September 2005

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

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
A Katrina Lesson: Need for Unified Emergency Radio System
9/11 Panel Says U.S. Hasn't Enacted Crucial Reforms (reliable communicatio=
ns
for emergency officials)
Congress Urged to Make Public Safety Communications a Priority
Stabenow, Biden Push Emergency Communications Funding
McCain Wants Analog Spectrum By 2007
Wireless Experts Aid Hurricane Victims
Health Records Of Evacuees Go Online
America's Second Harvest

TELEVISION
DTV Bill Gets New Life with Oct. 26 Reconciliation Deadline
Viacom, Comcast Study Venture for New Channels

PEOPLE
Pat Mitchell Elected to Sun Microsystems Board of Directors
Leslie Harris to Head CDT

QUICKLY -- Katrina's Silver Lining?; Roberts Recognizes Lesser Protection=
=20
For Porn; Diversity: Industry Still Taking Baby Steps; Telus Fires 14 Union=
=20
Members

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

A KATRINA LESSON: NEED FOR UNIFIED EMERGENCY RADIO SYSTEM
After surviving Hurricane Katrina's initial blow, the radio communications=
=20
system for the New Orleans police and fire departments dissolved as its=20
radio towers lost their backup power generators in the ensuing flood. Some=
=20
of the equipment could have been brought back up quickly, except that=20
technicians were blocked from entering the submerged city for three days by=
=20
state troopers who were themselves struggling with an overwhelmed radio=20
system from a different manufacturer. Four years after the 2001 terror=20
attacks exposed the need for more robust, interconnected communications=20
during such calamities, with nearly a billion dollars appropriated by=20
Congress for the task last year, the United States still lacks uniform=20
systems that can keep all emergency responders in touch. Since 2001, the=20
federal government has given $8.6 billion to states for equipment, first=20
responder training and disaster exercises. Last year, the Department of=20
Homeland Security gave the states $2.1 billion, of which $925 million was=
=20
spent on or earmarked for communications equipment upgrades. The=20
department, however, does not tell states what to buy, though it stresses=
=20
that any system deployed in the field should be able talk to another=20
agency's system, known as "interoperability" in industry parlance.
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Matthew Fordahl & Bruce Meyerson]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/12637104.htm

9/11 PANEL SAYS US HASN'T ENACTED CRUCIAL REFORMS
Four years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the federal government has=20
failed to enact crucial homeland security reforms that could have saved=20
lives and improved the sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina, according to=
=20
a report to be issued today by former members of the Sept. 11 commission.=
=20
Local emergency officials are still unable to reliably communicate with one=
=20
another during disasters, the federal government has no clear system of=20
command and control for responding to a crisis. Thomas H. Kean (R), the=20
former New Jersey governor who headed the panel that investigated the=20
terrorist attacks, and other commission officials said the most serious=20
oversights are those that might have helped in the response to Hurricane=20
Katrina. The commission's report will note that lawmakers, facing=20
opposition from the broadcast industry, have not established a unified=20
emergency communications system by dedicating a portion of the broadcast=20
spectrum to medical and disaster responders. As on Sept. 11, when=20
malfunctioning radios contributed to deaths in the World Trade Center,=20
public safety officials in New Orleans have reported widespread=20
communications problems. "The fact that Congress has chosen not to do=20
something about this is a national scandal that has cost lives," Kean said.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Dan Eggen]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/13/AR200509...
1677.html
(requires registration)

CONGRESS URGED TO MAKE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS A PRIORITY
The Association for Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) is urging=
=20
Congress to make first responder communications a priority during the last=
=20
months of this session. =93The Katrina disaster demonstrates once again the=
=20
critical need for robust, interoperable radio communications for public=20
safety personnel,=94 the organization wrote in a letter to Members. APCO=20
urged Congress to pass legislation this year that would: (1) Set a hard=20
date to clear TV stations from 700 MHz band radio spectrum already=20
allocated for public safety. (2) Boost federal grants supporting=20
interoperable communications planning, staffing and equipment. (3) =93Impro=
ve=20
the way funds are allocated to
local governments to be used for upgrading or purchasing interoperable=20
communications systems.=94 (4) =93Provide federal grants to PSAPs to upgrad=
e=20
their 911 systems.=94 (public safety answering point, a physical location=
=20
where 911 emergency telephone calls are received and then routed to the=20
proper emergency services) (5) =93Consider the need for additional spectrum=
=20
for broadband public safety communications applications.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Susan Polyakova]
(Not available online)

STABENOW, BIDEN PUSH EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION FUNDING
Sens. Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Biden (D-Del.) Tuesday introduced amendments=
=20
to the Commerce-State-Justice appropriations bill that would add money for=
=20
emergency communications equipment. Sen Stabenow=92s amendment called for $=
15=20
billion to go to the Homeland Security Dept. over 3 years to buy equipment=
=20
that fire, police and rescue units could use to talk to one another in=20
crises. Biden=92s amendment, which failed 56-41, included $300 million for=
=20
local agencies for interoperable communications to be handled through the=
=20
Justice Dept. Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. At=20
CommDaily's deadline, the Stabenow amendment was on the floor awaiting a=20
vote. Sen Stabenow cited a U.S. Conference of Mayors 2004 survey showing=20
94% of cities lack interoperability among rail facilities, police, fire and=
=20
emergency medical service. =93There is no excuse for that,=94 Stabenow said=
at=20
a news conference introducing her amendment: =93The government's response t=
o=20
Katrina shows how little has been learned.=94 She said only $280 million ha=
s=20
been spent on equipment despite a Congressional Budget Office estimate that=
=20
nearly $15 billion is needed to assure safety.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Anne Veigle]
(Not available online)
* Congressional Democrats Seek Funds For First Responder Communications
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-KJKM1126642210423.html

MCCAIN WANTS ANALOG SPECTRUM BY 2007
Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) took aim at broadcasters from the Senate=20
floor Tuesday over the issue of Katrina Communications failures, saying=20
they should be forced to give their analog spectrum back by the end of next=
=20
year. "Let=92s remember that Congress provided additional spectrum for firs=
t=20
responders in the Telecommunications Act of 1996," said McCain. "So, after=
=20
spending millions of dollars in funding and additional spectrum for our=20
nation=92s first responders why aren't we better off than we were on 9/11=
=20
when it comes to interoperable communications? Because the spectrum=20
Congress provided to first responders in 1996 is being held hostage by=20
television broadcasters even though broadcasters have been given new=20
spectrum." Former Commerce Committee Chairman McCain argued for action on=
=20
the SAVE Lives Act, a bill he introduced with Senator Joe Lieberman that=20
would return analog spectrum by Jan. 1, 2009, But he said that given the=20
hurricane problems, he wanted to amend that to Jan. 1, 2007.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6256609?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

WIRELESS EXPERTS AID HURRICANE VICTIMS
Technology professionals proficient in wireless Internet access have=20
established high-speed connections in at least 15 relief centers in=20
northern Louisiana -- prompting many to argue for stronger policy=20
incentives to create community and municipal broadband networks. Wireless=
=20
Internet connections are proving to be a significant means of communication=
=20
in and out of the disaster area, and some people are using the occasion to=
=20
argue that more spectrum should be allocated for unlicensed devices, such=
=20
as those using the Wi-Fi standard. Others note that disaster relief and=20
homeland security become important additional reasons to establish=20
municipal broadband networks. "There has been a lot of publicity on the=20
Philadelphia" municipal broadband network but "less on Oklahoma City and=20
Corpus Christi, Texas, which were primarily designed for public safety,"=20
said Reed Hundt, a former FCC chairman and now an advocate and board member=
=20
of several wireless companies. "Oklahoma City had its own experience with=
=20
tragedy, and Corpus Christi, which is certainly not unaware of hurricanes,=
=20
wanted networks that would help with first responders," Hundt added. Both=
=20
cities have established Wi-Fi networks as a way for police and firefighters=
=20
to communicate in emergencies.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-DJGQ1126642636199.html

HEALTH RECORDS OF EVACUEES GO ONLINE
The federal government is making medical information on Hurricane Katrina=
=20
evacuees available online to doctors, the first time private records from=
=20
various pharmacies and other health care providers have been compiled into=
=20
centralized databases. Electronic health records are controversial among=20
many privacy advocates, who fear the data could be exploited by hackers,=20
companies or the government.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jonathan Krim]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/13/AR200509...
2128.html
(requires registration)

