February 2006

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

HEARING ON VIDEO FRANCHISING
Seidenberg, Whitacre Pledge To Match Cable Fees
Sen. Stevens sees tough road for deal on video law
Franchise Rules May Prompt AT&T To Forgo Video
McCain Proposing =C0 La Carte Bill
Public Knowledge Senate Testimony
TIA Backs Telecom Reform Legislation's Framework
We'll give users choices
Don't let phone giants =91Ctrl' what you get on the 'Net
Cable Industry Ads Target Phone Firms' Push Into TV

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Stevens Questions Fairness Of City Broadband Involvement
Stevens promotes Internet subsidy
Equipment Makers Enter Fray Over 'Network Neutrality'
No One Neutral About Net Free-for-All

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Congress grills Internet execs on China policies
Companies, Groups Must Cooperate on Net Freedom Issues
From a Foxhole, Cheney Has the Media in His Sights
Choice of Messenger Is an Issue in Its Own Right
Critics See a White House Failure to Communicate
Mainstream Media an Instrument of U.S. Foreign Policy

QUICKLY -- Website stake could affect Knight=20
Ridder sale; Pay Fight in Tech's Trenches; The=20
hidden threat to the digital future; FCC Rules on=20
More Kids Ad Overages; PBS is Leader in Public=20
Trust Poll; CPB Staffing New Accountability=20
Committees; Rep. Goodlatte renews push against=20
Internet gambling; Let's Talk About Sexo; The=20
Slippery Slope of Self-Censorship; Growing Numbers Surf the Web Just for Fun

HEARING ON VIDEO FRANCHISING

SEIDENBERG, WHITACRE PLEDGE TO MATCH CABLE FEES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg and AT&T CEO Edward=20
Whitacre pledged to the Senate Commerce Committee=20
Wednesday that their companies were prepared to=20
pay =93the same franchise fees cable pays" if the=20
government streamlines the franchise process. At=20
a hearing on video franchising, Seidenberg=20
promised that his company would "carry public,=20
educational and government (PEG) channels" and=20
said it "supports preserving local governments=92=20
authority over rights-of-way and expects to be=20
subject to federal redlining rules that apply to=20
cable" for its FiOS video service. Whitacre=20
argued that without state or national=20
franchising, AT&T will have to strike 1,600 local=20
franchising deals to roll out its video service.=20
"If we completed one deal a week," he said, "that=20
would take 30 years." Cablevision CEO Tom=20
Rutledge countered that the issue wasn't that=20
telcos couldn't get the franchises but instead that they hadn't tried.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6307772?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Verizon CEO to Congress: Time for Consumer=20
Choice and Price Competition in Video Market
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=3D9623
* Dysfunctional Cable TV Marketplace Costs=20
Consumers Too Much But Cure Is Simple and Within Congress' Reach
(press release from Bell-backed Consumers for Cable Choice)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060215/clw500.html?.v=3D28
* Legislation Would Release Businesses From Industry Monopoly
(press release from National Black Chamber of Commerce)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=3D104&STORY=3D/www/sto...
02-15-2006/0004282583&EDATE=3D
* Bells Call for Franchising Relief
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
3587
* Telecoms, cable firms take franchise fight to D.C.
http://news.com.com/Telecoms%2C+cable+firms+take+franchise+fight+to+D.C....
00-1036_3-6040231.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
* Armey Praises Senators' Competition Commitment
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, now=20
co-chairman of conservative group Freedomworks=20
(lower taxes, smaller government), Wednesday=20
praised six Senate Commerce Committee members for=20
their support of video franchise regulation reform.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308048?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* CableVision's Rutledge Backs Franchising Status Quo
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6308049.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
* Will Congress Open the Doors for IPTV?
http://www.tvover.net/Will+Congress+Open+The+Doors+For+IPTV.aspx

