November 2004

*** We're off tomorrow to celebrate Veteran's Day. Hope you are doing the=20
same. See you Friday. ***

TODAY'S QUESTION: If Jonathan Adelstein were a baseball card, would he be a=
=20
Mickey Mantle rookie card? (see story below)

VONAGE/VOIP NOT SUBJECT TO STATE REGULATION, FCC RULES
Vonage Not Subject to State Regulations Governing Telephone Companies
FCC Further Deregulates Net Calls
Telecom Turnaround

MORE FROM FCC
Adelstein=92s Renomination Could Move With Judges
NAB to Fight 'Local' Sat Radio
CE Seeking Changes in DTV Tuner Phase-in on 25"-36" Sets
Monitoring Nationwide Broadband Rollout
Public Safety Access to the Latest Broadband Technology

E-RATE
eRate Flows Again -- '04 Apps Still Pending
2005 Application Window to Open Dec. 14

MEDIA
Pubcasters Hope to Retain =91Strong=92 Bipartisan Support in Senate
From Florida to Fallujah: What the News Coverage Covers Up

QUICKLY
2004 ITU World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly
New Study Release: Untold Stories
Patrick Ross to Progress & Freedom
Iranian Internet Journalists Face Trial Next Week
Net Access Could Knock Down Barriers to Freedom in Iraq

MORE VONAGE COVERAGE/REACTION

VONAGE/VOIP NOT SUBJECT TO STATE REGULATION, FCC RULES

VONAGE NOT SUBJECT TO STATE REGULATIONS GOVERNING TELEPHONE COMPANIES
The FCC declared that a type of Internet telephony service offered by=20
Vonage called DigitalVoice is not subject to traditional state public=20
utility regulation. DigitalVoice customers can use their phones from a=20
broadband connection anywhere in the world, making it difficult to=20
determine whether a call is local, interstate or international in nature=20
and, the FCC ruled, precluding dual state and federal regulatory regimes.=20
The Commission also stated that other types of IP-enabled services, such as=
=20
those offered by cable companies, that have basic characteristics similar=20
to DigitalVoice would also not be subject to traditional state public=20
utility regulation. The decision makes clear that the FCC, not the state=20
commissions, has the responsibility and obligation to decide whether=20
certain regulations apply to IP-enabled services. The Commission has the=20
power to preempt state regulations that thwart or impede federal authority=
=20
over interstate communications. The Commission also found that regulations=
=20
that would have been imposed by the Minnesota Commission were inconsistent=
=20
with the FCC's deregulatory policies, and that preemption was consistent=20
with federal law and policies intended to promote the continued development=
=20
of the Internet, broadband and interactive services.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254112A1.doc

FCC FURTHER DEREGULATES NET CALLS
The FCC ruled that states are now barred from imposing telecommunications=20
regulations on Internet phone service providers, which treat calls no=20
differently than any other application on the Internet. A representative=20
for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners said the=20
states are focusing now on a court hearing in mid-November in which=20
Minnesota utility regulators will argue they have a right to oversee Vonage=
=20
and other Net phone service providers. The state is seeking to overturn a=20
ruling that states cannot subject VoIP providers to their rules. FCC=20
Chairman Powell and two of the four FCC commissioners suggested Tuesday=20
that states still have a role to play -- to protect consumer interests. But=
=20
that may not mollify state utility regulators, who have joined the "growing=
=20
chorus of people" criticizing the FCC for taking a piecemeal approach to=20
VoIP regulation.
CommDaily reports that FCC Wireline Bureau Chief Jeffrey Carlisle told=20
reporters the Commission acted now on the jurisdiction issue, rather than=20
waiting for action on
the broader IP-Enabled Services proceeding, because the upcoming court=
hearing.
By acting now, the FCC adds its expertise to the court=92s deliberation,=20
Chief Carlisle said.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR:Ben Charny]
http://news.com.com/FCC+further+deregulates+Net+calls/2100-7352_3-544488...
ml?tag=3Dnefd.top
FCC Finds Vonage Not Subject to State PUC Regulation
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Edie Herman]
(Not available online)

TELECOM TURNAROUND
[Commentary] Yesterday's ruling is the first time the FCC has exempted an=20
Internet voice service from state regulation. If there ever was a candidate=
=20
for national regulation under the Constitution's Commerce clause, this is=20
it. Our telecom network spans the country and is operated by national=20
companies, yet it is still regulated by 50 mini-dictators known as state=20
utility commissions. Charged with protecting the "public interest," these=20
busybodies have a license to micromanage every firm that's ever conjured up=
=20
a dial tone. The resulting web of regulation has retarded innovation and=20
growth. The ruling allows the FCC to sit back and watch the technology=20
grow. More good news, the editorial ends, is that Democratic Commissioner=20
Jonathan Adelstein -- a former Tom Daschle aide -- will soon be making=20
farewells, assuming the White House doesn't renominate him. Mr. Adelstein=20
has been a persistent obstacle to competition in telecom, and to the kind=20
of lower-cost, better-service telephone future that yesterday's FCC vote=20
heralds.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: WSJ Editorial Staff]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB110005280187269776,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_opinion
(requires subscription)

*** This decision has generated a bit of controversy and a good deal of=20
reaction. For more coverage of the story and reaction from many, many=20
organizations, see sections at the end of this email. ***

MORE FROM FCC

ADELSTEIN'S RENOMINATION COULD MOVE WITH JUDGES
Don't pack those bags so quickly, FCC Commissioner Adelstein. Because=20
judicial nominations can take so long to move through Congress, President=20
Bush may be interested in nominating you for another term, if Senate=20
Democrats will confirm a number (80-100) judges that have been held up by=20
the body. As one House Republican staffer said, =93I'll take Jonathan=20
Adelstein for 80 judges any day of the week.=94 Many Senators -- from both=
=20
sides of the aisle -- have expressed their support for Commissioner=20
Adelstein. Congress will resume Nov. 16 for a session designed to finish=20
nearly 10 appropriations bills, an intelligence reform bill, and several=20
other lingering issues.
In a separate story, it was reported widely yesterday that Chairman Michael=
=20
Powell intends to stay on at the FCC for now. There has been speculation=20
that he would leave shortly after the election.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)

NAB TO FIGHT 'LOCAL' SAT RADIO
The National Association of Broadcasters Tuesday vowed to continue fighting=
=20
locally targeted traffic and weather reports by satellite radio despite=20
withdrawing its petition asking the FCC to prohibit them. The FCC several=20
weeks ago was moving toward rejecting NAB's request but the NAB's pending=20
withdrawal of the petition apparently prompted the commission to hold off=20
on a ruling. For now, the satellite radio industry is gloating and contends=
=20
NAB withdrew its petition to "save face" rather than suffer a public=20
defeat. "This a complete vindication of our position that XM has complied=20
and continues to comply with FCC rules," the company said in a statement.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA479302.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See the NAB's request to dismiss the petition at
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/filings/SDARSMotiontoDismiss11804.pdf

CE SEEKING CHANGES IN DTV TUNER PHASE-IN ON 25"-36" SETS
The Consumer Electronics industry petitioned the FCC to move up the=20
deadline by which all TV sets with 25"-36" screen sizes must have ATSC=20
tuners. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Consumer=20
Electronics Retailers Coalition (CERC), in a joint petition, asked that the=
=20
July 2006 date by which all such receivers must have DTV tuners be moved up=
=20
to March 2006 and that the July 2005 date by which 1/2 the sets must be=20
ATSC-capable be eliminated. They cited unforeseen and =93unduly disruptive=
=94=20
consequences of the Commission=92s phase-in schedule.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Paul Gluckman]
(Not available online)
See Press Release at
http://www.ce.org/press_room/press_release_detail.asp?id=3D10599

MONITORING NATIONWIDE BROADBAND ROLLOUT
The FCC voted to collect additional information about the nationwide=20
availability of broadband and local telephone competition in order to=20
better monitor the status of these critical services. Broadband providers=20
will be required to provide more detailed information on the speed and=20
nature of their service. Broadband-over-power line will be a
separate category in order to track deployment more closely. To better=20
assess broadband availability, incumbent telephone and cable companies will=
=20
be asked to report the extent to which their DSL and cable modem service is=
=20
available where they provide phone or cable television service. The=20
Commission will require local telephone companies, known as local exchange=
=20
carriers or LECs, to report how many of their local service customers also=
=20
subscribe to the LEC=92s long distance service. The data will help the=20
Commission understand how bundling affects local telephone service=20
competition. To better track the dynamics of rural and underserved markets,=
=20
the Commission will require all facilities-based carriers to report,=20
regardless of their size.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254115A1.doc