AMERICA'S SECOND HARVEST
America's Second Harvest -- "The Nation's Food Bank Network" and a=20
recipient of a 1999 award from NTIA's Technology Opportunities Program=20
-- has obtained and distributed more than 16 million pounds of food, water=
=20
and essential grocery supplies to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. By the=
=20
beginning of this week, the Network had secured and dispatched 487 trucks,=
=20
carrying 16.5 million pounds of supplies (about 12.9 million meals) to the=
=20
affected areas. The award Second Harvest received from TOP in 1999 helped=
=20
create a model demonstrating that connectivity and data sharing can result=
=20
in a better supply chain for relief products. The Network secures supplies=
=20
and then moves them to local food banks that pack 25 pound relief boxes to=
=20
go to the more than 200 emergency shelters in Louisiana, Alabama,=20
Mississippi, Florida, and the surrounding states where hundreds of=20
thousands of evacuees are moving. Second Harvest is the nation's largest=
=20
charitable hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200=20
regional member food banks and food - rescue programs serving all 50=20
states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The America's Second=20
Harvest Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of=20
donated food and grocery products annually. The America's Second Harvest=
=20
Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating=
=20
more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency=
=20
shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's=
=20
Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 23 million=20
low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than nine=20
million children and nearly three million seniors.
[SOURCE: Don Druker, National Telecommunications and Information=20
Administration]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/

TELEVISION

DTV BILL GETS NEW LIFE WITH OCT 26 RECONCILIATION DEADLINE
Senate leadership set Oct. 26 as the new deadline for budget=20
reconciliation, which puts DTV legislation back on track for consideration=
=20
while giving lawmakers time to deal with funding for Hurricane Katrina.=20
Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens told reporters Tues. he plans to=20
meet with members the next day or 2 to brief them on DTV matters. In the=20
House, Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton is still working on his bill.=20
Sources said progress is being made on controversial provisions. The=20
anticipated $10 billion proceeds from auctioning analog spectrum is an=20
important revenue consideration for the reconciliation package. Under=20
budget resolution instructions, the Senate Commerce Committee must raise=20
$4.8 billion and the House Commerce Committee must cut -- or raise -- $14.7=
=20
billion, much of which is expected to come from cuts in Medicaid program=20
growth (CD July 8 p1). The House and Senate reconciliation bills will=20
include DTV provisions that will be submitted separately to the Senate=20
Budget Committee and worked out in conference. The House has taken the lead=
=20
on DTV and is making progress on divisive provisions. One sticking point=20
that may be getting resolved is the amount of the subsidy to allocate for=
=20
converter boxes to allow consumers with analog TVs to receive digital=20
signals. Apparently, Republicans and Democrats are nearing a compromise on=
=20
the subsidy: $800 million total, $40 vouchers for consumers who buy=20
convertors boxes.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Anne Veigle]
(Not available online)

VIACOM, COMCAST STUDY VENTURE FOR NEW CHANNELS
Viacom, looking to start cable channels aimed at people ages 25 to 54, is=
=20
in talks with cable giant Comcast about forming a joint venture to launch=
=20
new channels. The talks are part of an effort under way at MTV Networks to=
=20
broaden the reach of its channels, which include VH-1, Comedy Central and=
=20
Nickelodeon. For years, MTV Networks has focused its programming on=20
children, teenagers and young adults. Now, it wants to create lifestyle=20
channels for an older audience, focusing on areas such as food, cars and=20
homes, the people said. In addition to new channels, MTV Networks plans to=
=20
create programming for video-on-demand services and the Internet.=20
Partnering with Comcast, which has more than 21 million cable subscribers,=
=20
would guarantee MTV that its new channels would get off the ground. An=20
alliance also could help MTV in future negotiations about carriage of its=
=20
cable channels on Comcast systems, often a contentious discussion. For=20
Comcast, a deal with Viacom would add another dimension to the programming=
=20
business it has been expanding since last year when it made an unsuccessful=
=20
effort to take over Walt Disney Co.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Joe Flint joe.flint( at )wsj.com and Peter=
=20
Grant peter.grant( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112665400686739805,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_marketplace
(requires subscription)
* Viacom Exec Denies Reports of a Joint Viacom/Comcast Net
"I am not in bed with that 500 lb gorilla. Yuck. Just the thought of it..."
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
7586

PEOPLE... PEOPLE WHO DO TELECOM POLICY... ARE THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE IN THE WO=
RLD

PAT MITCHELL ELECTED TO SUN MICROSYSTEMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors of Sun Microsystems announced that Pat Mitchell,=20
president and chief executive officer of the Public Broadcasting Service=20
(PBS), has been elected to the company's board of directors, effective=20
immediately. Ms. Mitchell becomes the tenth member of Sun's board and one=
=20
of eight independent directors. Ms. Mitchell has headed PBS since March=20
2000, the first woman and first producer to lead the operations of the=20
nation's only non-commercial media organization. As a result of her success=
=20
in energizing programming and increasing partnerships, and her commitment=
=20
to public service initiatives, Forbes magazine recognized PBS as one of the=
=20
"Magnetic 40" companies in America. Additionally, the Hollywood Reporter=20
recognized Ms. Mitchell as one of the "most influential female executives=
=20
in the entertainment industry." Prior to PBS, Ms. Mitchell served as=20
president of CNN Productions and Time Inc. Television, a division of Time=
=20
Warner, Inc. Previously, she helped found VU Productions, an independent=20
production company based at Paramount Studios. She also worked at all three=
=20
of the major broadcast networks and as a producer, has been awarded more=20
than 100 major industry awards. Ms. Mitchell is a member of the Council on=
=20
Foreign Relations and is a Trustee of the Mayo Clinic Foundation. Her other=
=20
non profit work includes vice chair, the Sundance Institute and the=20
advisory council of the Kennedy School of Public Leadership at Harvard=20
University. She is also on the boards of the Bank of America Corporation=20
and Knight-Ridder, Inc. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University=
=20
of Georgia with a master's degree in English literature.
[SOURCE: Sun Microsystems press release]
http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2005-09/sunflash.20050912.5.html

LESLIE HARRIS TO HEAD CDT
Consultant Leslie Harris takes over at Center for Democracy & Technology as=
=20
Executive Director, replacing Jim
Dempsey, moving to San Francisco as Policy Director; Ari Schwartz promoted=
=20
to Deputy Director. [SOURCE: Communications Daily]
(Not available online)

QUICKLY

KATRINA'S SILVER LINING?
[Commentary] Before all the media mavens break their arms patting their=20
peers and themselves on the back, let=92s call them on their latest lie =AD=
the=20
one claiming some great journalistic =91silver lining=92 is emerging from=
=20
behind Hurricane Katrina=92s dark clouds. Weren't all these newly invigorat=
ed=20
journalists just doing their job, anyway?
[SOURCE: Media Is Plural, AUTHOR: Rory O'Connor]
http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/index.php?p=3D137

ROBERTS RECOGNIZES LESSER PROTECTION FOR PORN
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee John Roberts agrees that court=20
precedent has established a lesser protection for pornographic speech than=
=20
for political or "core" speech, but that, in a judicial sense, he won't=20
know porn until he sees it.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6256605?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

DIVERSITY: INDUSTRY STILL TAKING BABY STEPS
The cable industry continues to make small strides in its diversity=20
efforts, but industry complacency and challenges from competing=20
technologies could very easily derail its progress, according to executives=
=20
speaking at the opening panel of the National Association for=20
Multi-Ethnicity in Communications=92 19th annual conference.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: R. Thomas Umstead]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6256365.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

TELUS FIRES 14 UNION MEMBERS
Fourteen members of the Telecommunications Workers Union, locked out from=
=20
their work at Telus, have been terminated by the company. The terminations=
=20
are for what the company calls inappropriate behavior by TWU members during=
=20
the labor dispute.
[SOURCE: Edmonton Journal, AUTHOR: Paul Marck]
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/news/business/story.html?id=
=3D2e9f3b75-a1ed-4fed-816d-a35f58090dac
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=
=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=
=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

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

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION (AND AFTERMATH)
Why Levee Breaches In New Orleans Were Late-Breaking News
News Media are Heeding a =91Call to Arms'
U.S. won't Ban Media from New Orleans Searches
Broadcasters Seek Better Emergency Alert System
FCC Reminds Stations of Emergency Obligations
An Uncertain Future for Media in New Orleans
Radio Ad Rates Soar in Gulf Coast
Belo Commits to New Orleans
An Anchor Who Reports Disaster News With a Heart on His Sleeve
A Failure To Communicate
Katrina Demonstrates Failure of Spectrum Policy
Tragedy and Telecom
Martin and Copps on Lessons of Katrina
Post-Katrina, Gulf Cable Ops Make Some Progress
not dot gov

