February 2006

The CPB Board of Directors meets today=20
(http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=3D527).=20
For this and other upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

INTERNET
Tollbooths on the Internet Highway
Congress Considers Limits on Muni Wireless
Don't Tax Municipal Wi-Fi
Boston Wi-Fi Spat Born in Airport Lounge May Set U.S. Rules
It's a Wi-Fi kind of town (Chicago is...)
Internet Stakeholders Gather To Discuss Internet Governance Forum
APC looks at Tunis and Geneva in perspective
Online Video Goes Mainstream, Sparking an Industry Land Grab

TELEVISION
Telcos Push Franchise Revamp Up Hill
McCain Proposal Would Link Video Franchising, 'A La Carte'
The best argument for cable a la carte
Declaration of Independents

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
US lags in propaganda war: Rumsfeld
Google Argues Request For Files Is Unjustified
The Internet and the =91Axis of (Censored)'
Free Software Takes Users Around Filters

POLICYMAKERS
FTC 'Streamlines' Merger Review
Politics hamstrings FCC, Powell says
CPB Board Member Katherine Anderson Steps Down

TELECOM
EU Panel Finds Telecom Titans Have Too Much Market Control
In Wireless World, Cingular Bucks the Antiunion Trend

QUICKLY -- FCC's Kids TV Hits Keep On Coming;=20
CARU Corrects More TV Ads; FCC Katrina Panel to=20
Meet March 6; Indecency Complaints Rise Again;=20
Double-dialers swell cellphone ranks; Companies=20
keep an eye on workers' Internet use

INTERNET

TOLLBOOTHS ON THE INTERNET HIGHWAY
[SOURCE: New York Times 2/20, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] When you use the Internet today,=20
your browser glides from one Web site to another,=20
accessing all destinations with equal ease. That=20
could change dramatically, however, if Internet=20
service providers are allowed to tilt the playing=20
field, giving preference to sites that pay them=20
extra and penalizing those that don't. The Senate=20
held hearings last week on "network neutrality,"=20
the principle that Internet Service Providers=20
should not be able to stack the deck in this way.=20
If the Internet is to remain free, and freely=20
evolving, it is important that neutrality=20
legislation be passed. If access tiering takes=20
hold, the Internet providers, rather than=20
consumers, could become the driving force in how=20
the Internet evolves. Those corporations'=20
profit-driven choices, rather than users'=20
choices, would determine which sites and=20
methodologies succeed and fail. They also might=20
be able to stifle promising innovations, like=20
Internet telephony, that compete with their own=20
business interests. Some ISPs are phone and cable=20
companies that make large campaign contributions,=20
and are used to getting their way in Washington.=20
But Americans feel strongly about an open and=20
free Internet. Net neutrality is an issue where=20
the public interest can and should trump the special interests.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/opinion/20mon1.html
(requires registration)
See also --
The Case Against a Neutral Net
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: J. Gregory Sidak, Georgetown University]
[Commentary] Former American Enterprise Institute=20
Telecommunications Deregulation Project Director=20
J. Gregory Sidak argues against =93net neutrality.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6308550.html?display=3DOpinion
(requires subscription)

CONGRESS CONSIDERS LIMITS ON MUNI WIRELESS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Congress is debating whether to allow local=20
governments to provide high-speed data access in=20
competitive markets already served by cable and=20
phone companies. Dozens of communities around the=20
country are promoting the deployment of broadband=20
-- some through partnerships with private=20
companies and some through ownership of their own=20
facilities with at least implicit taxpayer=20
support. The fate of municipal broadband service=20
is likely to play out in the ongoing effort to=20
overhaul the Telecommunications Act of 1996.=20
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens=20
(R-Alaska) is hoping his panel will approve a bill next month.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6308551.html?display=3DPolicy
(requires subscription)

