February 2006

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

GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Administration Faulted on Katrina
Lawmakers slam U.S. firms aiding China cyber-cops
Rumsfeld says U.S. constrained in information war

TELEVISION
DTV Hard Date Passes...Again
Getting to February 2009: Outstanding DTV Transition Issues
MAP Calls Adelphia OK "No Surprise"
Cable's Family Packages Temporarily Placate Lawmakers
Cable a la carte will give consumers less for more
Nexstar Nabs Retrans Deals Worth $48 Million
Hearst-Argyle Tweaks EchoStar Carriage Pact
CBS to sell new "Survivor" episodes on CBS.com

INTERNET
The End of the Internet?

TELECOM
Lawmakers Prep Bill To Overhaul Massive USF Program
FCC urges Congress toughen laws on phone data

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
FCC Considers Tightening Rules On Airwave-Auction Discounts
When You Wish Upon a Merger
Matsushita sells Universal stake for $1.15 Billion

QUICKLY -- When All the 'Greatest Hits' Are Too=20
Many to Download; Beware of Internet trespass;=20
CPB Board Meeting; FCC Continues EEO Audits;=20
Evangelical Filmmakers Criticized for Hiring Gay=20
Actor; Minnesota schools get $55 Million tech=20
windfall; US accuses cyber-piracy group of "massive" theft

GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

ADMINISTRATION FAULTED ON KATRINA
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Spencer S. Hsu and Amy Goldstein]
Responsibility for the government's bungled=20
response to Hurricane Katrina extends widely but=20
begins at the top of the Bush administration,=20
which failed before the storm to name a White=20
House, homeland security or other senior aide to=20
take command of disaster relief, congressional=20
investigators reported yesterday. House=20
Democrats, who were given an update by Rapuano=20
last month, said the administration review has=20
identified more than 60 flaws, including=20
breakdowns in the new emergency National Response=20
Plan, in federal command and control, in=20
communications and homeland security planning, as=20
well as an overemphasis on terrorism at the expense of natural threats.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/01/AR200602...
0712.html
(requires registration)

LAWMAKERS SLAM US FIRMS AIDING CHINA CYBER-COPS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Paul Eckert]
U.S. firms are putting profits before principles=20
by helping China censor the Internet, lawmakers=20
said on Wednesday at the start of a congressional=20
debate that could lead to rules on American=20
technology companies operating in repressive=20
states. The Congressional Human Rights Caucus=20
heard experts tell how technology titans Google,=20
Yahoo, Microsoft and Cisco Systems had made the=20
work of 30,000 Chinese Communist cyber-police=20
easier. "Companies that have blossomed and make=20
billions in this country, a country that reveres=20
freedom of speech, have chosen to ignore that=20
core value in expanding their reach overseas, and=20
to erect a Great Firewall to suit Beijing's=20
purposes," Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) told the caucus.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-01T223450Z_01_N01294003_RTRUKOC_0_US-CHINA-USA.xml&archived=3DF=
alse
* Web site censorship doesn't work: Gates
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-01T202304Z_01_L01386244_RTRUKOC_0_US-MICROSOFT-GATES.xml
* Anti-China hypocrisy in Congress?
http://news.com.com/Anti-China+hypocrisy+in+Congress/2010-1023_3-6033681...
ml?tag=3Dfd_carsl

RUMSFELD SAYS US CONSTRAINED IN INFORMATION WAR
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Will Dunham]
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on=20
Wednesday the Pentagon had not done a good job in=20
the information war against enemies like al=20
Qaeda, saying U.S. personnel felt constrained=20
partly due to fear of criticism in the media.=20
"How do we compete in this struggle in a way that=20
can counter the ability of the enemy to lie,=20
which we can't do, (and) the ability of the enemy=20
to not have a free media criticizing them? You=20
don't see much criticizing of them," said Sec=20
Rumsfeld. A debate is under way in America over=20
what is permissible for the U.S. government to do=20
to spread its message to foreign audiences as it=20
engages in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and in=20
what it calls a global war against terrorism. The=20
U.S. military command in Iraq is investigating a=20
military program that funneled money to some=20
Iraqi newspapers to publish pro-American=20
articles. The Pentagon in 2002 closed its Office=20
of Strategic Influence after reports that it=20
planned to plant false news stories with foreign=20
media outlets. "We're not going to lose wars or=20
battles out there. The only place we can lose is=20
if the country loses its will. And the=20
determinant of that is what is played in the media," Sec Rumsfeld said.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DpoliticsNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-02T071415Z_01_N01383235_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARMS-USA-INFORMATION.xml

