic development sites and 67 percent of health/human
services sites were written at the 12th grade level. Additionally, only 33
percent of state and federal sites satisfied the W3C standard of website
accessibility, while 24 percent met the "Section 508" federal accessibility
guidelines. The Benton Foundation, in conjunction with the New York State
Forum, is funding a policy briefing report from the Taubman Center to
discuss policy recommendations of the research. The report is scheduled to
be released in October.
SOURCE: Taubman Center for Public Policy; AUTHOR: Darrell West
http://www.insidepolitics.org/PressRelease03us.html
Read the survey results:
http://www.insidepolitics.org/egovt03us.html
http://www.insidepolitics.org/egovt03us.pdf

HANDFUL OF CONSUMER-SAVVY FEDERAL WEBSITES SCORE BIG IN NEW SURVEY
Meanwhile, a customer survey report scheduled for release today through
ForeSee Results and the University of Michigan suggests that the development
of user-friendly electronic government is actually on the rise. A handful of
federal websites earned scores on a customer satisfaction index that put
them on par with popular private-sector sites. Twenty-two federal agencies
participated in the survey, which will aid these agencies in their analysis
of user feedback to improve their websites. The top-scoring federal site,
www.4women.gov, is run by the National Women's Health Information Center at
the Health and Human Services Department. This site in particular did a good
job of taking the "government approach" out of its design by creating an
experience which resembles a commercial website, commented Larry Freed,
president of ForeSee Results. Other highly ranked federal sites were
www.nasa.gov, the main site for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, www.ers.usda.gov, run by the Agriculture Department's
Economic Research Service and www.firstgov.gov, the government-wide portal
operated by the General Services Administration.
SOURCE: Washington Post; AUTHOR: Stephen Barr
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11006-2003Sep14.html

TELECOM POLICY

FCC: STERN SHOW IS 'NEWS INTERVIEW' SHOW
Last week the FCC ruled that Howard Stern's radio program is a "bona fide
news interview" program. The ruling makes the widely syndicated Stern show
exempt from equal time requirements for political candidates. Now Stern will
be able to put Arnold Schwarzenegger on the air without having to offer time
to other candidates running for governor in California. The FCC cited other
programs that have qualified for the news interview exemption, including
"Donahue," "Jerry Springer" and "Politically Incorrect." Infinity
Broadcasting Operations Inc., which agreed to pay $1.7 million to settle a
series of indecency charges brought against the show by the FCC in 1995, is
"pleased" with the commission's ruling. Not pleased with the decision is
Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, a
Washington-based media watchdog group. "Howard Stern isn't 'bona fide'
anything," Schwartzman said. He said the decision "mocks that system by
equating Howard Stern with Tim Russert," host of NBC's "Meet the Press."
SOURCE: ABC News; AUTHOR: Associated Press
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20030909_2779.html

DIGITAL DIVIDE

BRINGING BROADBAND OVER THE MOUNTAIN
Roadstar Internet Inc. is using wireless technology to bring broadband
service to more than 150 customers in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, where cable modems and DSL do not reach. Roadstar uses an
unlicensed portion of the spectrum that is beamed in from Equinox Inc.,
something of a "flea market" for bandwidth. The signal travels 18 miles from
the Equinox facility to a 1,200-foot crest in the mountains, where
Roadster's receiver is perched on a barn. From the barn, the signal is
retransmitted to a dozen repeater stations, which pass the signal on to
homes and offices. Martin Dougherty, Roadster's chief executive, said the
company would need more unlicensed spectrum to grow the business.
"Eventually I'm going to run out of spectrum and I'm going to have to tell
customers, 'I can't help you,'" said Dougherty. Last week the FCC voted to
propose several regulatory amendments intended to help entrepreneurs like
Dougherty bring wireless broadband to rural America. Although wireless is
one of the few options available to many rural residents today, other
technologies such as satellite and cable, are entering the market.
SOURCE: Washington Post; AUTHOR: Griff Witte
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9955-2003Sep14.html
For a similar story in Appalachia, see
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2003-09-12-digital-divide_x...