DON'T TAX MUNICIPAL WI-FI
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Ron Sege, CEO of Tropos Networks]
[Commentary] President Bush has established the=20
important goal of achieving universal broadband=20
availability for all Americans by 2007. Yet, in a=20
little-noticed portion of its budget, the=20
Administration urges Congress to enact a new tax,=20
euphemistically described as a "user fee" on=20
unauctioned spectrum licenses that give holders=20
the right to transmit radio signals. It is hard=20
to discern precisely what is intended by this=20
obscure proposal, but within 24 hours of its=20
release the White House said it had no intention=20
of taxing Wi-Fi services that operate in=20
unlicensed spectrum. But with the federal=20
government facing huge budget deficits, we remain=20
concerned that the Administration and Congress=20
will be tempted to tax something that today is=20
made available for free: namely, the spectrum in=20
which Wi-Fi devices operate. Short of a law=20
banning municipal broadband networks, it's hard=20
to imagine something so inimical to competition=20
and achieving universal access for all Americans.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2006/tc20060217_684364...

BOSTON'S WI-FI SPAT BORN IN AIRPORT LOUNGE MAY SET US RULES
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Brian K. Sullivan=20
bsullivan10( at )bloomberg.net & Molly Peterson mpeterson9( at )bloomberg.net]
A fight over Web access at a lounge in Boston's=20
Logan International Airport may determine how=20
thousands of businesses use the Internet. The=20
Massachusetts Port Authority demanded Continental=20
Airlines Inc. take down an antenna that receives=20
signals for the service in its lounge for=20
frequent flyers. Continental wants federal=20
regulators to intervene, saying the case could=20
grant landlords with office buildings, stadiums=20
and airports nationwide the right to decide who=20
can operate networks. Massport said it needs to=20
control wireless access to the Web at Logan, the=20
17th-largest airport in the U.S., to maintain=20
security. Airlines use Wi-Fi to track baggage,=20
the state police use it to transmit data between=20
officers, and the Transportation Security=20
Administration uses it for communications between=20
its checkpoints and a central station.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D10001058&sid=3DaXXwvFwUPXXI&refer=
=3Dmovers_by_index

IT'S A WI-FI KIND OF TOWN
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune 2/17, AUTHOR: Jon Van]
The City of Chicago wants to blanket its streets=20
and neighborhoods with a wireless Internet=20
signal, granting residents and visitors access to=20
the Web wherever they are--on streets, in homes,=20
offices and shopping malls. Chicago's chief=20
information officer said Thursday that the city=20
will invite technology companies to submit=20
proposals this spring on how to build and offer=20
citywide wireless broadband, or Wi-Fi, as it's=20
known. Analysts say that citywide wireless=20
eventually could give thousands more people=20
access to the Internet, improve the efficiency of=20
the mobile workforce and spur technological=20
advancements. Houston, for example, determined=20
that a Wi-Fi network would allow it to create a=20
low-cost parking meter operation that accepts=20
debit or credit cards. It could also be another=20
weapon in Chicago's battle to attract and retain businesses.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0602170153feb17,1,6912071.s...
y?coll=3Dchi-news-hed

INTERNET STAKEHOLDERS GATHER TO DISCUSS INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM
[SOURCE: Center for Democracy and Technology]
Internet stakeholders are gathering in Geneva=20
this week to discuss the future of the Internet=20
Governance Forum (IGF), an entity authorized by=20
world leaders at the conclusion of the World=20
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) last=20
November. The forum is intended to be a venue for=20
stakeholders throughout the global Internet=20
community to discuss concerns relating to=20
Internet governance. CDT believes the forum is a=20
unique opportunity, but one that poses=20
significant challenges. In comments submitted to=20
forum organizers, CDT offered suggestions for the scope and makeup of the I=
GF.
CDT Comments: Internet Governance Forum:
http://www.cdt.org/international/20060215igfcomments.pdf

BEYOND THE DUST AND HEAT: APC LOOKS AT TUNIS AND GENEVA IN PERSPECTIVE
[SOURCE: Association for Progressive Communications]
Some months after the heat and dust settled on=20
the Tunisian skyline, APC has come up with its=20
evaluation of what the four-year World Summit on=20
the Information Society could hold out for people=20
on the planet. And our reflections throw up a=20
mixed bag. There are some positive signs emerging=20
from WSIS, it suggests. But unless active steps=20
are taken to ensure that vested interests don't=20
take over, and local opportunities are created,=20
all hope and optimism could be rather misplaced.
APC reflection report on WSIS:
http://rights.apc.org/documents/apc_wsis_reflection_0206.pdf