TELEVISION

DTV HARD DATE PASSES... AGAIN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
By a squeaker vote of 216 to 214, the House once=20
again set a hard date for the DTV transition --=20
Feb. 18, 2009--and set aside funds--$1.5=20
billion--for digital-to-analog converter boxes.=20
The provisions were part of the overall budget=20
reconciliation bill that the House had already=20
passed Dec. 19 212-206. The re-vote of the=20
reconciliation bill was prompted by Senate=20
Democrats, who had used a procedural gambit to=20
delay the bill's passage and force the revote.=20
The bill now goes to the White House for the=20
president's signature. Details of how the=20
converter box subsidy will be administered have yet to be worked out.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6304165?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* DTV Deadline: 2/17/09
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6304170.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
* Statement from House Commerce Chair Joe Barton
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/News/02012006_1767.htm
* Odds and Ends, High and Dry
http://www.industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=3D141&releas...
=3D13812&magazinearticleid=3D236139&siteid=3D15
* Congress gives OK to digital TV switch
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DdomesticNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-02T064529Z_01_N0210961_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS.xml&archived=3DFalse

GETTING TO FEBRUARY 2009: OUTSTANDING DTV TRANSITION ISSUES
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation]
With this final Congressional action setting a=20
date certain for the digital TV transition, the=20
work of implementing the legislation falls mainly=20
in the National Telecommunications and=20
Information Administration. But unresolved in the=20
DTV Act are a number of issues that will=20
determine the success of the investment Americans=20
are making in the transition. At their first open=20
meeting of the new year, both FCC Commissioners=20
and staff identified the DTV transition as a=20
major priority for 2006. Anticipating the passage=20
of the DTV Act, the Commission reported on the=20
status of the DTV transition to date.=20
Approximately 90% of US TV stations are currently=20
airing digital TV broadcast and approximately 95%=20
of stations have chosen their permanent digital=20
television channel. Completing the task of=20
deciding final channel placements for all digital=20
TV stations was identified as a major priority by=20
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Commissioner Jonathan=20
Adelstein and Media Bureau Chief Donna Gregg.=20
Commissioner Adelstein identified additional=20
issues that must be addressed to make the=20
transition a success including the public=20
interest obligations of digital TV broadcasters,=20
the disclosure requirements of licensees,=20
educating consumers about the transition, and the sale of analog TV sets.
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/1258

MAP CALLS ADELPHIA OK "NO SURPRISE"
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Andy Schwartzman, president of the Media Access=20
Project, called the Federal Trade Commission's=20
approval of the Adelphia sale to Time Warner and=20
Comcast Tuesday no surprise, but pointed=20
hopefully to the dissenting commissioners'=20
statement "almost begging" the FCC to apply=20
conditions. While not opposing the merger,=20
Democrat Jon Leibowitz and independent Pamela=20
Jones Harbour suggested the FCC, which must still=20
sign off on the merger, could follow its own lead=20
and apply conditions similar to those it put in=20
place when approving News Corp.'s purchase of DBS=20
company DirecTV. The FCC conditioned that deal on=20
News Corp. offering its multichannel video=20
services on a non-exclusive basis and submitting=20
to arbitration on rights to regional sports=20
networks, another key concern of the FTC=20
commissioners. Schwartzman said he expected that=20
clear message from the dissenting FTC voices to=20
encourage FCC Democrats to seek conditions as well.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6303888?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

CABLE'S FAMILY PACKAGES TEMPORARILY PLACATE LAWMAKERS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
The announcement by major cable operators that=20
they will offer family-friendly packages has=20
temporarily quashed industry concerns that the=20
government would require them to sell pay=20
television channels "a la carte," or=20
channel-by-channel. Still, modifications may be=20
made. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner=20
Michael Copps have questioned the lack of sports=20
programming in the channel lineups by each of the=20
six multi-channel providers that have announced=20
family tiers. Cable critics say the lack of the=20
popular sports shows and the limited amount of=20
news demonstrates the industry's lack of=20
commitment to a successful consumer acceptance of family tiers.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-XEAQ1138822772449.html

CABLE A LA CARTE WILL GIVE CONSUMERS LESS FOR MORE
[SOURCE: Buffalo News, AUTHOR: Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer]
[Commentary] If proponents of a per-channel or a=20
la carte model succeed, consumers will be left=20
with little more than a barren menu of choices at=20
higher prices. A per-channel charge regime would=20
be poisonous for smaller cable networks, which=20
depend on getting on the expanded cable tier for=20
their very survival. Once on that platform, they=20
are stumbled on by tens of millions of channel=20
surfers. That kind of "free advertising" is one=20
of the biggest advantages for new programming -=20
worth millions of dollars to an upstart network=20
-- that would evaporate were per-channel charge=20
regulations in effect. In addition, because of=20
the potential audience, new programmers can=20
charge a premium for advertising. Under the=20
per-channel proposal, ad revenue for new=20
programmers would drop precipitously. Thus, were=20
we to adopt per-channel charge regulations, not=20
only would prices for most consumers rise, but=20
scores of new programmers would wilt on the vine.=20
Consumers, and the cause of media diversity,=20
benefit from the shared cable platform.=20
Policymakers in Washington and New York should=20
use caution; a government-mandated elimination of=20
that model would siphon the lifeblood out of new=20
network development and more money out of consumers' pockets.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060131/1064996.asp

