October 2004

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
Valley Broadcaster Defends GOP Gift, Others Question Legality
Media-Bias Charges Rally Republican Base
Web Offers Hefty Voice to Critics of Mainstream Journalists
Internet Broadens U.S. Political Debate, Survey Says
Westin Blasts Opinion in Media

LOBBYING
Communications Industry Lobbying Tops $1 Billion in 6-Year Period

GOVERNMENT & MEDIA
Wright to Decry Content Crackdown
L.A. Stations Benefit Most from Government Ad Spending

QUICKLY
Telecom Experts Call for Less Regulation and Reduced
State Intervention in the IP World
The New Voices: Hyperlocal Citizen Media Sites Want You (to Write)!

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

VALLEY BROADCASTER DEFENDS GOP GIFT, OTHERS QUESTION LEGALITY
A spokeswoman for the FCC on Wednesday flatly denied the Commission issued=
=20
any opinion on $350,000 worth of air time Pappas has contributed to GOP=20
county committees in support of Republican candidates running in the=20
central part of the state. Meanwhile, in an effort to quell a protest that=
=20
has spread across the country, company executives extended to Democratic=20
candidates a smaller offer of free air time on a company-owned Spanish=20
language station in San Francisco - time that would be of little use to=20
candidates in the hotly contested Central Valley races. "This is an abuse=20
of their license and another example of what is wrong with allowing=20
concentration of the media," said Andrew Schwartzman, an attorney and chief=
=20
executive officer of the Media Access Project, a Washington, D.C.-based=20
public interest law firm that specializes in communications law. Under=20
federal law, Schwartzman said, an offer of free air time to one candidate=20
triggers a requirement that equal time must be made available to opposing=20
candidates and any other interpretation of the rule is "just wrong." Pappas=
=20
argues that just as a car dealer or manufacturing company can offer=20
candidates products and services under state law, so too can a broadcaster.=
=20
B&C reports a Pappas lawyer said the company vetted the time offer with its=
=20
attorneys as well as with the FCC to determine that such contributions are=
=20
legal in California, and do not trigger equal time but instead an equal=20
opportunity for ad time at the lowest rate on the card.
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Tom Chorneau]
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/special_packages/election2004/1003...
.htm
Pappas Defends Airtime Contribution
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA475604.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
Also see:
* Sacramento Bee
Airtime gift to GOP is attacked
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11229790p-12145477c.html
* Stockton Record
Broadcaster's TV offer refused in S.J.
http://www.recordnet.com/daily/news/articles/102804-gn-2.php

MEDIA-BIAS CHARGES RALLY REPUBLICAN BASE
As a close campaign draws near the end, Republicans are using accusations=20
that the media are biased against President Bush as a way to galvanize the=
=20
party's base. "Taking on the liberal media ... is a huge motivator," says=20
Republican Scott Reed, who managed Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign.=20
The complaints also raise pressure on news organizations and their=20
reporters in the homestretch of a dead-heat presidential race. Republican=20
National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie says he isn't trying to intimidate=
=20
news organizations, only to set the record straight. "We want to make sure=
=20
our supporters know the facts," he says. Democrats haven't complained as=20
much about perceived bias in the mainstream media, but a recent spate of=20
assertions that major news outlets have been insufficiently critical of the=
=20
Bush administration is helping energize the Democratic base as well. Bill=20
Keller, executive editor at the New York Times, predicts complaints about=20
the media won't end if Mr. Bush loses and Mr. Kerry seeks re-election.=20
"We'll be hearing similar things from the Kerry White House," he said,=20
"about how the elite media is out to get them."
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Greg Hitt greg.hitt( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109891992075357959,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)

WEB OFFERS HEFTY VOICE TO CRITICS OF MAINSTREAM JOURNALISTS
This year's election has been filled with accusations of the media=20
practicing cheap and dirty politics, playing fast and loose with the facts=
=20
and even lying. The criticism is coming from Internet writers and=20
journalists covering the campaign believe the intent is often to bully them=
=20
into caving to a particular point of view. Some worry the criticism could=20
eventually have a chilling effect. "The traditional players, including the=
=20
press, have lost some of the control or exclusive control they used to=20
have," said Jay Rosen, chairman of the journalism department at New York=20
University, who keeps his own Web log, or blog. But, he added, "I think=20
there's a campaign under way to totally politicize journalism and totally=20
politicize press criticism. It's really an attack not just on the liberal=20
media or press bias, it's an attack on professionalism itself, on the idea=
=20
that there could be disinterested reporters."
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jim Ruttenberg]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/28/politics/campaign/28blog.html
(requires registration)

INTERNET BROADENS U.S. POLITICAL DEBATE, SURVEY SAYS
The Internet serves more as a town hall in the United States than an echo=20
chamber as users are more likely to be exposed to a wide range of political=
=20
views, according to a survey released on Wednesday by the Pew Internet and=
=20
American Life Project. The Internet still takes a backseat to television as=
=20
a source of news for most of the Internet users surveyed. But 31% of=20
broadband users said the Internet was their primary news source, roughly=20
the same as the 35% who said newspapers were their main source of news. One=
=20
in five told the nonprofit group they preferred to get their news from a=20
source that challenged their point of view, and 30% said they had visited=20
the Web site of a nontraditional news source.
See "The Internet and Democratic Debate" at=20
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/141/report_display.asp
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=3D6...
60

WESTIN BLASTS OPINION IN MEDIA
Is network news obsolete? ABC News President David Westin's opinion may not=
=20
surprise you -- he told the Institute of Politics=92 John F. Kennedy Jr.=20
Forum that network news is far from dead but that the networks must adapt=20
to changes in media. Due to the rise of 24-hr all-news cable channels, the=
=20
networks face demands for continual coverage and constant deadlines. But he=
=20
also focused on the rise of commentary on TV. "The more time we express our=
=20
opinions, the less time we have to talk about the facts,=94 Westin said.=20
=93Unfortunately, opinion is driving out facts too often in most of what we=
=20
see on television today. Expressing opinion on TV is vivid, entertaining,=20
and in all honesty, less expensive than the alternative. Therefore, the=20
explosion of news outlets has in its own way encouraged the explosion of=20
opinion. It can be very entertaining to have two very spirited people=20
discussing heath care in this country, but I for one would be better=20
benefited by someone coming on and telling me exactly what the state of=20
health care is before we talk about what ought to be done and telling me=20
what my real options are. If viewers see news people on different channels=
=20
that look pretty much the same, on sets that look pretty much the same, and=
=20
graphics that look pretty much the same, with some expressing opinion some=
=20
of the time and some expressing facts, is it surprising that the audience=20
believe that they=92re all expressing facts?=94
[SOURCE: Harvard Crimson Online, AUTHOR: Michael Chion]
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=3D504085

LOBBYING

COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY LOBBYING TOPS $1 BILLION IN 6-YEAR PERIOD
The Center for Public Integrity (CPI) will release a report today finding=20
that the communications industry -- broadcast, cable, telecom and satellite=
=20
-- has spent nearly $1.1 billion on lobbying since 1998. CPI defines=20
lobbying as salaries and expenses of either in-house or outside lobbyists,=
=20
campaign donations and industry-funded trips. To put the number in=20
perspective, the oil and gas industries spent $396 million on lobbying in=20
the same period.
Check http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/ later today for more info.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry lane]
(Not available online)
Multichannel News reports that the National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association has sponsored more trips by federal officials, their staffs and=
=20
their family members since 2000 than any other companies and organizations=
=20
associated with the broadcasting and telecommunications industries. NCTA=20
paid for 102 trips costing nearly $200,000. Next was the United States=20
Telecom Association, paying for 62 trips that cost about $107,000.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA475735.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