ONLINE VIDEO GOES MAINSTREAM, SPARKING AN INDUSTRY LAND GRAB
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Peter Grant peter.grant( at )wsj.com]
Once, producers of films, TV shows and video=20
material relied on other big companies --=20
broadcast networks, cable systems -- to get shows=20
in front of an audience. Now, new forms of=20
distribution could turn anyone into a producer=20
with a nearly endless array of possible outlets.=20
Fearful of being cut out and worried about=20
piracy, big media companies are starting to=20
embrace online distribution. The earliest signs=20
are deals cut by Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, Apple=20
Computer Inc., General Electric Co.'s NBC and=20
America Online to make popular TV shows available=20
on the Web. Recently, cable television channel=20
Oxygen Media Inc., National Lampoon Inc. and the=20
New York Times Co. each signed up with=20
Brightcove. Distributors like Brightcove are=20
eyeing the promise of advertising tied to online=20
video content. The idea is similar to the way=20
Google syndicates advertising to third-party Web=20
sites, in which both sides share the resulting revenue.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114048979543678723.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

TELEVISION

TELECOS PUSH FRANCHISE REVAMP UP HILL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Congressional panels will soon try to relax=20
cable-franchising rules for telephone companies=20
that want to get into the video business. And=20
they are likely to respond directly to complaints=20
from AT&T and Verizon that the current municipal=20
process is dysfunctional, since winning a local=20
franchise can take months -- and can sometimes=20
require funding the construction not just of a=20
new communications network, but such things as=20
traffic lights and football fields as well. If=20
the phone giants score big, they might even be=20
able to selectively pick where they roll out=20
their video services. That would mean they could=20
target their investments to areas where cable=92s=20
best customers live, while cable operators would=20
be weighed down by local pacts that require=20
constant servicing of every household in a=20
community. Who wants what in House and Senate=20
franchising bills: 1) Sens. John Rockefeller=20
(D-WV) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) -- (S. 1394) Video=20
Choice Act of 2005: No video franchise required=20
for phone companies already authorized to occupy=20
rights of way to provide phone service. 2) Sen.=20
John Ensign (R-NV) -- (S.1504) Broadband=20
Investment and Consumer Choice Act of 2005:=20
Neither franchise nor buildout requirements may=20
be imposed on any video service provider. 3) Sen.=20
John McCain (R-AZ): Freedom from local=20
franchising requirement, in exchange for=20
requirement to offer channels of programming on=20
an a la carte basis. 4) Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX)=20
Fred Upton (R-MI): No franchise required for=20
providers of broadband Internet transmission service (BITS).
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6308722.html?display=3DTop+Stories
(requires subscription)
See also --
* Local officials, cable TV fight phone company franchise plans
[SOURCE: St Louis Post Dispatch, AUTHOR: David Nicklaus]
[Commentary] All of a sudden, the cable TV=20
industry and America's local elected officials=20
have become political best friends. Why? Because=20
they worry that Congress or state legislatures,=20
or both, will act on bills to promote more=20
competition in video services. Such action would=20
hurt the cable companies' profits, of course, but=20
it also would derail an important gravy train for cities and towns.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/davidnicklaus/s...
y/C9E0C4B34CCA6029862571190038105B?OpenDocument

MCCAIN PROPOSAL WOULD LINK VIDEO FRANCHISING, 'A LA CARTE'
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) plans to introduce=20
legislation at the end of this month to pressure=20
cable providers into offering per channel=20
programming. The measure would reward with relief=20
from local franchise obligations programmers that=20
adopt an so-called a la carte channel model. Sen=20
McCain views per channel pricing as a way for=20
consumers to lower cable bills and control=20
content entering their homes. Under his bill,=20
video providers still would pay franchise fees=20
and incur other obligations -- but they would be=20
subject to less cumbersome statewide or=20
nationwide agreements. Consumers, in turn, would=20
have more choice in selecting specific programming that is attractive to th=
em.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-EWBX1140190946927.html