TELEVISION/BROADCASTING/CABLE
Public Interest Obligations and the Digital Television Transition
Broadcasters Again Make Case for DTV Multicast Legislation
Cable Launches Fall Must-Carry Offensive
FCC Study Calls for Retrans Status Quo
Cable Uneven With Stevens
Indecent Proposal

JOURNALISM
Less Media Coverage of Confirmation Hearings Expected
Bombs away on Television News
Russia Media Climate Said to Be Chilling

QUICKLY -- Censored News; Teleco Merger News; EBay Agrees to Buy Skype For=
=20
$2.6 Billion; Reaching Latin viewers; Diversity Doesn't Just Happen; CWA=20
Protests CBC Lockout

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION (AND AFTERMATH)

WHY LEVEE BREACHES IN NEW ORLEANS WERE LATE-BREAKING NEWS
The levee failures that resulted in the flooding of New Orleans apparently=
=20
happened Monday August 29, before Hurricane Katrina hit land. Yet it wasn't=
=20
until Tuesday that most people across the country realized that any levees=
=20
at all had been breached. Did media outlets get it wrong? A look at news=20
reports of the events of Aug. 29 paints a picture of confusion,=20
miscommunication and conflicting information among some government=20
officials and news media. Several major news outlets, including Viacom=20
Inc.'s CBS network and National Public Radio reported the breaking of the=
=20
Industrial Canal and flooding on Monday, although not all of the reports=20
acknowledged the extent of the devastation. The Wall Street Journal=20
reported the Industrial Canal breach but no others. Many reporters, working=
=20
on foot, isolated in higher, drier sections and focused on the survival of=
=20
the city's tourist districts, were unaware of the unfolding disaster in=20
poor neighborhoods of New Orleans. It wasn't until Monday evening that a=20
private helicopter company, Helinet Helicopter Services of Los Angeles,=20
began feeding the first aerial images of New Orleans to Fox News, ABC, NBC,=
=20
CNN and CBS. By early Tuesday morning, most major media had become aware of=
=20
the awful extent of the destruction.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Joe Hagan joe.hagan( at )wsj.com and=20
Joseph T. Hallinan joe.hallinan( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112649152397237699,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_marketplace
(requires subscription)

NEWS MEDIA ARE HEADING 'A CALL TO ARMS'
Americans, usually critical of the media, have given the news coverage of=
=20
Hurricane Katrina a thumbs up, and major outlets are pledging to stay on=20
the story to find out what went wrong with the response to the disaster. A=
=20
Pew Research Center study of 1,000 Americans Sept. 6 and 7 found that 65%=
=20
rated news coverage of the hurricane good or excellent, more favorable than=
=20
the 54% approval rating for 2004 presidential election coverage. Television=
=20
dominated as the main source of information, with cable in the lead: CNN=20
was the main source for 31% of respondents, compared with Fox (22%); local=
=20
news (19%); ABC (14%); NBC (12%); MSNBC (9%) and CBS (8%). Tom Rosenstiel=
=20
of the Project for Excellence in Journalism hopes that many news=20
organizations continue to work the story, =93each one synthesizing and addi=
ng=20
to what others are learning. If only one or two news organizations do it,=
=20
it won't have the same effect.=94 The question is =93how many news=20
organizations have the investigative muscle to handle a story this complex,=
=20
and how many can afford to lose a team for the time it will take to do=20
that, especially in TV,=94 Rosenstiel says. =93I fear the list of news=20
organizations that can do that today is not very long. And sadly, it gets=
=20
shorter if ad sales go down and other news pushes Katrina off our radar=20
screens.=94
[SOURCE: USAToday]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20050912/d_mediamix12.art.htm

US WON'T BAN MEDIA FROM NEW ORLEANS SEARCHES
Joint Task Force Katrina "has no plans to bar, impede or prevent news media=
=20
from their news gathering and reporting activities in connection with the=
=20
deceased Hurricane Katrina victim recovery efforts," said Col. Christian E.=
=20
deGraff, representing the task force. U.S. District Court Judge Keith=20
Ellison issued a temporary restraining order Friday against a "zero access"=
=20
policy announced earlier in the day by Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who is=
=20
overseeing the federal relief effort in the city, and Terry Ebbert, the=20
city's homeland security director. In explaining the ban, Ebbert said, "we=
=20
don't think that's proper" to let members of the media view the bodies.
[SOURCE: CNN]
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/10/katrina.media/

BROADCASTERS SEEK BETTER EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
The Emergency Alert System was never activated by the White House or by=20
state or local governments during Katrina. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks=
=20
in 2001, WNET New York and a number of partners and government officials=20
began developing a way to use broadcast spectrum dedicated to education=20
(known as Educational Broadband Service, or EBS) as a tool for solving the=
=20
communication problems encountered on 9/11. The system, formerly known as=
=20
Smart Nets but now dubbed GUARD (Geospatially-aware Urban Approaches for=20
Responding to Disasters), relies on small 30-pound antenna/transmission=20
systems placed throughout a town or city and allows a command center to=20
send live video, audio communications and data files with, for example,=20
instructions or floor plans to PDA-type devices. The trials in New York are=
=20
going so well that WNET Director of Digital Convergence Stephen Carol=20
Cahnmann says the developers are considering expanding to another city,=20
perhaps St. Louis.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Ken Kerschbaumer]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255755?display=3DNews&referral=
=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

FCC REMINDS STATIONS OF EMERGENCY OBLIGATIONS
The FCC Friday cautioned broadcasters covering Hurricane Katrina not to=20
forget to make all their emergency information available to the deaf and=20
hard of hearing. While it saluted the "heroic efforts of all those who have=
=20
worked to protect life and property from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina,=
=20
including those to whom this reminder is directed," it also said that it=20
had received complaints that "some emergency information being provided=20
over television is not being made accessible to individuals who are deaf or=
=20
hard of hearing." Broadcasters aren't required to closed caption all that=
=20
information--the logistics of that would be enormous, particularly for=20
smaller stations--but they have to make sure it is relayed in some=20
accessible form, including crawls or graphics, or something as simple as=20
"handwriting on a blackboard."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255888?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See FCC Reminder:=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-2438A1.pdf
* Stations Oppose Hurricane Coverage Fine
Two TV stations are asking the FCC to rescind or reduce fines for their=20
failure "in three instances lasting a total of 44 seconds," to make=20
emergency information available to hearing impaired listeners during a=20
Florida hurricane last year.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255617?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR MEDIA IN NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans media outlets, including The Times-Picayune and seven=20
television stations making up the nation's 43rd-largest media market, have=
=20
been left to contemplate a surreal future of unknown duration in a city=20
devoid of functioning businesses, with no goods to advertise and almost no=
=20
people to buy them. As a plaintive Times-Picayune headline put it Friday,=
=20
"Few Souls Remain in Shell of a City." For the media outlets of New=20
Orleans, the short-term issue has been to find a way to publish and=20
distribute, to get on the air and stay on the air, while simultaneously=20
covering and being caught up in what may be the biggest natural disaster in=
=20
the nation's history. The extent of the physical damage to their plants and=
=20
stations is unclear. Most have been dislocated and their staff members are=
=20
working out of temporary newsrooms and studios around the region, barred by=
=20
flood damage and a lack of electricity from getting back to their desks.=20
The chaos of the short term has obscured the abyss of the long term, which=
=20
is only beginning to emerge. As the news media outlets continue to produce,=
=20
who will be reading them? Who will be watching them? And who will be paying=
=20
for the substantial additional costs of gathering news during the crisis,=
=20
which, for television stations, include expenses like renting helicopters?=
=20
The closest analogy for how advertisers can approach the New Orleans market=
=20
may be World War II, when there was virtually no production of consumer=20
goods like cars and appliances as factories were retooled for military=20
purposes. Many marketers continued to advertise, running patriotic pitches=
=20
to stimulate sales of war bonds or offering uplifting vistas of a rosy=20
postwar life.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Katharine Seelye]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/12/business/media/12media.html
(requires registration)

RADIO AD RATES SOAR IN GULF COAST
Hurricane Katrina has wreaked havoc with the advertising environment in the=
=20
affected area. Particularly in the days after the storm, when thousands of=
=20
people without power used battery-operated radios to stay informed, radio=
=20
was the best way to reach employees and potential customers. Even as power=
=20
comes back on around the region, just about everybody who didn't have=20
pre-existing contracts is paying more to reach listeners. The spot=20
advertising increases, even on stations that aren't simulcasting, are in=20
the region of 20%-30%, informed people say. Privately, many radio=20
executives say that isn't out of line, given that the number of listeners=
=20
in a market drives rates, and towns like Baton Rouge have seen sizable=20
population increases. Some advertisers, like those with lighthearted ads,=
=20
have been scrambling to pull theirs. Others, like insurers and power=20
companies, have been struggling to get onto the airwaves. And radio sales=
=20
forces around the region are scrambling to stay ahead.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sarah McBride sarah.mcbride( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112647662677137426,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_marketplace
(requires subscription)

