February 2006

Today's big event is the Senate Commerce=20
Committee hearing on Net Neutrality (see=20
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=3D1705)=20
For other upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

FY2007 BUDGET
Budget Week in Washington
Funding Alert: Renewed Attack on Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting
Markey Protests Bush CPB Budget Cuts
Small Gains for Cultural Programs in Bush Budget Plan
No new Katrina aid in Bush budget

PRIVACY
Top Aide Defends Domestic Spying
Wiretapping Flap Puts Phone Firms Under Fire

NET NEUTRALITY DAY
Net Neutrality Hearing
Don't blow it, Congress
Verizon Executive Calls for End to Google's 'Free Lunch'
Paid E-Mail Seen as Sign of Culture Change

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Internet Companies Concentrating Power
$2.7B Deal would put Disney Radio unit in Citadel's Hands
Disney Not Eyeing New TV's, Says Iger
No Thrill In Parks For Media Companies
Time Warner Agrees to Sell Book Unit to French Company
FCC Proposes Tightening Auction Rules

QUICKLY -- ABC Censors, The Stones OK; CBS=20
Evening News Turns An Eye On The Press; Schools=20
feel void with no ed-tech chief; Honey, what's on the mobile tonight?

FY2007 BUDGET
"This budget is not going to happen," said=20
Stanley E. Collender, a federal budget analyst at=20
Financial Dynamics Business Communications. "Of=20
all the budgets I've seen recently, this is the one going nowhere the faste=
st."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR200602...
1424.html
(requires registration)

BUDGET WEEK IN WASHINGTON
[SOURCE: Various]
The focus for President Bush this week is the=20
Fiscal Year 2007 budget. His proposal for=20
expenditures (Republican budgets never include=20
income) was released Tuesday and here are some=20
high(low)lights. 1) According to the budget=20
proposal, the sale of wireless communications=20
licenses is projected to raise about $25 billion=20
between 2007 and 2009, $7.8 billion higher than=20
last year's estimate. The Bush budget estimated=20
that $9.95 billion from wireless auctions would=20
be received in the 2007 fiscal year, which starts=20
October 1, 2006. It also expects almost $12.24=20
billion in the 2008 fiscal year that starts=20
October 1, 2007. Additionally the budget projects=20
$2.87 billion being received in the 2009 fiscal=20
year. Bush's budget last year had estimated=20
wireless auctions would bring in $17.2 billion=20
between fiscal years 2007 and 2009. The auction=20
proceeds would come as the Bush administration=20
tries to substantially reduce the federal deficit=20
by 2009. 2) While the Bush Administration's new=20
FY2007 budget cuts $53 million, or about 13%,=20
from CPB's budget, it boosts the budget for=20
international broadcasting, which BBG oversees,=20
by 4.3%, to $671.9 million to help boost=20
broadcasts to the Middle East. That follows a=20
7.1% budget increase for fy2005. The=20
Administration is trying to cut budgets across=20
the board, but by contrast to CPB, BBG's Middle=20
East Broadcasting service and Voice of America=20
are considered weapons in the war on terrorism.=20
In fact, while non terror-related language=20
services under BBG will get the knife, or even=20
the outright axe, the Middle East services are=20
getting a 13% increase and VOA a 5.3% increase,=20
which more than offsets the cuts elsewhere. 3)=20
The Bush administration has proposed starting to=20
collect user fees on unauctioned spectrum,=20
including broadcasters', beginning in 2007. The=20
fees would raise $3.6 billion over its first 10=20
years, according to the Administration.=20
Variations of the user fee idea have been=20
proposed repeatedly by the Clinton and Bush White=20
Houses but have failed thanks to broadcasters=92=20
lobbying. Nevertheless, demands for spectrum from=20
the wireless industry and from public safety=20
officials make defeating the fees an increasingly=20
tough fight. 4) The administration also proposed=20
eliminating the Telecommunications Development=20
Fund, which uses interest on spectrum proceeds=20
of venture capital. 5) The Administration=20
reiterated its support for the DTV bill=20
establishing a hard date for the DTV transition=20
and return of spectrum for auctions and first=20
responders. 6) The Federal Communications=20
Commission would receive $302.5 million to=20
regulate the telecommunications sector. Congress=20
and the White House approve the FCC=92s budget, but=20
the agency is almost entirely funded -- 99.7%,=20
according to FCC spokesman David Fiske -- by fees=20
collected from the industries it regulates, a=20
revenue method Congress authorized in 1993 that=20
currently includes 2,200 companies with business before the agency.
* Bush administration sees $25 billion in wireless sales
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-07T002524Z_01_N06327829_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-BUDGET-WIRELESS.xml
* President Bush Announces Budget Cuts for CPB
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9343
(requires free registration)
* Bush Boosts Middle East Broadcast Funding
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6305305?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Spectrum User Fees Proposed
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6305159.html?display=3DBreaki...
News&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Bush Budget: $302.5M for FCC
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6305384.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
* FCC Budget of $302,542,000 Proposed for Fiscal Year 2007
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-263675A1.doc
* Bush: lets tax WiFi
http://gigaom.com/2006/02/06/bush-lets-tax-wifi/