PUBLIC SAFETY ACCESS TO THE LATEST BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY
The Commission revised technical specifications in the 4.9 GHz band to=20
allow manufacturers to adapt, for that band, technologies that are being=20
used in adjacent spectrum bands, such as the 5.4 GHz Unlicensed National=20
Information Infrastructure (U-NII) unlicensed band and the Intelligent=20
Transportation System (ITS) band. The Commission envisioned that, by=20
leveraging technology already developed for adjacent bands, public safety=20
licensees could use a single, low-cost device to access the 4.9 GHz band,=20
the U-NII band, and the ITS band, allowing them to enjoy savings that are=20
typically limited to the high-volume commercial market. The Commission's=20
action is intended to provide emergency responders with easier access to=20
the latest broadband technology in support of public safety and homeland=20
security missions, such as wireless local area networks for incident scene=
=20
management, emergency dispatch operations, and emergency vehicular=
operations.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254117A1.doc

E-RATE

ERATE FLOWS AGAIN -- '04 APPS STILL PENDING
The Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) has announced that it will=
=20
begin mailing funding commitments again and expects at least one wave of=20
funding commitments per month moving forward. This slow trickle of eRate=20
funds has prompted a broad coalition of education groups, known as the=20
Education and Libraries Networks Coalition (EdLiNC), to lobby members of=20
Congress to draft a bill that would exempt the eRate and Rural Health Care=
=20
programs from the Anti-Deficiency Act. With this simple waiver, the eRate=20
could go back to issuing funding commitment letters the way it always had,=
=20
regardless of how much money is in the bank. Apparently, FCC Chairman=20
Michael Powell supports such an exemption. The Wall Street Journal reported=
=20
that the FCC has not applied the law to the High Cost, Low Income program=20
because doing so could have a devastating effect on the entire Universal=20
Service program. It would mean phone companies would have to contribute 25=
=20
percent of their long-distance revenue in addition to their current=20
payments, the Journal reported. "That's the nightmare scenario," Frank=20
Gumper, chairman of USAC's board of directors, told the Journal. "By then,=
=20
these programs would be on the verge of collapsing."
[SOURCE: eSchool News, AUTHOR: Cara Branigan]
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=3D5376

2005 APPLICATION WINDOW TO OPEN DEC 14
Though the status of eRate applications from 2003 should be resolved=20
shortly, most 2004 applicants will still be wondering how much eRate=20
funding they are to receive before it's time for them to apply again for=20
2005 funding. The Schools and Libraries Division of USAC announced on Nov.=
=20
5 that applicants will have 66 days in which to file applications the 2005=
=20
funding year. The application window, which is scheduled to open more than=
=20
a month later than previous years and is shorter than the typical 75 days,=
=20
will open Dec.14 and close Feb. 17.
[SOURCE: eSchool News, AUTHOR: Cara Branigan]
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=3D5377
See the USAC announcement at
http://www.sl.universalservice.org/whatsnew/2004/112004.asp#110504

MEDIA

PUBCASTERS HOPE TO RETAIN 'STRONG' BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN SENATE
Public broadcasters believe they will still have strong, bi-partisan=20
support in the Senate, but are worried they could be hit because of an=20
upcoming budget crisis. Association of Public TV Stations (APTS) President=
=20
John Lawson said, "the problem is they are not going to have a whole lot of=
=20
money to spend.=94 The broadcasters are preparing grassroots efforts to=20
protect funding for public broadcasting. Next year, public broadcasting=20
will still have to fight against an administration bent against forward=20
funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but APTS is hopeful of=
=20
passage of a CPB reauthorization bill that gained unanimous support in the=
=20
Senate Commerce Committee this year. APTS is still working with Congress on=
=20
an idea to create a trust fund for public broadcasting in return for a=20
voluntary quick end to analog broadcasting by public TV stations.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Dinesh Kumar]
(Not available online)

FROM FLORIDA TO FALLUJAH: WHAT THE NEWS COVERAGE COVERS UP
[Commentary] Media coverage lurches from event to event, and from spectacle=
=20
to spectacle as a substance deficit disorder hyperactively drives the news=
=20
agenda. No sooner are we focused on one major story, than another intrudes=
=20
to change the subject and insure that there is no time for follow-up, much=
=20
less thoughtful processing. In some cases, this is the natural disorder of=
=20
news, but in many others, there are hidden hands shifting the agenda in a=20
conscious effort not simply to influence what we think, but control what we=
=20
think about. Schecter uses the example of the current campaign in Fallujah=
=20
to highlight attempts to shape news narrative.
[SOURCE: Mediachannel.org, AUTHOR: Danny Schechter]
http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert288.shtml

QUICKLY

2004 ITU WORLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDIZATION ASSEMBLY
International Bureau reported to the Commission on the 2004 International=20
Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication Standardization=20
Assembly (WTSA) and the next steps for the Commission resulting from the=20
conference. The conference, among other things, adopted the work plan for=20
the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector over the next four years=20
which focuses on communications, network security, and maintaining=20
interoperability between current and next-generation networks. In=20
addition, the WTSA addressed communications issues challenging countries=20
around the world, including the transition from traditional communications=
=20
networks to new technologies.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254099A1.doc

UNTOLD STORIES: CREATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RIGHTS CLEARANCE CULTURE FOR=20
DOC FILMMAKERS
This study explores the implications of the rights clearance process on=20
documentary filmmaking, and makes recommendations to lower costs, reduce=20
frustration, and promote creativity. It focuses on the creative experience=
=20
of independent, professional documentary filmmakers.
[SOURCE: Center for Social Media, AUTHOR: Pat Aufderheide and Peter Jaszi]
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/rock/finalreport.htm

PATRICK ROSS TO PROGRESS & FREEDOM
Patrick Ross has been named vice president for communications and external=
=20
affairs at The Progress & Freedom Foundation. Ross most recently managed=20
Washington Internet Daily and reported for its sister publication,=20
Communications Daily. He was also the first Washington Bureau Chief for=20
CNet|News.com.
The Progress & Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that=20
studies the digital revolution and its implications for public policy.
http://www.pff.org/news/news/2004/110904rossrelease.html

IRANIAN INTERNET JOURNALISTS FACE TRIAL NEXT WEEK
In Iran, the Internet has become a refuge for reformist journalists who=20
lost their jobs when the country's judiciary closed more than 100=20
pro-reform publications in the past four years. But at least nine=20
journalists writing on online journals known as weblogs and news-based=20
Internet sites have been detained by the judiciary since September and they=
=20
will face trial beginning next week accused of spreading propaganda against=
=20
the Islamic state. International human rights groups criticized the lack of=
=20
freedom of expression in Iran which they say has more journalists in jail=20
than any other country in the Middle East.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=3D6...
37

NET ACCESS COULD KNOCK DOWN BARRIERS TO FREEDOM IN IRAQ
There could be no more effective way to promote democracy and free markets=
=20
in Iraq than to significantly boost the number of Iraqis using the=20
Internet. Can we send Steve Case there?
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041110/maney10.art.htm

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OF VONAGE DECISION

FCC Includes Cable in Vonage Ruling
Republican FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin adopted cable=92s cause and won the=
=20
internal battle to broaden the staff=92s recommendation and include cable=20
telephony services.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA479292.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

FCC Hands Cable the Phone
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA479288?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

F.C.C. Takes on Oversight of Internet Phone Services
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/10/technology/10fcc.html
(requires registration)

FCC Gives Vonage Interstate Status In Win for Internet-Phone Firms
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB110001796704968961,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)

FCC Asserts Role as Internet Phone Regulator
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Yuki Noguchi]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37972-2004Nov9.html
(requires registration)

FCC declares authority over states on VoIP
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR:John Woolfolk]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/10143621.htm

FCC Exempts VOIP From State Rules
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:Jube Shiver Jr.]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fcc10nov10,1,6220451....
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