GOVERNMENT & MEDIA

WRIGHT TO DECRY CONTENT CRACKDOWN
NBC Universal Chairman Robert Wright was to receive The Media Institute's=20
Freedom of Speech Award last night and B&C's Eggerton knew what he was=20
gonna say before he said it. [John has special powers.] Wright was to say=20
that the media faces three major threats 1) subpoenas that hamper=20
journalists, 2) the content-regulation climate in Washington, particularly=
=20
the indecency crackdown, 3) and protecting content in an age of easy=20
digital piracy. Wright planned to begin by expressing his alarm at the=20
flood of subpoenas on journalists who are "just trying to do their job;"=20
the chilling effect has had serious consequences and could not come at a=20
worse time, though whether he means on election eve, in the midst of a=20
terror war, or both, was unclear. On the issue of indecency, Wright was=20
expected to say that society has less to fear from obscene, indecent and=20
profane content than from an overzealous government that is willing to=20
limit First Amendment protection and creative expression. Wright also=20
planned to stand up for TV stations, saying the vast majority do an=20
excellent job of drawing the line on content.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA475663.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

LA STATIONS BENEFIT MOST FROM GOVERNMENT AD SPENDING
Through July, the US government has spent $240 million TV and cable ad=20
expenditures this year. Twenty-five percent of that spending has flowed to=
=20
the Los Angeles market. L.A. is attractive to the Marines, who place ads on=
=20
sports programs targeting 17-24-year-olds. The Marines will spend about $17=
=20
million on TV and cable ads this year, about $3 million of it on the=20
Channel One network targeting high school students. The Marines, ranked 6th=
=20
among government spenders, spent about $50,000 on L.A.
broadcast spots, followed by Phoenix at $33,000, Louisville at $32,000 and=
=20
Providence at $27,000. The U.S. Army spent $61 million in TV and cable ads=
=20
through July. The biggest Air Force concentration of local ad buys so far=20
this year have been in Philadelphia with $517,600, followed by L.A. at=20
$272,100 and Pittsburgh at $204,700. The U.S. Army National Guard, which=20
ranked 7th among spenders, does most of its recruitment through state=20
broadcasting associations that place PSAs.
Data is from ad tracker TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)

QUICKLY
Telecom Experts Call for Less Regulation and Reduced State Intervention in=
=20
the IP World
TELECOM EXPERTS CALL FOR LESS REGULATION AND REDUCED STATE INTERVENTION IN=
=20
THE INTERNET PROTOCOL WORLD
Speaking at a New Millennium Research Council (NMRC) event, some telecom=20
experts agreed that the pace of technological change in the industry has=20
made many existing telecom regulations pass=E9 and the cross-border aspect=
of=20
many new technologies reinforces the idea of regulating from a unified=20
national perspective. =91The End of Regulation? Reforming Telecom Policy and=
=20
Regulators=92 Roles to Meet New Market Realities=92 brought 14 experts from=
=20
across the country together to examine whether the current machinery of=20
regulation is working and how best to improve the federal and state roles=20
of regulation. Experts acknowledged that traditional telecom services are=20
rapidly migrating to Internet protocol based technologies over broadband=20
platforms and that this change requires policy makers to reconsider the=20
worth of existing =91rules of engagement =91for the telecom industry.
[SOURCE: New Millennium Research Council Press Release]
http://www.newmillenniumresearch.org/news/102704nr.pdf

THE NEW VOICES: HYPERLOCAL CITIZEN MEDIA SITES WANT YOU (TO WRITE)!
From Bakersfield, Calif. to Columbia (MO) to Skokie (IL) and to small-town=
=20
New Jersey, community news sites are springing up with a bottom-up "open=20
source" approach, written and photographed by citizens and overseen by=20
journalists. But is it sustainable?
[SOURCE: Online Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Mark Glaser]
http://ojr.org/ojr/glaser/1098833871.php
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

The New Millennium Research Council is hosting a breakfast discussion on=20
Wednesday on telecommunication policy reform. For more info see=20
www.newmillenniumresearch.org. Learn about additional upcoming media policy=
=20
events at http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

POLITICS
Sinclair Chief Denies Political Agenda
Valley Media Mogul Donates Airtime to GOP Hopefuls
Bush, Kerry Lagging on High-Tech Policy

TOOLS FOR MEDIA ADVOCATES
Video Voter
Localism in Broadcasting
Tell the FCC What You Think

TELECOM
Cellular Merger Approved
Cellular Merger To Alter Service For Millions
Twilight for Traditional Telecom Regulation?

INTERNET
Broadband in Suburbia
Voice Over Internet Revolution Will Be Big but Quiet,
Prominent Booster Says
Microsoft Regains AOL's Support For Anti-Spam Technology

POLITICS

SINCLAIR CHIEF DENIES POLITICAL AGENDA
In an interview Friday, Sinclair CEO David Smith portrayed himself as a=20
free speech advocate -- not a Republican activist. He reported spending=20
most of his TV time watching golf and never meddles with his company's news=
=20
operation. "People describe me as a right-wing loony-tune conservative,"=20
Smith said. "The news on the [Sinclair] Sacramento CBS affiliate could be=20
the most liberal left-wing loony-tune ever invented, but I couldn't tell=20
you. . . . I don't watch my Sacramento news. The fact that we're in control=
=20
supposedly of all the TV stations -- I'm not in control of anything. That=20
news organization has 100 people in it and they've all got their own view."=
=20
Although Smith apparently planned to air "Stolen Honor" in its entirety=20
initially, public pressure moved Sinclair to air a more balanced program.=20
The controversy nevertheless stoked debate about the ability of large media=
=20
companies to influence public affairs. Sinclair's tactics frequently have=20
drawn fire from public interest groups that fear media concentration and=20
abuse of the public airwaves, a criticism that does not trouble Smith.=20
"They just do what public interest groups do, which is make noise that=20
suits their agenda," Smith said, noting that his acquisitions have received=
=20
approval from the federal authorities. "If the public interest groups have=
=20
a problem, it's not with me. It's with the FCC and [the Department of]=20
Justice." Smith has given many of his peers the impression that he may as=20
well be making widgets instead of running a business that has special=20
obligations to serve the public interest, an impression Smith does little=20
to dispel.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62667-2004Oct25.html
(requires registration)
TVWeek reports that "A POW Story" drew a "modest audience." Data from=20
Nielsen Media Research estimated the hour-long program was seen in an=20
average 25,000 homes in 15 metered markets. The highest household rating, a=
=20
5.5, was registered in the 35th-largest market in the country, the=20
Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville area, population 813,210. The lowest=20
rating, a 1.9, was in the 61st-largest market, Richmond, Va., population=20
509,860.
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Michele Greppi]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D6591