SEN STEVENS SEES TOUGH ROAD FOR DEAL ON VIDEO LAW
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens on=20
Wednesday acknowledged difficulties reaching=20
agreement among lawmakers for legislation that=20
would help telephone carriers more quickly enter=20
the subscription television business. Republicans=20
and Democrats agree that the current system --=20
which requires providers to negotiate with local=20
authorities for the license -- needs changing.=20
But they argue over how to protect some control=20
by local authorities. Stevens said after the=20
hearing he expected franchise legislation would=20
be wrapped together with a broader bill to reform=20
U.S. telecommunications laws. Analysts have=20
expressed strong doubts that legislation could pass this year.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-15T212839Z_01_N1511767_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-CONGRESS-VIDEO.xml
* Phone-Company Video Services Get Backing From Key Senator
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114005070675975325.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)
* Stevens Plans Legislation to Ease Local Franchising for Telcos
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9403
(requires free registration)

FRANCHISE RULES MAY PROMPT AT&T TO FORGO VIDEO
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
AT&T warned federal regulators that it may=20
abandon plans to offer video and high-speed=20
Internet service in numerous markets if forced to=20
obtain local franchises. The comments, made in a=20
Feb. 13 FCC filing, surfaced on the eve of a=20
hearing on franchising before the Senate Commerce=20
Committee. "Absent commission action," the=20
company said, AT&T and other potential=20
competitors would "face the prospect of=20
negotiating franchising demands town by town and=20
abandoning plans to provide competitive video=20
(and other broadband) services in hundreds, if=20
not thousands, of towns and cities." AT&T said=20
planned services could be scrapped in "towns and=20
cities that refuse to take timely, reasonable=20
positions -- or claim that they are prevented by=20
state law or incumbent franchise agreements from=20
doing so." "AT&T has negotiating leverage to walk=20
away," said Scott Cleland, chief executive=20
officer of the Precursor Group. But he thinks the=20
company is mostly "posturing" by sending=20
localities the message that cooperative towns=20
"will get their services first." He said the FCC=20
appears to be sympathetic with the concerns of=20
AT&T and Verizon Communications that some=20
localities may try to extract too many=20
concessions through franchise arrangements.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-ZQTQ1140036230700.html
* Microsoft Backs AT&T on Franchising
In comments filed at the Federal Communications=20
Commission late Monday, Microsoft said=20
Internet-protocol networks planned by AT&T should=20
be regulated at the federal level.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6307714.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

MCCAIN PROPOSING A LA CARTE BILL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) a frequent critic of=20
cable rates, used a Senate Commerce Committee=20
hearing on video franchising Wednesday to say he=20
would introduce a bill encouraging =E0 la carte=20
cable offerings. He plans to introduce a bill=20
that would free new cable competitors from local=20
franchising regs if they, in turn, would agree to=20
offer their video channels =E0 la carte. Sen=20
McCain's goal is at least twofold: to lower cable=20
bills and to give parents more control over cable=20
indecency, which is beyond the reach of the FCC.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6307775?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE SENATE TESTIMONY LINKS NATIONAL=20
VIDEO FRANCHISE WITH NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: Public Knowledge press release]
Gigi B. Sohn, president of Public Knowledge,=20
endorsed allowing telephone companies to offer=20
video programming under a =93national franchise,=94=20
if Congress also enacts a policy requiring =93net=20
neutrality.=94 In testimony before the Senate=20
Commerce Committee, Sohn said that granting a=20
national franchise to telephone companies will=20
increase competition will =93bring more competition=20
to market faster, resulting in greater consumer=20
choice and lower prices.=94 Without a national=20
franchise, telephone companies would need to=20
obtain permission to offer video services from=20
each existing local franchising authority. Sohn=20
said that local governments should still have=20
control over their rights-of-way and should still=20
be compensated for the grant of the franchise. In=20
addition, there should be adequate capacity on=20
new systems for local public, educational and=20
government uses. However, she said, Congress=20
should recognize that allowing a new broadband=20
connection into the home encompasses more than=20
simply video service. New offerings for data and=20
telephone communications are part of what can be=20
offered over the same wire into the home. As a=20
result, Sohn said, =93should Congress grant video=20
providers the extraordinary regulatory relief=20
represented by national broadband video=20
franchises =AD turning nearly 40 years of local=20
control of video services on its head -- Congress=20
must also ensure =93net neutrality.=94 Such a policy=20
would ensure that those same companies make their=20
broadband networks available to all applications,=20
content and service providers on a non-discriminatory basis.=94
http://www.publicknowledge.org/pressroom/releases/pressrelease.2006-02-1...
918274635