BELO COMMITS TO NEW ORLEANS
Belo Corp is walking a fine line in New Orleans. TV station WWL is one of=
=20
only a few media outlets to survive Huricanne Katrina, but it had to move=
=20
operations to its transmitter site at Louisiana State University. Belo is=
=20
facing incremental cost from such operations and WWL's ongoing news=20
coverage. Belo is withdrawing its financial estimates for the third=20
quarter, following a similar move earlier this week by Hearst-Argyle, owner=
=20
of New Orleans' NBC affiliate WDSU. Belo is also putting on hold plans to=
=20
build a new facility for WWL. It is hard to tell when the area will=20
stabilize and generate consist revenue for the station (and other outlets).=
=20
The company is asking Wall Street analysts and investors to "take a=20
conservative approach" toward the New Orleans advertising market. WWL has=
=20
been a strong contributor to Belo's coffers, with $35 million in revenue=20
last year accounting for 2.3% of the company's revenue. As New Orleans and=
=20
its TV stations rebuild, "WWL's longtime news leadership position in New=20
Orleans, and its singular performance over the past fortnight, constitute a=
=20
valuable competitive advantage that will contribute significantly to the=20
station's ability to rebuild its advertising base as the New Orleans market=
=20
recovers," the company said in a statement.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255816?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

AN ANCHOR WHO REPORTS DISASTER NEWS WITH A HEART ON HIS SLEEVE
CNN cable news host Anderson Cooper has dressed down officials in=20
interviews with polite righteous indignation in behalf of hurricane=20
victims. At least twice he choked up on air, once abruptly stopping his=20
commentary about lost homes and waving away the camera as he looked about=
=20
to burst into tears. Mr. Cooper's Sept. 1 interview with Senator Mary L.=20
Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, marked a turning point in the tone of=20
hurricane coverage as he snapped when she began thanking federal officials=
=20
for their recovery efforts. "Excuse me, Senator, I'm sorry for=20
interrupting," Mr. Cooper interjected. "I haven't heard that, because, for=
=20
the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in=20
Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and=20
complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of=
=20
people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated. "And=
=20
when they hear politicians slap -- you know, thanking one another, it just,=
=20
you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally=
=20
there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats=
=20
because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours." His=20
comments pushed right up to the line between tough questioning and=20
confrontational advocacy journalism, but viewers responded.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Elizabeth Jensen]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/12/arts/television/12coop.html
(requires registration)

A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
A massive breakdown in communications after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf=
=20
Coast -- nearly four years after the devastating mishaps following 9/11 --=
=20
has brought the issue of emergency communications into the spotlight on=20
Capitol Hill. Washington has started to assess the system failures exposed=
=20
by the government=92s delayed response to Katrina. The ability of police an=
d=20
firefighters to better communicate during emergencies has been one of the=
=20
major motivations for the DTV transition because some of the spectrum to be=
=20
reclaimed from broadcasters=97almost certainly now sometime in 2009 -- is t=
o=20
go toward wireless services for first responders. The issue is sure to come=
=20
up at DTV-transition hearings in the House and Senate Commerce Committees=
=20
this month and at the FCC meeting on Thursday.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255754.html?display=3DNews&r...
rral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

KATRINA DEMONSTRATES FAILURE OF CURRENT U.S. SPECTRUM POLICY
In recent days the press has extensively covered the telecommunications=20
breakdown in New Orleans and the attempts of telephone, cable, and=20
broadcast companies to reinstate service and help disaster victims. What=
=20
has not been covered as extensively in the media is the lack of=20
communications at dozens of rural Louisiana shelters and the efforts of=20
Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), which use unlicensed spectrum,=
=20
to address this problem. As New Orleans is being evacuated, thousands of=20
evacuees are streaming out into the countryside where churches and=20
communities have set up shelters to take care of them. Unfortunately, many=
=20
of these shelters lack telecommunications service. Responding to this=20
need, dozens of rural WISPs have poured into rural Louisiana to help=20
out. As Congress moves digital TV legislation to free up spectrum for=20
broadband telecommunications, the lack of telecommunications services in=20
the wake of Katrina has moved front and center. Much of the freed up=20
broadcast spectrum could be converted to broadband use. The broadcast=20
industry has been fighting tooth and nail to prevent this from happening in=
=20
a timely fashion. Most press attention has focused on the industry's=20
effort to delay giving back the channels Congress loaned to transition=20
digital TV. Less well known is that the industry has also been fighting to=
=20
keep as many as possible of the unused TV channels ("guard bands" between=
=20
the currently used channels) for their own future use. For example, a=20
video being distributed on Capitol Hill (www.mstv.org/static.html) argues=
=20
that complete havoc will be created if unlicensed broadband devices are=20
allowed in the unused TV channels. The FCC has initiated a rulemaking=20
(Docket 04-186) to require these channels to be opened up for unlicensed=20
broadband use. The broadcasters are now lobbying Congress to kill this=20
rulemaking. Said Ed Thomas, former FCC Chief Engineer responsible for the=
=20
FCC's rulemaking, "I strongly urge Congress to direct the Commission as the=
=20
expert government agency to bring this proceeding to a conclusion. A golden=
=20
opportunity exists to extend the social and economic benefits of broadband=
=20
to all Americans. I urge Congress and the FCC not to be persuaded by the=20
invalid self-serving claims of a few."
[SOURCE: New America Foundation press release]
http://www.newamerica.net/index.cfm?pg=3Dsec_home&secID=3D3
* Fact Sheet: Myths Regarding Unlicensed Use of the TV Band White Space
http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2550_1.pdf
* Statement of Ed Thomas, former FCC Chief Engineer, can be found at:=20
http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2547_1.pdf

TRAGEDY AND TELECOM
[Commentary] With respect to its effect on infrastructure, Katrina gave=20
much more notice of impending disaster than the September 11 attacks. And=
=20
yet, when the hurricane hit land, we saw -- four years after 9/11 -- the=20
same meltdown of service, but this time over 90,000 square miles. When our=
=20
citizens found themselves drowning in their own homes or, three days later,=
=20
still marooned on their rooftops, they had no way to call and no one to=20
call for help. It turns out we have developed a budding broadband system=20
that, in times of disaster, doesn't work as well, interrupts more easily,=
=20
and comes back on line later than the good old copper-wire system. And=20
"emergency preparedness" apparently doesn't mean that in an emergency you=
=20
can actually dial 911. The 1996 Telecom Act has taken our country exactly=
=20
where we wanted it to. But thanks to the extreme nonregulatory bias of the=
=20
current government (and despite its having had four years to learn from the=
=20
9/11 horror), it's clear the Bush Administration, the Federal=20
Communications Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the=
=20
Homeland Security Dept. have thrown the baby out with the bath water when=
=20
it comes to telecom emergency preparedness. And if you happen to live in=20
flood-ravaged New Orleans, this particular metaphor is simply too painful=
=20
to ponder. So should the devastated 90,000 square miles end up, after some=
=20
federal subsidy, with state-of-the-art broadband and wireless=20
communications when the rebuilding is finished? You bet they should. And=20
because having these capabilities will greatly hasten economic and=20
employment recovery, some government backing of this effort is entirely=20
appropriate.
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Leo Hindery Jr.]
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/sep2005/nf20050912_8022.htm?...
n=3Dtc

MARTIN AND COPPS ON LESSONS OF KATRINA
Last week, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Michael Copps visited=
=20
communities in the Gulf State region affected by Hurricane Katrina. They=
=20
witnessed first hand the impact of the storm on the residents and the=20
region's telecommunications infrastructure. Chairman Martin and=20
Commissioner Copps stated: "We are encouraged that in the aftermath of=20
Hurricane Katrina carriers are working day and night to speed the=20
restoration of service in Gulf State communities. We salute the Herculean=
=20
efforts of their employees-many of whom have experienced terrible personal=
=20
loss and property damage in this tragic storm. We are committed to doing=
=20
everything within our power to aid these extraordinary recovery=20
efforts. In the days ahead, the challenge will be facilitating service=20
restoration. But in the long term, we will need to learn from this event=
=20
and work together to improve the reliability, survivability, and security=
=20
of our nation's telecommunications networks." On Thursday, September 15,=20
2005, the Commission will hold an Open Meeting that will focus on the=20
effects of Hurricane Katrina on communications services in the Gulf Coast=
=20
states.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260931A1.doc