REACTION TO VONAGE DECISION

* FCC Chairman Powell: Since 1870 home telephone service has been=20
essentially the same-two phones connected by a wire. This landmark order=20
recognizes that a revolution has occurred. Internet voice services have=20
cracked the 19th Century mold, to the great benefit of consumers. VoIP=20
services certainly enable voice communications between two or more people,=
=20
just as the traditional telephone network does, but that is where the=20
similarity ends. Internet voice is an Internet application that takes its=
=20
place alongside email and instant messaging as an incredibly versatile tool=
=20
for communicating with people all over the world. As such it has truly=20
unique characteristics. VoIP is customizable, global, inexpensive.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254112A2.doc

* FCC Commissioner Copps: While I agree that traditional jurisdictional=20
boundaries are eroding in our new Internet-centric world, we need a clear=20
and comprehensive framework for addressing this new reality. Instead the=20
Commission moves bit-by-bit through individual company petitions, in effect=
=20
checking off business plans as they walk through the door. This is not the=
=20
way we should be proceeding. We need a framework for all carriers and all=
=20
services, not a stream of incremental decisions based on the needs of=20
individual companies. We need a framework to explain the consequences for=
=20
homeland security, public safety and 911. We need a framework for consumer=
=20
protection. We need a framework to address intercarrier compensation,=20
state and federal universal service, and the impact on rural America. But=
=20
all I see coming out of this particular decision is . . . more questions.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254112A4.doc

* FCC Commissioner Adelstein: Where this Order falls short is its failure=20
to account in a meaningful way for essential policy issues, including=20
universal service, public safety, law enforcement, consumer privacy,=20
disabilities access, and intercarrier compensation, and the effect of our=20
preemption here.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254112A5.doc

* Michael D. Gallagher, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications=
=20
and Information: Today's FCC decision is a big step forward for advanced=20
communications in the United States. Voice communications over the Net have=
=20
been cleared for takeoff. The FCC has acted to keep the Internet--an=20
inherently global network--unburdened by costly state regulation. As a=20
result, a rich variety of IP services benefiting U.S. consumers and=20
businesses will be accelerated. Today's vote is going to keep the U.S. on=20
the cutting edge of innovation."
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2004/fccvonage_11092004.html

* Consumer Advocates: =93The FCC took all of the authority and none of the=
=20
responsibility,=94 said Mark Cooper, director of research for Consumer=20
Federation of America. =93This ruling gave VoIP providers everything they=20
asked for, but did not consider what consumers need. New technologies such=
=20
as VoIP could be a great benefit to consumers, but this piecemeal approach=
=20
to tackling the tough public policy questions puts consumers at risk.=94
Added Janee Briesemeister, senior policy analyst for Consumers Union: =93By=
=20
approving the Vonage petition, the FCC tied the hands of state regulators=20
who have asserted that VoIP is no different than traditional phone service=
=20
in terms of public safety, universal service and consumer protection.
=93If the FCC thinks the states don't have the authority to ensure public=20
safety, consumer protection and universal service for consumers, then it=20
should have provided a framework for doing so =97 but it did not,=94=20
Briesemeister added. "Companies are now free to market VoIP as an=20
alternative to traditional phone service, while consumers are left in limbo=
=20
over vital issues, such as whether E911 will work on their Internet phone.=
=94
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_telecom_and_utilities/001607.html...
e

* Association for Local Telecommunications Services is "pleased with the=20
Commission=92s decision to maintain a light regulatory touch over Vonage=92s=
=20
service. At the same time, the Commission must acknowledge that such retail=
=20
VoIP services are not themselves alternatives to underlying bottleneck=20
facilities that these services ride over,=94 said ALTS General Counsel Jason=
=20
Oxman. "VoIP providers like Vonage do not own their own transmission=20
facilities and, under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, cannot directly=20
access the Bell companies=92 network facilities necessary to serve their=20
customers. VoIP providers therefore work extensively with competitive LECs=
=20
to access the necessary underlying networks,=94 said Mr. Oxman. =93The FCC=
must=20
continue to recognize that VoIP services will only be available to=20
consumers and small businesses if
the Commission maintains its requirement that incumbent LECs make access to=
=20
loops and transport available at cost-based rates.=94
http://206.161.82.210/NewsPress/110904VonagePetition.pdf

* CompTel/ASCENT CEO H. Russell Frisby Jr.: =93By declaring VoIP traffic as=
=20
interstate in nature, the FCC is taking an important step to encourage=20
competitive telecom service alternatives for consumers and to foster=20
entrepreneurship by those willing to explore new businesses and deploy=20
cutting-edge technology.
As one of the key tenets of CompTel/ASCENT=92s March 2004 VoIP Policy=20
Principles, federal oversight will allow VoIP and other IP-based network=20
applications the opportunity to gain acceptance without being hampered by=20
different =AD and at many times conflicting =AD rules on a state-by-state=
basis.
To foster further development of VoIP, CompTel/ASCENT believes that any=20
decision to regulate =AD or not to regulate =AD should be consistently=
applied=20
to the various network configurations designed to carry VoIP traffic. Most=
=20
importantly, access to underlying physical networks should not be allowed=20
to create a bottleneck that will foreclose on the ability of all providers=
=20
to deliver the services their customers choose.=94
http://www.comptelascent.org/news/recent-news/110904.html

* Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro: "It is=20
clear that advancement of VoIP services is a key element in driving=20
consumer demand and adoption of broadband. There is a unique synergy=20
between VoIP and broadband that allows each to be used as a purchase=20
incentive for the other. Today's action by the Commission is a strong step=
=20
toward regulatory clarity, which is needed to advance VoIP services that=20
will provide enormous benefits to consumers and the economy. We commend the=
=20
FCC's leadership in taking action to avoid a patchwork of state regulations=
=20
that would stifle the advancement of this new form of communication."
http://www.ce.org/press_Room/press_release_detail.asp?id=3D10598

* CTIA-The Wireless Association=99 President and CEO Steve Largent: =93We=20
applaud the FCC for recognizing the fundamental interstate and=20
international characteristics of IP-enabled services. Much like wireless,=
=20
one of the primary benefits of IP-enabled service is its ability to deliver=
=20
data to a consumer at anytime, in any place, from any location with=20
broadband access. CTIA strongly agrees that such services should be free=20
to develop under a single, unified regulatory framework, unencumbered by=20
conflicting state public utility regulations. Furthermore, the=20
competitive and innovative forces driving IP-enabled service to the=20
marketplace will =AD like wireless service - provide consumers with more=20
choices and lower prices.
The FCC=92s action today recognizes the harm that a patchwork of state=20
utility regulations can pose to the development and proliferation of=20
inherently interstate services such as VoIP and wireless. By establishing a=
=20
uniform, nationwide regulatory framework, IP-enabled services will avoid=20
the costly inefficiencies that accompany a patchwork of inconsistent and=20
varying regulatory schemes. This ruling is of great significance to the=20
consumer seeking these new and innovative services in the most=20
cost-effective manner possible.=94
http://www.ctia.org/news_media/press/body.cfm?record_id=3D1466

* Robert Sachs, President & CEO National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association: =93By establishing a national framework for the regulation of=
=20
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, the FCC has taken a=20
significant step towards promoting competition in enhanced voice=20
services. As facilities-based VoIP providers, cable companies offer=20
consumers sustainable, high quality voice services. We believe the=20
Commission's decision will further incent companies to invest in this=20
exciting new technology.=94

* Walter B. McCormick, Jr., President and CEO of USTA: "In today=92s rapidly=
=20
evolving communications market, the Commission=92s action is a necessary=
step=20
to ensure that innovative, borderless communications are not hindered by=20
outdated, conflicting regulatory schemes from fifty-one different local=20
jurisdictions. While this move acknowledges the tremendous changes in=20
communications, in future proceedings the Commission must ensure that=20
market-based competition thrives in an environment where all technologies=20
compete under the same rules. The Commission must also set a competitive=20
framework that encourages investment in the infrastructure and shares the=20
responsibility for maintaining the networks.=94
http://www.usta.org/news_releases.php?urh=3Dhome.news.nr2004_1109

* VON Coalition: The FCC today embraced the future of VoIP by ensuring it=20
will be free from a patchwork of multiple - and inevitably conflicting -=20
state jurisdictions. The VON Coalition praises today's decision to declare=
=20
VoIP an interstate service, but cautions that this is only one small step=20
toward unleashing the full promise and
potential of VoIP. The FCC now must act quickly to reform the badly broken=
=20
intercarrier compensation system and make sure new technologies and=20
services will not be hindered by a scheme to subsidize old networks. We=20
look forward to working with Congress, the FCC and the states, as well as=20
rural, urban, and other interests, to forge original yet pragmatic=20
solutions that enable consumers, businesses, and the economy to achieve the=
=20
full promise and potential that VoIP can deliver.=94
http://www.von.org/usr_files/JurisdictionStatementFINAL.pdf
The Voice on the Net or VON Coalition consists of VoIP companies.