TIA BACKS TELECOM REFORM LEGISLATION'S FRAMEWORK
[SOURCE: Telecommunications Online, AUTHOR: Bob Wallace]
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)=20
has sent a letter to Senate Commerce Committee=20
Chairman Ted Stevens (R- Alaska) and Co-Chairman=20
Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) in support of the=20
market- driven, deregulatory framework set forth=20
in S. 1504, the Broadband Investment and Consumer=20
Choice Act, a bill introduced by Senator John=20
Ensign (R-NV). In the letter, TIA says it=20
"supports S. 1504's national video service=20
franchise reform provision that maximizes=20
competition between incumbent video service=20
providers and new entrants and will create=20
regulatory parity among the competing=20
platforms." The TIA's letter speaks of the=20
much-discussed need to maintain franchising=20
revenues from local authorities, who at first=20
blush would not seem to benefit from competition=20
in their markets as it would drive down prices -=20
and fees based on revenues. "By preserving video=20
service revenues and rights of way management for=20
state and local authorities, the provision=20
ensures that localities that have to come to rely=20
on video service franchise fees and management of=20
local rights-of-way will be protected," said TIA=20
President Matthew Flanigan, in the letter. The=20
TIA does not, however, support all aspects of the=20
bill. "To be clear, while TIA supports the=20
market-driven, deregulatory framework of S. 1504,=20
there are certain provisions in the bill that TIA=20
does not support as they are currently drafted.=20
For example, TIA does not support the bill's=20
provision curtailing the ability of=20
municipalities to deploy broadband networks."
http://www.telecommagazine.com/newsglobe/article.asp?HH_ID=3DAR_1745
See TIA letter:=20
http://www.tiaonline.org/business/media/press_releases/2006/PR06-13.cfm

WE'LL GIVE USERS CHOICES
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: USTA President Walter McCormick]
[Commentary] Local telecommunications companies=20
have a 150-year tradition of connecting people=20
with each other. As we invest billions of dollars=20
in new, advanced broadband networks, our=20
commitment remains the same: We will connect you=20
to whomever you choose, and we will not block,=20
impair, or degrade any content, applications or=20
services. The Internet freedom you have today,=20
you will have tomorrow. No one in today's debate=20
opposes Internet freedom. We differ only in this:=20
We do not believe that now is the time to close=20
the chapter on Internet innovation and progress=20
by turning to government-managed competition and=20
central planning, no matter how well-intentioned.=20
Those who invest in advanced fiber, wireline and=20
wireless broadband networks should be free to=20
offer new services, and new pricing and service=20
options, in a marketplace characterized by robust=20
competition and consumer choice.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060216/oppose16.art.htm

DON'T LET PHONE GIANT 'CTRL' WHAT YOU GET ON 'NET
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] In the history of great ideas, the=20
Internet will surely rank near the top. In a=20
relatively short time, it has made vast amounts=20
of information searchable, sortable and readily=20
available with a few key strokes. Much of the=20
Internet's appeal is that no one controls it in=20
the way that, say, a grocery store decides which=20
brands to stock. Within its virtual walls, a=20
start-up such as MySpace or Craigslist can surge=20
to prominence entirely on the power of an idea.=20
Now, some very old-school companies want to=20
change all that. Using market dominance achieved=20
through the relative scarcity of lines into=20
people's homes, phone companies such as=20
BellSouth, Verizon and AT&T are eyeing a system=20
that would demand that operators of search=20
engines, e-commerce sites and other Web=20
applications pay them fees or be relegated to the=20
slow lane. Competition might keep the phone=20
companies from putting the squeeze on website=20
operators. That would be the best outcome. But=20
consumers in many parts of the country have=20
little choice in broadband, so Congress is=20
appropriately exploring legislation that would=20
lay out a principle of =93Net neutrality=94 that=20
would require all websites to receive equal=20
access. Telecommunications companies say they are=20
not altering the Internet, merely offering a new=20
ultra-high-speed tier of service on top of it.=20
Don't be fooled. Once they begin choosing search=20
engines, auction sites and other applications for=20
their premium service, they alter the entire=20
competitive landscape. In this new world,=20
companies would have to spend more time kowtowing=20
to the likes of AT&T and less time innovating.=20
That doesn't sound like such a great idea.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060216/edit16.art.htm