FUNDING ALERT: RENEWED ATTACK ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
[SOURCE: Association of Public Television Stations]
The Proposed Cuts: 1) Rescission of FY 2007 CSG=20
Funds: The Administration proposes a crippling=20
cut of $53.5 million of the FY2007 appropriation=20
previously made to the Corporation for Public=20
Broadcasting. 2) Further Rescission of FY 2008=20
CSG Funds: The Administration goes further than=20
the crippling cut in FY2007 with a recommendation=20
to slash an additional $50 million from the=20
FY2008 appropriation. 3) Even Deeper Funding Cuts=20
Proposed: The Administration continues its attack=20
by proposing no new funding for digital=20
infrastructure and interconnection programs,=20
which combined received $65 million last year. 4)=20
Elimination of PTFP =AD the Sole Source of=20
Emergency Funding for Stations Devastated by=20
Hurricane Katrina: The Administration proposes=20
eliminating the Public Telecommunications=20
Facilities Program =AD which was the only source of=20
emergency funding to help hurricane-ravaged=20
stations serving Gulf Communities. 5) Elimination=20
of Ready To Teach: The Administration proposes=20
completely eliminating this successful program=20
that provides funding for online resources for=20
teachers seeking quality professional development=20
that is easily accessible, flexible and tailored=20
to local, state and national standards.
http://www.apts.org/
* Bush seeks to slash public broadcast funds
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DpoliticsNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-07T122635Z_01_N07177849_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH.xml
* President Bush Announces Budget Cuts for CPB
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9343
(requires free registration)

MARKEY PROTESTS BUSH CPB BUDGET CUTS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.), is=20
complaining that the Bush Administration's new=20
budget, released Monday, which proposes to cut=20
$53.5 million from the Corporation for Public=20
Broadcasting in 2007 and $50 million in 2008.=20
"Oscar the Grouch has been friendlier to the=20
Sesame Street characters than President Bush,"=20
said Rep Markey "In a world of fast-and-furious=20
television with ratings-driven content, the=20
public broadcasting system represents the last=20
stronghold of quality, child-oriented programming=20
- we owe this to America's children." Rep Markey=20
was among the leading voices of protest when=20
Republicans tried unsuccessfully to slash noncom' funds last fall.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6305152?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* REACTION FROM FREE PRESS
=93Once again, the Bush administration is ignoring=20
the strong support for public broadcasting.=20
Although these cuts are a minuscule fraction of=20
the federal budget, they could be devastating to=20
local stations and the quality education and news=20
programming treasured by the American public."
http://www.freepress.net/content/press

SMALL GAINS FOR CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN BUSH BUDGET PLAN
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jacqueline Trescott]
The small increases for cultural institutions and=20
federal agencies presented yesterday in President=20
Bush's 2007 budget request to Congress will=20
curtail any expansion in new programs. The modest=20
boost will most likely offset inflation but not=20
give enough cushion to try new things. On the=20
other hand, none of the agencies received sizable=20
cuts. Supporters of arts programs were disappointed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR200602...
1430.html
(requires registration)

NO NEW KATRINA AID IN BUSH BUDGET
[SOURCE: Associated Press, Reuters]
The Bush administration offered no new aid for=20
Hurricane Katrina victims in the budget it=20
released Monday, instead putting modest amounts=20
of money into preparedness and response plans for=20
future disasters. Shortcomings in aid from the=20
U.S. government are making New Orleans Mayor Ray=20
Nagin look to other nations for help in rebuilding his hurricane-damaged ci=
ty.
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-23/11392712...
2420.xml&storylist=3Dlouisiana
* Mayor: New Orleans will seek aid from other nations
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DdomesticNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-07T002353Z_01_N03281051_RTRUKOC_0_US-HURRICANES-AID.xml