THE BEST ARGUMENT FOR CABLE A LA CARTE
[SOURCE: Media Life, AUTHOR: Diego Vasquez]
Center for Creative Voices in Media strongly=20
supports a la carte cable pricing. Jonathan=20
Rintels, president and executive director of the=20
group, talks with Media Life about why his group=20
supports a la carte, why the earlier FCC study=20
opposing a la carte was flawed, and whether a la=20
carte stands a chance of winning congressional=20
approval. Why a la carte? "Today=92s bundling=20
system gives big media -- the broadcast networks=20
and big cable -- a chokehold over America=92s=20
television programming, restricting consumer=20
choice largely to networks owned by broadcast=20
network owners or large cable operators. As the=20
FCC recognizes, an a la carte option would enable=20
consumers to access a wider diversity of=20
programming from additional sources, full of=20
diverse and competing voices and viewpoints --=20
and at a lower cost. It would also give consumers=20
the ability to choose to not subscribe to=20
networks on cable and satellite that offend them,=20
eliminating any need for extending broadcast=20
indecency regulations to cable. This will be good=20
not only for creative media artists but for all Americans."
http://medialifemagazine.com/artman/publish/article_2943.asp

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENTS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano]
Independent TV stations -- feisty local=20
broadcasters that go up against the biggest=20
entertainment companies in the world=97are suddenly=20
enjoying a revival of sorts. Come September,=20
their numbers will roughly double when more than=20
100 new independents could flood the market as=20
The WB and UPN shut down to form The CW network.=20
Some stations will not win The CW affiliation,=20
and, with the fall season looming, managers at=20
UPNs and WBs are scrambling to find other models.=20
Unlike network affiliates, independent stations=20
have to fill their schedule 24 hours a day, seven=20
days a week, and sell all of the time to=20
advertisers. Without network prime time to draw=20
viewers, independents have to buy more syndicated=20
product or produce local news or specials.=20
Independent stations thrived in the 1970s and=20
'80s, offering movies, reruns of popular TV shows=20
and baseball games. But by the 1990s, the=20
explosion of cable meant that dozens of channels=20
offered similar programming all day long. At the=20
same time, the creation of Fox (1986), The WB and=20
UPN (both 1995) converted many independents to=20
network affiliates, leaving only a few dozen=20
indies scattered across the country. Some of the=20
strongest independents are former network=20
affiliates. Profitable independents point to=20
three crucial elements for success against=20
big-network affiliates: a lineup of hyper-local=20
news and hot syndication; smart packaging and=20
promotion; and new ad opportunities.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308643?display=3DFeature&ref...
al=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

US LAGS IN PROPAGANDA WAR: RUMSFELD
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Daniel Trotta]
The United States lags dangerously behind al=20
Qaeda and other enemies in getting out=20
information in the digital media age and must=20
update its old-fashioned methods, Defense=20
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday.=20
Modernization is crucial to winning the hearts=20
and minds of Muslims worldwide who are bombarded=20
with negative images of the West, Rumsfeld told=20
the Council on Foreign Relations. The Pentagon=20
chief said today's weapons of war included=20
e-mail, Blackberries, instant messaging, digital=20
cameras and Web logs, or blogs. "Our enemies have=20
skillfully adapted to fighting wars in today's=20
media age, but ... our country has not adapted,"=20
Sec Rumsfeld said. Sec Rumsfeld lamented that=20
vast media attention about U.S. abuses at Abu=20
Ghraib prison in Iraq outweighed that given to=20
the discovery of "Saddam Hussein's mass graves."=20
On the emergence of satellite television and=20
other media not under Arab state control, he=20
said, "While al Qaeda and extremist movements=20
have utilized this forum for many years ... we in=20
the government have barely even begun to compete in reaching their audience=
s."
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-17T205858Z_01_N17237817_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-RUMSFELD.xml&archi=
ved=3DFalse
* Rumsfeld Pushes Media Front in Terror War
"Consider that the violent extremist have=20
established 'media relations committees,'" he=20
said, "and have proven to be highly successful at=20
manipulating opinion elites.... They know that=20
communications transcend borders -- and that a=20
single news story, handled skillfully, can be as=20
damaging to our cause and as helpful to theirs,=20
as any other method of military attack. And they=20
are doing it. They are able to act quickly with=20
relatively few people, and with modest resources=20
compared to the vast -- and expensive -- bureaucracies of western governmen=
ts."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308691.html?display=3DBreaki...
News&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

