For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
POLICYMAKERS
News From FCC Meeting
Brownback Pitches White House On Waltzman
DIGITAL TELEVISION
DTV Transition
Technology Giants Back Barton Plan
CABLE
Media Watchdog Challenges FCC
Activists Aim at Adelphia Deal
CONTENT
Republican Chairman Exerts Pressure on PBS, Alleging Biases
Smackdown in Smut War?
Roberts Leads 'Control' Charge
Wyden: Kids=92 Tier or $500K Fine
NBC Adopts Content Ratings
INTERNET
Sources: Martin Opposes SBC=92s IP Request
Cities Brace for Broadband War
Who Answers 911
MEDIA
'Big Four' TV Networks Get A Wake-Up Call -- in Spanish
Newspaper Circulation Continues Decline, Forcing Tough Decisions
Marketing Folks' New Medium May Be Your PC's Hard Drive
Sirius to Offer 'Podcast' Show
POLICYMAKERS
NEWS FROM FCC MEETING
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps joked that we were all lucky to make it=20
through Chairman Kevin Martin's first meeting "bloodied and bruised."=20
Actually, it was a gathering of the nicest group of telecommunications=20
regulators since, like, ever. Here's a quick summary of the news coming out=
=20
of the meeting:
* The Commission is asking for public comment on the adequacy of the=20
digital signal strength standard and testing procedures used to determine=20
whether households are eligible to receive distant broadcast digital=20
television (DTV) network signals from satellite communications providers.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258480A1.doc
* The FCC began a rulemaking concerning satellite broadcast carriage=20
requirements to the noncontiguous United States.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258477A1.doc
* Chairman Martin announced his intention to appoint Daniel Gonzalez as the=
=20
Commission's Chief of Staff and that Michelle Carey will join his personal=
=20
staff as Legal Advisor for Wireline Issues. Chairman Martin also announced=
=20
his intention to appoint Monica Desai as Consumer and Governmental Affairs=
=20
Bureau Chief, Kris Monteith as Enforcement Bureau Chief, and Tom Navin as=20
Wireline Competition Bureau Chief.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258473A1.doc
* Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein announced that Rudy Brioch=E9 and Amber=
=20
Danter have been appointed to his staff as Legal Advisor on media issues=20
and Confidential Assistant, respectfully.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258471A1.doc
Communications Daily reports that Chairman Martin hopes to announce his=20
choices for FCC General Counsel and Media Bureau Chief in the next couple=20
of weeks -- and to announce his agenda at that time.
BROWNBACK PITCHES WHITE HOUSE ON WALTZMAN
Although Christine Kurth has emerged as the front-runner for the vacant=20
seat at the FCC, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) late last week sent a letter=
=20
to the White House pushing his former staffer, Howard Waltzman, for the=20
spot. Sen Brownback has been an active proponent of increasing fines for=20
broadcasters who air indecent programming.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton & Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA528844?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
DIGITAL TELEVISION
DTV TRANSITION
Setting a firm deadline for digital television transition and clearing the=
=20
700 MHz band of broadcast operations is essential to satisfy public-safety=
=20
spectrum needs, the wireless industry and public safety officials agreed in=
=20
comments to the FCC. But safety officials said that, while valuable, the=20
spectrum allocated in the 700 MHz band and elsewhere isn't enough for=20
safety-oriented users. The wireless industry disagreed, saying emergency=20
response providers=92 biggest challenge isn't how much spectrum they have,=
=20
but how best to use spectrum already allocated. They said instead of=20
allocating more spectrum, the government should help finance emergency=20
response communications networks and advanced public safety solutions. The=
=20
comments came as the FCC prepares a report to Congress assessing spectrum=20
needs of federal, state and local emergency response providers. The review=
=20
was required by the 2004 Intelligence Reform & Terrorism Prevention Act.=20
The report is due to Congress Dec. 17.
At Congress, technology company Zoran is drawing attention as it promises=20
new digital-to-analog converter technology, which it says will aid a hard=20
DTV transition deadline. Powered by a single low-cost chip, Zoran says, the=
=20
technology will let any analog set display DTV feeds. Company officials=20
told legislative aides that within months it could provide a converter=20
retailing for about $67, or as little as $50 in quantity. The converter=20
could take the form of a set-top box or be integrated into new analog sets.