INTERNET

PATENT COULD FORCE WEB CHANGE
Web developers are anxiously awaiting a Microsoft announcement of changes to
the Internet Explorer browser in response to a court ruling against the
company. A Chicago district court ruled in favor of Eolas, a small company
holding the patent for the technology that allows Web hyperlinks to activate
external software applications. This would include, for example, clicking on
a link to load a Flash movie or a video player. Last month, the court
awarded $521 million in damages to Eolas and ordered Microsoft to remove all
infringing technology from its browser and other programs. This presents a
puzzling problem for not only Microsoft but for other browser companies such
as Netscape and Opera. "We are evaluating our options and may take
precautionary steps in terms of any changes we may need to make to Internet
Explorer," admits Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler. Microsoft plans to appeal
the decision, but it could be 18 months before the Federal Circuit Court of
Appeals makes its final decision.
SOURCE: BBC; AUTHOR: Bill Thompson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3109180.stm

WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

INFO TECH MUST BE USED TO IMPROVE LIFE IN POOR COUNTRIES - ANNAN
At the fifth meeting of the United Nations Information and Communications
Technologies (ICT) Task Force in Geneva, UN Secretary-General Annan said
that ICT should be used to improve the quality of life in developing
countries. "New technologies and applications continue to emerge. Current
technologies are maturing, and old ones are finding new uses," Annan said in
his videotaped statement. "We must ensure that the poor are not left further
behind by all these dramatic changes, but can join in, and benefit from
them." Annan went on to urge the task force to take advantage of this
December's World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Approximately
1,500 leaders from government, civil society and the private sector are
meeting in Geneva this week and next to finalize the agenda and goals of the
summit (see story below).
SOURCE: United Nations
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=8227
Transcript of Annan speech:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/sgsm8867.doc.htm

STRONG COMMITMENT FROM HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT FOR WSIS
At the start of meetings in Geneva to finalize the agenda for WSIS, the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) announced that over 40 heads of
state from around the world have committed to taking part in the summit.
"The interest expressed by leaders from both the developed and developing
world is evidence of how information and communication technologies are
transforming the global economy and society," said Mr Yoshio Utsumi,
Secretary-General of the ITU. "there is widespread recognition among leaders
that collective action is required to address the digital divide and its
implications for broader social and economic development." Among the goals
being considered for the summit's action plan: all villages to be connected
to the Internet by 2010; all universities to be connected by 2005, secondary
schools by 2010 and primary schools by 2015; and all hospitals to be
connected by 2005, and health centers by 2010.
SOURCE: International Telecommunications Union
http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/press_releases/itu/2003/prepcom3opens.html

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

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Lott, Dorgan Call for Rollback of FCC Ownership Rules

TECHNOLOGY
Scientists Say Virtual Reality Can Help 9/11 Survivors

DIGITAL TELEVISION
FCC Seeks to Promote Digital TV, HDTV Rollout

PRIVACY
Global Privacy Report Most Comprehensive Ever

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

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

LOTT, DORGAN CALL FOR ROLLBACK OF FCC OWNERSHIP RULES
At a press conference today, Senators Trent Lott (R-MS) and Byron Dorgan
(D-ND) announced new bipartisan opposition to the FCC's media ownership
rules. The rules are facing a "resolution of disapproval" vote from the
Senate, expected on Monday, which if passed would effectively overturn the
new FCC rules. A coalition of organizations from across the political
spectrum joined the senators' opposition to the FCC rules. "A vote to give
these corporations more power is a vote to censor independent community
voices across this nation," said Brent Bozell, president of the conservative
Parents Television Council. MoveOn.org announced they had collected 340,000
signatures in a petition drive against the FCC rules -- 200,000 of which
occurred in only two days. "That's the fastest response rate we have ever
had," said Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org campaigns director. "Americans are
demanding that Congress protect their interests, not the special interests."
SOURCE: MoveOn.org
http://www.moveon.org/stopthefcc/press/PRESS%20RELEASE.htm

TECHNOLOGY

SCIENTISTS SAY VIRTUAL REALITY CAN HELP 9/11 SURVIVORS
Scientists at the University of Washington's Human Interface Technology
(HIT) laboratory are helping survivors of the September 11 terrorist attacks
to relive their experiences therapeutically using virtual reality. "These
people are suffering because they are avoiding their own memories of the
event," said Hunter Hoffman, a researcher at HIT. Using a
computer-generated, three-dimensional and animated recreation of the
destruction of the World Trade Center towers, Hoffman and psychiatrist Dr.
Joann Difede are trying to help people confront and overcome their
debilitating anxiety associated with the tragedy. Patients are first shown a
scene of the twin towers with airplanes flying by, rather than into, the
skyscrapers. Over time, the scientists add in crashes, explosions, screams,
falling bodies and even physical tremors (by shaking the chair) to mimic the
patient's experience of the 9/11 attacks. Though the treatment method may
sound disturbing to some, it has been beneficial to at least one victim who
had failed to respond to traditional therapy. After six weeks of virtual
reality therapy, her symptoms of depression, emotional outbursts and
insomnia were reduced and the woman was able for the first time to talk --
and cry -- about what she had experienced.
SOURCE: Seattle Post-Intelligencer; AUTHOR: Tom Paulson
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/139098_virtual11.html

