October 2005

=20
2005
Three items on the agenda this week: two, yes two, FCC meetings and a=20
hearing on the broadcast flag. For upcoming media policy events, see=20
http://www.benton.org

TELECOM
FCC Delays Vote on Telecom Mergers Vote
Rewired And Ready For Combat
To Battle the Telephone Giants, Small Internet Providers
Choose Wi-Fi as a Weapon
Telefonica to Buy O2 For $31.39 Billion

TELEVISION
DTV Date Divides Pols, Alarms NAB
AARP Wants More Help From DTV Subsidy
Don't Rush To Give Up Analog
Coming TV Change Won't Make your set Obsolete
CPB Board to Be Briefed On IG Report
An Age-Old Problem
DVDs Surge as Back-End TV Market
The Future of TV

POLICYMAKERS
Martin Known as Consensus Builder

ADVERTISING
Why Kraft Decided to Ban Some Food Ads to Children
Soaring Profits found in Search Ads

QUICKLY -- Reporters in middle of Libby case; The Wright Side On Global=20
Piracy; Lobbyists Tangled in a Paperless Pursuit; Tagging the news you want=
=20
to use; Michael Powell's New Gig

TELECOM

FCC DELAYS VOTE ON TELECOM MERGERS VOTE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
As negotiations dragged on and on over approving the mega-mergers of=20
SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI, the FCC finally postponed its open meeting Friday=
=20
until this morning at 11am (eastern). FCC Chairman Kevin Martin had=20
proposed approving the deals without any conditions, but, apparently, has=
=20
not convinced two of his colleagues to join him -- or reach a compromise.=
=20
One source close to the matter said some of the conditions under=20
consideration include 1) freezing for two years or more the wholesale rates=
=20
that SBC and Verizon charge competitors for leasing parts of their=20
networks, 2) forcing Verizon and SBC to offer high-speed Internet service=
=20
without requiring customers to also sign up for local telephone service and=
=20
3) ensuring a subscriber can surf where they choose on the Internet.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2005-10-29T000914Z_01_HO900463_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-MERGERS-POSTPONE.x=
ml&archived=3DFalse
See FCC Notice:=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-261928A1.doc
* Final federal agency may approve telecom mergers today
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20051031/6b_story31.art.htm

REWIRED AND READY FOR COMBAT
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Spencer E. Ante & Roger O. Crockett]
Over the past 10 years, SBC and Verizon have spent tens of billions of=20
dollars building telecom empires so they could dominate the industry.=20
Thanks to their string of megadeals, SBC and Verizon have become far and=20
away the largest telecom players in the land, together controlling nearly=
=20
two-thirds of all residential phone lines in the US. But cable companies=20
and Internet upstarts are swiping millions of customers from SBC and other=
=20
old-line phone companies. Of Web-based telephony upstarts, SBC CEO Edward=
=20
E. Whitacre Jr. says, "They don't have any fiber out there. They don't have=
=20
any wires. They don't have anything," he argues. "They use my lines for=20
free -- and that's bull. For a Google or a Yahoo! or a Vonage or anybody to=
=20
expect to use these pipes for free is nuts!" The upstarts using Internet=20
technology to offer comparable calling services at half the price, without=
=20
owning a single foot of telephone wire. In a recent report, analyst Anthony=
=20
Noto of Goldman Sachs titled one section on the prospects for phone=20
companies "The roadmap to the destruction of value." He wrote that they=20
could lose 40% of their land-line residential customers over the next 10=20
years. Verizon's stock is down 21% for the year, while SBC shares have=20
slipped 3%. So what are SBC and Verizon doing about all this? Both say that=
=20
their futures depend on how well they perform in broadband, wireless,=20
video, and corporate services.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_45/b3958089.htm
(requires free registration)
* At SBC, It's All About "Scale and Scope"
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_45/b3958092.htm
(requires free registration)
* Verizon: Stumbling But Unbowed
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_45/b3958093.htm
(requires free registration)