NEXSTAR NABS RETRANS DEALS WORTH $48 MILLION
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Katy Bachman]
After toughing it out with cable operators,=20
Nexstar Broadcasting Group reported Wednesday=20
that its newly-negotiated retransmission=20
agreements will generate about $48 million in=20
revenue over three to five years. In the past few=20
months, Nexstar has reached retransmission=20
agreements with 150 cable operators within the 27=20
markets in which the company broadcasts,=20
effecting 4 million subscribers. A recent Bear=20
Stearns report estimated that retransmission=20
deals in 2006 could bring in about $9 million in=20
incremental dollars, representing as much as 12=20
percent of the Nexstar=92s EBITDA, the highest percentage in TV.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
5551

HEARST-ARGYLE TWEAKS ECHOSTAR CARRIAGE PACT
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Jay Sherman]
A month after striking an affiliation agreement=20
with EchoStar Communications, Hearst-Argyle=20
Television said Wednesday it has revised its=20
carriage agreement with the satellite operator=20
due to a new affiliation agreement between=20
EchoStar and Lifetime Entertainment Services.=20
Hearst-Argyle will generate more revenue from the=20
deal as a result. EchoStar and Lifetime reached a=20
new affiliation agreement, returning Lifetime and=20
Lifetime Movie Network to EchoStar's lineup. As=20
part of that pact, Hearst-Argyle and EchoStar=20
agreed to revoke the previous agreement and=20
replace it with the pact reached between Lifetime=20
and EchoStar, which also covers Hearst-Argyle's=20
stations. In conjunction with the new carriage=20
agreement, Hearst-Argyle and Lifetime will revise=20
the terms of their alliance, with Hearst-Argyle=20
receiving compensation from Lifetime. Previously,=20
EchoStar was paying Hearst-Argyle directly.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9322
(requires free registration)

CBS TO SELL NEW "SURVIVOR" EPISODES ON CBS.COM
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Apparently, CBS has learned how to fish. New=20
episodes of the popular "Survivor" reality=20
television series will be made available for=20
download directly from CBS Corp.'s Web site, a=20
first in network TV, the company said on=20
Wednesday.The New York-based owners of the CBS=20
television network and radio stations group=20
already offers its top rated shows including=20
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" on Google Inc.=20
video service for $1.99 and on Comcast Corp.'s=20
on-demand system for 99 cents. Its latest plans=20
now cuts out the distributor. The company said it=20
plans to share an undisclosed portion of the=20
revenue with broadcast affiliate stations, as it=20
has done with other new media deals.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-02-01T195835Z_01_HAR165361_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-CBS.xml&archived=3DFa=
lse
* CBS Cuts Out Download Middleman
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-cbs2feb02,1,6844767.s...
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

INTERNET

THE END OF THE INTERNET?
[SOURCE: The Nation, AUTHOR: Jeff Chester]
[Commentary] Verizon, Comcast, Bell South and=20
other communications giants are developing=20
strategies that would track and store information=20
on our every move in cyberspace in a vast=20
data-collection and marketing system, the scope=20
of which could rival the National Security=20
Agency. According to white papers now being=20
circulated in the cable, telephone and=20
telecommunications industries, those with the=20
deepest pockets--corporations, special-interest=20
groups and major advertisers -- would get=20
preferred treatment. Content from these providers=20
would have first priority on our computer and=20
television screens, while information seen as=20
undesirable, such as peer-to-peer communications,=20
could be relegated to a slow lane or simply shut=20
out. Under the plans they are considering, all of=20
us--from content providers to individual users --=20
would pay more to surf online, stream videos or=20
even send e-mail. Industry planners are mulling=20
new subscription plans that would further limit=20
the online experience, establishing "platinum,"=20
"gold" and "silver" levels of Internet access=20
that would set limits on the number of downloads,=20
media streams or even e-mail messages that could=20
be sent or received. To make this pay-to-play=20
vision a reality, phone and cable lobbyists are=20
now engaged in a political campaign to further=20
weaken the nation's communications policy laws.=20
They want the federal government to permit them=20
to operate Internet and other digital=20
communications services as private networks, free=20
of policy safeguards or governmental oversight.=20
Indeed, both the Congress and the Federal=20
Communications Commission are considering=20
proposals that will have far-reaching impact on=20
the Internet's future. Ten years after passage of=20
the ill-advised Telecommunications Act of 1996,=20
telephone and cable companies are using the same=20
political snake oil to convince compromised or=20
clueless lawmakers to subvert the Internet into a=20
turbo-charged digital retail machine.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060213/chester
* Links to White Papers mentioned above:=20
http://www.democraticmedia.org/issues/netneutrality.html
* Grand Rapids requires Network Neutrality in municipal wireless network
http://www.wirelesscommunity.info/2006/01/31/grand-rapids-requires-netwo...
neutrality-in-municipal-wireless-network/
* Just Say No(thing)
http://gigaom.com/2006/02/01/just-say-nothing/
* The Real Bandwidth Hog? The Telcos
http://techdirt.com/articles/20060202/024219_F.shtml