CABLE INDUSTRY ADS TARGET PHONE FIRMS' PUSH INTO TV
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: James S. Granelli]
A simmering battle between the cable TV industry=20
and major phone companies is about to boil over.=20
Cable operators plan to start running ads today=20
that accuse AT&T, Verizon Communications and=20
other major phone carriers of lying to the public=20
and elected officials as the companies use their=20
networks to roll out new television services. The=20
ads, which will debut in Indiana, call the phone=20
companies "fibbers" for using "phoney baloney"=20
consumer groups to argue that carriers need a=20
change in cable franchising rules so they can=20
enter local markets more quickly. "Why do they=20
really want to change the law?" one ad asks. "To=20
raise your phone rates and be able to pick and=20
choose what neighborhoods to serve."
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-phonetv16feb16,1,2675...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

INTERNET/BROADBAND

STEVENS QUESTIONS FAIRNESS OF CITY BROADBAND INVOLVEMENT
[SOURCE: CongressDaily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)=20
is questioning the fairness of cities'=20
involvement in developing municipal broadband=20
networks, while other senators are defending such=20
ventures as essential to deploying broadband=20
technology. At a hearing of Stevens' panel, he=20
and Commerce Technology Subcommittee Chairman=20
John Ensign (R-NV) took turns questioning=20
Philadelphia's chief information officer and an=20
official for Earthlink, which is building a=20
wireless Internet network for the city, to=20
determine if the project enjoyed subsidies or=20
special treatments. Chief Information Officer=20
Dianah Neff and Donald Berryman, president of=20
municipal networks for Earthlink, said the=20
project did not enjoy special treatment. Neff and=20
Berryman said the city's involvement was in=20
response to inadequate service by cable and Bell=20
companies. "Just as with municipal electrical=20
systems, municipal networks can make broadband=20
access universal in the 21st Century," said Neff.=20
"For too long, the residents of Philadelphia have=20
waited." Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said such=20
municipal-private sector ventures are essential=20
to broadband deployment. Sen Lautenberg is=20
co-sponsoring legislation with Sen. John McCain=20
(R-AZ) to limit states' ability to bar municipal wireless projects.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-OSKI1140036397183.html

STEVENS PROMOTES INTERNET SUBSIDY
[SOURCE: Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks) 2/14, AUTHOR: Sam Bishop]
High-speed Internet service in rural parts of the=20
United States ought to be subsidized in a manner=20
similar to long-distance phone calls, Sen. Ted=20
Stevens said in a wide-ranging speech on=20
telecommunications issues Monday. Sen Stevens,=20
chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, also=20
said the subsidy for long-distance calls to and=20
from sparsely populated parts of the country must=20
be strengthened. He warned against efforts to=20
make people in regions such as Alaska pay more=20
for the service. Republican Sens. Conrad Burns of=20
Montana and Gordon Smith of Oregon have=20
introduced bills that would help bring high-speed=20
broadband Internet service to rural areas using=20
the Universal Service Fund, Stevens noted. "I=20
endorse that principle," Sen Stevens said.=20
"Without it, rural America will never make it=20
onto the on-ramp of the information superhighway.=20
Rural people could be left on a dirt road with=20
dial-up Internet if they are not included in=20
broadband through USF." However, the fund already=20
is running short of the money it needs, Sen=20
Stevens noted. "The current contribution=20
mechanism of assessing only interstate revenue is=20
broken and it needs reform," he said.
http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~3237667,00.html

EQUIPMENT MAKERS ENTER FRAY OVER 'NETWORK NEUTRALITY'
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Makers of telecommunications equipment have=20
authored "white papers" for cable and Bell=20
telephone companies that promote their technical=20
capability to prioritize high-speed Internet=20
traffic and offer tiered Internet service,=20
depending upon the service or application. The=20
documents, from major vendors including Alcatel=20
and Cisco Systems, lend some heft to the=20
increasingly contentious plans by Bell and cable=20
companies to create a tiered Internet with=20
different prices for different services. The=20
white papers envision a world where carriers will=20
use equipment providers to better manage the=20
content that flows through their data pipes so as=20
to recoup higher average revenues per user, known=20
as ARPU in industry terminology
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-RHLB1140036061323.html