Late last week, Congress passed the 2006 budget resolution, an outline for=
=20
committees to work from. They are being asked to produce $4.8 billion more=
=20
for the federal treasury between now and 2010. Spectrum auction revenue is=
=20
a likely target; Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is=20
suggesting extending the auction program (now slated to end Sept. 30, 2007)=
=20
and reforming it (without saying how). Setting a hard date for the digital=
=20
TV transition could become a priority -- spectrum currently used for analog=
=20
spectrum that would be returned for auction is valued at $30-$60 billion.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Susan Polyakova; Tania=20
Panczyk-Collins & Paul Gluckman]
(Not available online)
TECHNOLOGY GIANTS BACK BARTON PLAN
Taking on the powerful broadcast-TV lobby, a coalition of high-technology=20
companies and like-minded trade groups -- including Dell, IBM, Cisco=20
Systems, Intel, Microsoft and Qualcomm -- last week announced support for=20
the effort in Congress to shut down analog TV no later than Dec. 31, 2006.=
=20
These groups have an interest in the spectrum currently used by=20
broadcasters which could be used to provide next-generation=20
broadband-wireless services over large geographic areas, and in a more=20
cost-effective fashion than possible in higher-frequency portions of the=20
radio spectrum. The coalition is well-funded and prepared to wage a battle=
=20
royale with one of the most muscular lobbying groups in Washington, D.C.:=20
the National Association of Broadcasters. NAB President Edward Fritts=20
responded that the =93corporate financial interests of a handful of=20
technology companies should not trump the needs of American television=20
viewers.=94 He then ducked inside to avoid a bolt of lighting.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA528739.html?display=3DPolicy&refer...
=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See NAB response at:
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/statements/042705commcommitteelette...
m
CABLE
MEDIA WATCHDOG CHALLENGES FCC
The Media Access Project is threatening to sue the Federal Communications=20
Commission if it signs off on Comcast and Time Warner's $17.6 billion=20
acquisition of Adelphia Communications before the agency completes its=20
long-delayed overhaul of regulations governing cable mergers. At issue with=
=20
the Adelphia deal is a rule that limits the reach of cable companies. After=
=20
a challenge by Time Warner and other media groups, the U.S. Court of=20
Appeals for the District of Columbia in 2001 overturned an FCC rule=20
limiting ownership by any one company of cable assets that reach more than=
=20
30% of U.S. subscribers. The agency began revising the cap in September=20
2001 but has yet to produce a new rule. Industry observers expect the=20
agency ultimately to set the cap at 40% of U.S. subscribers.
[SOURCE: TheDeal.com, AUTHOR: Ron Orol]
http://www.thedeal.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=3DTheDeal/TDDArt...
/TDStandardArticle&bn=3Dnewsby%2FMEDIAPUBLISHING.gif&c=3DTDDArticle&cid=3D11=
14711402445
ACTIVISTS AIM AT ADELPHIA DEAL
Media activists, with major union backing, are preparing an all-out assault=
=20
on the Adelphia deal, where Comcast and Time Warner plan to divvy up the=20
spoils of their $17.6 billion purchase of the troubled operator. The=20
activists concede that blocking the deal is a long shot. But they like=20
their chances of winning some government conditions. Some examples:=20
forbidding the operators from blocking or restricting competing content=20
over their high-speed Internet lines; limiting cluster size in major=20
markets; requiring the companies to sell sports networks and other in-house=
=20
programming to rival distributors.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA528752?display=3DNews&referra...
SUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
CONTENT
REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN EXERTS PRESSURE ON PBS, ALLEGING BIAS
"I frankly feel at PBS headquarters there is a tone deafness to issues of=20
tone and balance," says Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, the chairman of the=20
Corporation of Public Broadcasting. Tomlinson, a Republican, is=20
aggressively pressing public television to correct what he and other=20
conservatives consider liberal bias, prompting some public broadcasting=20
leaders -- including the chief executive of PBS - to object that his=20
actions pose a threat to editorial independence. Tomlinson has 1)=20
contracted, without knowledge of the rest of the CPB board, an outside=20
consultant to keep track of the guests' political leanings on one program,=
=20
"Now With Bill Moyers," 2) hired the director of the White House Office of=
=20
Global Communications as a senior staff member to draft guidelines=20
governing the work of two ombudsmen whom the corporation recently appointed=
=20
to review the content of public radio and television broadcasts, and 3)=20
encouraged corporation and public broadcasting officials to broadcast "The=
=20
Journal Editorial Report," whose host, Paul Gigot, is editor of the=20
conservative editorial page of The Wall Street Journal. As CPB looks for a=
=20
new chief executive, Tomlinson has made clear to the board that his choice=
=20
is Patricia Harrison, a former co-chairwoman of the Republican National=20
Committee who is now an assistant secretary of state.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton, Lorne Manly & Elizabeth=20
Jensen]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/arts/television/02public.html
(requires registration)
SMACKDOWN IN SMUT WAR?
Edward Fritts, the outgoing president of the National Association of=20
Broadcasters, told industry members at the association's annual convention=
=20
in Las Vegas last week that an epic lawsuit is brewing over the FCC's=20
enforcement of indecency regulations. Fox Television Network, CBS=20
Broadcasting, and NBC are each opposing recent FCC decisions, raising the=20
possibility that the government will have to take them to court to enforce=
=20
its rulings. Neither side relishes the prospect of a legal showdown, with=20
broadcasters worried that programming restrictions would hurt business and=
=20
the FCC fearful of reduced regulatory clout. But networks already are=20
laying the groundwork for what could develop into a landmark court case.
[SOURCE: CNN | Money, AUTHOR: Krysten Crawford]
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/27/news/fortune500/indecency_courts/index.htm
ROBERTS LEADS 'CONTROL' CHARGE
The normally low-profile Brian Roberts, chief executive at low-profile=20
cable company Comcast (you may have heard of it), took center stage last=20
week to announce cable's latest educational and technology-blocking=20
solutions for parents. At a press conference, Roberts outlined a multipart=
=20
strategy for addressing indecency concerns, but the plan included nothing=20
regarding the creation of a family-friendly tier or the offering of more a=
=20
la carte options. The effort represented yet another attempt by cable to=20
respond to ongoing calls by some in Congress for more regulation of cable=20
content to protect children from easy access to sex, profanity and violence=
=20
on cable systems that reach 73 million households. Unfortunately for cable,=
=20
the response from Washington policymakers was, "Nice, but not enough."
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA528833.html?display=3DTop+Stories&...
rral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Reaction from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Stevens:
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=3D236995
* Stevens Pushes Cable Industry On =91Family Tier=92
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CBEL1114617867562.html
* Martin Pushes Self-Control
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA528753?display=3DNews&referra...
SUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
WYDEN: KIDS' TIER OR $500K FINE
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a bill Thursday that would fine cable=20
companies $500,000 per day for failing to provide =93child-friendly=94 tiers=
of=20
programming that included a minimum of 15 channels. Sen Wyden said the bill=
=20
would help parents to filter inappropriate content without regulating every=
=20
channel on cable. The bill would give cable and satellite providers one=20
year to comply with the new law. In addition to the tiering requirement,=20
Sen Wyden=92s bill would force pay TV providers to include channel-blocking=
=20
instructions in monthly bills. In his statement, Sen Wyden insisted that=20
his bill would not =93dictate how the programming must be offered,=94 except=
=20
for the 15-channel minimum. The National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association said consumer education was preferable to government=20
programming mandates.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA528439.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Wyden Offers =91Child-Friendly=92 Bill
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-RPWH1114722128699.html
NBC ADOPTS CONTENT RATINGS
NBC said last week that it will immediately begin including content=20
descriptors in its TV ratings -- =94V=94 for violence, =93S=94 for sexual=
content,=20
=93L=94 for vulgar language, =93D=94 for suggestive dialogue and =93FV=94=
for fantasy=20
violence -- as the other networks do. It will also air the ratings icons=20
coming out of each commercial break. The network had been airing age-based=
=20
classifications (=93TV-G,=94 =93TV-14,=94 for example), but it had refused=
to add=20
the descriptors. The network was among the strongest critics of the=20
adoption of the ratings system on First Amendment grounds. NBC will also=20
boost its public-service-announcement campaign for the ratings system,=20
including airing PSAs in all dayparts.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA528789?display=3DNews&referra...
SUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* A Good Symbolic Gesture
B&C editorial in support of NBC's move.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA528756.html?display=3DOpinion=20
&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
INTERNET
SOURCES: MARTIN OPPOSES SBC'S IP REQUEST
In an order now in the hands of his fellow FCC Commissioners, Chairman=20
Kevin Martin is calling for rejection, on procedural grounds, of SBC=92s=20
request for deregulation of Internet-protocol-platform services built upon=
=20
the company=92s $4 billion fiber upgrade, which is designed to reach 18=20
million homes by 2007. SBC filed a petition asking that the FCC forbear=20
from applying common-carrier regulation to IP-platform services. Because=20
the agency has already deregulated many aspects of the Baby Bells=92=20
broadband activities, SBC was mainly looking for an exemption from the=20
so-called Computer II rules, which require the company to provide=20
nondiscriminatory access to competing Internet-service providers such as=20
EarthLink and America Online. Chairman Martin=92s move to act on the SBC=20
petition now was the product of a 15-month statutory deadline facing the=20
agency. If the FCC failed to reject SBC=92s petition by May 5, it would take=
=20
immediate effect. The Commission currently has four members, two=20
Republicans and two Democrats. If Martin fails to round up three votes, a=20
2-2 tie would mean that SBC=92s petition would take effect by operation of=
=20
law. Sources said Chairman Martin did not want see the FCC let a=20
forbearance petition take effect by default.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA528784.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
CITIES BRACE FOR BROADBAND WAR
Across the country, acrimonious conflicts have erupted as local governments=
=20
attempt to create publicly funded broadband services with faster=20
connections and cheaper rates for all citizens, narrowing the so-called=20
digital divide. The Bells and cable companies, for their part, argue that=20
government intervention in their business is not justified and say they are=
=20
far better equipped to operate complex and far-flung data networks. CNET=20
News.com has created an interactive municipal broadband legislative map=20
that details the major battlegrounds on the issue. At stake is the fate of=
=20
high-speed Internet access for millions of Americans, hinging on a=20
fundamental question of civics and economics--whether the government or=20
private industries should take the leading role in building out what's=20
considered this generation's critical infrastructure challenge.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Jim Hu and Marguerite Reardon]
http://news.com.com/Cities+brace+for+broadband+war/2009-1034_3-5680305.h...
tag=3Dnefd.lede
* Cities should think carefully before jumping on WiFi bandwagon
[Commentary] Although city councils and agencies from Philadelphia to San=20
Francisco to New York to Chicago to Atlanta to Los Angeles are talking=20
about the possibility of creating their own municipal wireless systems,=20
Langberg touts privately-run Wi-Fi networks that provide high-speed=20
Internet access for about $20/month.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Mike Langberg mike( at )langberg.com]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/11523026.htm
WHO ANSWERS 911
Now more than ever, the emergency phone system is being put to the test. As=
=20
mobile and Internet phone services spread, it's becoming harder for 911=20
dispatchers to pinpoint a caller's geographic location, a crucial element=20
of 911 and speedy response times. For those using one of the new Voice over=
=20
Internet Protocol, or VoIP, phone services, calls to 911 might not even=20
make it to a dispatcher because many of the providers aren't yet able to=20
provide direct access into the 911 network. Blame the problems on new=20
technology, a lack of money or even corporate politics -- but in the end,=20
concerns over public safety are mounting. That has left everyone from phone=
=20
companies to law enforcement agencies to consumer advocacy groups=20
scrambling for fixes.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Sam Diaz sdiaz( at )mercurynews.com]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/11542733.htm
MEDIA
'BIG FOUR' TV NETWORKS GET A WAKE-UP-CALL -- IN SPANISH
The Big Four have been losing viewers, particularly younger ones, to cable=
=20
networks, videogames and the Internet for years. Now, include Spanish=20
broadcasters as key competitors. Univision -- yes, Univision -- is=20
frequently No. 1 in attracting young adults in prime time this television=20
season. According to Nielsen, 19% of the U.S. population aged 18 to 34=20
describes itself as Hispanic. The young Hispanics flocking to Univision are=
=20