* National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) Chief=20
Executive Officer Michael E. Brunner: =93While we appreciate the FCC=92s=
desire=20
to foster consumer choice in the telecom marketplace, this announcement=20
does nothing to enhance those choices. This may lead to putting the=20
national telecom infrastructure in jeopardy. By getting a free ride on that=
=20
infrastructure without compensating the carriers that maintain these=20
networks, VoIP providers continue to gain a significant advantage. And, by=
=20
usurping states=92 ability to regulate these providers, the commission has=
=20
created an unfair competitive advantage over those telecom carriers that=20
are regulated at both the state and federal levels. We disagree with the=20
FCC=92s decision to give preference to one technology and tilting the=20
competitive advantage in VoIP=92s favor to the detriment of other=
technologies."
http://www.ntca.org/ka/ka-3.cfm?content_item_id=3D2705&folder_id=3D298
NTCA represents nearly 600 locally owned and controlled telecommunications=
=20
cooperatives and commercial companies throughout rural and small-town=
America.
--------------------------------------------------------------

There's a FCC meeting tomorrow focusing on telecom issues. For upcoming
media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

TODAY'S QUESTION: What's next?

WASHINGTON AGENDA
Fat Cats Get Fatter
DTV Transition May Be on Tap for Dec. FCC Meeting
NAB Will Commit to DTV Deadline
GOP Wants News Organizations to Abandon Exit Polls
Intel Chief Barrett Lays Out U.S. Tech Policy Agenda

MEDIA
Belo Gave Time to 159 Candidates
Sweating Bush II at CBS
Kerry Finally Wins One
Sinclair Sits Pretty
Fox News, Media Elite
Drama on Horizon for Spanish Television

TELECOM
Showdown of the Giants
Cable Titans Discuss Offering Cellular Services, Intensifying Foray Into
Telecom's Turf
Verizon to Buy All of NextWave's Spectrum

QUICKLY
One Internet, Many Copyright Laws
See Wired
RSA Sees Looming Identity Crisis Online

WASHINGTON AGENDA

FAT CATS GET FATTER
B&C looks at five potential changes that could be the result of last week's
elections. 1) Fat Cats Get Fatter: Media giants Comcast, News Corp., Viacom
and other conglomerates will seek to strike new deals to grow their empires
in a more relaxed regulatory environment. A second Bush administration
will resurrect deregulation to make it so. Lifting restrictions will lead
to "fewer owners controlling even more assets," said Leonard Hill who
represents the independent TV production community. "They'll be able to
curry favor with entrenched Washington power in turn for relaxation of
regulations designed to protect the public interest." 2) Morality Police
Will See Red Over Blue TV. Conservative groups will turn up the pressure on
the FCC and Congress to scrub filth out of broadcast prime time. With as
many as four Supreme Court spots likely to open in the new Bush presidency,
some industry folk worry that the courts could support a la carte cable
pricing options or -- Jenna Jameson forbid -- outlawing cable porn. 3) FCC
Chief Polishes His Image, Then Quits. FCC Chairman Michael Powell may take
the time to work on his legacy: accelerating the transition to digital
television, rolling out Internet TV and backing other gee-whiz
technologies. He will have a temporary 3-1 Republican majority after
December. 4) GOP Stands Divided on Digital Deadline. Chairman Powell favors
2009 as the end date for analog TV, by House Commerce Committee Chairman
wants to see a return of the spectrum currently used for TV stations in
2006. Either deadline could require up to $1 billion in subsidies for
low-income, broadcast-only households. The Administration is not so keen on
that. 5) Congress Reopens the Telecom Act, Reaps a Windfall. Congress plans
to launch a rewrite of the laws governing media, phone and wireless
industries sometime next year. A big side benefit to House and Senate
members is that telecom companies, fearful of losing favor, will feel
obligated to donate millions over the next session. If past legislative
battles are any indication, Congress will milk the opportunity for campaign
cash rather than pass legislation quickly.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA478554?display=Feature&referr...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

DTV TRANSITION MAY BE ON TAP FOR DEC FCC MEETING
The FCC is likely to vote on permanent phone competition rules at the
Commission's December 15 open meeting, but it is uncertain whether it will
vote on a plan to speed the transition to digital-only television
broadcasting. Chairman Michael Powell has expressed an interest in voting
in December, but there might be less urgency with President Bush's
reelection. The FCC has five weeks after this week's meeting to complete
orders for the Dec meeting. However, Thanksgiving and the need to complete
action on air-to-ground communications will both be distractions. The FCC
also hopes to issue recommendations to Congress this year on what to do
with the 15% of consumers whose TV sets would no longer work after the DTV
transition.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Howard Buskirk]
(Not available online)

NAB WILL COMMIT TO DTV DEADLINE
The National Association of Broadcasters, Disney-owned and operated ABC TV
stations, associations representing CBS and NBC affiliates and 17 major TV
station groups including Belo, LIN, Emmis, Hearst-Argyle, Tribune Gannet
and Media General are lining up to commit to a hard deadline for completing
the switch to all-digital broadcasting. No date is actually being
suggested, the broadcasters said they will "work with Congress and
regulators to develop a specific DTV transition plan in the coming months
that will bring an orderly end to the transition." BUT -- there's always a
but -- broadcasters insist that the FCC drop the major tenet of the
so-called "Ferree plan," counting nearly all cable subscribers as receiving
local DTV stations, even if some of those viewers are receiving the
stations' digital programming after cable operators convert them to an
analog format. Other conditions broadcasters demand include cable carriage
rights for every digital multicast channel they offer free over the air and
the delay of an FCC plan to let Wi-Fi and other unlicensed communications
devices operate on vacant TV channels until after the DTV transition is
complete. The industry also asked that any hard DTV completion date exempt
broadcasters facing technical problems that prevent them from going digital.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA478389.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

GOP WANTS NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO ABANDON EXIT POLLS
After early exit polls in Tuesday's election inaccurately suggested that
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry would trounce President
Bush, Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie is recommending
that major news organizations pull the plug on the prognostications. "In
2000 the exit data was wrong on Election Day. In 2002, the exit returns
were wrong on Election Day. And in 2004, the exit data were wrong on
Election Day -- all three times, by the way, in a way that skewed against
Republicans and had a dispiriting effect on Republican voters across the
country."
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6674

INTEL CHIEF BARRETT LAYS OUT US TECH POLICY AGENDA
Speaking to an audience at the annual Semiconductor Industry Association
dinner, Intel CEO Craig Barrett deliver a stinging rebuke of Washington
politicians and offer a tech-policy agenda for the newly re-elected Bush
administration to consider. The United States, he said, must focus on
improving science and math education, spend more on research and
development and develop technology infrastructure such as broadband.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR:Dean Takahashi]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/10109610.htm

MEDIA

BELO GAVE TIME TO 159 CANDIDATES
Belo-owned TV stations in 15 markets collectively produced over 20 hours of
programming in the "It's Your Time" campaign between September 21 and
election day. Each candidate was given five minutes, four to tell why they
should be elected and one to answer a question on an issue central to their
particular race. In addition to airing the segments on its TV stations,
Belo also ran them on its regional and local cable news channels and made
them available to noncommercial stations in the market.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA478196.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

SWEATING BUSH II AT CBS
Players involved in the notorious 60 Minutes-on-Wednesday segment, reported
by Dan Rather, that employed dubious documents regarding President Bush's
National Guard service may face stiffer internal punishment now that
President Bush has won reelection. Now the hammer could come down on
producer Mary Mapes, 60 Minutes II executive producer Josh Howard, Dan
Rather and all the way up to news division President Andrew Heyward.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA478551?display=The+Beat&refer...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