VALLEY MEDIA MOGUL DONATES AIRTIME TO GOP HOPEFULS
Harry J. Pappas, the owner of a chain of Central Valley (CA) television and=
=20
radio stations, has donated $325,000 in airtime for GOP candidates in many=
=20
of the state's hottest legislative elections.Critics say the contribution=20
is a clear attempt to sway close elections, is likely to raise new=20
questions of media bias, and violates federal law requiring broadcasting=20
companies to provide equal time to political candidates. "They're the=20
public's airwaves," said attorney Karen Getman, who represents the Assembly=
=20
Democratic Caucus and formerly served as chairwoman of the state's Fair=20
Political Practices Commission. "You're not free to give them to one side=20
in a partisan debate." Rather than give away free airtime, which is illegal=
=20
under federal law, Pappas Telecasting essentially is footing the bill for=20
broadcasting minutes it is setting aside for GOP candidates, a company=20
spokesperson said. "We're not denying (Democrats) any opportunity," he=20
said. "They have the opportunity to purchase an equivalent amount of=20
airtime." Tracy Westen, an elections law attorney and chief executive=20
officer of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles, said the=20
federal government's "equal time" provisions were crafted decades ago to=20
cover such situations. "I'm amazed if they think they can give it to one=20
side and not the other," Westen said. "The problem with giving it to one=20
side is it distorts the outcome of the election."
[SOURCE: Sacramento Bee, AUTHOR: Jim Sanders]
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/11220115p-12135910c.html

BUSH, KERRY LAGGING ON HIGH-TECH POLICY
A major new study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warns of a potential=20
decline in competitiveness that threatens U.S. innovation and "could=20
eventually lead to the nation being displaced as the world's leading=20
economic power." Many think the problems started with implementation of the=
=20
Telecommunications Act of 1996. Litigation has led to courts throwing out=20
FCC rules three times. "Rather than get engaged, the White House let the=20
Republicans battle it out at the FCC," said Tom Hazlett, a former chief=20
economist for the FCC under President George H.W. Bush and an author of the=
=20
chamber's recent report. "It led to paralysis of the agency, and here we=20
are, 31/2 years after the Bush administration came to town, with the same=20
policy we had then, except that the courts have thrown it out and nobody=20
knows what's coming next." Telecom issues are not central in the=20
presidential campaign and industry executives and analysts have not seem=20
much leadership in this area from the leading candidates. See the high tech=
=20
records of President Bush and Sen Kerry at the URL below.
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Carolyn Lochhead=20
clochhead( at )sfchronicle.com]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2004/10/25/MNGED9F...
.DTL&type=3Dprintable

TOOLS FOR MEDIA ADVOCATES

VIDEO VOTER
Candidates, elected officials and informed citizens have for decades=20
expressed alarm over the escalating costs of TV time, the lack of easily=20
available candidate information and the steady decrease in voter turnout.=20
While most Americans cite local television newscasts as their leading=20
source of political information, most local TV newscasts provide virtually=
=20
no coverage of local elections. On Monday, the Center for Governmental=20
Studies (CGS) launched a new national campaign to improve voter information=
=20
with the release of "Video Voter: Producing Election Coverage for Your=20
Community" and its companion website, www.videovoter.org. The publication=
=20
and website offer government access cable TV channels, public access=20
producers, cable TV local origination and Video-on-Demand systems, digital=
=20
TV stations and others step-by-step guidelines on how to create and=20
distribute unedited video coverage of candidates and ballot measure=20
campaigns in their own communities (full text of the guide is available at=
=20
www.videovoter.org and www.cgs.org). The Video Voter Guide helps=20
producers to code their election programming for capture by Digital Video=20
Recorders (e.g., TiVo), negotiate carriage by Video-on-Demand cable TV=20
systems, and create their own websites to archive on-demand election=20
programming for Internet viewing in homes. The website=20
(www.VideoVoter.org) provides up-to-date programming and legal information=
=20
together with downloadable forms (releases, candidate instructions, etc.).
[SOURCE: Center for Governmental Studies Press Release]
http://www.cgs.org/

LOCALISM IN BROADCASTING
On July 1, 2004, the FCC issued a =93Notice of Inquiry=94 (NOI) on localism=
in=20
broadcasting. Since issuing this document, the FCC has been collecting=20
comments from stakeholders and members of the public on localism in radio=20
and television. It=92s essential that musicians, performers and citizens=20
weigh on this topic by submitting a written comment to the FCC. To help=20
musicians, recording artists, performers and citizens file comments that=20
address the issues that are on the table, the Future of Music Coalition=20
(FMC) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)=20
have built this web tool that will help anyone to submit comments that help=
=20
the FCC create regulatory policies that match musicians' and citizens'=20
expectations. The FCC's NOI asks for comments on a sizable range of topics=
=20
associated with localism =AD everything from license renewal, to political=
=20
speech, to TV network affiliation rules, to serving under-represented=20
communities, to payola and voicetracking. FMC suggests that anyone who=20
wants to understand and comment on the full scope of this proceeding to=20
download and read the actual NOI (http://www.fcc.gov/localism/) and file a=
=20
comment directly through the FCC's online comment filing system=20
(http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi). For those who would=20
like some help filing a comment on the radio-specific parts of this=20
proceeding, follow FMC's guided tour that will give you: 1) a consise=20
background on the FCC's history with localism, and the reasons why they=20
launched this proceeding and 2) a guided tour of the sections of the NOI=20
that are most closely related to musicians, recording artists, performers,=
=20
on-air talent and songwriters. Along with each issues we provide you with=20
text boxes to craft your comments. When you get to the end of the tour, hit=
=20
submit and you'll see your typed replies combined into one comment. After=20
you've reviewed it, FMC will help you file it as a public comment at the=
FCC.
[SOURCE: Future of Music Coalition]
http://www.futureofmusic.org/research/localism.cfm

TELL THE FCC WHAT YOU THINK
The Media Access Project, a public interest law firm in Washington, DC also=
=20
has a short guide to help you file comments in the localism proceeding. See=
=20
it at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Media Access Project]
http://www.mediaaccess.org/programs/diversity/TELLTHEFCCWHATYOUTHINK.pdf

TELECOM

CELLULAR MERGER APPROVED
The Justice Department yesterday approved the $41 billion merger of=20
Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless Services, requiring the combined=20
company to sell off some assets in 11 states in order to satisfy antitrust=
=20
concerns. The FCC approved the deal late last week and is expected to issue=
=20
its detailed decision as early as today, removing the final regulatory=20
obstacle to the deal. The combination of Cingular and AT&T Wireless will=20
create a giant with more than 47 million customers in 49 states, surpassing=
=20
Verizon Wireless as the nation's largest cellular provider. The company=20
will be a major player in all of the nation's 100 largest cellular markets.=
=20
But consumer groups opposed to the deal criticized the Justice Department=20
settlement, saying it is a bad deal for wireless users who will have fewer=
=20
choices of wireless carriers and face potentially higher prices in the long=
=20
run. "They're allowing Cingular to control so much of the spectrum that it=
=20
could only sustain two or three major players around the country," said=20
Gene Kimmelman, director of Consumers Union in Washington. "But what's of=20
greater concern is that two of the three biggest wireless firms are virtual=
=20
monopolies in local telephone companies," and that concentrates too much=20
market power, he said. "This is an enormous retreat from past antitrust=20
policies that promoted competition in the wireless market." Regulators did=
=20
not require much of Cingular, some analysts said. "The divestitures seem=20
quite light-handed," said Rebecca Arbogast, an analyst with Legg Mason Wood=
=20
Walker. The markets Cingular is selling are small, and regulators are=20
allowing it to control a large share of spectrum, she said, which could be=
=20
encouraging news to other wireless carriers considering merging.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Yuki Noguchi]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62521-2004Oct25.html
(requires registration)
=16
CELLULAR MERGER TO ALTER SERVICE FOR MILLIONS
Some additional concerns raised by Cingular's purchase of AT&T Wireless. 1)=
=20
Cingular customers in key markets including New York City and California=20
could actually see worse coverage, at least in the short term. 2) Some=20
consumer groups also contend it could mean higher prices in some regions=20
where Cingular's corporate parents, SBC Communications and BellSouth,=20
dominate local telephone service. 3) AT&T customers who want to switch to=20
Cingular plans will have to switch phones too. 4) Consumer advocates=20
caution subscribers to check their bills carefully. The eventual=20
convergence of billing systems could lead to problems. 5) The eventual=20
likely layoff of thousands of employees at the new company -- although not=
=20
until next year -- could also mean long customer-service wait times for=20
consumers, says Janee Briesemeister, a senior policy analyst at Consumers=20
Union. See more reaction from Consumers Union at=20
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_telecom_and_utilities/001462.html...
e
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jesse Drucker jesse.drucker( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109873151893254889,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_personal_journal
(requires subscription)
USAToday:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041026/cingular26.art.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041026/1b_forehead26.art.htm
San Jose Merc:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/10012471.htm
NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/26/business/26cingular.html