GOOGLE ARGUES REQUEST FOR FILES IS UNJUSTIFIED
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Mark Boslet mark.boslet( at )dowjones.com]
Google argued against disclosing millions of=20
search queries along with one million randomly=20
selected Web page addresses to the Department of=20
Justice in court papers filed Friday. The=20
documents filed in San Jose federal District=20
Court claim the release of the data would expose=20
Google trade secrets without justification. The=20
disclosure also would undermine the trust Google=20
has built up with its users, the legal documents=20
state. The papers were filed in response to a=20
lawsuit the department filed last month seeking=20
the records for a lawsuit defending the Child=20
Online Protection Act. A March 13 hearing has been set in the case.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114022995518477753.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

THE INTERNET AND THE 'AXIS OF (CENSORED)'
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Sens John McCain and Jon Kyl, both (R-AZ)]
[Commentary] The free flow of information has=20
always threatened repressive regimes, and=20
dictators have always sought to restrict it. The=20
Internet is a new challenge for these regimes=20
because it empowers with information and speech=20
any person who can access the network.=20
Corporations have made billions in profits=20
leveraging this power. But as valuable as the=20
network is for commerce, it is even more critical=20
for people to learn the truth about what is=20
happening in their countries. By enabling=20
discussion, debate and criticism of our=20
governments, the Internet allows us to practice=20
in cyberspace the essence of democracy. That's=20
precisely why governments that rule without their=20
people's consent fear this power and are fighting=20
the flow of information online. Call them the=20
=93Axis of (Censored).=94 The Axis employs many=20
methods, and regrettably its members are not=20
acting alone. American companies are complicit in=20
the effort to neuter the Internet's democratic=20
promise. We believe that American companies must=20
develop and agree to abide by a code of conduct=20
governing their interactions with repressive=20
regimes, and we applaud the suggestion by some=20
companies that they will consider such a step.=20
The code should adhere to the basic principles of=20
openness and free expression that helped make the=20
Internet the powerful tool of expression that it=20
is today. As a starting point, the code should=20
require U.S. companies to avoid providing=20
products or services that will be used to block=20
political or religious speech, refrain from ever=20
turning cyber-dissidents over to governments, and=20
disclose dealings with governments that wish to=20
use a company's products or services for=20
censorship. There is every hope in the Congress=20
that U.S. companies will take action on their=20
own. But however this problem is solved, it's=20
clear that something must change. Americans stand=20
with those who oppose tyranny, not those who=20
promote it. And that means all of us.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060221/opcom21.art.htm

FREE SOFTWARE TAKES USERS AROUND FILTERS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Philip P. Pan]
In the Internet censorship battle in China, the=20
technical advantage has shifted against the=20
government because of two free programs, Freegate=20
and UltraSurf, produced by Chinese emigres in the=20
United States who are members of the banned Falun=20
Gong spiritual movement. Both work with computer=20
networks outside China to lead users past=20
government filters to Web pages with Falun Gong=20
material attacking the Communist Party. Once past=20
the firewall, users can visit any blocked site,=20
including the blog that Zhao Jing maintains on an=20
overseas server, the online encyclopedia Wikipedia and dissident news forum=
s.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/20/AR200602...
1305.html
(requires registration)
* Bloggers Who Pursue Change Confront Fear And Mistrust
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/20/AR200602...
1304.html
(requires registration)