TO BATTLE THE TELEPHONE GIANTS, SMALL INTERNET PROVIDERS CHOOSE WI-FI AS A=
=20
WEAPON
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtel and Ken Belson]
With cable providers and the Bell telephone companies dominating the market=
=20
for residential high-speed Internet service, smaller Internet access=20
providers are desperately trying to find a new way to connect with=20
consumers. They say they may have found it in wireless technology that=20
avoids the need to build expensive underground networks. The most prominent=
=20
example is EarthLink, once a leader in dial-up Internet service. The=20
company made a big leap into the wireless market this month when it won the=
=20
right from Philadelphia to provide inexpensive Wi-Fi Internet connections=
=20
citywide. Last week, the company also won an exclusive franchise to build a=
=20
wireless network for the city of Anaheim (home of the Los Angeles Angels).=
=20
The wireless option is attractive because it does not require building or=
=20
leasing costly underground lines, and the cost of Wi-Fi equipment and=20
installation is falling rapidly. Bells and cable companies are fighting=20
wireless incursions into their territory. They see municipal projects -- or=
=20
anything that circumvents their expensive and extensive in-ground networks=
=20
- as a threat. They are lobbying state and federal lawmakers to curtail=20
publicly funded networks, arguing that publicly sanctioned services could=
=20
deter the Bells from investing in their own networks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/31/technology/31wifi.html
(requires registration)

TELEFONICA TO BUY O2 FOR $31.39 BILLION
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jason Singer jason.singer( at )wsj.com and=
=20
Keith Johnson keith.johnson( at )wsj.com]
Telefonica, the world's fifth-largest telecommunications company, has=20
agreed to buy British cellphone operator O2 for $31.39 billion. The deal is=
=20
part of Telefonica's efforts to expand in Europe after years of building=20
its business in Latin America. The agreed cash deal represents a 22%=20
premium to O2's share price at the close of trade Friday. The deal ends=20
years of speculation about O2's future. O2, the star performer in the=20
European mobile telecoms sector over the past three years, has attracted=20
attention from German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom and Dutch incumbent=
=20
operator KPN over the past two years. Telefonica will acquire O2's assets=
=20
in the UK, Germany and Ireland, and won't face the same regulatory hurdles=
=20
as other rumored bidders as Telefonica doesn't operate in those markets.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113071884591883825.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

TELEVISION

DTV DATE DIVIDES POLS, ALARMS NAB
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Todd Shields]
Action by the Republican-dominated House Commerce Committee has=20
broadcasters fearing the digital TV transition could leave them with a=20
reduced audience watching degraded pictures. The gloomy scenario follows=20
the committee=92s largely party-line, 33-to-17 vote on Oct. 26 to set Dec.=
=20
31, 2008 as the date to end traditional analog TV, leaving all broadcasts=
=20
airing in the digital format. Broadcasters fear there's not enough money in=
=20
the legislation to subsidize the purchases of digital-to-analog converter=
=20
boxes that will be needed in homes that don't 1) have a digital TV set or=
=20
2) subscribe to cable or satellite TV. Subsidies were not the only feature=
=20
that left broadcasters unhappy. The successful bill included language that=
=20
would let cable and satellite providers downgrade high-definition pictures.=
=20
Cable and satellite operators say they may need to do so if faced with=20
constraints on bandwidth capacity; broadcasters fear their sparkling=20
high-definition fare will appear less so to viewers.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
2255

AARP WANTS MORE HELP FROM DTV SUBSIDY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
More than 8 million people over 50 rely on over-the-air television=20
broadcasts, so it is no wonder that AARP has an opinion on pending=20
legislation about the transition to all-digital TV broadcasts in the US.=20
With the House Commerce Committee approving DTV legislation last week that=
=20
some may few as a little weak on subsidizing analog-to-digital converter=20
boxes, the AARP is likely to weigh in in support of Senate legislation that=
=20
provides more support for consumers. The House DTV legislation is a=20
first-come, first-served $990 million program that could conceivable only=
=20
cover 10.3 million of the 21 million analog-only homes. And, if cable and=
=20
satellite homes act first thinking of second and third sets not wired for=
=20
pay TV, some analog only households may receive no help at all. Since forms=
=20
will be available online, AARP points out that the subsidy will favor those=
=20
with Internet access. The organization is also concerned that some older=20
Americans will need help installing the converter boxes.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6279043?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