TWILIGHT FOR TRADITIONAL TELECOM REGULATION?
(Commentary) The traditional public utility, litigation-oriented regulatory=
=20
regime is dead! Long live the free market! Thierer sees signs in recent FCC=
=20
decisions that the days of traditional telecommunication regulation are=20
numbered. The development deserves a party he thinks -- he's hosting a=20
kegger on Friday.
[SOURCE: Cato Institute, AUTHOR: Adam Thierer]
http://www.cato.org/tech/tk/041025-tk.html

INTERNET

BROADBAND IN SUBURBIA
See how high-speed Internet access can be a selling point for new housing=20
developments. The service can be bundled together with other=20
telecommunications services, but the offerings in select areas are raising=
=20
concerns. Gene Kimmelman, director of the Washington office of Consumers=20
Union, said most all-inclusive packages of television, telephone and=20
Internet cost more than $100 a month, a total that is beyond the means of=20
many. "There is a new digital divide. In a world where it is important to=20
have a speedy connection to the Internet, 40% of the nation doesn't have=20
access and is falling behind," Kimmelman said. A Verizon spokesman said=20
yesterday that current plans for its advanced networks are focused on=20
suburban neighborhoods but that the company is working on new technologies=
=20
that will lead to investment in urban and rural neighborhoods. "We believe=
=20
America's broadband future should include everyone: rural and urban, rich=20
and poor, established communities and new. Multiple technologies and=20
multiple competing service providers will be involved in making it happen,"=
=20
Verizon spokesman Lawrence D. Plumb said.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Christopher Stern]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62590-2004Oct25.html
(requires registration)

VOICE OVER INTERNET REVOLUTION WILL BE BIG BUT QUIET, PROMINENT BOOSTER SAYS
An interview with Jeff Pulver who has been promoting VOIP for more than a=20
decade, longer than most of the companies offering VOIP service have=20
existed. About regulatory hurdles he says, "from a political perspective,=20
people are going to always scream about universal service, they're going to=
=20
make noise about access fees, they're going to make noise about regulatory=
=20
issues on a state or federal level. This is what they do. It's about=20
government revenue. It's about where the money is and where the tax base is=
=20
and who should tax and when and where. These are not technology-driven=20
issues. It's all politics."
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: James S. Granelli]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-pulver26oct26,1,85236...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

MICROSOFT REGAINS AOL'S SUPPORT FOR ANTI-SPAM TECHNOLOGY
America Online said yesterday it is once again supporting a Microsoft plan=
=20
to combat unwanted bulk e-mail by verifying senders of messages, a move=20
that could rekindle industry adoption of a new system for attacking spam.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jonathan Krim]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62443-2004Oct25.html
(requires registration)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

For those used to Headlines arriving with the morning coffee, a warning
that we'll arrive a little late Monday -- probably around 1pm (eastern).

OK, OK, who do you like -- Sox or Cards?

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
Survey: Overwhelming Majority Support Airing of Opposing Political View in
Sinclair Broadcast of "Stolen Honor"
FCC Poised for POW Airing
Kerry Opts Out of Sinclair Program
Sinclair and Watergate
Partisan Politics Prove Costly To Sinclair CEO
Local TV Coverage of the 2004 Elections

MEDIA POLICY
Kids' Cablers Violate Commercial Limits
Philly Court Keep Radio/TV Ban
Push to Pass SHVIA
A Digitally-Based Alert and Warning System

QUICKLY
Election 2004: Bush and Kerry on Technology
Ed Tech: What Do Students Want?
Position Available: Managing Director, Community Technology
Learning/Telecentre Support Network

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

SURVEY: OVERWHELMING MAJORITY SUPPORT AIRING OF OPPOSING POLITICAL VIEW IN
SINCLAIR BROADCAST OF "STOLEN HONOR"
What do people think of the Sinclair/Stolen Honor case? The Consumer
Federation of America and Consumers Union took the time to ask. Here's what
they found: 78% of those who were aware of "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never
Heal," said broadcasters should air the opposing point of view if the
program is broadcast; support for airing of the piece was split -- 51% who
knew of it supported the decision; 41% opposed it; 9% had no opinion; even
among those who support the Sinclair broadcast, 69 percent felt the program
should be balanced by the opposing point of view. 70 percent of respondents
said they feel it is very important for local TV broadcasters to discuss
local issues and 81% said broadcasters should cover local news and events
-- yet when asked how well local broadcasters do in serving the community's
needs, only 13% thought they did a very good job.
The URL below provides links to the survey, a summary of the results and
some comments from respondents.
[SOURCE: Consumers Union Press Release]
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/campaignmedia/001453.html

FCC POISED FOR POW AIRING
Last week, the ranking Democrat on the House Commerce Committee sent FCC
Chairman Michael Powell a letter (see 10/14 Headlines) asking a series of
questions raised by Sinclair's decision to air "Stolen Honor." Chairman
Powell has returned a letter to Rep John Dingell (MI) saying the Commission
will not prevent the broadcast of the documentary, but will act
"expeditiously" on any complaint filed against Sinclair after it airs the
program A POW Story: Politics, Pressure & the Media. Chairman Powell wrote
that Sinclair might have to provide comparable time for views opposed to
those expressed in the show under "certain circumstances." Those
circumstances would include if the Sinclair show were determined not to be
a bona fide newscast or news interview program, or if the FCC determined
that Sinclair had failed to "afford reasonable opportunity for the
discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance."
CommDaily reported Rep Dingell's reaction to Chairman Powell's letter:
"Chairman Powell's response is a warning to broadcasters. It explicitly
recognizes that licensees like Sinclair have an obligation to serve the
public interest and that if questions are raised about their failure to do
so, the FCC is prepared to expeditiously investigate the matter and take
action." The FCC has already received a complaint filed by the Veterans
Institute for Security & Democracy regarding the Sinclair broadcast. The
group asked the FCC to consider its concerns that Sinclair may not provide
equal time for a counter opinion on the issues raised in the film. It
sought action before the election, saying without it the Commission
couldn't provide "any meaningful relief." Once the program is broadcast,
the group will revise its complaint, it said.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA474139.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
Powell Says Station's Entire Performance Is Examined
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)