POLICYMAKERS

FTC 'STREAMLINES' MERGER REVIEW
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Trade Commission, as of Friday, Feb.=20
17, has "streamlined" its merger review process=20
to make it less burdensome on the staffs of both=20
companies and the FTC to comply with "second=20
requests" for information under Hart Scott Rodino=20
(HSR) merger review. Those requests result if=20
the Commission still has more questions about a=20
merger after the initial 30-day waiting period=20
under HSR. The FTC says that occurs in only about=20
5% of the mergers it is asked to review. But in=20
those cases, the costs of producing the documents=20
can run into the millions, says FTC, and extend=20
the review time by as much as nine months. The=20
reform essentially caps the number of staffers=20
(35 under the new rules) whose files must be=20
produced to comply with second requests, so long=20
as certain baseline conditions are met. It also=20
reduces the time frame from which information=20
must be supplied and reduces the amount of=20
information on "privileged" documents that must=20
be automatically produced, though a full=20
accounting of those documents must still be=20
provided if the FTC decides it needs them.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308732?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See FTC press release: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/02/merger_process.htm

POLITICS HAMSTRINGS FCC, POWELL SAYS
[SOURCE: Rocky Mountain News, AUTHOR: Jeff Smith]
Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman=20
Michael Powell said Monday he believes Washington=20
is more broken than it ever has been in his=20
lifetime because of "brutal partisanship." He=20
described the FCC as a "default wrestling pit."=20
If Congress can't handle certain communications=20
issues, those issues and the major companies such=20
as Verizon, AT&T/SBC and Comcast come rolling=20
down Capitol Hill to the FCC in "mud waves." He=20
said every meaningful decision takes years to=20
battle out. Powell is worried about regulators=20
unnecessarily intervening in new markets and said=20
it is increasingly imperative for them to=20
personally use the new technologies to understand=20
the trends. He cautioned the FCC from getting=20
involved in content management rights, predicting=20
those would devolve into a "scrum over values."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN...
916_4483038,00.html

CPB BOARD MEMBER KATHERINE ANDERSON STEPS DOWN
[SOURCE: Corporation for Public Broadcasting]
Katherine M. Anderson, who has served on the=20
Corporation for Public Broadcasting's board of=20
directors since 1997, has stepped down from the CPB board.
http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=3D528

TELECOM

EU PANEL FINDS TELECOM TITANS HAVE TOO MUCH MARKET CONTROL
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: William=20
Echikson william.echikson( at )dowjones.com]
Eight years after deregulating Europe's=20
telecommunications markets, a European Commission=20
report published yesterday found that incumbents=20
such as Deutsche Telekom AG retain too strong a=20
grip on markets. This control is particularly=20
strong over fixed-line and mobile markets, the=20
report says. The report finds competition is=20
working to cut prices for customers and offer=20
them new services, but that additional regulation=20
may be required. Such a prospect pleases=20
start-ups, while infuriating former monopoly=20
incumbents that contend that the newcomers no=20
longer require protection. In particular, the=20
dispute focuses on the construction of new=20
infrastructure, with incumbents arguing that they=20
shouldn't be forced to allow newcomers inexpensive access.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114048924083078712.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

IN WIRELESS WORLD, CINGULAR BUCKS THE ANTIUNION TREND
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtel]
Since July 2005, the Communications Workers of=20
America has unionized 16,500 former AT&T Wireless=20
workers at Cingular Wireless retail stores and=20
call centers nationwide -- a move that runs=20
counter to the longstanding trend in the=20
telecommunications industry and American=20
workplaces in general. And many of those Cingular=20
shops are in the South, where unionizing efforts=20
have been difficult historically. Cingular's=20
wireless competitors have fought, at times=20
fiercely, against unionization, arguing that an=20
organized labor force would hobble their ability=20
to move workers, cut costs and make changes=20
necessary to compete in a high-tech industry.=20
They often assert that unions ultimately hurt the=20
workers they claim to protect. But the growth of=20
Cingular into the nation's largest wireless=20
carrier -- with a nearly fully unionized labor=20
force -- has challenged those assumptions and=20
given a new spark to organized labor, said Harry=20
C. Katz, dean of the School of Industrial and=20
Labor Relations at Cornell University.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/business/21union.html
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