POST-KATRINA, GULF CABLE OPS MAKE SOME PROGRESS
Cable operators in the most ravaged areas in Hurricane Katrina=92s path are=
=20
slowly gaining access to their properties and making progress in accounting=
=20
for local employees.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6255903.html
(requires subscription)

NOT DOT GOV
As authorities scrambled in the wake of Katrina, media technology was being=
=20
harnessed by ordinary citizens to assist the displaced. With no official=20
mandate, central organizing principle, or pay, Internet users compiled=20
lists, message boards, and lists of lists and message boards. BuzzMachine=
=20
blogger Jeff Jarvis tells Bob about Recovery 2.0, an effort to consolidate=
=20
the relief efforts and prepare better for the future.
[SOURCE: OnTheMedia]
http://www.onthemedia.org/stream/ram.py?file=3Dotm/otm090905d.mp3

TELEVISION/BROADCASTING/CABLE

LEGAL CENTER SENDS LETTER TO HILL REGARDING PUBLIC INTEREST OBLIGATIONS AND=
=20
DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION
The Campaign Legal Center's Media Policy Program, Common Cause, the Media=
=20
Access Project, the New America Foundation and the Office of Communication=
=20
of the United Church of Christ sent a letter last week to leaders of the=20
House and Senate Commerce Committees urging them to "ensure that public=20
interest obligations are at the core of the upcoming debate about the=20
future of television, especially in light of critical decisions you are=20
facing regarding multicasting must-carry." The organizations write, "Taking=
=20
this opportunity to define public interest obligations in the digital age=
=20
is critical because even in the current analog scheme, most broadcasters do=
=20
not fulfill their most basic pledge to serve the American viewers." The=20
groups also support strong disclosure requirements since they "would give=
=20
the FCC more complete and accurate information to make better policy, as=20
well as provide viewers with information about the programming being aired=
=20
in their communities."
[SOURCE: Campaign Legal Center , Media Policy Program]
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/press-1766.html

BROADCASTERS AGAIN MAKE CASE FOR DTV MULTICAST LEGISLATION
Nearly 100 broadcasters from across the country converged on Capitol Hill=
=20
last week, meeting with members on both the House and Senate Commerce=20
Committees to educate them on the importance of crafting pro-consumer=20
legislation that ensures cable companies carry broadcasters' multicast=20
stations. During the second DTV Fly-In event this summer, NAB's grassroots=
=20
representatives presented a compelling case for providing viewers with=20
access to more local news, weather, sports, additional public affairs=20
programming and foreign language programming. It is critical that NAB's=20
message gets through and that Congress passes a multicasting mandate that=
=20
prevents the cable gatekeepers from thwarting viewer access to more local=
=20
program choices.
[SOURCE: National Association of Broadcasters]
(Not available online)

CABLE LAUNCHES FALL MUST-CARRY OFFENSIVE
In the weeks ahead, Congress is expected to put a formal end to analog TV,=
=20
forcing broadcasters to rely solely on digital transmission, starting as=20
soon as 2009. While simple-sounding in the abstract, the effort to complete=
=20
a digital transition, now in its eighth (8th!) year, has triggered the most=
=20
acrimonious policy dispute between cable and broadcasting since the run-up=
=20
to passage of the 1992 Cable Act. The two camps are at odds over carriage=
=20
of DTV signals. When a TV station today elects mandatory cable carriage,=20
the cable system is required to carry just one programming service per=20
station. Over cable=92s objections, broadcasters want the carriage=20
requirement expanded to include as many free digital programming streams=20
that can technologically fit within a 6-MHz channel. The NCTA and the=20
National Association of Broadcasters are going all out to win. Pointed ads=
=20
have been running in Capitol Hill newspapers, tough-sounding e-mails have=
=20
been flooding inboxes and executives from both sides have been buzzing=20
congressional offices to ply influential lawmakers with their latest=20
economic studies and legal analyses.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6255827.html?display=3DPolicy
(requires subscription)

FCC STUDY CALLS FOR RETRANS STATUS QUO
In a report to Congress released Friday, the Federal Communications=20
Commission declined to recommend changing laws that allow TV stations to=20
bargain for cable carriage despite MSO concerns about hardball tactics=20
employed by the major broadcast networks. The retransmission-consent law,=
=20
passed in 1992, is largely working as intended, meaning that =93the local=
=20
television broadcaster and the [pay TV distributor] negotiate in the=20
context of a level playing field in which the failure to resolve local=20
broadcast-carriage disputes through the retransmission-consent process=20
potentially is detrimental to each side,=94 the FCC concluded in the 43-pag=
e=20
report.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6255858.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
See FCC's Report to Congress on Retransmission Consent:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260936A1.doc

CABLE UNEVEN WITH STEVENS
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the chair of the Commerce Committee, has=20
concluded that a major PR campaign pointing out how easy it is for parents=
=20
to block cable channels does not adequately address the issue of indecency=
=20
in cable programming. That means the $250 million =93Cable Puts You in=20
Control=94 campaign is failing in one of its key objectives: mollifying=20
critics on Capitol Hill. What comes next is unclear, but it could be bad=20
news for cable executives trying to keep government out of their=20
programming decisions. Sen Stevens has yet to disclose what steps he'll=20
take=97whether to mandate a family-friendly programming tier or simply writ=
e=20
cable programming into indecency law that now affects only broadcasters.=20
The ball is in his court since the House already passed its version of=20
indecency legislation, boosting fines but leaving cable unscathed.
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Todd Shields]
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
6027

INDECENT PROPOSAL
[Commentary] The Center for Creative Voices in Media was stumping last week=
=20
in favor of government regulations to combat indecency. The Center released=
=20
a report that found a link between big media and programming that loads of=
=20
people like and some don't. We agree that big media has gotten too big, but=
=20
that is not an excuse to limit free speech. It is unwise to ever use some=
=20
peoples' dislike of some kinds of speech to invite the government to=20
regulate it. Period.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255868?display=3DOpinion&ref...
al=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See the CCVM rport at:=20
http://www.creativevoices.us/cgi-upload/news/news_article/FINALReport090...
.pdf

JOURNALISM

LESS MEDIA COVERAGE OF CONFIRMATION HEARINGS EXPECTED
When the Senate confirmation hearings for Judge John Roberts begin this=20
morning, the cable news networks plan to dip in and out after carrying some=
=20
opening statements. The far more dramatic pictures of flood-ravaged New=20
Orleans and Biloxi, Miss., will continue to dominate the on-air coverage,=
=20
and the uproar over the administration's handling of the disaster has=20
greatly eclipsed Roberts in the print media. Had there been no hurricane,=
=20
the battle over the next chief justice would be the media's top story=20
instead of a sidebar. While PBS, Court TV and C-SPAN3 will carry the=20
hearings live, arguments about strict constructionism and legal precedents=
=20
will simply have trouble competing with a catastrophe that most likely=20
killed thousands. Some newspapers last week led with the president's=20
decision, after William Rehnquist's death, to name Roberts to succeed him=
=20
instead of Sandra Day O'Connor, but that took a back seat to Katrina on the=
=20
network newscasts and quickly faded. A key factor in dampening coverage of=
=20
the Roberts hearings is the apparent lack of suspense about the outcome.=20
With most of the 55 Republican senators, and some Democratic ones, voicing=
=20
support for the appellate judge, a media consensus formed early that he was=
=20
a shoo-in. But even if the vote were a cliffhanger, the story would still=
=20
have trouble competing with the worst natural disaster in American history.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/11/AR200509...
1526.html
(requires registration)

BOMBS AWAY ON TELEVISION NEWS
[Commentary] When this nation's founding fathers set out on their=20
experiment in democratic governance, one of their most revolutionary ideas=
=20
was that political power would be moderated not only by checks and balances=
=20
built into the government, but by a free and independent press that would=
=20
provide knowledge to the public and warn of pending dangers. As James=20
Madison bluntly observed, "A popular government without popular=20
information, or the means of securing it, is but a prelude to a farce or=20
tragedy, perhaps both." It is increasingly difficult to discern the vision=
=20
of Madison in broadcast news today, even though most of it comes over=20
airwaves owned by the public and licensed to commercial outlets for a few=
=20
hundred dollars a year. If avoiding "dark" becomes the criterion for=20
broadcast news, how will Americans learn about such stories as New Orleans=
=20
and Iraq, never mind Sierra Leone, Kosovo, the melting polar ice cap or the=
=20
dying oceans? If only perky, upbeat stories and shows make it onto the air,=
=20
who will inform the public and play the watchdog role? As the media get=20
increasingly ratings-driven and profit-hungry, fewer and fewer news=20
division executives support serious journalism. The result is that too many=
=20
excellent broadcast journalists now feel discouraged, debased and=20
disgusted. The reality is that it is increasingly less realistic to expect=
=20
commercial broadcast outlets to effectively serve two masters: the public=
=20
interest and corporate bottom line.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Orville Schell, UC Berkeley's Graduate=
=20
School of Journalism]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-schell12sep12,1,3...
785.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