PRIVACY

TOP AIDE DEFENDS DOMESTIC SPYING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Lichtblau & James Risen]
President Bush decided against allowing the=20
National Security Agency to intercept purely=20
domestic phone calls and e-mail messages after=20
the Sept. 11 attacks in part because officials=20
realized such a decision would provoke intense=20
opposition if made public, Attorney General=20
Alberto R. Gonzales testified Monday. President=20
Bush was intent on striking "the right balance"=20
between national security and privacy interests,=20
Mr. Gonzales said at the start of Congressional=20
hearings into the N.S.A. program. Noting the=20
criticism the program has drawn since its=20
disclosure in December, Mr. Gonzales said, "the=20
reaction would have been twice as great" if Mr.=20
Bush had expanded it to eavesdrop on=20
communications wholly inside the country. Under=20
the surveillance program, the N.S.A. has been=20
eavesdropping without warrants on the telephone=20
calls and e-mail messages between people inside=20
the United States and people overseas.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/07/politics/07nsa.html
(requires registration)
* Gonzales Defends NSA Eavesdropping
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113923612162366033.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one

WIRETAPPING FLAP PUTS PHONE FIRMS UNDER FIRE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Dionne=20
Searcey at dionne.searcey( at )wsj.com and Shawn Young]
The public debate over the National Security=20
Agency's wiretapping program has focused new=20
attention at some telecommunications companies on=20
how they handle classified business and requests=20
from the government. While telecom executives=20
aren't willing to talk publicly about any role=20
their companies may have played in helping the=20
NSA monitor electronic communications, senior=20
officials at some big telecom companies say they=20
wouldn't necessarily even be informed about such=20
activities. That is because people who carry out=20
secret work at phone companies at times have=20
federal security clearances that are higher than=20
those of their bosses. Telecom employees with=20
security clearance have good reason not to=20
respond to questions -- even from their bosses --=20
as they can be prosecuted if they violate the=20
rules of government security status, telecom=20
executives who have dealt with such situations say.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113927208033266657.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

NET NEUTRALITY DAY

NET NEUTRALITY HEARING
[SOURCE: US Senate Commerce Committee]
Follow this link for a list of panelists for=20
today's hearing as well as a link to the live=20
webcast which begins at 10am eastern
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=3D1705

DON'T BLOW IT, CONGRESS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Gigi Sohn, Public Knowledge]
[Commentary] As Congress begins writing new=20
telecom legislation, a big question is whether=20
Internet users will have the same broad freedom=20
to access applications and content as before, or=20
whether their online experience will be=20
controlled by companies supplying your Net=20
access. Those seeking to preserve this freedom=20
are asking Congress to codify "Net neutrality."=20
Those seeking to control the Internet dismiss it=20
as unprecedented regulation of the Internet. But=20
the dirty little secret is that without=20
regulation, the vital Internet we know today=20
would never have developed. Most of the rhetoric=20
over the past few years has painted a much=20
different picture--that the lack of regulation=20
was crucial to the Internet's development. Trying=20
to persuade Congress to enact these neutrality=20
principles will take some doing, because the=20
incumbents will try to protect their advantages=20
in the market. It's only natural that they do so.
http://news.com.com/Memo+to+Congress+Dont+blow+it/2010-1023_3-6035094.html
* Are RBOCs Evil?
http://blog.eronj.com/2006/02/04/are-rbocs-evil/
* A Primer on Network Neutrality
http://burksselect.blogspot.com/2006/02/primer-on-network-neutrality.html

VERIZON EXECUTIVE CALLS FOR END TO GOOGLE'S 'FREE LUNCH'
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Arshad Mohammed]
John Thorne, a Verizon senior vice president and=20
deputy general counsel, yesterday accused Google=20
of freeloading for gaining access to people's=20
homes using a network of lines and cables the=20
phone company spent billions of dollars to build.=20
"The network builders are spending a fortune=20
constructing and maintaining the networks that=20
Google intends to ride on with nothing but cheap=20
servers," Thorne told a conference marking the=20
10th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of=20
1996. "It is enjoying a free lunch that should,=20
by any rational account, be the lunch of the=20
facilities providers." Verizon is spending=20
billions of dollars to construct a fiber-optic=20
network around the country for delivering=20
high-speed Internet and cable TV services. "The=20
only way we are going to attract the truly huge=20
amounts of capital needed to build out these=20
networks is to strike down governmental entry=20
barriers and allow providers to realize profits,"=20
Thorne said yesterday. He described two obstacles=20
to building such networks: the task of getting=20
thousands of local franchise agreements to offer=20
cable television; and what he called "Google=20
utopianism," a concept he likened to "spiked Kool-Aid."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR200602...
1624.html
(requires registration)
* Web traffic jams bring fight over fast-lane fees
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060207/netneutrality7.art.htm