for the most part bilingual, which means they are tuning in because the=20
programming appeals to them -- not just because the actors speak Spanish.=20
Some high-ranking executives at the traditional networks, at least=20
privately, say they are concerned about Univision's growing dominance in=20
big cities where they own highly profitable local stations. With Nielsen=20
research showing young Hispanics spend more time watching TV than their=20
counterparts, and the Hispanic population in the U.S. exploding, the big=20
networks are waking up. Univision's high ratings do not always translate=20
into big ad dollars, however. Univision says it finds the fight for ad=20
dollars particularly frustrating because independent market surveys=20
consistently show it wields enormous influence over its audience,=20
generating more trust from U.S. Hispanics than the government and the=20
Catholic Church.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Brooks Barnes brooks.barnes( at )wsj.com=20
and Miriam Jordan miriam.jordan( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111499732468021826,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)
NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION CONTINUES DECLINE, FORCING TOUGH DECISIONS
Newspaper circulation numbers to be released today by the Audit Bureau of=20
Circulations probably will show industrywide declines of 1% to 3% --=20
possibly the highest for daily newspapers since the industry shed 2.6% of=20
subscribers in 1990-91. Long stuck in a slow decline, U.S. newspapers face=
=20
the prospect of an accelerated drop in circulation. The slide is fueling an=
=20
urgent industry discussion about whether the trend can be halted in a=20
digital age and is forcing newspaper executives to rethink their=20
traditional strategies. Rather than simply trying to halt the decline,=20
which can be done readily through discounts and promotions, they're being=20
forced to try to "manage" their circulation in new ways. Some publishers=20
are deliberately cutting circulation in the hope of selling advertisers on=
=20
the quality of their subscribers. Others are expanding into new markets to=
=20
make up for losses in their core markets. Some are switching to a tabloid=20
format or giving away papers to try to attract younger readers. Others are=
=20
pouring money into television and radio advertising and expensive=20
face-to-face sales pitches to potential subscribers.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Julia Angwin julia.angwin( at )wsj.com and=
=20
Joseph T. Hallinan joe.hallinan( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111499919608621875,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
MARKETING FOLKS' NEW MEDIUM MAY BE YOUR PC'S HARD DRIVE
A host of emerging technologies are helping big advertisers mine new=20
avenues into consumers' heads. Internet-delivered video, as it turns out,=20
is starting to be one of them. As of January, 81% of U.S. consumers had=20
access to the Internet from some location, a rise from 50% as of January=20
1999, according to a study by Arbitron and Edison Media Research. The=20
number of people with home Internet access that use a broadband connection=
=20
in January was equal to the number of Americans with a dial-up Internet=20
connection at home -- 48%, according to the research. Motion-picture=20
advertisers spent about $3.92 billion on ad time and space in 2004,=20
according to TNS Media Intelligence. As ad-skipping devices start helping=20
more consumers avoid commercials, however, marketers that rely heavily on=20
Thursday-night advertising to drive weekend box-office sales could be=20
looking for other venues. During 2004, the studios reduced spending on=20
network and local television and in newspapers compared with 2003 and=20
increased it behind cable, outdoor and U.S. Internet properties.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Brian Steinberg=20
brian.steinberg( at )wsj.com ]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111499810098921843,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)
SIRIUS TO OFFER 'PODCAST' SHOW
Sirius Satellite Radio is latching onto the "podcasting" phenomenon,=20
launching a show later this month that will feature a daily selection of=20
the increasingly popular do-it-yourself audio programs. The move by Sirius=
=20
comes just days after Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting unit said it would=20
convert a struggling talk radio station in San Francisco to an all-podcast=
=20
format.
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Seth Sutel]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/11540902.htm
* An MTV Host Moves to Radio, Giving Voice to Audible Blogs
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/business/media/02SIRIUS.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------