KERRY FINALLY WINS ONE
The evening broadcasts on ABC, CBS and NBC gave the Kerry campaign a bigger
chunk of their campaign coverage than they devoted to any other nominee of
either party in the past five presidential elections. But while Kerry
prospered on the network news, coverage of Senate and House races,
statewide contests and propositions withered in 2004. Through the end of
October, the total coverage of those subjects drew just 3% of the overall
election news-hole. That's a drop of more than half since 1992 and more
than two-thirds since 1996.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Andrew Tyndall ]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA478578.html?display=Feature&r...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

SINCLAIR SITS PRETTY
Sinclair Broadcasting said its controversial program on John Kerry's war
record was hugely profitable for the company, so much so that it intends to
produce more such shows from its centralized news operation near Baltimore.
"We made more revenue on that show than we would have otherwise across our
platform," said Sinclair CEO David Smith. "The lesson learned is that the
central news structure we've created has the capability of producing
relevant content and we are convinced we can make more money in other
dayparts."
[SOURCE: Variety, AUTHOR: Michael Learmonth]
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1951&ncid=762&e=8&u=/var...
Also see --
Sinclair Moves on From Stolen Spat
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA478552?display=The+Beat&refer...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

FOX NEWS, MEDIA ELITE
Cable news channel Fox News amassed an audience of 8.1 million viewers on
election night, clobbering other cable news networks. NBC, ABC and CBS, on
the other hand, lost millions of viewers this year, according to Nielsen
Media Research. And Fox News actually came closer to CBS in the ratings
than CNN did to Fox News. Fox News has now become popular enough -- with an
audience whose conservative political leanings track those of the voters
who re-elected President Bush -- to lay claim to its own place in the
establishment.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jacques Steinberg]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/08/business/media/08fox.html
(requires registration)

DRAMA ON HORIZON FOR SPANISH TELEVISION
A change of government in Spain means a new ballgame for Spain's fiercely
politicized media companies. The 7-month-old Socialist government of Prime
Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero plans to award licenses for two new
television networks, much to the annoyance of Telecinco and Antena 3, the
TV networks that dominate Spain's 6-billion-euro ($7.7-billion) advertising
market. It is widely expected that one of the new TV licenses will be
awarded to Prisa, a pro-Socialist media group that owns the daily newspaper
El Pais, commercial radio broadcaster Cadena Ser and a 23% stake in
Sogecable, a pay TV company. With the political wind now blowing in its
favor, Prisa's shares are up 30% this year. Meanwhile, Vocento, a
cash-rich, privately owned group of regional newspapers, is openly lobbying
for the other TV license.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Leslie Crawford]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-ft-spain8nov08,1,4431556...
(requires registration)

TELECOM

SHOWDOWN OF THE GIANTS
With the nation's cable companies determined to offer Internet calling to
millions, the phone companies are responding by jumping into the TV
business. Both Verizon and SBC have launched multibillion-dollar efforts to
roll out high-capacity fiber lines that can deliver Internet service, voice
and video through a single connection. Services to consumers will rollout
in 2005 and Verizon is already lining up rights from content providers. But
offering conventional TV fare is likely to require the phone companies to
acquire franchise rights, just like cable companies must do. Winning the
necessary licenses from municipalities is a time-consuming process that
involves lobbying and, at times, legal wrangling at a local level that can
take months. This isn't the first time that the Bells have tried to make a
push into television. In 1993, Bell Atlantic tried to acquire cable giant
TCI, which was later sold to AT&T and today is part of Comcast. In the
mid-1990s, Bell Atlantic and Nynex (now both part of Verizon) and SBC
jointly formed TeleTV and hired a CBS executive to buy content that could
run over fiber. Meanwhile, the former Ameritech (now owned by SBC) and Walt
Disney formed Americast, a cable company that bought or established several
dozen cable TV systems and tried to line up programming. Both TeleTV and
Americast fizzled: Fiber technology back then turned out to be too
expensive for Bell Atlantic, and innovative content was hard to come by for
both ventures.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Drucker jesse.drucker( at )wsj.com, Berman
dennis.berman( at )wsj.com and Grant peter.grant( at )wsj.com ]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109987210662467137,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)
See also --
Is Telecom Too Late to TV?
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Joe Flint
joe.flint( at )wsj.com and Brooks Barnes brooks.barnes( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109987236138067144,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)
Fiber doesn't make it to big cities yet
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041108/1b_verizon08.art.htm

CABLE TITANS DISCUSS OFFERING CELLULAR SERVICES, INTENSIFYING FORAY INTO
TELECOM'S TURF
Competition between cable and telephone giants may be intensifying. The
nation's biggest cable providers are discussing the formation of a joint
venture to offer cellphone service, according to people familiar with the
talks. The members of the informal consortium include Comcast, Time Warner,
Cox Communications, Charter Communications and Advance/Newhouse
Communications. Either by purchasing a wireless operator outright or
reselling services of an existing network, a deal would allow cable
operators to offer a full bundle of services -- including video, high-speed
Internet access, landline telephone and cellular service -- to the
country's 74 million cable subscribers. The theory is that customers
getting all their services from one provider -- on a single bill, at a
discount -- are less likely to defect from any one of those services. The
success of this approach still is uncertain: a mere 1% of consumers use a
single provider to get local telephone, long distance, Internet access and
cellphone service.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Drucker jesse.drucker( at )wsj.com, Berman
dennis.berman( at )wsj.com and Grant peter.grant( at )wsj.com ]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109986585663666960,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)

VERIZON TO BUY ALL OF NEXTWAVE'S SPECTRUM
Verizon Wireless agreed to buy all of NextWave's PCS licenses for $3
billion. A federal Bankruptcy Court will be asked to rule on the request at
a Nov. 30 hearing , since the sale represents NextWave's new reorganization
plan. Meanwhile, a top FCC official said the deal likely won't set off
regulatory red flags. If completed, the sale will essentially end the
multi-year NextWave saga, one of the telecom industry's most dramatic
ongoing stories.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Howard Buskirk]
(Not available online)
Coverage also in --
WSJ:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109963817243165926,00.html?mod=todays...

QUICKLY

ONE INTERNET, MANY COPYRIGHT LAWS
The Elvis Presley hit "That's All Right" is due to become copyright-free
next year in Europe, but not for another 45 years in the US. The case is
one more example of the Internet's inherent lack of respect for national
borders or, from another view, the world's lack of reckoning for the
international nature of the Internet, and it is also an example of the
already complicated range of copyright laws.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Victoria Shannon]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/08/technology/08newcon.html
(requires registration)

SEE WIRED
In the November issue of Wired there is a CD issued under a new type of
license called the Creative Commons, the brainchild of Stanford Law School
Professor Lawrence Lessig. The artists on the disc have agreed to give
music lovers the freedom to transfer the songs to their computers,
distribute them over Internet file-swapping networks like Kazaa, and even
sample the rhythms and hooks to create their own compositions. The only
thing you can't do is use them in commercials or, in a handful of
instances, a song you plan to release.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Dawn C. Chmielewski]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/10126944.htm

RSA SEES LOOMING IDENTITY CRISIS ONLINE
Andrew Nash, the director of technology for RSA Security said businesses
need to move their online customers toward a federated identity policy or
security threats could bring people to lose confidence in trading. "You're
talking about hundreds of thousands of people who need to be
authenticated," Nash said at the RSA Conference in Barcelona. "If we can't
adopt quickly enough, the Internet will become known as a very unsafe
place. People won't have confidence in it and (companies) will bail out, if
not put their technology on hold."
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Dan Ilett]
http://news.com.com/RSA+sees+looming+identity+crisis+online/2100-7348_3-...
--------------------------------------------------------------
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

WHAT THE ELECTION MEANS
What Election Results Mean for Communications Policy
Paying for Campaigns: McCain Eyes Next Target

COVERING ELECTION NIGHT
How Insiders Were Fooled
Election Coverage Draws Large Prime-Time Audience

TELECOM
USAC to Resume Issuing Funding Commitment Decision Letters
FCC Aims at Retaining Phone Competition