PAID E-MAIL SEEN AS SIGN OF CULTURAL CHANGE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Mike Musgrove]
Two of the world's largest e-mail providers,=20
America Online and Yahoo, have said that they=20
will soon start giving companies the option to=20
pay for guaranteed delivery of e-mails to the=20
inboxes of their subscribers. Though designed to=20
foil spammers and scammers, the tactic is drawing=20
a mixed reaction in the online community, with=20
some viewing it as another step away from the=20
free culture that long defined the Internet. "The=20
Postal Service has been charging for the delivery=20
of mail for decades," said Nicholas Graham, a=20
spokesman for AOL. "This is being advanced as a=20
voluntary option for people who simply want to=20
have their e-mail delivered in a different way."=20
Graham said the move is a response to AOL=20
subscribers who have complained in the past that=20
they can't tell if items in their e-mail inboxes=20
are authentic or the work of con artists.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR200602...
1539.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

INTERNET COMPANIES CONCENTRATING POWER
[SOURCE: Miami Herald, AUTHOR: Edward Wasserman edward_wasserman( at )hotmail.co=
m]
[Commentary] Media owners are back to buying up=20
and bulking up. Traditional media aren't shrinking after all.
But never mind that. Connoisseurs of monopoly=20
need to shift their attention to the Internet,=20
where we're on the brink of a concentration of=20
media control that a few years ago would have=20
been unimaginable. Consider this: Roughly=20
one-fifth of the human race, the 1.3 billion=20
people of China, have been denied access to huge=20
areas of critically important information about=20
their own country -- such as the annihilation of=20
the 1989 democracy movement -- thanks to the=20
self-serving complicity of just three U.S.=20
companies: Yahoo!, Microsoft and Google. Now=20
that's concentrated power. No, the problem of=20
media concentration isn't over. It hasn't even=20
begun. Technological advances have moved us way=20
beyond quaint issues of how many obsolescent TV=20
stations one company should own. The same=20
Internet that promises empowerment and=20
unprecedented informational abundance has made=20
possible a depth of control that the most=20
visionary tyrant of the past would not have dared aspire to.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/13804851.htm

$2.7 BILLION DEAL WOULD PUT DISNEY RADIO UNIT IN CITADEL'S HANDS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
Disney agreed Monday to turn its 22 radio=20
stations and ABC Radio Networks over to Citadel=20
Broadcasting in a deal valued at $2.7 billion.=20
Disney will keep ESPN Radio and Radio Disney. If=20
antitrust officials and the Federal=20
Communications Commission approve the plan,=20
Citadel -- which currently is concentrated in=20
midsize markets -- will pick up Disney's 14 FM=20
and eight AM stations in nine of the largest=20
cities, including New York, Los Angeles and=20
Chicago. That will lift the company from sixth to=20
third place among radio owners -- after Clear=20
Channel and CBS -- in overall revenue. ABC Radio=20
generated $200 million in operating profits on=20
$575 million in revenue in 2005.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060207/disney07.art.htm
* Disney Plans a Radio Merger, and Reports a Rise in Income
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/07/business/media/07disney.html?pagewanted=
=3Dall
(requires registration)
* Disney Sells Radio Stations To Citadel
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6305392?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* It's Official: ABC Radio, Citadel Merge
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
8063

DISNEY NOT EYEING NEW TV's, SAYS IGER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John M. Higgins]
Despite the revival of the ABC network, Disney=20
CEO Bob Iger says the company isn't aggressively=20
looking to expand its small portfolio of TV=20
stations. ABC owns just 10 TV stations that cover=20
24% of all U.S. TV homes. NBC, CBS, and Fox, by=20
contrast have much larger portfolios, including=20
duoplies in many markets. ABC's small position=20
means it's not enjoying the full benefits of the=20
network's success, since stations are where=20
networks really make most of their money.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6305391?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

NO THRILL IN PARKS FOR MEDIA COMPANIES
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Annys Shin]
CBS's decision last month to sell Paramount Parks=20
is the latest example of how media-entertainment=20
conglomerates are recognizing the limits of what=20
synergy can deliver. The concept is not dead.=20
Just go to Orlando or Anaheim, Calif., where Walt=20
Disney Co. parks still stand as the model for how=20
to use cartoon characters, movie plots and=20
theme-park rides to reinforce one another: Disney=20
announced yesterday that first-quarter profit at=20
its parks rose 51 percent vs. the comparable=20
period a year earlier. But outside the Magic=20
Kingdom, regional theme parks are not considered=20
the essential media-empire building block they were during the '90s.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR200602...
1637.html
(requires registration)