DIGITAL TELEVISION

FCC SEEKS TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TV, HDTV ROLLOUT
The FCC has approved new technical and labeling standards that aim to make
new television sets, such as digital and high-definition televisions (HDTV),
more compatible with cable television. Digital cable signals would be able
to flow seamlessly into TV sets using a "plug-and-play" technology that
would require consumers to insert a security card provided by their cable
service into the set. FCC Chairman Michael Powell said that because of the
ruling, "[C]onsumers who want digital television sets will have an easier
time connecting them to their cable service and having them work with
high-definition and other digital programming." Digital signals allow for
sharper pictures and other potential features, such as Internet access,
video games and multiple programs on one channel. Congress has set a goal of
December 2006 for the United States to switch from analog to digital
signals, at which time digital tuners, either inside a TV or a set-top box,
will be needed to receive broadcasts. "The FCC action could be an important
tipping point in the US transition to digital television," the Consumer
Electronics Association said in a statement.
SOURCE: Washington Post; AUTHOR: David Ho, AP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54846-2003Sep10.html

PRIVACY

GLOBAL PRIVACY REPORT MOST COMPREHENSIVE EVER
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and Privacy International
have released the survey "Privacy and Human Rights 2003: An International
Survey of Privacy Laws and Developments." The sixth-annual report reviews
conditions in 55 countries, examining topics such as Total Information
Awareness, public response to the USA-Patriot Act, traveler profiling, and
surveillance technologies. Under the banner of anti-terrorism, several
governments are using new systems and methods of surveillance, from
biometrics and computerized national ID cards to DNA databases and
face-recognition. But public opposition is growing, according to EPIC
Executive Director Marc Rotenberg. "The public in the United States and
around the world is now voicing its opposition to the dramatic expansion of
government surveillance that occurred after September 11," he says. "The
resignation of John Poindexter, the suspension of the Total Information
Awareness program, and campaigns against identity cards in Europe and East
Asia make clear that citizens are not prepared to make privacy one of the
casualties in the war on terrorism."
SOURCE: Out-Law.com
http://www.out-law.com/php/page.php?page_id=globalprivacyrepor1063034355
Read the report:
http://www.privacyinternational.org/survey/phr2003/

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

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
FCC to Approve Univision's Acquisition of HBC
FCC Chief Warns of Future Shock

E-GOVERNMENT
Energy Dept's Karen Evans Named New US E-Government Czar

INTERNET
Judge Rules in Favor of Pop-Up Ads

PHILANTHROPY
Commentary: Philanthropy Where It Counts

DIGITAL DIVIDE
National Digital Technology Plan Takes Shape in Cambodia

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

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

FCC TO APPROVE UNIVISION'S ACQUISITION OF HBC
In a vote split along party lines, the FCC approved Univision
Communications, the nation's largest Spanish-language media conglomerate, to
expand its reach by purchasing Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. for $3.5 billion.
Univision would acquire HBC's 63 radio stations and would be required to
sell two radio stations as a condition of FCC approval. With the merger,
Univision would have the top Spanish-language broadcast TV network, cable
channel, record label, Internet site and radio network, as well as the
largest group of television and radio stations. Rival networks have
complained that the merger would cause too much concentration in Hispanic
media and limit the choices for Spanish-speaking Americans. Univision
responds that there is not a separate market for Spanish-language media and
that local radio stations would retain control over their programming.
SOURCE: The New York Times; AUTHOR: AP
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Hispanic-Media.html

FCC CHIEF WARNS OF FUTURE SHOCK
"I think free, over-the-air TV is dying," says FCC Chairman Michael Powell.
"I don't care how much money they made this year, they're dying." Part of
the reason, he says, is that cable networks have both subscriber and
advertising revenue, unlike network television. Powell also cites cable's
freedom from the federal indecency rules that broadcast stations must
follow. "In 10 years, free TV is going to be gone -- absent any policy
decisions trying to help," he claims. Opponents remain unconvinced. "Here we
have the chairman of the FCC trying to somehow protect four of the six
largest and most profitable media companies that dominate the news,
information and entertainment market in America today," said Gene Kimmelman,
of the Consumers Union. "His entire philosophy reeks of corporate welfare
for the wealthiest, most profitable companies at the expense of
competition." Powell also fears that the nation's public telephone network
will start to fail because rather than building facilities, companies such
as MCI and AT&T are piggybacking on the equipment of regional phone
companies "like sucker fish on whales." However, he was unsuccessful in his
bid to revise FCC policy regarding the telephone industry.
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune; AUTHOR: Frank James
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0309070507sep07,1,721...
.story
(Registration required)