NO ONE NEUTRAL ABOUT NET FREE-FOR-ALL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Farrell,=20
Ted Hearn, Karen Brown & Matt Stump]
There was an accusation of a network operator=20
blocking a rival phone service, deals that could=20
put some preferred email on a fast lane on the=20
Internet and, along the way, U.S. Senate hearings=20
examining just who should control what consumers=20
access on the Web. Those blows last week only=20
added to the growing fight between companies who=20
have communications networks and those who don't,=20
as to how 'neutral=92 those nets should be, in what=20
they carry. Neutrality boils down =97 at present =97=20
to three flash-point issues involving network=20
operators such as cable companies: whether they=20
should be allowed to block certain rival=20
services, such as Internet voice calls, from=20
traveling over their networks; whether they will=20
cut off their subscribers=92 access to content that=20
in some way competes with their own in-house=20
programs; and whether they will cut deals to give=20
some content and services priority delivery ahead=20
of other offerings. At the center of the battle: costs.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6306826.html?display=3DTop+Stories
(requires subscription)

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

CONGRESS GRILLS INTERNET EXECS ON CHINA POLICIES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Joel Rothstein and Paul Eckert]
Hell hath no fury like a Member of Congress=20
defending the virtues of democracy. So they=20
lashed out at Google Inc. and other prominent=20
Internet companies on Wednesday, with one=20
Democrat questioning "how your corporate=20
leadership sleeps at night" because of the=20
companies' alleged complicity in human rights=20
abuses by the Chinese government. The U.S. tech=20
firms stressed the difficult trade-offs they make=20
in doing business in China's huge market, where=20
the admission price is following local laws and=20
where aggressive Chinese competitors would=20
celebrate their pulling out. "The requirements of=20
doing business in China include self-censorship=20
-- something that runs counter to Google's most=20
basic values and commitments as a company," said=20
Google Vice President Elliot Schrage.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-15T225357Z_01_N15276513_RTRUKOC_0_US-INTERNET-CHINA.xml
* Politicians lash out at tech firms over China
http://news.com.com/Politicians+lash+out+at+tech+firms+over+China/2100-1...
_3-6039834.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede
* Google's China Syndrome
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/32257/
* Web Firms Are Grilled on Dealings in China
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/16/technology/16online.html
(requires registration)
* Tech Firms Defend China Web Policies
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114002162437674809.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)
* The great firewall of China
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-google16feb16,0,4...
06.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

COMPANIES, GROUPS MUST COOPERATE ON NET FREEDOM ISSUES
[SOURCE: Center for Democracy & Technology]
Internet companies must work together with the=20
government, civil liberties advocates, human=20
rights leaders and each other to address the=20
concerns that arise when American companies do=20
business in totalitarian regimes like China. In a=20
written statement submitted for the House=20
International Relations Joint Subcommittee=20
Hearing, "The Internet in China: A Tool for=20
Freedom or Suppression?" CDT called on public and=20
private sector groups to develop a set of common=20
principles that will help to support privacy and=20
free expression for China's Internet users.
http://www.cdt.org/international/20060215china.pdf

FROM A FOXHOLE, CHENEY HAS THE MEDIA IN HIS=20
SIGHTS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:Paul Brownfield]
If you accidentally shoot a hunting buddy in the=20
face, make it about the media. That was the=20
message Vice President Dick Cheney got out=20
Wednesday, courtesy of Fox News Channel and its=20
most sober and decorated journalist, Brit Hume,=20
who was summoned by Cheney for an exclusive=20
interview and then left to play Cheney's press=20
secretary, getting the veep's talking points out=20
the rest of the day on Fox. What seemed obvious=20
was that Cheney had chosen Republican-friendly=20
Fox News to ward off the controversy surrounding=20
his actions after the incident, and that everyone=20
else hooting and hollering about the nature of=20
the information flow would appear to be arguing=20
among themselves =97 brainiac media elite chewing=20
on the nontopic of the day, people who'd probably=20
never held a gun. "I'll say it again: This is=20
being very carefully and heavily managed by the=20
vice president," MSNBC's Chris Matthews said=20
Wednesday. "When he's going to talk to people,=20
who he's going to talk to, what medium he's going=20
to choose. This is something. This is a Columbia=20
Journalism [Review] case of news management right now we're watching."
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-critic16feb16,0,...
2793.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)
* Cheney on TV: 'Unapologetic' About Handling of Shooting
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1002033578

