FCC Delays Vote on Telecom Mergers
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
October 2005
The Senate Commerce Committee will consider S. 1063, .
Live webcast at: http://commerce.senate.gov/live.ram
Because of the powerful influence of the mass media on democratic process as well as on shaping perceptions about who we are, the civil rights movement has long regarded expanding minority and female ownership and employment in broadcasting as important goals. For more than two decades, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) promoted minority ownership and employment in broadcasting and cable, but progress has been halted by a conservative federal judiciary.
Rewired And Ready For Combat
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Spencer E. Ante & Roger O. Crockett]
To Battle the Telephone Giants, Small Internet Providers Choose Wi-Fi as a Weapon
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtel and Ken Belson]
Telefonica to Buy O2 For $31.39 Billion
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jason Singer jason.singer@wsj.com and Keith Johnson keith.johnson@wsj.com]
DTV Date Divides Pols, Alarms NAB
Action by the Republican-dominated House Commerce Committee has broadcasters fearing the digital TV transition could leave them with a reduced audience watching degraded pictures. The gloomy scenario follows the committee's largely party-line, 33-to-17 vote on Oct. 26 to set Dec. 31, 2008 as the date to end traditional analog TV, leaving all broadcasts airing in the digital format. Broadcasters fear there's not enough money in the legislation to subsidize the purchases of digital-to-analog converter boxes that will be needed in homes that don't 1) have a digital TV set or 2) subscribe to cable or satellite TV. Subsidies were not the only feature that left broadcasters unhappy. The successful bill included language that would let cable and satellite providers downgrade high-definition pictures. Cable and satellite operators say they may need to do so if faced with constraints on bandwidth capacity; broadcasters fear their sparkling high-definition fare will appear less so to viewers.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=10013...
AARP Wants More Help From DTV Subsidy
AARP WANTS MORE HELP FROM DTV SUBSIDY
More than 8 million people over 50 rely on over-the-air television broadcasts, so it is no wonder that AARP has an opinion on pending legislation about the transition to all-digital TV broadcasts in the US. With the House Commerce Committee approving DTV legislation last week that some may few as a little weak on subsidizing analog-to-digital converter boxes, the AARP is likely to weigh in in support of Senate legislation that provides more support for consumers. The House DTV legislation is a first-come, first-served $990 million program that could conceivable only cover 10.3 million of the 21 million analog-only homes. And, if cable and satellite homes act first thinking of second and third sets not wired for pay TV, some analog only households may receive no help at all. Since forms will be available online, AARP points out that the subsidy will favor those with Internet access. The organization is also concerned that some older Americans will need help installing the converter boxes.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6279043?display=Breaking+News...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
Don't Rush To Give Up Analog
[Commentary] While improvements in communications for first responders and supportive government agencies are critically important, they should not come at the expense of citizen safety -- and free, local TV broadcasting. Since 1934, Congress has successfully relied on a system of free and universally available local broadcasting stations to provide essential news and information, especially in emergencies. The evacuation of millions of people before the recent hurricanes struck was largely due to television broadcasters who brought information to mass audiences quickly and efficiently. An accelerated deadline for the swap to digital-only broadcasting would make spectrum available for other uses, but at what expense to the public? Government subsidies to make converter boxes available will not ensure a smooth, rapid transition unless viewers understand the proposal and hook up boxes before analog is turned off. A premature end to a measured digital transition means stations will lose viewers. That translates into lost revenues and threatens the economic survival of some stations. Unfortunately, the impact will be most harsh in smaller communities, where the needs for universally available, over-the-air broadcasting are the greatest.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6278889?display=Opinion&refer...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
Coming TV Change Won't Make your set Obsolete
Don't worry so much about the transition to digital television -- your current TV will still work if it is hooked up to cable or satellite. The only people who have to worry are those who A) get their TV over the air via a "rabbit ears" or rooftop antenna, and B) don't have a digital TV. For these households, there will be subsidies to buy analog-to-digital converter boxes.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2005-10-27-digital-t...