E-GOVERNMENT

ENERGY DEPT'S KAREN EVANS NAMED NEW US E-GOVERNMENT CZAR
US Department of Energy Chief Information Officer Karen Evans has been
tapped to take over the leading US e-government post, reports Government
Computer News. Evans will assume her new role as the Office of Management
and Budget's associate administrator for IT and e-government next month.
Evans replaces Mark Forman, who resigned last month to return to the private
sector. "We need to complete and implement the e-government projects and
realize the benefits of the rigor and discipline we are trying to build into
the [budget and planning] processes," said OMB Deputy director Clay Johnson.
Adds David McClure, Vice President for E-Government at the Council for
Excellence in Government: "She has been in the trenches and knows how to get
it done." Evans also serves as vice-chairwoman of the Federal CIO Council,
the primary forum for federal government CIOs to develop inter-agency IT
policies.
SOURCE: Government Computer News; AUTHORS: Thomas R. Temin and Jason Miller
http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/23438-1.html

INTERNET

JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF POP-UP ADS
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit by truck rental company U-Haul
regarding the use of pop-up advertising on the Internet. US District Judge
Gerald Bruce Lee dismissed U-Haul's suit against Internet advertising
company WhenU, whose software pops up advertisements of U-Haul's competitors
when Internet users visit the U-Haul website. Judge Lee's decision said that
WhenU's software did not violate U-Haul's copyrights or trademarks, nor did
it force unsuspecting users to see the ads, since WhenU's users must
voluntarily download the software to see the pop-ups. "While at first blush
this detour in the user's Web search seems like a siphon-off of a business
opportunity, the fact is that the computer user consented to this detour
when the user downloaded WhenU's computer software from the Internet," Lee
wrote. Lee added that pop-ups are admittedly an online nuisance, but do not
rise to the occasion of violating laws cited in the U-Haul complaint. "Alas,
we computer users must endure pop-up advertising along with her ugly
brother, unsolicited bulk e-mail, 'spam,' as a burden of using the
Internet," he wrote.
SOURCE: Wired News; AUTHOR: Reuters
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,60347,00.html

PHILANTHROPY

PHILANTHROPY WHERE IT COUNTS
[Commentary] David Stern, president of the Stern Family Fund, argues the
case that foundations should "put their money where it was intended: into
worthwhile causes, not foundation expenses." At issue is the current debate
over the Charitable Giving Act of 2003, which would reduce foundation taxes
from two percent to one percent, while at the same time require that
foundations not count administrative and operating costs when calculating
the federally required five percent annual payout rate. The biggest
foundations are lobbying hard against this latter provision of the bill.
This is not surprising, says Stern, as the top one percent of foundations
have overhead that equals half the aggregate overhead reported by the
nation's 58,000 foundations, including $45 million paid to wealthy board
members and trustees of the top 238 foundations in 1998 alone. Stern is
concerned that some foundations are more concerned with their well-being
than with addressing the problems for which they were created. He believes
the bill would give foundations new incentives to keep administrative costs
down. No longer would the Dallas-based foundation with $50 million in assets
be able to pay out just $1.1 million in grants in 2000, while spending $2.6
million on its salaries and expenses, he writes.
SOURCE: The Washington Post; AUTHOR: David Stern
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39809-2003Sep7.html

DIGITAL DIVIDE

NATIONAL DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY PLAN TAKES SHAPE IN CAMBODIA
The Cambodian government, with support of the UNDP and its Asia Pacific
Development Information Programme, is developing its first national
technology plan. Cambodia's IT development has progressed since the end of
its long-running civil war in the early 1990s, with the deployment of
Internet access, satellite TV and mobile telephony. But most information and
communications technologies (ICTs) are still unknown to rural Cambodians,
who remain largely disconnected. Cambodian President Hun Sen says the new
technology plan will address rural connectivity issues, as well as promote
the development of Khmer-language computer fonts. "The formulation and
implementation of ICT policies and strategies is crucial to keeping Cambodia
firmly on the development track," the president said. The government expects
the first draft of the plan to be ready before the end of the year.
SOURCE: United Nations Development Programme
http://www.undp.org/dpa/frontpagearchive/2003/september/8sep03/index.html

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

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!

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

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

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