CHOICE OF MESSENGER IS AN ISSUE IN ITS OWN RIGHT
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Matea Gold]
Vice President Dick Cheney's choice of Fox News'=20
Brit Hume to discuss his shooting accident=20
quickly became another source of contention. Fox=20
News executives cast the scoop as the result of=20
persistence and the growing clout of the=20
top-rated cable news network. However, some=20
Democrats and competing broadcasters charged that=20
Cheney chose to speak only with Fox News because=20
of a perception that the cable channel is=20
sympathetic to the Republican administration.=20
They called for the vice president to hold a news=20
conference with the rest of the media.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-cheneytv16feb16,...
386103.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)

CRITICS SEE A WHITE HOUSE FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Ronald Brownstein and Peter Wallsten]
Vice President Dick Cheney's hunting accident and=20
the response to Hurricane Katrina have raised=20
tough questions about what the president knows,=20
when he knows it and how the White House shares=20
information with elected officials and the=20
public. The question of whether the president=20
receives a wide enough range of information has persisted for years.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-assess16feb16,0,325...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)

MAINSTREAM MEDIA AN INSTRUMENT OF US FOREIGN POLICY
[SOURCE: Columbia Journal Online, AUTHOR: Garry Leech]
[Commentary] The mainstream media=92s willingness=20
to simply regurgitate any statement issued by=20
government officials without further=20
investigation is the normal modus operandi for=20
foreign correspondents based in Colombia. U.S.=20
and Colombian officials are fully aware that this=20
practice provides them with an excellent=20
opportunity to propagandize on current events and=20
that the truth, when finally revealed, will=20
rarely be reported. In other words, officials=20
know that the media will not hold them=20
accountable for their lies. For its part, the=20
corporate media simply claims that its coverage=20
is =93objective=94 because it is only publishing=20
statements made by others; it is not asserting=20
the truth or falsehood regarding the claims made=20
by those interviewed in articles. However, when=20
journalists and media outlets frequently decide=20
to rely solely on official sources for=20
information, they have made a conscious editorial=20
decision to repeatedly provide the public with=20
only one point of view. And, inevitably, it is=20
the point of view of government officials who=20
have a vested interest in how news events are=20
presented to the public. In other words, the=20
media has simply chosen to act as a mouthpiece=20
for Washington, particularly with regard to U.S.=20
foreign policy issues that rarely get covered in=20
any depth. The corporate media=92s unwillingness to=20
change its modus operandi, along with its failure=20
to hold government officials accountable for=20
their lies, suggests that it has consciously=20
accepted its role as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy.
http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia228.htm

QUICKLY

WEBSITE STAKE COULD AFFECT KNIGHT RIDDER SALE
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Joshua Chaffin and James Politi]
The sale of Knight Ridder, the second-largest US=20
newspaper chain, could be complicated by its part=20
ownership of CareerBuilder.com, an online=20
recruitment site, according to people familiar=20
with the bidding. Knight Ridder owns one-third of=20
CareerBuilder along with rival newspaper=20
publishers Gannett and Tribune. The site has=20
grown to become a leader in the online=20
recruitment field, and is considered a successful=20
example of newspaper companies=92 efforts to adapt=20
to the Internet. However, the partnership=20
agreement includes a change-of-control provision,=20
which gives the other partners the opportunity to=20
buy out Knight Ridder=92s interest in the event of=20
a sale. Those legal considerations could make it=20
difficult for the private equity investors=20
mulling bids for Knight Ridder to evaluate the=20
company, which owns 32 daily newspapers,=20
including the San Jose Mercury News and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/accf00b8-9e5f-11da-b641-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