RUSSIAN MEDIA CLIMATE SAID TO BE CHILLING
Human rights leaders say that in President Vladimir V. Putin's Russia,=20
journalists increasingly face a campaign of intimidation by the authorities=
=20
and corrupt business interests. The New York-based Committee to Protect=20
Journalists complained in July that "Russia's poor press climate is=20
declining at an alarming rate." Twelve journalists have been slain since=20
2000. The number of criminal cases against journalists, accusing them of=20
libel and insulting public officials, is increasing, in addition to the=20
6,000 to 8,000 civil defamation cases filed every year in which the burden=
=20
of proof is on the accused, said Oleg Panfilov, head of the Moscow-based=20
Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:Kim Murphy]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-press12sep12,1,2...
887.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

Project Censored presents the 10 biggest stories the mainstream media=20
ignored over the past year
List includes: #7. Journalists face unprecedented dangers to life and=20
livelihood; #4. Surveillance society quietly moves in; #3. Another year of=
=20
distorted election coverage and 1. Bush administration moves to eliminate=
=20
open government.
[SOURCE: San Francisco Bay Guardian, AUTHOR: Camille Tiara camille( at )sfbg.com]
http://www.sfbg.com/39/49/cover_censored.html

TELECO MERGER NEWS
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has told staff to prepare a draft order approving=
=20
the SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI mergers, Precursor Advisors, a financial=20
research firm, said Fri. in a report. Chairman Martin plans to seek=20
approval from the politically split 2-2 Commission without waiting for=20
confirmations of new Commissioners that
would give him a Republican majority. The draft order could circulate among=
=20
other Commissioners as soon as mid-Sept. and be approved as early as Oct.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily]
(Not available online)

EBAY AGREES TO BUY SKYPE
EBay said this morning it will acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies=
=20
SA for $2.6 billion, split evenly between cash and eBay stock. Skype is a=
=20
privately-held Internet communications company with 54 million customers=20
around the globe. EBay, which has been seeking to enhance its core=20
e-commerce business while venturing into a fast-growing segment of the=20
communications field, has been expanding geographically but, besides a=20
handful of small acquisitions, hasn't ventured much outside the=20
online-auction business. The purchase of Skype represents a big step in a=
=20
new direction, causing concern among many investors.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Stephen Wisnefski and Desiree Hanford]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112651960619337861,00.html?mod=3Dhome...
ats_news_us
(requires subscription)
* EBay to buy Skype
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2005-09-12T104538Z_01_HO227963_RTRIDST_0_TECH-SKYPE-EBAY-DC.XML

ENGLISH? SPANISH? WHICH IS BEST TO REACH LATIN VIEWERS?
Answers to those questions will help allocate the billions in ad revenues=
=20
that are targeted toward America=92s largest and fastest-growing ethnic=20
group. Unfortunately, they also tend to trigger some very divisive=20
political and cultural debates over immigration and the future of U.S. cult=
ure.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: George Winslow]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255761.html?display=3DSpecia...
eport&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

DIVERSITY DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN
[Commentary] Real diversity requires a commitment to change, and concrete=
=20
actions.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Debbie Smith, Walter Kaitz Foundation]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255867?display=3DOpinion&ref...
al=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

CWA PROTESTS CBC LOCKOUT
Today marks the 29th day of a Canadian Broadcasting Corp lockout of=20
Canadian Communications Workers of America members. So US CWA members plan=
=20
protests at the Canadian embassy in Washington today to show their=20
solidarity. For news on the lockout, check out=20
http://cbcunplugged.blogware.com/blog
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255852?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=
=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=
=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

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

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
After Katrina, Communications Still Hobbled
Gulf Region Infrastructure Slowly Revives
BellSouth Exec Says Katrina Caused Unprecedented Damage to Facilities
Gulf Coast Regulators Face Tough Telecom Issues in Katrina's Wake
FCC, Congress Urge Wireless Industry to Keep Service On For Hurricane Vict=
ims
Live From the Astrodome, a Radio Station for Evacuees
Small WISPs Help Hurricane Victims
Media Hurricane
Online Scams Solicit Katrina Donations, Risk Identity Theft

TELEVISION
Citing Katrina, Experts Step Up Push For Digital TV Transition
Barton Says Committee Won't Make Sept. 16 DTV Deadline
NCTA: We'll Fight vs. Multicast Must-Carry
Consumer Groups Oppose =93Multicast Must Carry=94
Must-Carry Fights Smut-Carry, Says NRB
Texas OKs Statewide Cable Franchises
PBS Stands for Pork
Liquor and TV Advertising

OWNERSHIP
Study Ties Indecency to Consolidation of Media
Web Buying Spree for Big Media
EBay May Buy Web Phone Firm In Strategy Shift

INTERNATIONAL
Controversy dogs Telstra stake sale
In Japan Campaign, Web Goes Silent

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

AFTER KATRINA, COMMUNICATIONS STILL HOBBLED
Since the Hurricane Katrina, government officials and communications=20
vendors have been working nonstop to repair damaged public-safety systems,=
=20
with their efforts sometimes bordering on the heroic. Volunteers drove=20
vehicles packed with communications equipment from as far away as Florida=
=20
within hours after the storm passed to help some of the hardest hit areas.=
=20
Of the 17 public-safety systems being tracked by Motorola eight were "up=20
and running" yesterday morning. The company listed seven others, including=
=20
the one serving the Louisiana State Police, as "marginal" and wasn't able=
=20
to make contact with two others. The communications failures left many=20
fire, ambulance and police officers with no way to communicate with their=
=20
headquarters or each other at a time when thousands needed rescue and=20
lawlessness was rampant. At one point in New Orleans, hundreds of police=20
officers were trying to communicate on two radio channels on a backup=20
system, forcing most of them to wait for minutes to get their messages=20
through. Public-safety officials and vendors say they've already begun to=
=20
think about how to improve emergency communications. But past efforts to=20
improve networks after disasters like Sept. 11 have fallen short of goals.=
=20
"After every single calamity we see the exact same thing," says Reed Hundt,=
=20
former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Peter Grant peter.grant( at )wsj.com and=
=20
Christopher Rhoads christopher.rhoads( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112613389036634560,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_marketplace
(requires subscription)

GULF REGION INFRASTRUCTURE SLOWLY REVIVES
Key parts of the Gulf Coast's transportation systems, communications and=20
energy production remain out of service for the foreseeable future. More=20
than 1 million telephone lines and about 30 percent of cell phone towers in=
=20
the affected region remain out of service. Louisiana officials yesterday=20
began dealing with cell phone systems in Baton Rouge that are overloaded=20
with traffic from evacuees who have reached the state's capital. "It's=20
choked," Louisiana Public Service Commissioner James M. "Jimmy" Field said=
=20
of the cellular network. "We are trying to work out something to make sure=
=20
emergency calls can get through." Even for the companies that successfully=
=20
navigated all the downed infrastructure, the use of generators, satellite=
=20
phones and rerouted shipments may exact new costs. "Businesses are going to=
=20
be able to get around all these disruptions, but it won't be cheap," said=
=20
Peter Morici, an economist at the University of Maryland business school.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Neil Irwin and Sara Kehaulani Goo]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR200509...
2099.html
(requires registration)

BELLSOUTH EXEC SAYS KATRINA CAUSED UNPRECEDENTED DAMAGE TO FACILITIES
In the first of what will probably be many Congressional hearings on=20
Hurricane Katrina, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., who chairs the Commerce=20
Committee's Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, raised=20
concerns about the ability of emergency rescue personnel to communicate=20
with each other. "Clearly that is not an acceptable situation," responded=
=20
Kenneth Moran, director of the homeland security office in the FCC=20
Enforcement Bureau. "Effective communications for emergency responders is a=
=20
priority for the commission." But he blamed the communications problems=20
partly on other factors, such as power outages and battery shortages. He=20
said security concerns prevented rescuers from replenishing some supplies.=
=20
A BellSouth executive praised the FCC and other agencies for waiving=20
restrictions to make it easier for BellSouth to rebuild. He also asked=20
lawmakers to help BellSouth secure access to capital that it will need to=
=20
finance repairs. The FCC's Moran said the storm disrupted phone service to=
=20
3 million customers. Of 41 broadcast radio stations in the New Orleans=20
area, only four remained on the air after Katrina. A week after the=20
hurricane, more than 1 million phone customers still did not have service,=
=20
30 percent of cellular sites were down, and 50 to 100 TV and radio stations=
=20
were dark.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-LNHH1126125165356.html
* Statement of Kenneth Moran, FCC
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260895A1.pdf
* Fifty to 100 Stations Still Off Air
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6254917?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* New Orleans Station Gets Boost From Paxson
WDSU, a Hearst-Argyle-owned NBC affiliate, was knocked off the air by=20
Hurricane Katrina, but it is now back, broadcasting on Paxson stations in=
=20
New Orleans and Houston.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255184?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