KERRY OPTS OUT OF SINCLAIR PROGRAM
Sen John Kerry's campaign announced that it has declined Sinclair's offer
to be part of "A POW Story: Politics, Pressure and the Media." Chad
Clanton, a spokesman for the campaign, said, "The Kerry campaign is in no
way cooperating with this discredited, partisan effort that Sinclair is
poorly disguising as 'news.' Sinclair's latest spin on this premeditated
political attack is just a panicked attempt to appear fair and reasonable.
Sinclair Broadcasting's only motivation is political -- they are committed
to a one-sided smear. Their actions make it clear that promoting the
fortunes of George W. Bush trumps any sense of obligation to the public
trust." Broadcast law expert Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Access
Project, said the Kerry campaign's announcement did not moot a pending
campaign request for equal air time to respond to Sinclair's broadcast.
"The Kerry campaign is saying, 'We're not going on where they [Sinclair]
are controlling the format.' The time they have requested can be controlled
by the candidate."
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6575

SINCLAIR AND WATERGATE
[Editorial] Don't go celebrating Sinclair's decision not to air "Stolen
Honor," the Journal warns, because Pandora's Box has been opened. One of
the most important protections that a free press has is independent
corporate ownership, so the shareholder suits used against Sinclair this
past week threaten all media outlets. "If the standard now is that stirring
controversy is a fraud against shareholders because it may cost ad
revenue," the Journal concludes, "a lot more media owners than Sinclair are
going to become political targets."
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: WSJ Editorial Staff]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109840411740952775,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)

PARTISAN POLITICS PROVE COSTLY TO SINCLAIR CEO
This is an odd little piece centered on Sinclair CEO David Smith. Flint
does not focus on Smith's role in the "Stolen Honor" controversy or give
much detail about how he grew the company into the largest TV station
owner. Flint writes: "Sinclair, the nation's largest owner of television
stations, might have thought it was business as usual to have its stations
air a program that, among other things, would question whether John Kerry's
antiwar activities during the Vietnam conflict harmed POWs. But in this
highly charged pre-election climate, the move ignited a firestorm. The
company's stock fell, shareholders protested and advertisers threatened a
boycott." [Can one realistically speculate, in a news article, that
Sinclair did not expect some controversy from its decision?]
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Joe Flint joe.flint( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109838145553152054,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)

LOCAL TV COVERAGE OF THE 2004 ELECTIONS
As the campaign season entered its most intense period, nearly eight out of
ten election stories on local television news were about the presidential
race, rather than about campaigns for Congress or local offices. In markets
with U.S. Senate races, little more than four percent of campaign stories
on local news covered them. In presidential battleground states, a
half-hour of local news averaged almost six minutes of campaign
advertising, but only three minutes of campaign news. Ad watch stories, which
truth-check the political commercials, made up less than one percent of
campaign stories in the study's sample. These are among the findings
reported by the Lear Center Local News Archive. This ongoing study is
monitoring all evening news coverage from 5:00 pm to 11:30 pm aired on
local ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox stations in 11 media markets; results released
Thursday cover the period from October 4 through October 10, 2004.
These interim findings, plus a searchable video database of stories, can be
found at localnewsarchive.org. A full report on the 2004 campaign season
will be released after the election.
[SOURCE: The Lear Center Local News Archive -- Press Release]
http://www.localnewsarchive.org/pdf/LCLNARelease2004.pdf

MEDIA POLICY

KIDS' CABLERS VIOLATE COMMERCIAL LIMITS
Viacom is having problems keeping out of the news. The company's
Nickelodeon cable channel will pay a $1 million fine for carrying too much
commercial matter in its kids' shows in violation of FCC limits.
Nickelodeon ran more than 1,000 30-second spots too many and 145 shows that
contained ads for products associated with them, which, in the FCC's eyes,
turns them into program-length commercials. Viacom said in a statement: "We
were extremely upset to discover that we exceeded our allotted commercial
time due to human errors and computer system problems that occurred in our
commercial logging systems. We did not intentionally violate the FCC rules,
and we sincerely apologize for this mistake. While the vast majority of our
programming hours were well under the FCC commercial allotments, we take
full responsibility for any errors, and have initiated new procedures to
help ensure this will not happen again." The ABC Family Channel was also
found to be carrying too much commercial fare aimed at kids and will pay a
$500,000 fine. In its statement, ABC Family Channel attributed the overages
to computer error: "We had previously been using a computer traffic system
that did not read for notations regarding special children's advertising
restrictions and commercials were unintentionally placed in related
programs. Once we became aware of the mistake, we did a thorough,
voluntary review of our operation and have since revised our computer
system to prevent future errors. We derived no economic benefit from the
error, as these commercials were never sold for placement in related shows."
The NYTimes includes this quote from Andrew J. Schwartzman, president of
the Media Access Project: The announcement was "hardly a surprise because
broadcasters and cable companies are all pushing the envelope. They know
there has been a relatively low risk of F.C.C. enforcement. While these
fines may seem substantial, they are not a lot more than the cost of doing
business, and it is much less important than the fact that the F.C.C.
appears to be ignoring other more important issues such as misclassifying
entertainment programming such as 'The Flintstones' as educational
programming."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA474059.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See the Viacom case at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-3260A1.doc
ABC Family Channel at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-3259A1.doc
See a statement from FCC Chairman Powell at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-253395A1.doc
Additional coverage --
TVWeek: http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6574
Multichannel News:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA474111.html?display=Breaking+News
Broadcasting&Cable:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA474059?display=Breaking+News
LATimes:
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fcckids22oct22,1,5970...
NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/22/business/media/22adco.html

PHILLY COURT KEEP RADIO/TV BAN
Federal appeals judges in Philadelphia Thursday rejected Viacom's request
to lift restrictions on crossownership of TV and radio stations in the same
market. The limits were relaxed as part of the FCC's sweeping deregulation
of broadcast ownership rules in 2003, but the Philadelphia court ordered
those changes rewritten last summer. In the meantime, the previous, tighter
incarnation of the rules remains in effect.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA474213.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

PUSH TO PASS SHVIA
The DirecTV, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National
Religious Broadcasters Association, the Motion Picture Association of
America, National Cable & Telecommunications Association and all the major
US sports leagues on Thursday sent a letter to all 100 Senators asking them
to support extending the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) for
another 5 years. Two SHVIA bills are before the Senate and the group urged
the Senate not to pass a "bare-bones" SHVIA extension because it wouldn't
serve the public interest [which is the highest priority for these
organizations]. "While DirecTV's alignment with the broadcasting lobby on
this issue is disturbing, it is not surprising, since DirecTV is controlled
by a broadcasting company," EchoStar said in a response. The company added
it hoped the Senate would enact EchoStar's digital white area proposal,
which would allow DBS operators to broadcast high-definition, digital TV
signals into areas where local HDTV signals aren't available. "We also hope
the Senate will allow time for us to transfer the local channels of
thousands of customers onto one satellite dish, without creating a
situation in which we would have to disrupt service indefinitely to those
customers."
[SOURCE: Communications Daily]
(Not available online)
See text of letter at
http://www.nab.org/xert/corpcomm/pressrel/senate%20sat%20letter.doc