NEW PUBLICATIONS
Open Architecture as Communications Policy
Illinois Online

WHAT THE ELECTION MEANS

WHAT THE ELECTION MEANS FOR COMMUNICATIONS POLICY
The election means a lot of things to a lot of people, but under this=20
umbrella, we'll cover the impact on communications policy. CommDaily=20
reports that Republicans in Congress will have even greater control and=20
are likely to continue to push for free trade and a more deregulatory=20
approach to telecom. Proponents of stronger media ownership rules will=20
likely have a harder time getting Congress to roll back more lenient FCC=20
rules as President Bush has shown support for the FCC=92s ownership changes.
Republicans and are expected to begin a rewrite -- or, at least,=20
reexamination -- of US telecommunication law. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is=20
expected to retain his chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee.=20
Rep Barton has called for ending the digital-TV transition Dec. 31, 2006,=20
which clashes with a FCC plan that would end it Dec. 31, 2008. He also says=
=20
a revamp of the Telecommunications Act is needed to take into account the=20
convergence of voice, video and data over the Internet and to accommodate=20
strains on the subsidy program to keep local phone service affordable in=20
rural America. In the Senate, Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is expected to take=20
command of the Commerce Committee from Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who won=20
re-election Tuesday night, but must yield the gavel due to GOP Senate rules=
=20
that impose term limits on committee chairmen. Months ago, Sen Stevens said=
=20
writing a new telecommunications law was a priority. Affordable rural phone=
=20
rates have been a Stevens cause for decades. He is troubled that if voice=20
traffic migrates to the Internet and private Internet-protocol networks and=
=20
providers do not have to contribute to the phone-subsidy program, local=20
phone rates will rise in his state.
The win for President Bush (and loss for Sen Thomas Daschle (D-SD)) means=20
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein will lose his seat when Congress=20
adjourns. There's no telling how long it will take the President to=20
nominate a replacement leaving FCC Republicans with a 3-1 majority. The=20
term of Kathleen Abernathy, a Republican, has also expired, but she can=20
remain at the FCC until Congress adjourns next year unless Bush nominates=20
someone to replace her before then. It is unclear whether FCC Chairman will=
=20
remain on the Commission for President Bush's second term.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA477638.html?display=3DBreaking+News
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA477776.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
Little New Expected in Congressional Agenda After Republican Victory
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
Bigger, Faster, and Less Regulated
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/business/04bizreact.html?pagewanted=3D4
(requires registration)
Media ownership rules may loosen even more
[SOURCE: USAToday]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041104/3b_regulatory04.art.htm
TVWeek
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D6654

PAYING FOR CAMPAIGNS: MCCAIN EYES NEXT TARGET
[Commentary] The elections of 2004 proved the success of the=20
McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act while highlighting a new=20
problem within the system that still needs to be addressed. A new problem=20
has emerged in the form of tax-exempt 527 groups, named for a section of=20
the tax code for a category of non-profit political organizations.Political=
=20
operatives in both parties created new 527 groups to circumvent campaign=20
finance laws and continue to inject soft money into federal elections. The=
=20
527 groups illegally raised and spent tens of millions of dollars in soft=20
money on ads and partisan voter-mobilization efforts to influence the=20
presidential election. At the core of the financing for these groups was a=
=20
relatively small number of very wealthy individuals making large soft-money=
=20
contributions. Four individuals alone gave a combined total of $78 million=
=20
to these groups. It is clear that the Federal Elections Commission is a=20
failed agency with overtly partisan commissioners who oppose both new and=20
longstanding campaign finance statutes. The FEC has proved its=20
ineffectiveness and its willingness to run roughshod over the will of the=20
Congress, the Supreme Court, the American people and the Constitution. In=20
January, the new Congress will convene, and we will initiate a new round of=
=20
necessary reforms =97 beginning with a new enforcement agency to replace the=
FEC.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Sen John McCain (R-AZ)]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041104/opcom04.art.htm

COVERING ELECTION NIGHT

HOW INSIDERS WERE FOOLED
If you just watched TV Tuesday night, you had a good impression of who=20
would eventually win the election. for about seven hours in the afternoon=20
and early evening, several million "insiders" with access to exit-poll data=
=20
-- blog readers, print journalists, TV executives, politicos and their=20
e-mail buddies -- had a different impression. Bloggers leaked early exit=20
polls that were wrong in some cases. And some insiders disregarded warnings=
=20
from the exit pollsters that theirs is an inexact science. By comparison,=20
most pre-election polls were quite accurate: They gave President Bush a=20
narrow lead nationally, and correctly identified the battleground states.=20
Warren Mitofsky, a longtime CBS election analyst who co-heads the=20
media-owned consortium called the National Election Pool, said the=20
consortium spotted problems with its early data in Florida, South Carolina,=
=20
Virginia and six other states. "We had called the networks earlier in the=20
day and told them about a handful of states where we didn't think the=20
results were accurate. But we didn't think we were supposed to share that=20
with the leaker and the leakee." Indeed, Mr. Mitofsky said: "All the people=
=20
getting leaked stuff were getting [it] from people who weren't always=20
accurate . . . and were premature, and now they are complaining about it.=20
We didn't mislead the people we were working with. We made any number of=20
projections. All of them were correct."
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jesse Drucker jesse.drucker( at )wsj.com &=
=20
Glenn R. Simpson glenn.simpson( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109951770243863984,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)
Survey Experts Cite Problems With Data and Interpretation
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jim Rutenberg]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/04exit.html?pagewanted=
=3Dall
(requires registration)

ELECTION COVERAGE DRAWS LARGE PRIME-TIME AUDIENCE
Who says Americans aren't interested in politics? Tuesday's election=20
produced the biggest voter turnout since 1968 with approximately 120=20
million ballots cast. And 63 million viewers tuned in to find out who won.=
=20
NBC was the choice of the largest number of broadcast viewers, Fox News=20
Channel had its biggest night ever, and Univision was the overwhelming=20
choice for Spanish-language coverage.
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D6658
See also --
Cable Networks Score Big in Election Ratings
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Joe Flint joe.flint( at )wsj.com ]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109951877797464020,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
They Don't Declare: The Vote-Callers Who Lost Their Voice
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23756-2004Nov3.html
(requires registration)
Once Bitten, Twice Tempted, But No Call in Wee Hours
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jacques Steinberg & David Carr]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/04networks.html?page...
ed=3Dall
(requires registration)
Also:
TV networks were in no rush to call presidential election
[SOURCE: USAToday]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041104/a_networks04.art.htm
Bloggers Gain Attention In 2004 Election
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Leslie Walker walkerl( at )washpost.com]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23628-2004Nov3.html
(requires registration)

TELECOM

USAC TO RESUME ISSUING FUNDING COMMITMENT DECISION LETTERS
In early August, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)=20
suspended issuance of Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) for both=
=20
schools and libraries and rural health care providers for all funding=20
years. USAC has worked closely with the FCC since then and has now=20
determined the amount of unobligated cash it has available to cover new=20
commitments and will resume issuing new FCDLs within the next two weeks. In=
=20
issuing FCDLs, USAC will follow the prioritization principles posted on=20
this web site on October 27 (see=20
http://www.universalservice.org/new/2004.asp#102704). Note that available=20
funds are calculated separately for each support mechanism. Generally,=20
commitments will be issued for applications and meritorious appeals for=20
funding years prior to Funding Year 2004 first and then, for Funding Year=20
2004, requests for telecommunications services and Internet access=20
(Priority 1) first and, for schools and libraries, internal connections=20
second. If funds are not sufficient for all pending requests within one=20
priority, requests will be funded based on the date the application review=
=20
was completed. USAC expects to have sufficient funds to make commitments on=
=20
all pending Rural Health Care requests that have completed review and=20
generally to be able to issue FCDLs on other pending applications as review=
=20
is completed. With respect to the Schools and Libraries mechanism, USAC=20
expects to issue FCDLs for all applications for funding years prior to 2004=
=20
that have completed review and to have sufficient funds to make commitments=
=20
for Priority 1 services on some portion of the applications that have=20
completed review based on the date of completion. As additional funds=20
become available through contributions to the Universal Service Fund and=20
through "deobligation" of previously committed funds (for example, funds=20
committed for recurring services for Funding Year 2003 and not invoiced by=
=20
October 28, 2004), USAC will make additional commitments -- first for=20
prior-year applications and appeals and then for Priority 1 requests on=20
applications for 2004. Commitments for prior years will be made as they=20
become ready. For Funding Year 2004, USAC expects to issue periodic "waves"=
=20
of commitments. USAC cannot predict the exact timing at this time, but=20
expects at least one such wave a month.
[SOURCE: Universal Service Administrative Company]
http://www.universalservice.org/new/2004.asp#110304