DON'T RUSH TO GIVE UP ANALOG
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Aubrey Eugene Loving Jr, CEO of Max Me=
dia]
[Commentary] While improvements in communications for first responders and=
=20
supportive government agencies are critically important, they should not=20
come at the expense of citizen safety -- and free, local TV broadcasting.=
=20
Since 1934, Congress has successfully relied on a system of free and=20
universally available local broadcasting stations to provide essential news=
=20
and information, especially in emergencies. The evacuation of millions of=
=20
people before the recent hurricanes struck was largely due to television=20
broadcasters who brought information to mass audiences quickly and=20
efficiently. An accelerated deadline for the swap to digital-only=20
broadcasting would make spectrum available for other uses, but at what=20
expense to the public? Government subsidies to make converter boxes=20
available will not ensure a smooth, rapid transition unless viewers=20
understand the proposal and hook up boxes before analog is turned off. A=20
premature end to a measured digital transition means stations will lose=20
viewers. That translates into lost revenues and threatens the economic=20
survival of some stations. Unfortunately, the impact will be most harsh in=
=20
smaller communities, where the needs for universally available,=20
over-the-air broadcasting are the greatest.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6278889?display=3DOpinion&ref...
al=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

COMING TV CHANGE WON'T MAKE YOUR SET OBSOLETE
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Andrew Kantor]
Don't worry so much about the transition to digital television -- your=20
current TV will still work if it is hooked up to cable or satellite. The=20
only people who have to worry are those who A) get their TV over the air=20
via a "rabbit ears" or rooftop antenna, and B) don't have a digital TV. For=
=20
these households, there will be subsidies to buy analog-to-digital=20
converter boxes.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2005-10-27-digital-t...
.htm=20

CPB BOARD TO BE BRIEFED ON IG REPORT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board of Directors has been asked=
=20
to come to Washington DC early this week to be briefed on a report by CPB=
=20
Inspector General Kenneth Konz. He is investigating whether CPB Chairman=20
Ken Tomlinson violated the Public Broadcasting Act by commissioning an=20
outside content analysis of the politics in Now With Bill Moyers -- and=20
other PBS shows -- and by enlisting a White House staffer to help write=20
rules for two new ombudsmen, one a former Reader's Digest colleague of=20
Tomlinson's. Center for Digital Democracy's Jeff Cheseter was not happy=20
with the prospects of a closed meeting. "It seems to me that what they are=
=20
doing on Tuesday is a new violation for the IG to investigate. They clearly=
=20
have never heard of "sunshine." Closed meetings are inappropriate."=20
Chester, a vocal critic of Chairman Tomlinson, said that Monday he would=20
officially call for the meeting to be opened.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6279067?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

AN AGE-OLD PROBLEM
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Anne Becker]
Do television news operations discriminate against women of a certain age?=
=20
Statistics would appear to support network executives who say age=20
discrimination is rare in the business. Last year, 17,837=20
age-discrimination complaints were filed in the U.S. during fiscal year=20
2004, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Of those,=
=20
80 claims were in radio and television broadcasting. That's a decline from=
=20
the 85 filings, out of a total of 19,124, the year before. And this year=20
seems assured of an even bigger drop: With one month left in fiscal 2005,=
=20
just 39 age-discrimination suits had been filed in the broadcasting=20
category. But interpretations of those numbers vary. To TV news execs on=20
the local and national level, the stats are proof of the value placed on=20
over-40 employees despite the business' traditional emphasis on youth,=20
particularly for female reporters and anchors who don't have the star power=
=20
of Barbara Walters or Katie Couric. Others who know the business -- current=
=20
and former TV journalists interviewed for this article, as well as agents=
=20
and employment lawyers specializing in media cases -- say that the decline=
=20
in complaints reflects a more sobering reality. Anchors and correspondents=
=20
have realized that filing suit can mean being shunned by potential=20
employers. And companies have become adept at using sensitivity training,=
=20
employee manuals and Human Resources departments to inoculate themselves=20
against age-discrimination lawsuits.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6278784?display=3DFeature&ref...
al=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

DVDs SURGE AS BACK-END TV MARKET
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Kevin Brass]
After barely generating a blip of revenue in the heyday of VHS, TV=20
programming is the fastest-growing sector in the DVD industry. This year=20
alone consumers will spend more than $3 billion on TV programming on DVD,=
=20
up from $2.3 billion in 2004. With few blockbuster theatrical hits on the=
=20
slate, TV on DVD may account for as much as 25 percent of DVD revenues this=
=20
year. Any concerns about possible negative impact on the long-term value of=
=20
a property by releasing it on DVD during its broadcast run are steamrolled=
=20
by these revenue numbers, affecting every aspect of the TV industry, from=
=20
production to marketing. Suppliers are rushing to mine the vaults. Actors,=
=20
writers and producers are demanding a piece of the pie. Networks are=20
developing "DVD-friendly" shows. And the phenomenon has sparked new=20
cooperation between television and home video divisions.
http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=3D28924
(requires free registration)