A DIGITALLY-BASED ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) and the Department of
Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced
Thursday the launch of the Digital Emergency Alert System (DEAS) pilot in
the National Capital Region. This six-month pilot will demonstrate how
Homeland Security can improve public alert and warning during times of
national crisis through the use of local public television's digital
television broadcasts. APTS President John Lawson said, "The pilot will
demonstrate how the capabilities of America's public broadcasters can be
utilized to dramatically enhance the ability of the President of the United
States to communicate with the American public during a national crisis.
The basic technology infrastructure already exists at the 291 digital
public television stations across the country. Each digital television
station can act as the nexus of a wireless network capable of broadcasting
data -- or 'datacasting,' information in its digital television signal
beyond the pictures and sound needed for a traditional television program.
Information datacast by a public television station can be received in
homes, schools and workplaces by a TV tuner card plugged into a computer, a
set-top box attached to a television, or a new digital television set, to
capture the digital signal. The datacast receiver separates the data bits
from the television programming stream, allowing this data to be
manipulated and saved to any software program."
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Homeland Security Emergency
Preparedness and Response said, "This technology will substantially improve
Homeland Security's ability to provide alert and warning accessibility to
the hearing and sight impaired, targeted warning messages, and improved
public reception by increasing the types of devices that can receive
critical alert and all hazards warnings."
[SOURCE: Association of Public Television Stations Press Release]
http://www.apts.org/news/NCR_Pilot.cfm

QUICKLY

ELECTION 2004: BUSH AND KERRY ON TECHNOLOGY
President Bush and Sen Kerry have both responded to a questionnaire on
technology policy from the Computing Technology Industry Association.
Issues addressed include: broadband deployment, privacy, intellectual
property protection, SPAM, Internet telephony, and use of unlicensed
spectrum. See questions and answers at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Computing Technology Industry Association]
http://www.comptia.org/pressroom/election_2004.aspx

ED TECH: WHAT DO STUDENTS WANT?
U.S. students who want to share their thoughts on the state of educational
technology in the nation's schools have until Nov. 12 to participate in
Speak Up Day 2004, an online survey that aims to give K-12 students a say
in how schools use technology and the Internet. Building on the success of
last year's inaugural Speak Up Day event, the NetDay organization--a
California-based nonprofit group that supports the use of technology in
schools--hopes to hear from 500,000 K-12 students enrolled in public,
private, charter, and parochial schools from all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and on American military bases worldwide. See
NetDay's Press Release at http://www.netday.org/news_sud4s_2nd.htm and to
learn more and/or register for NetDay Speak Up Day For Students go to
http://www.netday.org/speakup_forstudents.htm
[SOURCE: eSchool News, AUTHOR: Corey Murray]
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=5327

POSITION AVAILABLE: MANAGING DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY LEARNING
TELECENTRE SUPPORT NETWORK
The Managing Director of the CTCL/Telecentre Support Network will be based
at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa,
Canada. It has been initially underwritten with a major contribution from
the Microsoft Corporation. The network will provide a locally-driven,
internationally connected telecentre support network consisting of three
tiers: local telecentres, regional support networks, and a global support
centre. This new position will develop a worldwide not-for-profit
"start-up" within the ICT4D program area at IDRC. The successful candidate
will have solid, practical field experience with telecentres along with
compelling leadership, management and communications skills. You'll be
able to work with existing and new regional telecentre groups in the
regions along with building a worldwide Support Network service on the
Internet. If you're passionate about overcoming the "digital divides" and
have the
requisite skills and experiences please contact.
http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-65324-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

TODAY'S QUESTION: Who's going to write a really good book on the role of=20
television in the 2004 election?

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
Anti-Kerry Film Won't Be Aired
Some Shareholders Slam Sinclair
Sinclair to Air 'A POW Story: Politics, Pressure and the Media'
Candidates Seize Opportunities to Get into Local Media
Study: Evening News Programs Concentrating More on Campaign's=20
Substance
Journalists Not Satisfied With Their Performance in the Campaign
Time for a Digital Fairness Doctrine
'Daily Show' Host Gives Satire a Serious Look

MEDIA POLICY
Violent Television in the Forefront of Public Comments
Dueling Commentary on 'Married by America' Fine

TELECOM POLICY
Powell: Feds Must Use Light Touch On Net
Kerry or Bush, Telecom Lobbyists Won't Go Hungry

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

ANTI-KERRY FILM WON'T BE AIRED
The Post summarizes yesterday's Sinclair developments -- the investor=20
actions, announcement of "A POW Story," and response to that (see stories=20
below). It also includes this twist: The Sinclair announcement came hours=20
after Deborah Rappaport, a major Democratic donor with her husband, Andy, a=
=20
Silicon Valley venture capitalist, said they had offered to buy one hour on=
=20
Sinclair stations. This would finance a 42-minute version of a pro-Kerry=20
documentary, "Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry," by George Butler.=
=20
Rappaport said she was "deeply, deeply outraged" by Sinclair's action and=20
was offering $1 million more than the company's usual ad rate in response.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens and Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46338-2004Oct19.html
(requires registration)
Additional coverage --
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109820828319949458,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
USAToday:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041020/a_sinclair20.art.htm
LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-sinclair20oct20,1,1...
57.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/politics/campaign/20sinclair.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/politics/campaign/20film.html

SOME SHAREHOLDERS SLAM SINCLAIR
Wall Street investment firm Glickenhaus & Co sent a letter to Sinclair CEO=
=20
David Smith asking the company to provide "those with views opposed to the=
=20
allegations in the film an equal opportunity to respond." The letter was=20
sent on behalf of Glickenhaus clients holding 6,100 shares of Sinclair=20
stock. It was spearheaded by General partner Jim Glickenhaus, who cited=20
Sinclair's financial obligation to shareholders. Backing the action is=20
Media Matters For America, a liberal online group that monitors its=20
conservative counterparts. The group said that if it did not hear back from=
=20
Smith by close of business Tuesday, it might sue for an injunction to block=
=20
the first scheduled airing of the show Oct. 21.
TVWeek reports that Sinclair shareholders, led by the 1199 SIEU Greater New=
=20
York Pension Fund, are asking the broadcaster's board to launch an=20
independent investigation into whether two executives and a board member=20
engaged in insider trading earlier this year when they sold Sinclair shares=
=20
ahead of news of weakening financials that triggered a slide in the=20
company's stock. The allegations center on stock sales made in late 2003=20
and early 2004 by Sinclair VPs Frederick Smith and J. Duncan Smith and=20
director Robert Smith. Also on Tuesday, New York State Comptroller Alan=20
Hevesi sent a letter to Sinclair challenging the company's plans to air the=
=20
documentary, "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," on the grounds it=20
would further erode the value of the New York State pension fund's=20
investment in Sinclair
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA473368?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See the Media Matters for America release at
http://mediamatters.org/items/200410190004
Sinclair Shareholders Prepare to Sue Officials for Insider Trading
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Jay Sherman]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D6554