PAY FIGHT IN TECH'S TRENCHES
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Elissa Silverman]
A look at the low-tech backbone of a high-tech=20
project -- the casual laborers who are rounded up=20
by subcontractors, sometimes bused across state=20
borders to job sites and set to work digging=20
ditches. Predominantly Hispanic, they work with=20
few guarantees and often no benefits, and they=20
typically are hesitant to come forward with=20
problems, according to lawyers and advocacy=20
groups. While fiber-optic cable is futuristic in=20
its engineering, its installation is still a=20
labor-intensive undertaking. Laborers dig=20
six-foot-long, 30-inch-deep ditches about 20 feet=20
apart, bore through the ground between them with=20
a machine, then lay pipe through the hole. The=20
use of outside construction firms is common among=20
companies like Verizon and Cox, a way to control=20
costs as they try to bolster their voice, video=20
and Internet services while competing for price-sensitive consumers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/15/AR200602...
2499.html
(requires registration)

THE HIDDEN THREAT TO THE DIGITAL FUTURE
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: John Thompson, Symantec]
[Commentary] Since every business is now an=20
e-business, they should all be aware of the=20
hidden threat to the digital future: the loss of=20
consumer confidence in the online experience. If=20
consumers don't believe that their critical=20
information is protected from irreparable damage=20
or unauthorized access, they won't continue to=20
embrace the digital lifestyle. And that won't=20
just hurt the digital economy, but the economy as a whole.
http://news.com.com/The+hidden+threat+to+the+digital+future/2010-1029_3-...
9934.html?tag=3Dfd_carsl

FCC RULES ON MORE KIDS AD OVERAGES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
FCC rules limit ads in kids shows to 10.5 minutes=20
per hour on the weekends and 12 minutes per hour=20
during the week, and counts as a program-length=20
commercial any kids show that contains an ad=20
featuring a character in the show. In a move=20
that's becoming more commonplace, the FCC acted=20
on three more cases of TV stations' exceeding the=20
ad limits in kids TV programming. The cases=20
involved WTVZ Norfolk (VA), WFMY Youngstown (OH)=20
and Hearst-Argyle's KCCI Des Moines (IA).
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6307979?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

NATIONAL ROPER POLL RANKS PBS AS LEADER IN PUBLIC=20
TRUST FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR
[SOURCE: PBS press release]
For the third consecutive year, a Roper Public=20
Affairs & Media poll shows Americans consider PBS=20
the nation's most trusted institution among=20
nationally known organizations. Americans also=20
believe PBS provides the second best use of tax=20
dollars, following only military defense. The=20
public ranks PBS programming the most important,=20
compared with commercial and cable television,=20
and considers PBS news and public affairs series=20
the most trustworthy. These findings are=20
consistent with the two previous nationwide studies.
http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20060213_roperpoll.html

CPB STAFFING NEW ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEES
SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will hold=20
a phone-in board meeting Feb. 21 to make=20
assignments for new committees -- Executive=20
Compensation; Governance; and Public Broadcasting=20
Awareness -- created in the wake of the inspector general's report.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6308019?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* CPB Press Release
http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=3D527

US LAWMAKER RENEWS PUSH AGAINST INTERNET GAMBLING
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) will reintroduce a bill=20
this week that would prohibit Internet gambling,=20
a fast-growing industry valued at about $12=20
billion. He first introduced legislation to ban=20
online gambling nearly a decade ago. In 2000, his=20
bill had strong support in the House but was=20
unexpectedly defeated due in part to efforts by=20
Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who represented gambling interests.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-15T070940Z_01_N143952_RTRUKOC_0_US-GAMBLING-CONGRESS.xml

LET'S TALK ABOUT SEXO
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Dulce Reyes Bonilla, ColorLines]
[Commentary] Little is left to the imagination in=20
America's more popular Spanish-language radio=20
shows, which get raunchy while they shake up the common Latino status quo.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/32266/

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SELF-CENSORSHIP
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: David Morris]
[Commentary] As the violence over the cartoons=20
expands, we are no closer to defining the=20
boundaries of free speech in an age of growing religious fundamentalism.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/32202/

GROWING NUMBERS SURF THE WEB JUST FOR FUN
[SOURCE: Pew Internet & American Life Project]
Nearly a third of Internet users go online on a=20
typical day for no particular reason, just for fun or to pass the time.
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/175/report_display.asp
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------