December 2005

TELEVISION
Senate Approves Digital Television Transition Plan
New TV Ratings Will Produce Ad-Price Fight
A Grown-Up Kid Makes Some TV Requests
TV: Too Sexy For Your Couch?

INTERNET
NYC moves closer to broadband plan
Senators propose taxing Internet shopping
Focus on Broadband
The last wireless believer has left the Federal Building
Kids revealing too much info online
Wary of Dissent, Tunisia Makes War on the Web

SPECTRUM
First Responder Spectrum Needs Report
Strong Support for Extending FCC's Auction Authority Exists,
but Little Agreement on Other Options to Improve Efficient Use of Spectrum
Focus on Wireless Issues

POSITION AVAILABLE: MANAGING DIRECTOR, MMTC

TELEVISION

SENATE APPROVES DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION PLAN
[SOURCE: Senate Commerce Committee press release]
On Wednesday, the United States Senate voted 51-50 to approve the Budget
Reconciliation conference report which includes the Digital Transition
title. The conference report will now be returned to the House of
Representatives for its consideration, as the Senate made technical changes
unrelated to the Digital Television title. Under its revised budget
reconciliation instruction, the Senate Commerce Committee saves $7.363
billion for deficit reduction in the next five years, and spectrum auctions
are considered to be the most viable method within the Commerce Committee's
jurisdiction to recover this revenue. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
estimates that auctions will raise a total of $10 billion, though several
independent reports estimate that the auction would raise more than $20
billion. The title also extends auction authority to September 30, 2011.
The legislation establishes two specific dates that will advance the
transition to a digital television (DTV) broadcast signal and improve
public safety communications. First, the Act requires broadcasters to
vacate the analog portion of the public spectrum by February 17, 2009. From
that date forward, public safety personnel will have access to the 24 MHz
of spectrum recovered in the transition. Second, the legislation requires
the auction of recovered spectrum by January 28, 2008. Because of small
amendments made to the Budget Reconciliation bill, it must now return to
the House for approval.
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=250087
See coverage --
* Digital TV switch set for early 2009
http://news.com.com/Digital+TV+switch+set+for+early+2009/2100-1028_3-600...
* Senate Backs DTV Bill
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6293345?display=Breaking+News
* Senate OKs 2009 DTV Date
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=10017...
* Senate backs digital TV transition plan
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&story...
* Senate Passes Bill to Convert to Digital TV
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/technology/22digital.html
* Congress sets 2009 deadline for digital TV
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/13462802.htm
* TV signals go digital Feb. 2009
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20051222/dtv22.art.htm

NEW TV RATINGS WILL PRODUCE AD-PRICE FIGHT
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Brooks Barnes brooks.barnes( at )wsj.com ]
Some $60 billion in annual TV advertising sales ride on the back of Nielsen
data. For nearly two decades, Nielsen has measured national television
ratings one way: It has estimated how many people sat in front of their TVs
when the networks broadcast a show. Now, as more viewers record programs,
Nielsen on Monday plans to start tracking them, as well -- setting up a
fight between advertisers and networks over the price of commercials.
Advertisers argue that this new data only gives networks and channels more
fodder to splice together questionable bragging rights. Media buyers say
the only number that matters is the "live" ratings data Nielsen has long
provided. That's because some big advertisers depend on time-sensitive ads
-- movie studios pitching a film opening, for instance -- and don't want to
pay for viewers who play programs days later.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113521096416228955.html?mod=todays_us_ma...
(requires subscription)

A GROWN-UP KID MAKES SOME TV REQUESTS
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Frazier Moore]
[Commentary] Dear Santa, may I have a new FCC? My old one's on the blink.
The Federal Communications Commission, you know, is the government agency
that regulates TV and radio stations. It's run by a five-member board that,
in recent years, hasn't been as focused on the interests of ordinary
citizens as much as the huge-and-getting-huger media companies. That makes
me sad, Santa. The FCC should be operating in the public's behalf, since
the airwaves that carry broadcast programming are publicly owned. That's
right, Santa! The air you and your eight tiny reindeer will be flying
through across the U.S. is a public resource, not private property. So
maybe Christmas Eve you could pack your sleigh with a few new commissioners
eager to serve the public interest, rather than big business.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051220/APE/51...