FCC AIMS AT RETAINING PHONE COMPETITION
The FCC is drafting a plan that could allow residential customers to keep=20
their discounted local phone service from providers such as AT&T and MCI=20
for up to two years. The development could be good news for rivals to the=20
regional Bells. FCC Chairman Michael Powell has pushed a deregulatory=20
agenda that would free the Bells from having to lease their wires to=20
competitors at government-set low rates. The FCC staff plans to propose=20
later this month that rivals be able to lease high-speed data lines and=20
other facilities from the Bells at current low rates in areas that lack=20
competition. For example, if no Bell rivals serve small businesses in a=20
certain block with their own lines, that would show that competitors need=20
to lease the Bells' lines there. In those cases, the discount leasing could=
=20
continue.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:Paul Davidson]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041104/fcc04.art.htm

NEW PUBLICATIONS

OPEN ARCHITECTURE AS COMMUNICATIONS POLICY
A collection of papers from speakers at a forum held on Capitol Hill=20
entitled Broadband Technology Forum: The Future Of The Internet In The=20
Broadband Age. They seek to provide a comprehensive basis for understanding=
=20
the interaction of technology and public policy in the development of the=20
Internet. The papers address three aspects of the environment in which the=
=20
Internet was created and flourished -- technology, economy and law.
[SOURCE: , EDITOR: Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America]
http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/blogs/cooper/archives/openarchitecture.pdf

ILLINOIS ONLINE
Broadband -- a transmission channel of sufficient capacity to effectively=20
deliver advanced information applications and services via the Internet --=
=20
is an infrastructure that is critical to the economic development prospects=
=20
of Illinois cities and rural communities. Although the full extent of the=20
problem is unknown, it is clear that many smaller Illinois towns and rural=
=20
areas, as well as selected areas within the state=92s metropolitan centers,=
=20
currently lack access to broadband service despite ongoing rollout of=20
digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modem services by=20
telecommunications companies and cable providers. In some cases, service is=
=20
available but not affordable. Areas that
remain without affordable service cannot be economically competitive. They=
=20
will have little to no success growing and attracting business activity to=
=20
replace declines in industries established prior to the Internet era.=20
Isolated rural communities are at particular risk because they lack the=20
option of capturing residential and commercial spillover growth from urban=
=20
centers. Without an active effort to encourage widespread broadband=20
deployment, Illinois will guarantee the decline of some of its rural=20
communities and increase the shift in the relative distribution of=20
population and business activity to urbanized areas. This report, the=20
result of a project commissioned by the Rural Affairs Council in the Office=
=20
of Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, discusses how to accelerate the=20
deployment of broadband in underserved communities in Illinois.
[SOURCE: Office of Rural Affairs, State of Illinois, AUTHOR: Edward Feser=20
and Timothy Green, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]
http://www.state.il.us/ltgov/pdf/IllinoisOnline.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Please remember to vote today as we do in Chicago -- early and often.

Media for Democracy launched the MediaWatchBlog so Americans in all 50
states can protect our election process against election media abuses --
such as early and erroneous victory projections, and partisan reporting --
that might occur while Americans vote. File your reports on media coverage
here:
http://www.mediafordemocracy.us/ct/PdS3xBY1fpCi/http://www.citizensmedia...

AT STAKE TODAY
Kerry Win Could Extend FCC Gridlock
Regardless of Election, Changes Coming to Congressional Committees
Future of Federal Rulemaking Caught Up in Election

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
Pappas Decision Released
Last-Minute Campaign Ads Give Broadcasters a Boost
Docu-Trauma
Lessons From The Election (Already)

BROADCASTING
Free Press Challenges Sinclair Licenses
NAB Unveils New DTV-Carriage Plan
Noncoms Get Dough for Digital Archiving
Industry Moves Forward on Digital Radio

QUICKLY
How to Move the IP Era Out of Neutral
Wireless Carriers Protest Possible EAS Mandate

AT STAKE TODAY

KERRY WIN COULD EXTEND FCC GRIDLOCK
Legg Mason Wood Walker foresees girdlock at the FCC, if Sen Kerry wins
today's election. Analyst Blair Levin, a former FCC chief of staff, wrote
that leadership turnover at the agency, coupled with stalled nominations in
the Senate, could produce a deadlock that would prevent the FCC from
issuing new policies on a range of topics. The scenario assumes Republican
control of the Senate, two vacant seats on the Commission with Democrat
Michael Copps serving as chairman along with Republicans Kevin Martin and
Kathleen Abernathy. "Such a scenario could go for some time, likely
limiting the work the FCC could accomplish in 2005 and maybe beyond," Levin
wrote in a detailed report handicapping policy moves at the FCC if either
Kerry or President George W. Bush wins the election.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA476872.html?display=Breaking+News
(requires subscription)

REGARDLESS OF ELECTION, CHANGES COMING TO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
Turn and face the stranger Ch-ch-Changes. No matter what happens today,
ch-ch-changes are coming and the next Congress will have several new
legislators overseeing telecom and Internet law. The Baby Bells are losing
a few supporters and a noteworthy detractor thanks to retirement. In the
House, former Commerce Committee
Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) is retiring, but has already given his
leadership seat to current Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX). In the Senate, Bell
supporter Breaux (D-LA) is retiring as is critic Hollings (SC). The Senate
Commerce Committee is also losing Sen Fitzgerald (R-IL) and could lose Sen
Kerry (we should know by Thanksgiving). Regardless of the election's
outcome, as current Chairman McCain (R-AZ) must resign the chairmanship due
to term limits. If Republicans maintain the Senate, Sen Stevens (R-Alaska)
is expected to take the seat. If Democrats regain the Senate, Sen Inouye
(D-Hawaii) will likely be the Committee Chairman.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane & Bowie]
(Not available online)

FUTURE OF FEDERAL RULEMAKING CAUGHT UP IN ELECTION
The war in Iraq, terrorism and the economy (stupid). These are the big
issues on voters' minds today. But how do the candidates differ on their
approach to regulation? President Bush addresses regulation as part of his
"Plan for Creating Opportunity for America's Workers." He promises to
reduce the regulatory "burden" by continuing to insist on good science and
economics; making sure new rules are flexible and don't harm small
business; and streamlining existing rules and paperwork requirements. He
advocates tax credits and market incentives to address energy needs and
environmental challenges. It's harder to discern Sen Kerry's overall
philosophy of regulation. But past votes in the Senate and positions he has
taken on domestic issues indicate he would use the regulatory tools
available to him more often. He would push more funding for the Superfund
program to clean up polluted industrial sites. He promises to reverse the
recent rule determining eligibility for overtime, push for deep reductions
in mercury emissions, increase fuel-efficiency standards and institute a
mandatory federal standard to prevent repetitive-motion injuries on the
job. "He understands you don't need to over-regulate, but he believes in
basic protections. There is a role for government. He'll get everyone to
the table and find the right balance," said Sarah Bianchi, policy director
for the Kerry campaign.
Sure -- the future of regulation -- now we've got your blood pumping and
all of a sudden you are interested in this election.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cindy Skrzycki]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17353-2004Nov1.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

PAPPAS DECISION RELEASED
Pappas Telecasting is complying with the FCC's equal-time ruling but hasn't
ruled out appealing the decision to the full Commission, Communications
Daily reports. The ruling came as no surprise to Media Access Project
President Andrew Schwartzman, who called Pappas' action "absurd."
Schwartzman said the Pappas incident was reflective of broadcasters'
election actions. "This is an accumulative affect of broadcasters thinking
the FCC no longer cares what they do. I'm glad to say they're wrong," he said.
The FCC has released its decision on Pappas decision to offer free air time
to California candidates. Titled "In the Matter of Equal Opportunities
Complaint Filed By
Nicole Parra Against Pappas Telecasting Companies." DA 04-3494
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-3494A1.doc
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
Broadcasting&Cable covered the decision Monday morning. See
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476775.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

LAST-MINUTE CAMPAIGN ADS GIVE BROADCASTERS A BOOST
Most political ad spending is on local TV. Over the past week, about $57
million has been spent on broadcast TV commercials related to the
presidential race, representing more than one-quarter of the $200 million
spent on such ads in the entire 2000 race. Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Michigan have seen much of that spending and TV station owners like Media
General, E.W. Scripps, the Washington Post, Gannett and Meredith should
profit from it.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Martha Graybow ]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=668...