TIME WARNER AGREES TO SELL BOOK UNIT TO FRENCH COMPANY
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Edward Wyatt]
Time Warner said yesterday that it had agreed to=20
sell its Time Warner Book Group, the country's=20
fifth-largest publisher of general-interest=20
books, for $537.5 million to Lagard=E8re, the=20
French media and defense conglomerate that also=20
owns the Hachette magazine and book groups. The=20
sale, which comes as the billionaire investor=20
Carl C. Icahn has been pressuring Time Warner to=20
improve its performance and to shed assets,=20
follows two years of strong growth in the book=20
unit. Although Time Warner does not break out the=20
publishing unit's sales and profits, the company=20
has said the book group earned record profit last=20
year as sales rose well above $500 million.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/07/business/media/07book.html?pagewanted=...
ll
(requires registration)

FCC PROPOSES TIGHTENING AUCTION RULES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has decided to change its rules for the=20
auction of spectrum for advanced wireless=20
services to try and make sure that the bidding=20
credits and reserved spectrum blocks that are=20
supposed to go to small businesses actually do=20
so. In issuing the notice of proposed rulemaking=20
Friday, the FCC said it was prompted by evidence=20
that some small businesses that apply for=20
so-called "designated entity" status had already=20
established a "material relationship" with a=20
"large, in-region wireless service provider."=20
Translation: The small business bidder has agreed=20
to sell the spectrum to a larger company that=20
could not qualify for the discount. The=20
commission has also asked for comment on whether=20
it should deny "designated entity" status to=20
bidders with "material relationships" with cable=20
providers, content or equipment companies, or=20
other media interests. The next auction for=20
spectrum to be used for advanced wireless=20
services is scheduled to begin June 29, 2006.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6304977?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

QUICKLY

ABC CENSORS, STONES OK
[SOURCE: Reuters, NYTimes]
The Rolling Stones sang three songs for the Super=20
Bowl XL halftime show Sunday night and were=20
censored in two of them. They agreed to be=20
censored a National Football League spokesman=20
said on Monday. During "Start Me Up," the line=20
"you make a dead man come" was cut short and a=20
barnyard reference to "cocks" in the new song=20
"Rough Justice" also disappeared. "The Rolling=20
Stones were aware of our plan which was to simply=20
lower the volume on his microphone at those two=20
appropriate moments," NFL spokesman Brian=20
McCarthy told Reuters. "We had agreed to that=20
plan earlier in the week. The Stones were aware=20
of it and they were fine with it." The New York=20
Times said last week the Stones had agreed to=20
tone down their language on other occasions in=20
the past. Back in 1967 the band appeared on "The=20
Ed Sullivan Show" on the same day as the first=20
Super Bowl, which was then called the world=20
championship game. They wanted to sing "Let's=20
Spend the Night Together," but Sullivan insisted=20
they change the lyrics to "Let's Spend Some Time=20
Together." "Jagger consented, reluctantly, but=20
rolled his eyes while he sang," the newspaper said.
* ABC Avoids a Lyric Malfunction but Allows Mick's Midriff
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/06/sports/football/06half.html?pagewanted...
all
* Super Bowl ads play it safe, Stones censored
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=3DtelevisionNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-06T064912Z_01_N05370865_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-MEDIA-SUPERBOWL-DC=
.XML
* Rolling Stones agreed to Super Bowl censorship
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=3DentertainmentNews&...
ryID=3D2006-02-06T181843Z_01_N069079_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-SUPERBOWL-STONES.xml

CBS EVENING NEWS TURNS EYE ON THE PRESS
[SOURCE: CBSNews.com]
[Commentary] 69% of Americans polled said they=20
believed the media was generally accurate while 22% said inaccurate.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2006/02/06/publiceye/entry1283876.shtml
http://www.pollingreport.com/media.htm

SCHOOLS FEEL VOID WITH NO ED-TECH CHIEF
[SOURCE: eSchool News, AUTHOR: Corey Murray]
Nearly six months after the nation's top=20
educational technology official stepped down, the=20
U.S. Department of Education has yet to name a=20
replacement. With the federal focus shifting to=20
math and science education, advocates of school=20
technology say having a point person to turn to=20
for guidance within the department's Office of=20
Educational Technology is critical to students'-and teachers'-success.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=3D6100

HONEY, WHAT'S ON THE MOBILE TONIGHT?
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Tarmo Virki]
Mobile TV has one serious problem: it cannot match up to the real thing.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-06T223126Z_01_L0682917_RTRUKOC_0_US-MOBILETV.xml
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------