THE FUTURE OF TV
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
Slowly but surely content that's broadcast over cable networks and through=
=20
satellite providers is being distributed through the public Internet. In=20
terms of the technology, all the elements are falling into place to deliver=
=20
high-quality video from the Net directly to viewers in their living rooms.=
=20
It's easy to see how the old model for TV might evolve and adapt to=20
distribution on the Net as the necessary technology makes its way into the=
=20
home. But don't yet cry for traditional TV, Argentina. "The demise of=20
traditional television is a folklore," said MTV's Jason Hirschhorn.=20
"Viewers want more interactive TV, but traditional TV won't die. Still the=
=20
best way to reach an audience is through the TV."
http://news.com.com/The+future+of+TV/2100-1026_3-5920065.html?tag=3Dnefd...
de

ADVERTISING

WHY KRAFT DECIDED TO BAN SOME FOOD ADS TO CHILDREN
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sarah Ellison sarah.ellison( at )wsj.com]
Kraft is the nation's biggest food company and has spent about $90 million=
=20
advertising directly to children every year. But last January, announced it=
=20
would quit advertising certain products to kids under 12 responding to=20
growing concerns about -- and pending legislation on -- childhood obesity.=
=20
The move surprised the food industry and put Kraft at odds with=20
competitors. It presented the risk of losing market share and millions of=
=20
dollars in sales. Yet the strategy seems to be scoring points with policy=
=20
makers. Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, of Iowa, has praised Kraft's decision.=
=20
Kraft was the only food manufacturer on California Gov. Arnold=20
Schwarzenegger's recent "Honor Roll" for its policies to combat obesity.=20
Critics say the policy gives Kraft too much discretion in deciding what's=
=20
healthy and what isn't. They note the company still reaches young children=
=20
through cartoon characters on its packaging. And in any case, the company=
=20
continues marketing all of its products to the 12-and-up crowd. But Kraft=
=20
is betting the strategy will work. It learned it from its sister company,=
=20
Philip Morris USA.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113072235663483869.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

SOARING PROFITS FOUND IN SEARCH ADS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Jefferson Graham]
Prices are soaring for search ads =97 those simple text ads that appear nex=
t=20
to Internet search results. Advertisers pay each time someone clicks on an=
=20
ad. Search ads used to be available for a nickel or dime per click. Now=20
they're costing more than $1, some even $40 or $50. Google and rival=20
Internet giant Yahoo dominate the $8 billion market for search ads, which=
=20
are sold in an auction setting. So far this year, Google has reported=20
revenue of more than $4 billion, almost all of it from the sale of=20
advertising. =93It's a supply and demand marketplace,=94 says Gregg Stewart=
,=20
senior vice-president at search-marketing consultancy Fathom Online. =93As=
=20
more advertisers get involved, that drives prices up.=94 Rates have risen 1=
8%=20
on average from a year ago, says Dave Lavinsky, who runs a site called=20
TopPayingKeywords.com. Advertisers love search ads because unlike=20
mass-audience TV or print ads, they are targeted to people who are actively=
=20
looking to buy. And advertisers only have to pay for an ad if a customer=20
clicks on it.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20051031/1b_google31.art.htm