TV: TOO SEXY FOR YOUR COUCH?
[SOURCE: Michael Abernethy, AUTHOR: PopMatters]
[Commentary] According to a new Kaiser Family Foundation report analyzing
sex on TV, we are veering painfully close to pornography, even on prime-time.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/29614/

INTERNET

NYC MOVES CLOSER TO BROADBAND PLAN
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
In the last session of the year, the City Council of New York passed
legislation that creates a special broadband commission to advise Mayor
Michael Bloomberg and the city council on how the resources of city
government can be used to help roll out broadband throughout the city. The
legislation requires that the committee hold two public hearings in every
borough during its three years of existence. In addition, the committee
will issue a report yearly with recommendations to the mayor and city
council on how the government can accelerate the construction of broadband
infrastructure throughout New York City. The goal of the commission is to
educate the general public about broadband and the newest communication
technologies, and to give New York City residents the opportunity to
comment on how to close the digital divide. Today only 38 percent of the
city's 8 million residents subscribe to broadband service, according to a
report prepared by the New York City Economic Development Corporation in
March. This, despite the fact that access to broadband service is nearly
ubiquitous throughout the city. Verizon Communications reports that about
85 to 90 percent of New Yorkers have access to DSL service, and Time Warner
Cable, the predominant cable provider, reports that 100 percent of its
customers have access to cable modem service.
http://news.com.com/NYC++moves+closer+to+broadband+plan/2100-1034_3-6004...

SENATORS PROPOSE TAXING INTERNET SHOPPING
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
Two bills introduced Wednesday propose sweeping changes to how Americans
are taxed for online and mail order purchases. Businesses initially would
be required to collect sales taxes on purchases shipped to roughly half of
the country, and that percentage is expected to rapidly increase. "Main
Street retailers collect sales taxes, while many online and catalog
retailers are exempt from collecting the same taxes," said a statement
published by Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican. "This is costing states
and localities billions in lost revenue." A related bill has been
introduced by Sen. Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, who is a former
state tax commissioner.
http://news.com.com/Senators+propose+taxing+Internet+shopping/2100-1028_...

FOCUS ON BROADBAND
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
NTIA Director Michael D. Gallagher presented the plenary address on Focus
on Broadband at the US-European Commission Information Society dialogue
talks. He concludes: 1) President Bush has a vision for making advanced
technologies available to all Americans by creating the economic and
regulatory environment to enhance competition and promote innovation. 2)
The President's goal will ensure that all Americans have the personal and
economic benefits of high-speed Internet applications and services. 3) The
telecom sector is growing dynamically, and many new technologies show great
potential for expanding broadband deployment.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/speeches/2005/MGallagher_ISD2005_broadb...

THE LAST WIRELESS BELIEVER HAS LEFT THE FEDERAL BUILDING
[SOURCE: Tales from the Sausage Factory, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] So is Harold Feld sad that Michael Gallagher is leaving the
NTIA? Because Gallagher, like Michael Powell, believed very strongly in the
importance of wireless to our nation's broadband and economic future.
Gallagher promoted freeing up more government spectrum for industry use or
shared use with the government. In doing so he pushed not just auctioning
exclusive licenses, but unlicensed use as well. With Gallagher's departure,
the last high-level true believer in wireless and advocate for spectrum
change has left the administration. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin does not view
spectrum, either licensed or unlicensed, as a particular priority. Neither
do either of the Democrats. While supportive of the promise of unlicensed,
they have not pushed for new unlicensed spectrum in a high-profile way. FCC
nominee Deborah Tate remains an unknown on the subject. Without a high
level advocate anywhere in the administration for spectrum reform, it won't
happen. The forces of inertia combined with active resistance by incumbents
that enjoy the existing regime guarantee that little, if anything, will get
done. What energy exists at NTIA and the FCC will more likely go to
maximizing auction revenue than rethinking how to get the most "bang for
the buck" from new spectrum technologies.
http://www.wetmachine.com//item/400