SINCLAIR TO AIR 'A POW STORY: POLITICS, PRESSURE AND THE MEDIA'
Sinclair announced it will air 'A POW Story,' a "news special [that] will=20
focus in part on the use of documentaries and other media to influence=20
voting, which emerged during the 2004 political campaigns, as well as on=20
the content of certain of these documentaries. The program will also=20
examine the role of the media in filtering the information contained in=20
these documentaries, allegations of media bias by media organizations that=
=20
ignore or filter legitimate news and the attempts by candidates and other=20
organizations to influence media coverage." Sinclair said it never=20
announced or even intended to air in full the documentary 'Stolen Honor.'=20
David Smith, CEO of Sinclair, said, "We cannot in a free America yield to=20
the misguided attempts by a small but vocal minority to influence behavior=
=20
and trample on the First Amendment rights of those with whom they might not=
=20
agree. I have been encouraged, however, by the thousands of e-mails and=20
other messages I, and others, received supporting Sinclair's efforts to=20
hold firm to its ideals in the face of a firestorm of controversy which,=20
ironically, was actually based on misinformation. We also took comfort in=
=20
the positions of other media organizations which supported our right to=20
present this story notwithstanding any disagreement they may have with the=
=20
content, as well as in the words of Michael Powell, Chairman of the FCC,=20
who refused to block the program, noting that to do so would be=20
'unconstitutional' and 'an absolute disservice to the First Amendment.'"
[SOURCE: Sinclair Broadcasting Press Release]
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=3D109&STORY=3D/www/sto...
0-19-2004/0002288049&EDATE
Media Access Project President Andrew Jay Schwartzman offered this=20
response: "Sinclair has backed down. It seems as if the public pressure=20
was more than it could bear. That is surprising, since, over the years,=20
Sinclair has been remarkably unresponsive to its viewers=92 wishes. Sinclair=
=20
now says that it never intended to broadcast in its entirety the anti-Kerry=
=20
documentary =93Stolen Honor.=94 However, our understanding is that Sinclair=
=20
had originally intended to do just that until the Los Angeles Times broke=20
the story last week. Sinclair then posted an ambiguous statement on its=20
website to give itself cover, and it has now come up with a much less=20
aggressive program format designed to get out from under the Kerry=20
Campaign=92s request for airtime under the FCC=92s =93Zapple Doctrine=94.=
(The=20
Zapple Doctrine provides that when supporters of one candidate receive air=
=20
time, supporters of opposing candidates are entitled to equivalent=20
airtime.) I would stress that Sinclair's irresponsibility lies in giving=20
one candidate special treatment. We would be no less concerned if it was a=
=20
Kerry supporter who received that kind of free airtime from any broadcaster.
Free Press Executive Director Josh Silver said, "Thousands of citizens=20
decried Sinclair's actions with phone calls, advertiser boycotts, broadcast=
=20
license challenges, threatened shareholder lawsuits and massive political=20
pressure. Sinclair is feeling the heat, so they're rewriting history to=20
save face.
See Free Presss' Sinclair Watch at http://www.sinclairwatch.org/

CANDIDATES SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INTO LOCAL MEDIA
Some $35 million will be spent this week on TV ads in swing states, but the=
=20
campaigns are also focused on their candidates and messages into local news=
=20
outlets. Money and ad time are in short supply -- and all the ads are=20
starting to blur for viewers. Voters get most of their campaign news from=20
their hometown newspapers and local TV stations. The campaigns have=20
aggressive regional press operations at their headquarters and advance=20
teams at campaign events that have made driving local coverage a priority.
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
http://www.ap.org/pages/indnews/index.html#anchor1

STUDY: EVENING NEWS PROGRAMS CONCENTRATING MORE ON CAMPAIGN'S SUBSTANCE
In an about-face from four years ago, network evening news programs are=20
concentrating more on substantive presidential campaign issues than the=20
horse race, the Center for Media and Public Affairs reports. Less than a=20
quarter of the ABC, CBS and NBC evening news stories in September dealt=20
exclusively with political strategies and the polls. In 2000, 62% of the=20
stories were about tactics and the contest. But candidates sound bites=20
average less than 8 seconds each.
See the full report at
http://www.cmpa.com/documents/04.10.19.Findings.pdf
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: David Bauder]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/10/1...
tertainment1800EDT0663.DTL&type=3Dtvradio

JOURNALISTS NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE CAMPAIGN
With Election Day just two weeks away, there are signs that journalists=20
themselves are not happy with campaign coverage. A new survey of members of=
=20
a national journalism organization finds that nearly three quarters of=20
journalists give the press a C, D or F grade for its campaign coverage so=20
far. In the survey, conducted by the Committee of Concerned Journalists of=
=20
its members, only 3% give the press an A grade, while another 27% give the=
=20
news media a B. At the same time, 42% give the coverage a C and 27% say D=20
or F. What are the particular concerns these journalists have? By large=20
majorities they feel the news media has become sidetracked by trivial=20
issues, has been too reactive and has focused too much on the inside=20
baseball that doesn't really matter to voters, according to the survey.=20
They give particularly low grades to television, be it local, cable or=20
network, and much higher grades to newspapers and online coverage.
[SOURCE: Journalism.org]
http://www.journalism.org/resources/research/reports/campaign2004/ccjcam...
4/default.asp

TIME FOR A DIGITAL FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
[Commentary] The Sinclair case highlights our need for national safeguards=
=20
to ensure that all digital media have an obligation to provide diverse=20
viewpoints. Until the late '80s, the broadcasting industry was governed by=
=20
a set of rules, better known as the "Fairness Doctrine," which required=20
stations to offer a variety of viewpoints that reflected opposing=20
perspectives, operate in a "fair" manner while doing so, and ensure they=20
would treat a wide variety of politically related speech fairly, including=
=20
ballot initiatives and personal attacks on the character or honesty of an=20
individual and group. The broadcast lobby won repeal of much of the=20
"Fairness Doctrine" during the late '80s. The rise of conservative talk=20
radio is directly linked to the absence of the Fairness Doctrine and media=
=20
ownership concentration has contributed to the problem of "unbalanced"=20
programming. Conglomeration and deregulation has also weakened what little=
=20
capability TV and radio networks possessed to engage in serious news=20
reporting. All of these developments have created a one-sided (and highly=20
crazed) media environment where opinion has replaced journalism, and=20
ideology and ownership shape what audiences see and hear. A new national=20
policy on "fairness" is needed, along with restored rules on media=20
ownership and forward-thinking approaches to reducing the role of money for=
=20
paid electronic advertising.
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Jeff Chester, Center for Digital Democracy]
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/20216/

'DAILY SHOW' HOST GIVES SATIRE A SERIOUS LOOK
Comedy Central's Jon Stewart took a surprisingly aggressive stance Friday=20
on CNN's "Crossfire," telling the hosts that the CNN mainstay basically=20
just brings in a hack from the left, a hack from the right, lets them=20
fight, and calls it a day. "You have a responsibility to the public=20
discourse, and you fail miserably," Stewart said. "Crossfire" co-host=20
Tucker Carlson hit back by citing the comedian's own interview with Sen.=20
John Kerry a couple of weeks ago. Carlson suggested Stewart shouldn't=20
lecture them when he lobs softballs. "You're on CNN. The show that leads=20
into me is puppets making crank phone calls," Stewart replied. Stewart's=20
criticism isn't a new knock against TV journalism. CBS News legend Edward=20
R. Murrow and others have railed against the dangers of dumbing-down=20
political discourse through TV sound bites since before Stewart was born.=20
It's been a long time since journalism has enjoyed an overwhelmingly=20
positive public image. But the past few years, when the New York Times, CBS=
=20
News and USA Today (among others) have been rocked by scandal, the=20
reputation of the news media has taken a serious drubbing. Stewart=20
suggested that the Fox News Channel model could be applied to a new cable=20
news channel that wouldn't be perceived partisan one way or the other. This=
=20
channel, in Stewart's eyes, would be feisty, unwavering and committed to=20
truth. "Why not create a news organization that isn't liberal but=20
credible?" he asked.
[SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Paul J. Gough]
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/columns/apple_corps_display.jsp?vnu...
tent_id=3D1000673766
The show is creating a buzz on the Internet see
http://news.com.com/Jon+Stewart+Crossfire+feud+ignites+Net+frenzy/2100-1...
3-5417676.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/arts/television/20watc.html