FCC'S KIDS TV HITS KEEP COMING
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has proposed fines for four stations that=20
violated its children's TV reporting rules. The=20
FCC requires stations to keep public files on=20
their efforts to program educational shows and=20
the amount of commercial time in those shows.=20
WMDT(TV) Salisbury (MD) conceded that it had=20
never publicized the existence or location of its=20
children's TV programing reports. The FCC said it=20
constituted a willfull and repeated violation and=20
proposed the $10,000 fine. The station has 30=20
days to pay up or appeal the fine.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308575?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

CARU CORRECTS MORE TV ADS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Children's Advertising Review Unit of the=20
Better Business Bureau (CARU) has released three=20
more recommendations for modifications to TV ads.=20
1) LeapFrog has agreed to modify future TV ads=20
for its Fly Pentop Computer to make clear that=20
users must buy special paper refills for it to=20
continue to work. 2) In response to a CARU=20
request, which was prompted by a consumer=20
complaint, Lego agreed to clarify in future ads=20
what elements were included in its themed toy=20
sets. The company pledged to "=93try and increase=20
the clarity of this message if separate sets are=20
included in one ad.=94 3) Caru had asked Play=20
Along, makers of the SKy Dancer Magic Twinkling=20
Castle, to modify future ads to clarify how long=20
its Sky Dancers (helicoptering figures) stay in the air.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308577?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA ON COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission's=20
Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of=20
Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks will=20
hold its next meeting on Monday, March 6, 2006 at=20
10:00 a.m. Central Time at the Mississippi=20
e-Center at Jackson State University, 1230=20
Raymond Road, Jackson, MS 39204. If its planned=20
business for this meeting is not completed on=20
March 6th, the Panel will reconvene on Tuesday,=20
March 7, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. Central Time at the same location.
The Panel's meeting will include oral=20
presentations regarding: (1) the impact of=20
Hurricane Katrina on the telecommunications and=20
media infrastructure including public safety=20
communications; (2) the sufficiency and=20
effectiveness of the recovery effort with respect=20
to this infrastructure; and (3) ways to improve=20
disaster preparedness, network reliability and=20
communications among first responders such as=20
police, fire fighters and emergency medical=20
personnel. In addition, the Panel's informal=20
working groups will provide reports on their=20
progress. Members of the general public may attend the meeting.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-371A1.doc

INDECENCY COMPLAINTS RISE AGAIN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to the FCC's official accounting for=20
the fourth quarter (ended Dec, 31), indecency and=20
obscenity complaints against radio and TV totaled=20
44,109. That is up from the third quarter and up=20
dramatically from the quarter before. Almost all=20
of the fourth-quarter indecency/obscenity=20
complaints were lodged in December with 42,190,=20
compared to only 1,375 in November and 544 in=20
October. That December figure includes at=20
least 5,643 complaints from the Parents=20
Television Council over a November Vibe Awards broadcast on UPN.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308501?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

DOUBLE-DIALERS SWELL CELLPHONE RANKS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
About 16% of wireless customers have two mobile=20
phones -- one for personal use and one for=20
business. The practice is helping wireless=20
providers boost subscribers in a largely=20
saturated market. Driving the trend: More large=20
companies are doling out mobile phones or PDAs to=20
employees and restricting them to business use.=20
About 70% of Fortune 100 companies supply them=20
and pay monthly service fees. And 25% bar=20
personal calls on them, up from 12% three years=20
ago. In the past, nearly all companies let=20
employees either use their personal cellphones=20
and recover the costs of their business calls, or=20
use corporate devices and reimburse the company=20
for personal calls. But many employers now want=20
all workers using a standard device to obtain=20
better bulk rates and ensure e-mail security.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060221/1b_2phones21.art.htm

COMPANIES KEEP AN EYE ON WORKERS' INTERNET USE
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Stephanie Amour]
A large percentage of companies are monitoring=20
Internet use by workers, but many still allow at=20
least some personal use of the Web.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060221/2b_internetabuse21.a...
htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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