GULF COAST REGULATORS FACE TOUGH ISSUES IN KATRINA'S WAKE
State telecom regulators in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are=20
returning to work and face tough decisions: 1) Whether to waive service=20
quality standards such as for timely installations and repairs be waived=20
until carriers complete restoration of service and replacement of destroyed=
=20
facilities; 2) Whether to allow regulated carriers a temporary local rate=
=20
increase or surcharge to enable them to recover the extraordinary and=20
unexpected costs the storm caused; 3) Whether to let carriers restore=20
networks to pre-storm condition, or encourage them toward wholesale=20
replacement of older wires, cables and switches with the latest in fiber=20
and digital technologies; and 4) How to use state regulation to facilitate=
=20
electronic communications among emergency responders and prevent breakdowns.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Herb Kirchhoff]
(Not available online)

FCC, CONGRESS URGE WIRELESS INDUSTRY TO KEEP SERVICE ON FOR HURRICANE VICTI=
MS
The FCC and members of Congress urged the wireless industry to maintain=20
service to Hurricane Katrina victims who can't pay their bills. The FCC=20
gave wireless service licensees with hurricane-affected customers until=20
today (Sept. 8) to submit a report verifying =93compliance with the standar=
d=20
industry practice of maintaining service to people displaced by Hurricane=
=20
Katrina despite failure to pay bills.=94 Reports should describe the grace=
=20
period or other relief licensees are providing, the agency said. =93Hurrica=
ne=20
Katrina displaced hundreds of thousands of residents of Louisiana,=20
Mississippi and Alabama, and many thousands of these customers rely on=20
their wireless service during this difficult time to remain in touch with=
=20
loved ones,=94 the FCC said Wed. It said affected residents can't pay their=
=20
bills for many reasons. For example, it said, the U.S. Post Office isn't=20
operating throughout the affected areas, commercial power isn't available=
=20
everywhere and communications networks, including Internet for online bill=
=20
payment, aren't at pre-hurricane capabilities.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Susan Polyakova]
(Not available online)
* Facilitating Restoration of Wireless Facilities in Areas Impacted by=20
Hurricane Katrina
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-2427A1.doc
* Maintaining Wireless Service for Consumers Affected by Hurricane Katrina
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-2421A1.doc

LIVE FROM THE ASTRODOME, A RADIO STATION FOR EVACUEES
Federal regulators have authorized an unusual radio station to serve the=20
estimated 10,000 evacuees living in the Houston Astrodome, part of an=20
effort to fill the information void left by Hurricane Katrina's disruption=
=20
of communications services along the Gulf Coast. The Federal Communications=
=20
Commission over the weekend granted Houston relief volunteers and media=20
organizers permission to build a 30-watt radio station inside the=20
Astrodome. Government and industry officials said it was the first time=20
they could recall that a domestic radio station had been set up primarily=
=20
to keep victims of a U.S. disaster informed. They predicted that the=20
station would improve communications for residents, who rely mostly on=20
bulletin board postings and word of mouth for news about jobs, missing=20
relatives, housing and child care.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jube Shiver Jr]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-radio8sep08,1,25...
20.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)
* Broadcasters Offer Portable TVs to First Responders in Hurricane Katrina=
=20
Relief Efforts
The National Association of Broadcasters is partnering with Louisiana and=
=20
Mississippi broadcasters to distribute 1,300 battery-operated handheld=20
television sets to public safety officials assisting with Hurricane Katrina=
=20
relief efforts.
[SOURCE: National Association of Broadcasters press release]
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/Releases/090705_HurricaneKatrina_TV...
dsets.htm

SMALL WISPs HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS
Stepping to the plate, hundreds of small wireless ISPs are helping Gulf=20
Coast residents caught in Hurricane
Katrina. The Part 15 Organization (Part-15.org) -- one of the biggest WISP=
=20
groups -- met Fri. with FCC officials
via teleconference to discuss how to utilize WISPs better, and got the=20
necessary clearances Tues. night. The FCC has designated Part-15.org as a=
=20
single point of contact, responsible for gathering
information the Commission needs to coordinate WISP efforts with the Red=20
Cross, FEMA and others,
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Susan Polyakova]
(Not available online)

MEDIA HURRICANE
[Commentary] The magnitude of the Hurricane Katrina disaster and the=20
media's astonished--and astonishingly vigorous-- response puts in=20
perspective how hard it has generally become, in this country, to deliver=
=20
the unadorned, unapologetic truth. Indeed, for at least as long as George=
=20
Bush has been in office, the great unspoken challenge for mainstream=20
journalists has been to do one's job while keeping one's job.
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Russ Baker, TomPaine.com]
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/25158/

ONLINE SCAMS SOLICIT KATRINA DONATIONS, RISK IDENTITY THEFT
Thousands of domain names containing "hurricane," "Katrina" or "Hurricane=
=20
Katrina" have popped up on the Internet, and millions of people are=20
receiving email soliciting donations for hurricane victims. But authorities=
=20
and Internet security experts warn that some of these Web sites may be=20
scams intended to trick people into handing over money and identity=20
information or download viruses onto their computers. The Federal Bureau of=
=20
Investigation has identified at least a dozen potential Katrina-related=20
Internet frauds that it is investigating -- and the agency expects the=20
number to increase in coming days.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Li Yuan li.yuan( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112614471129734872,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_marketplace
(requires subscription)

TELEVISION

CITING KATRINA, EXPERTS STEP UP PUSH FOR DIGITAL TV TRANSITION
Given that many of the problems Hurricane Katrina emergency workers have=20
encountered are due to an ineffective communications system, a panel of=20
experts suggested that it would be unwise for Congress to delay action on=
=20
the transition from analog to digital television. When broadcasters make=20
the transition to digital signals, it will free more spectrum for use by=20
public safety agencies in communicating across jurisdictions. Digital=20
television "is about public safety, it's about the emergency response and=
=20
it's about Katrina," Cheryl Leanza, principal legislative council for the=
=20
National League of Cities, told a Capitol Hill luncheon sponsored by the=20
New America Foundation. "The idea that we would set aside this issue ... is=
=20
a little mystifying," she declared.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Chloe Albanesius]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-VXPM1126125619410.html

BARTON SAYS COMMITTEE WON'T MAKE SEPT 16 DTV DEADLINE
House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) hopes to put DTV=20
legislation on a =93fast track=94 behind concerns about interoperability du=
ring=20
Hurricane Katrina, but the crisis will make it impossible to meet the Sept.=
=20
16 budget reconciliation deadline that would include a DTV measure. He made=
=20
his comments after a full-day hearing on the impact of the hurricane=20
focusing mainly on oil prices and emergency response times. The committee=
=20
put together a discussion draft in May and a mark-up is expected to be=20
scheduled for some time in the next 2 weeks.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Anne Veigle, Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)

NCTA: WE'LL FIGHT VS MULTICAST MUST-CARRY
Big cable vowed Wednesday to fight broadcasters=92 plea for Congress to for=
ce=20
cable operators to carry any digital program a TV station broadcasts. =93Th=
e=20
point is, it=92s just not right,=94 said Kyle McSlarrow, President of the=
=20
National Cable & Telecommunications Association. In the same vein, the NCTA=
=20
will begin a lobbying campaign against the designated hitter rule and=20
low-fat ice cream. McSlarrow said forcing carriage of the six digital=20
channels that broadcasters can send would deny others space on increasingly=
=20
crowded cable systems. He said such a requirement would violate=20
constitutional guarantees against government-compelled speech, and against=
=20
government takings of private property. McSlarrow said he's no fan of=20
artificial turf either.
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Todd Shields]
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
6074
* Cable Lobbyist Calls 'Multicasting' A 'Taking' Of Private Property
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-QPAS1126124018268.html