POLICYMAKERS

MARTIN KNOWN AS CONSENSUS BUILDER
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
Since taking the helm in March, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has deployed his=
=20
gifts as a consensus builder to win a string of bipartisan 4-0 votes. He's=
=20
also calmed an agency that was sharply polarized under its previous=20
chairman, Michael Powell. His latest victory could come as early as today,=
=20
when the FCC could approve two mergers that will reshape the=20
telecommunications industry: SBC's purchase of AT&T and Verizon's=20
acquisition of MCI. Over the weekend, Chairman Martin sought unanimous=20
backing for the deals from a panel that's evenly split between Republicans=
=20
and Democrats, with a fifth seat vacant. some public-interest advocates=20
remain wary of Martin's leadership, fearful of a pro-business agenda that=
=20
could limit choice and price competition for phone and Internet services.=
=20
Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America says he worries that=20
Martin's political agility could gain bipartisan support for rulings that=
=20
only appear consumer-friendly. =93Powell managed to irritate people and wa=
s=20
an easier target,=94 Cooper says. =93The fact that (Martin) is more astute=
=20
politically is going to make our job harder.=94 But no one disputes this:=
=20
Martin is racing his agenda through an FCC that once moved at a glacial=20
pace and often split on partisan lines. He's done so with a pragmatic=20
streak, a shrewd political antenna and sharp intelligence, all cloaked in a=
=20
disarming personal style. Martin's knack for consensus building will be=20
tested more rigorously in coming months, as the phone, cable and media=20
industries increasingly overlap and compete. His challenges include=20
steering the nation's transition to digital TV; reforming the shrinking=20
subsidy system that keeps phone service affordable in rural areas; and=20
maybe passing rules that could expand the reach of big media companies.=20
He's also expected to be even tougher on broadcasters that violate=20
indecency rules than was Powell, whose FCC socked TV and radio stations=20
with a record $7.7 million in fines last year.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20051031/fcc_martin_cov31.art...
* Tough issues ahead for Martin
On media ownership: Martin could submit a scaled-down plan that would allow=
=20
a company to both own a newspaper and some broadcast stations in the same=
=20
market. =93When we try to tee the issues up in bite-size chunks,=94 Martin=
=20
says, =93we're more likely to continue to make progress.=94 One option, he=
=20
says: to confine the looser ownership caps to large markets with the most=
=20
media outlets. Martin says the agency could also target some small markets=
=20
where mergers would =93increase the amount of news coverage or maintain=20
failing stations or newspapers.=94 Martin concedes he might not win=20
Democratic support. =93The issue is very complex and very contentious,=94 h=
e says.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20051031/fcc_martin_side31.ar...
tm
* About Kevin Martin
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20051031/2b_fcc_martin_bio.ar...
tm

QUICKLY

POST-INDICTMENT, A GLUT OF GLEE?
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
[Commentary] Now that an indictment has reached the highest level of the=20
White House for the first time since Watergate, journalists face a=20
minefield of potentially explosive questions: Are they enjoying a bit too=
=20
much the spectacle of Libby, Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, having=
=20
to resign over the charges of perjury and obstruction of justice? What=20
happened to the normal journalistic skepticism toward a single-minded=20
special prosecutor, as was on display when Ken Starr was pursuing Bill=20
Clinton? The hostility directed at Patrick Fitzgerald when he was=20
threatening reporters with jail seems to have faded now that his targets=20
are senior aides to President Bush. Perhaps most important, are reporters,=
=20
commentators, bloggers and partisans using the outing of Valerie Plame as a=
=20
proxy war for rehashing the decision to invade Iraq? The vitriol directed=
=20
at New York Times reporter Judith Miller, whether deserved or not, seems=20
motivated as much by her role in touting the administration's erroneous WMD=
=20
claims as in her decision to be jailed, at least for a time, to protect=20
Libby. In short, the leak prosecution is shaping up as a test of media=20
fairness and responsibility in a polarizing age when many people on the=20
left and right think the news business is hopelessly biased.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/30/AR200510...
1204.html
(requires registration)
* Libby at center of case; reporters in middle
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20051031/a_indictlegal31.art.htm

THE WRIGHT SIDE ON GLOBAL PIRACY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
An interview with NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright, an executive concerned=
=20
with the fight to protect intellectual property, particularly digital=20
information. Pirates are stealing more than a quarter-trillion dollars of=
=20
the U.S. economy annually, with millions of pirated copies of TV shows=20
available worldwide, according to estimates. Wright says the threat to TV=
=20
is growing and broadcasters are behind the curve.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6278968?display=3DNews&referral=
=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

LOBBYISTS TANGLED IN PAPERLESS PURSUIT
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jeffrey H. Birnbaum]
Electronic filing of lobbying reports -- what a great idea, right? Not in=
=20
Washington as the Senate and House adopt incompatible systems and the=20
House's version, which is harder for the public to access, may be the one=
=20
to win out.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/30/AR200510...
0783.html
(requires registration)

TAGGING THE NEWS YOU WANT TO USE
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Matt Marshall]
Digg, a new San Francisco Internet start-up, seeks to rank news items by=20
letting people choose which stories they like anywhere on the Web.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/13021195.htm

MICHAEL POWELL'S NEW GIG
[SOURCE: Reactrix Media Systems]
Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell will serve as a senior advisor to=20
Reactrix Media Systems as the company deploys a new way for advertisers to=
=20
reach and influence millions of consumers in high-traffic malls, theatres,=
=20
stores and other public venues.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=3D104&STORY=3D/www/sto...
10-25-2005/0004194083&EDATE
--------------------------------------------------------------
Don't go crazy on candy today. See ya tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------