MEDIA POLICY

VIOLENT TELEVISION IN THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS
The American Ad Federation, American Association of Ad Agencies,=20
Association of National Advertisers, Motion Picture Association of=20
America, National Association of Broadcasters and the Satellite=20
Broadcasting & Communications Association teamed up to fight TV violence --=
=20
or, um, well, at least to fight TV violence regulation. In comments filed=20
at the FCC, the group said there's no evidence to suggest a strong link=20
between TV violence and children=92s behavior. Sesame Workshop said=
education=20
was the proper way to teach children about violence, as well as protect=20
them from violent images. "The Commission should strongly encourage=20
broadcasters to produce and air programming that teaches children positive=
=20
strategies for coping with violence, both in the real world and as depicted=
=20
and reported in the media," Sesame said. The National Cable &=20
Telecommunications Association said the vast programming choices and V-chip=
=20
technology helps parents pick the right programming for their children.=20
"And they do so without censoring or restricting the content that adults=20
may choose to watch or allow their children to watch," NCTA wrote, "even if=
=20
other adults choose not to allow such content into their homes. This is=20
critically important, since violent content, notwithstanding its potential=
=20
adverse effects on children, is not always (or even usually) wholly=20
gratuitous and often arises in artistic expression or newsworthy material.=
=20
Prohibiting censorship of such material lies at the core of=20
constitutionally protected speech.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Michael Abramowitz]
(Not available online)

DUELING COMMENTARY ON 'MARRIED BY AMERICA' FINE
The USAToday editorial staff ridicules the FCC for fining TV stations for=20
airing programming that went off the air 18 months ago because of viewer=20
disinterest. "All to what end? Anything viewers saw on Married in America=20
is more than matched on cable and satellite TV, which the FCC can't touch=20
because those subscription services make no use of the free public=20
airwaves. Any attempt to regulate them would fail constitutional muster.=20
Besides, all TVs made in recent years are equipped to let parents block any=
=20
program they wish. Small wonder that so few people complained about Married=
=20
by America. Why wait for sluggish, paternal bureaucrats to dictate taste=20
when you can kill a show with disinterest practically overnight?"
Sen Sam Brownback, however, counters that broadcasters go too far in airing=
=20
indecent content. In exchange for forgoing selling spectrum for revenue, he=
=20
points out, taxpayers license the airwaves to broadcasters for free,=20
over-the-air TV and radio programming. As part of that agreement,=20
broadcasters sign a contract not to air indecent content between 6am and=20
10pm when children are likely to be watching. Sen Brownback writes, "The=20
recent crackdown on broadcasters is a direct result of the surge in=20
indecent content on public airwaves. Due to strong competition, many=20
broadcasters are neglecting their public-interest responsibilities and=20
pushing the envelope toward more and more questionable content. Increasing=
=20
numbers of indecency complaints at the FCC demonstrate the public's rising=
=20
concern." He notes that Congress is trying to rewrite indecency rules,=20
increasing fines to match the huge profits broadcasters make off use of=20
taxpayers' airwaves. He concludes: "The hostile response from broadcasters=
=20
is inexcusable. Instead of addressing the problem, media leaders act as=20
though it is their right to air indecent content despite the fact the=20
Supreme Court has upheld the FCC's responsibility to sanction broadcast=20
indecency. Broadcasters must remember that with unique access to the=20
nation's eyes and ears comes a set of moral and legal obligations."
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: USAToday Editorial Staff & Sen Sam Brownback=20
(R-KS)]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041020/edit20.art.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041020/oppose20.art.htm

TELECOM POLICY

POWELL: FEDS MUST USE LIGHT TOUCH ON NET
FCC Chairman Michael Powell, speaking at the Voice on the Net conference in=
=20
Boston, said government must regulate both lightly and carefully to=20
encourage the expansion of broadband infrastructure and applications such=20
as Internet phone service. He said the government should not rush to create=
=20
rules without understanding their long-term effects on new industries. For=
=20
fiber build-outs, Powell warned that there must be a "delicate balance"=20
between sparking competition and creating a monopoly over new access lines.=
=20
He was referring to recent FCC rules that eased the regulations on Baby=20
Bell phone companies offering services on fiber lines versus on their=20
existing copper infrastructure. However, Chairman Powell warned that=20
opening the doors for one industry is dangerous, citing the government's=20
decision at the turn of the last century to let AT&T control all telephone=
=20
lines in exchange for building the network.
Multichannel News focused on the jurisdiction issues of Internet phone=20
service. Chairman Powell said, "We cannot avoid this question any longer.=20
To hold that packets flying across national and, indeed, international=20
digital networks should be subject to state-commission economic-regulatory=
=20
authority is to dumb down the Internet to match the limited vision of=20
government officials. That would be a tragedy." He added, "Many regulators=
=20
have protested change, saying that VoIP is just a different way to make a=20
phone call. But isn't that the point. It is a different way, and it=20
deserves a different regulatory structure that reflects its unique=20
qualities. I guess one could say that the Constitution and the democratic=20
form of government are just another way to run a nation."
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Jim Hu]
http://news.com.com/Powell+Feds+must+use+light+touch+on+Net/2100-7352_3-...
313.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
Powell: States Can't Regulate VoIP
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA473379.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
For the full text of Chairman Powell's speech see
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-253325A1.doc
The FCC released its Order on deploying fiber optic broadband networks on=20
Monday. It is available at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-248A1.doc
See also --
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-voip20oct20,1,2811479...
ry?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

KERRY OR BUSH, TELECOM LOBBYISTS WON'T GO HUNGRY
[Commentary] Are you a telecommunications lobbyist -- or do you care for=20
one? Then don't you fret, there will still be work in 2005. Although top=20
executives in the cable and telephone industries have hinted at a peace,=20
they still don't agree on one big item: whether or not to start a rewrite=20
of US telecommunications laws. The Baby Bells are for a rewrite; cable=20
giants are against it. Congress likely will reopen the Telecom Act next=20
year, unleashing a hurricane whose outcome is impossible to predict. Only=20
two certainties exist: One is a deluge of political giving from the=20
Hollywood-telecom industrial complex, in return for which legislators will=
=20
be lending an ear to all the private agendas of the givers. The other=20
certainty is that the dream of unfettered competition will look quaint and=
=20
na=EFve a year or two from now. The rewrite will include untangling $20=20
billion/year of cross-subsidies that funds the phone network -- funds that=
=20
could disappear as more businesses and consumers switch to Internet-based=20
calling. Politics will make sure some subsidy system remains. "In fact,"=20
Jenkins ends, "an alarming number of senators and congressmen have been=20
quoted recently rubbing their hands over the prospect of a massive telecom=
=20
rewrite, exhibiting a crazy person's urge to try, try, try again to make=20
the artificial schemes of the '96 law somehow work. Lord knows the right=20
kind of rewrite might do wonders for broadband deployment and the digital=20
economy, but this is one case where hope would be wise to defer to the=20
wizened authority of experience. Otherwise we'll be lucky to avoid a replay=
=20
of the $2 trillion bonfire of investor capital that was the most=20
conspicuous product of the '96 law."
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Holman Jenkins]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109823250628250136,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_opinion
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------