CONSUMER GROUPS OPPOSE "MULTICAST MUST CARRY"
Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America, Free Press, and the=20
Center for Digital Democracy urged Congress to reject any proposals that=20
would require automatic cable distribution of every channel local=20
broadcasters choose to provide following the digital television transition,=
=20
known as =93multicast must carry.=94 In letters to the House and Senate=20
Commerce Committees, the groups wrote, =93=85there exists no compelling pub=
lic=20
policy reason at this time to extend this requirement to all digital=20
channels, nor is there a significant consumer benefit of doing so=85 A=20
decision on multicast must-carry is premature and should not be made before=
=20
a thorough consideration of viewpoint diversity, consumer benefit, and=20
policies that will increase access to diverse content through technologies=
=20
that use the public airwaves.=94 The groups argue that the dominant=20
broadcasters would only see their already significant megaphone amplified=
=20
under multicast must-carry, creating the very outcome that Congress has=20
sought to avoid when it rejected FCC=92s broadcast ownership rules=97the=20
expansion of the reach of dominant media voices.
[SOURCE: Consumers Union Press Release]
http://www.hearusnow.org/other/newsroom/tvradiocable/cuopposesmulticastm...
carry/
* Consumer Groups Oppose Multicast Must-Carry
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6255046?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Consumer Groups Fight Multicast Must-Carry
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6255182.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

MUST-CARRY FIGHTS SMUT-CARRY, SAYS NRB
Religious Broadcasters have come up with a new argument for requiring cable=
=20
to carry all of the channels broadcasters can fit into their digital=20
spectrum allotment: At least they won't be cable channels. That dimension,=
=20
they argued in a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, is that their=20
stations could be bumped in favor of cable channels that "will not be=20
subject to federal indecency standards."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6254415?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

TEXAS OKs STATEWIDE CABLE FRANCHISES
As expected, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has signed the bill, passed in a special=
=20
legislative session, which authorizes statewide franchises for competitive=
=20
cable franchises. The wide-ranging telecommunications bill also deregulates=
=20
some of the wire-line services of the incumbent local providers, including=
=20
SBC Communications and Verizon Communications,. And the bill promotes the=
=20
deployment of broadband over power lines.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6255082.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* Texas Opens Door to Cable Competitors
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
6376
(both stories require subscription)

PBS STANDS FOR PORK
[Commentary] When the House of Representatives restored $100 million to the=
=20
budget of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, bringing its annual=20
appropriation up to $400 million, there were no headlines in the Post, New=
=20
York Times or other media about wasting taxpayer dollars on "pork." In the=
=20
classic sense, however, spending on public broadcasting qualifies as pork.=
=20
It represents members of Congress returning money to their districts, in=20
the form of grants to local public TV and radio stations.
[SOURCE: Accuracy in Media, AUTHOR: Cliff Kincaid]
http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/3975_0_2_0_C/

LIQUOR AND TV ADVERTISING
For virtually all mainstream advertisers, television has for decades been=
=20
the medium that matters most, whether broadcast or cable, local or=20
national, stations or networks. The abilities of TV to bring a sales spiel=
=20
to life with sight, sound and motion - and to reach large numbers of=20
consumers quickly and frequently - have been invaluable in generating=20
demand for products from fluoride toothpaste to light beer. But Under=20
voluntary policies that dated to the beginning of radio and television,=20
distilled spirits remained off those media. Indeed, it has been brewers'=20
access to television as an advertising medium that distillers have deemed=
=20
the biggest reason for their loss of market share and so-called buzz to=20
beer brands, particularly among consumers aged 21 to 34. But in 1996, after=
=20
Seagram began defying the bans, they were lifted, although the biggest=20
broadcast TV networks - ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, UPN and WB - continue to refuse=
=20
to run liquor commercials. So the distillers have cobbled together an=20
informal web of national cable networks, local cable systems and local=20
broadcast stations to run their commercials. Among the more than two dozen=
=20
cable networks that take liquor spots are BET, Bravo, CNN, CMT, Comedy=20
Central, Discovery Channel, FX, Fox Sports Network, OLN, Spike TV, Golf=20
Channel, Sci-Fi Channel, USA and VH1.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stuart Elliott]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/business/media/08adco.html
(requires registration)

OWNERSHIP

STUDY TIES INDECENCY TO CONSOLIDATION OF MEDIA
The consolidation of the broadcast industry over the last decade may have=
=20
increased indecent programming on the nation's airwaves, according to a new=
=20
report by the Center for Creative Voices in Media and Fordham University.=
=20
According to the report, as leading broadcasters such as Clear Channel=20
Communications and Viacom Inc.'s Infinity Broadcasting have bought more=20
stations, they have frequently replaced local programming with shock jocks=
=20
such as Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge, who are prone to vulgarity.=
=20
Those programming decisions may have lured more young listeners, the ones=
=20
that advertisers most covet, while also saving the companies money. But=20
that may have led to an increase in indecency complaints, according to the=
=20
report, which is to be released today. From 2000 to 2003, the report found,=
=20
the nation's four largest radio companies racked up 96% of the fines handed=
=20
out by the Federal Communications Commission, while their stations=20
accounted for only about half of the country's listening audience. The=20
study suggests that instead of relying on stiffer fines, regulators seeking=
=20
to rein in indecency would be better off breaking up large broadcast groups.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Sallie Hofmeister]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-indecent8sep08,1,2409...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
For more on release of the report, see:
http://www.creativevoices.us/php-bin/news/showArticle.php?id=3D135&PHPSE...
D=3Dd3b061b92e55ba728d9c4d35be013930

WEB BUYING SPREE FOR BIG MEDIA
[Commentary] About.com is among the many Web properties that traditional=20
media companies have snapped up this year as they scramble to cash in on=20
the second big Internet advertising boom. While Internet ads claim a small=
=20
slice of the overall ad pie -- generating not quite $10 billion in the=20
United States last year, less than 5 percent of all ad revenue -- the=20
online dollars grew more than 30 percent, much faster than off-line. In=20
response, traditional media companies have been making some startling moves.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Leslie Walker]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR200509...
2178.html
(requires registration)
* News Corp. to Pay $650 Million For Operator of Web Game Sites
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112614765764734958,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_marketplace

EBAY MAY BUY WEB PHONE FIRM IN STRATEGY SHIFT
EBay is in talks to acquire Internet-telephony company Skype Technologies=
=20
SA for $2 billion to $3 billion, in a deal that would represent a dramatic=
=20
shift in strategy for the world's largest online auction site.=20
Luxembourg-based Skype, whose software allows consumers to make free=20
telephone calls around the world using Internet technology, has been in=20
active discussions with other technology companies, and none has led to a=
=20
deal. But the emergence of eBay as a suitor reveals a lot about the auction=
=20
leader's growth prospects and strategy. While still dominating its field,=
=20
eBay's core business is maturing, and the company is searching for new=20
product categories and international markets. The company has made a steady=
=20
string of acquisitions and investments over the last year and a half to=20
enter markets such as rental-property listings, online classified-ad=20
listings and comparison shopping.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Mylene Mangalindan=20
mylene.mangalindan( at )wsj.com and Dennis K. Berman dennis.berman( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112615385922335028,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_page_one
(requires subscription)

INTERNATIONAL

CONTROVERSY DOGS TELSTRA STAKE SALE
Controversy engulfing the Australian government=92s plans to sell its=20
remaining 51.8 per cent stake in Telstra, the country's largest=20
telecommunications company, widened on Wednesday as legislation enabling=20
the sale was presented to Australian parliament and an official=20
investigation into possible violations of stock market rules by Telstra=20
executives began.
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR:]
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/0eb5bbca-1fb5-11da-853a-00000e2511c8.html
(requires subscription)

IN JAPAN CAMPAIGN, WEB GOES SILENT
As political candidates campaign feverishly before the Japanese elections=
=20
Sunday, an antiquated law that effectively bans the use of the Internet is=
=20
causing confusion, bickering and finger-pointing. The law, which dates to=
=20
1955, limits candidates' direct written communication with constituents to=
=20
postcards and pamphlets. This means politicians and their parties are=20
prohibited from sending emails or updating their Web sites during the=20
official 12-day campaign period. But many candidates are finding it=20
increasingly difficult to accommodate the law as the Internet gains=20
importance as a source of political information. Struggling to stay within=
=20
the rules, politicians have shut down their Weblogs or hired lawyers to=20
advise them on what they can and can't post. Political parties, meanwhile,=
=20
are seizing the opportunity to point fingers at rivals they accuse of using=
=20
the Internet in illegal ways.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Ginny Parker Woods=20
ginny.parker( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112612187732634311,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_page_one
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=
=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=
=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------