STUDY: KIDS REVEAL TOO MUCH ONLINE
[SOURCE: USAToday]
Kids and teens frequently take risks on the Internet by communicating with
strangers and sharing too much personal information, the Polly Klaas
Foundation reports in a study today. About 42% of teens who go online say
they post personal information so others can contact them; 30% say they
have talked about meeting someone they encountered online; and 27% say they
have talked online about sex with someone they have never met in person.
The study does not delve into the results of those actions.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20051222/bl_line22.art.htm

WARY OF DISSENT, TUNISIA MAKES WAR ON THE WEB
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Daniel Williams]
Even as delegates from 175 countries met in Tunis in November for the World
Summit on the Information Society, a gathering aimed at spreading
information technology around the world, the government kept up its
controls. Delegates protested, but to no apparent result. Government
censors routinely block access to content and sites that draw concern.
Monitors at public computers keep watch on users to see if they succeed in
getting around the obstructions. Writing the wrong thing on the Internet
can bring jail time.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/21/AR200512...
(requires registration)

SPECTRUM

FIRST RESPONDERS SPECTRUM NEEDS REPORT
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC submitted a report to Congress on the spectrum needs of emergency
workers. The report examines the spectrum needs of traditional public
safety entities and other critical first responders. It also considers
proposals to enhance public safety interoperability, particularly broadband
interoperability, ranging from the deployment of a nationwide,
interoperable network to more easily achievable solutions that employ
widely available commercial technologies. The report reaches the following
principal findings: 1) Emergency response providers would benefit from the
development of an integrated, interoperable nationwide network capable of
delivering broadband services throughout the country. 2) While commercial
wireless technologies are not appropriate for every type of public safety
communication, there may now be a place for commercial providers to assist
public safety in securing and protecting the homeland. 3) Prior to
undertaking the instant study, the Commission has endeavored to provide
adequate spectrum to satisfy public safety's spectrum needs, and the
Commission's actions evince its long standing commitment to working closely
with the public safety community to satisfy immediate and short-term
spectrum needs. 4) While the effort to address the short-term spectrum
needs of public safety is underway, attaining a wholesale assessment of
long-term spectrum needs is an ongoing task. Mobile, broadband
communications, implemented in combination with upgraded equipment,
associated training and close coordination, could offer emergency response
providers many important capabilities. To this end, and at the urging of
public safety, the Commission will expeditiously examine whether certain
channels within the current allocation of twenty-four megahertz of public
safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band could be modified to accommodate
broadband communications.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-262865A1.pdf

Telecommunications: Strong Support for Extending FCC's Auction Authority
Exists, but Little Agreement on Other Options to Improve Efficient Use of
Spectrum. (GAO-06-236)
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-236
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06236high.pdf

FOCUS ON WIRELESS ISSUES
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
NTIA Director Michael D. Gallagher presented the plenary address on Focus
on Wireless Issues at the US-European Commission Information Society
dialogue talks. He concludes: 1) Spectrum dependent services are essential
to the United States' national security and economic security. 2) The Bush
Administration is committed to spectrum and broadband policies that create
a domestic and international environment for economic growth by removing
barriers to the implementation of U.S. technologies and services. 3) Goal:
Satisfy the United States' domestic requirements and provide worldwide
spectrum policy leadership.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/speeches/2005/MGallagher_ISD2005_wirele...

POSITION AVAILABLE: MANAGING DIRECTOR, MMTC
The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) is currently
accepting applications for the position of Managing Director. This
full-time position, based in Washington, D.C., is perfect for a candidate
with management and fundraising skills who also has a commitment to the
civil rights mission of MMTC. The Managing Director is responsible for MMTC
operations, budgeting, expenditures, services (including the website and
conferences), development, and fundraising, including grantsmanship. The
Managing Director reports to the MMTC Executive Committee. Candidates
should submit a cover letter and resume by the end of the business day on
Friday, December 30, 2005. No phone calls, please. Materials may be
submitted by mail to:
Dr. Everett C. Parker, Treasurer
MMTC
3636 16th Street N.W. Suite B-366
Washington, DC 20010
or by email to dhonig( at )crosslink.net
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service
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Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang
headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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