DOCU-TRAUMA
Although a big part of the story of the 2004 election, political
documentaries, many made by first-time filmmakers, have fared poorly at the
cineplex with the exception of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" ($119
million domestic box office). "It seems like people might be talking about
these movies more than seeing them," says Robert Stone, the filmmaker
behind the upcoming "Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst." "They seem to
lack artistry or story. They're right in your face," he says. "I think
there is a feeling of burnout." See a discussion of films you should feel
guilty you didn't see before voting at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: William Booth]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17419-2004Nov1.html
(requires registration)

LESSONS FROM THE ELECTION (ALREADY)
This election has taught us lessons about network technology and a new form
of interaction between candidates, citizens and the media. 1) Targeting and
mobilizing a specific grassroots demographic can have advantages not just
in viral, on-the-ground organization but in practical terms for raising
money. 2) The Internet was used to test and distribute ads, but the bulk of
candidates' financial resources is still used to buy television time,
particularly in the closing stages of the campaign. So far, an estimated
$526 million has been spent in the country's top 100 television
markets--and with so many states still in play, that relentless torrent of
over-exposure, enriching no one but the broadcasters, will continue right
up to the wire. 3) The function of the journalist, particularly on cable
news stations, has become almost reduced to that of a mere referee between
two talking--or more frequently, shouting--heads as they go at it with
often scant regard for the factual accuracy of their talking points. To
counter this has been the growth of independent fact-checking sites, a true
manifestation of how the Internet is facilitating the evolution of a new
intellectual gathering place.
There's more at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Forbes.com, AUTHOR: Steve McGookin]
http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2004/11/01/cz_sm_1101mcgookin.html
The NYTimes asked bloggers what the most important moment in the election
was. See their answers at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/02/opinion/02blogger-final.html
The NYTimes also has an article about what advertisers learned from the
election:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/02/business/media/02adco.html

BROADCASTING

FREE PRESS CHALLENGES SINCLAIR LICENSES
On Monday, media activist Free Press asked the FCC to revoke some TV
licenses controlled by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Free Press alleges
that Sinclair is illegally operating duopolies in Asheville (NC) and
Charleston (SC) in conjunction with local marketing agreement partner
Cunningham Broadcasting. Eight station licenses are at stake including
Sinclair stations WXLV Winston-Salem (NC), WUPN Greensboro (NC), WLFL
Raleigh (NC), WRDC Durham (NC), WLOS Asheville (NC), and WMMP Charleston
(SC). Free Press also opposes renewals of Cunningham stations WBSC
Asheville (SC), and WTAT Charleston (SC). Free Press accuses Cunningham of
being "a sham owner" that has "relinquished complete economic and editorial
control of its stations to Sinclair." Carolyn Smith, mother of Sinclair CEO
David Smith, is the controlling shareholder of Cunningham. Free Press also
charged that Sinclair ignores its obligations to provide programming that
serves the local interests of its stations' communities. In some markets
Sinclair has cut news operations and relied on regional and national feeds
from its News Central operations in Baltimore for much of its news
programming. The FCC is in the middle of a multi-staged review of TV
licenses that will continue through 2007. Petitions to deny renewals of
North and South Carolina stations were due Monday. Licenses in those states
expire Dec. 1.
B&C is also reporting that Common Cause and Free Press asked the FCC to
deny renewal of the television license of WBTW in Florence, South Carolina.
The station owner, Media General, has filed a license renewal application
and a request for a permanent waiver to own both WBTW and the only local
daily newspaper, the Florence Morning News, in violation of the FCC's
newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476949.html?display=Breaking+...
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA477016.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
Additional coverage:
Watchdog Group to File Petitions Against Sinclair
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6636
Group Challenges Sinclair Licenses
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Walter F. Roche Jr.]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-sinclair2nov02,1...
(requires registration)

NAB UNVEILS NEW DTV-CARRIAGE PLAN
The National Association of Broadcasters has unveiled a new
digital-TV-carriage plan that would deny cable systems the unfettered
freedom to convert digital-TV signals to analog at the headend in order to
protect consumers without digital sets or set-tops. The plan would mandate
that by the end of the transition to digital TV, cable systems would be
required to transmit digital-TV signals from the headend to consumer homes.
After that threshold had been met, the NAB would leave cable two choices:
Either provide set-tops to consumers with analog-TV sets or send
downconverted analog signals to satisfy subscribers with analog sets who do
not want set-tops. "Thus, any plan to end the transition and return analog
spectrum must ensure that all consumers are able to receive, at their TV
set, the full program offerings provided by free over-the-air broadcast
service," the NAB said. The NAB added that TV-spectrum-auction proceeds
should be tapped to defray the cost of conversion equipment for analog-only
consumers.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA476704.html?display=Breaking+News
(requires subscription)
See more coverage:
Broadcasters Ask FCC to Modify Digital Conversion Plan
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=6634
Broadcasters Offer Own Ferree TV Plan
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA477015?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

NONCOMS GET DOUGH FOR DIGITAL ARCHIVING
The Library of Congress' National Digital Information Infrastructure and
Preservation Program (NDIIPP) is granting nearly $3 million to a
partnership of WNET New York and WGBH Boston (the two largest PBS' program
suppliers), PBS; and New York University to help archive and preserve
digital, noncommercial television programming and related Web content. The
library is trying to prevent the sort of wholesale losses of TV programming
that typify the early days of analog television, when many live shows were
not recorded, or if they were, the recordings were eventually destroyed for
lack of space and interest.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476878.html?display=Breaking+...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

INDUSTRY MOVES FORWARD ON DIGITAL RADIO
The radio industry is moving ahead with plans to convert to digital
technology. There's wide agreement on the industry's need to settle on
technical standards for HD Radio, a task before the National Radio Systems
Committee (NRSC), formed by National Association of Broadcasters and the
Consumer Electronics Association. "The rules and standards in some ways are
as important as the technology," said David Layer, NAB Science & Technology
Department Engineering Director. The failure of AM stereo is proof that
failure to unify on standards would be disastrous, he says. Of the digital
radio transition, Layer said, "Everyone wants it to be market-driven. No
one wants the government to tell them when to switch their signal." The
opportunity to split the digital audio channel into multiple programming
streams, or add data, is intriguing for new revenue opportunities, Lyons
said. "Real-time traffic is probably the hottest button or hottest feature
being discussed within the auto industry," he said, referring
to information provided by displaying maps and text alerts.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Louis Trager]
(Not available online)

QUICKLY

HOW TO MOVE THE IP ERA OUT OF NEUTRAL
[Commentary] Congress seems poised to begin a rewrite of telecommunications
laws next year and one of the first things it is likely to do is take a
close look at the existing system of "silos" that has governed the
communications sector for decades. These inflexible divisions assume clear,
unwavering distinctions, but in today's Internet-based world, the lines
between various services and technologies are quickly blurring. If our
legal thinking and structures are not adapted to technology and
market-driven realities, future competition and innovation will be stifled.
MCI advocates replacing silos with four software-derived data layers:
first, the physical layer, which represents the physical infrastructure
(for example, copper lines); second, the logical layer, which connects the
physical infrastructure (for example, Internet Protocol); third, the
applications layer (for example, Web browsers); and fourth, the content
layer (for example, the words in this brilliant summary). The framework's
guiding principle seeks to fit our laws and regulations to the ways that
the Internet is constructed and operated, rather than the other way around.
The proposal looks to the existence of significant market power as the
chief rationale for economic regulation. Conversely, the presence of
competition in a particular network layer means that no such regulation is
warranted.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Richard Whitt, MCI]
http://news.com.com/How+to+move+the+IP+era+out+of+neutral/2010-1071_3-54...

WIRELESS CARRIERS PROTEST POSSIBLE EAS MANDATE
Wireless carriers told the FCC they shouldn't be forced to transmit
emergency messages through text messages on mobile phones. Led by CTIA,
carriers noted that efforts to develop a more effective Emergency Alert
System (EAS) were under way and a voluntary approach would work best.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Howard Buskirk]
(Not available online)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------