TELECOM

LAWMAKERS PREP BILL TO OVERHAUL MASSIVE USF PROGRAM
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Reps. Lee Terry (R-Nebraska) and Rick Boucher=20
(D-VA) plan to introduce comprehensive=20
legislation in late February overhauling the $7.1=20
billion universal service fund, one of several=20
congressional efforts to revamp the massive=20
federal program designed to lower phone costs in=20
rural and low-income areas. The legislation's=20
success hinges on House Commerce Committee=20
Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), who repeatedly has=20
criticized the fund and suggested it should be=20
downsized or scrapped. Rep Terry said Chairman=20
Barton has softened his critiques and pledged to=20
address universal service after completing action=20
on another telecom bill. "Joe Barton is a very=20
practical committee chairman," Boucher said,=20
adding that the Texan "has a terrific ability to find the center line."
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-FSIV1138822560275.html
For more on the bill see: http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/849

FCC URGES CONGRESS TO TOUGHEN LAWS ON PHONE DATA
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin on Wednesday urged Congress to toughen=20
laws protecting telephone subscriber records in=20
the wake of the discovery of several online data=20
brokers. He urged Congress to specifically make=20
it illegal to commercially sell phone records,=20
boost penalties the FCC can impose on violators=20
and allow the agency to require carriers to get=20
customer permission before data can be used for=20
marketing. The FCC, state attorneys general,=20
lawmakers, and the Federal Trade Commission are=20
all investigating the practice of companies that=20
offer to obtain and sell telephone subscriber information.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-01T230323Z_01_N01282273_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-PRIVACY-CONGRESS.=
xml&archived=3DFalse
*Chairman Martin's written statement
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-263577A1.pdf
* Barton: Personal Phone Records Must Be Kept Private
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/News/02012006_1765.htm
* Regulators Press For Stronger Laws On Phone Records
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113882537426662424.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

FCC CONSIDERS TIGHTENING RULES ON AIRWAVE-AUCTION DISCOUNTS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amy Schatz Amy.Schatz( at )wsj.com]
The Federal Communications Commission is=20
considering tightening rules that have allowed=20
some national wireless carriers to receive=20
multimillion-dollar discounts in spectrum=20
auctions, but the change may not come before a=20
$15 billion auction set for this summer. The FCC=20
will propose closing a loophole that gives=20
discounts to small businesses -- an effort to=20
help small firms compete for licenses with=20
national phone carriers. Critics say the system=20
is being abused because large phone companies are=20
allowed to team up with small businesses to=20
obtain a 25% discount on some licenses. The=20
Commission could unveil its proposal and open the=20
issue for public comment as soon as this week.=20
The revisions would prohibit some alliances=20
between small businesses and national carriers=20
and propose other restrictions. It remains=20
uncertain when the FCC might finalize the=20
proposal and how it might affect the summer auction.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113885476847663026.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A MERGER
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Neal Gabler]
[Commentary] The $7.4 billion buyout of Pixar=20
Animation by the Walt Disney Company has=20
generated more public speculation than the=20
typical mega-merger, because everyone seemed to=20
realize that this wasn't just another corporate=20
shuffle. It was the convergence of two=20
institutions that have helped shape the American=20
imagination, and it immediately prompted=20
questions about what it might mean for the future=20
of animated movies as well as what it might mean=20
for the entertainment industry generally. The=20
answer is that it might mean a lot for both.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/02/opinion/02gabler.html
(requires registration)

MATSUSHITA SELLS UNIVERSAL STAKE FOR $1.5 BILLION
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: David Turner]
Matsushita Electric, the world=92s biggest consumer=20
electronics maker, has sold its stake in=20
Universal Studios to Vivendi Universal for $1.15=20
billion, giving the French telecoms and media=20
group full ownership of the company. The Japanese=20
company on Thursday justified the sale by saying=20
it was =93no longer strategically important to=20
maintain capital ties with any particular=20
business partner=94 because online distribution of=20
video content and development of other=20
distribution methods made it necessary to work with multiple content provid=
ers.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/0c9c74be-93d2-11da-82ea-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

WHEN ALL THE GREATEST HITS ARE TOO MUCH TO DOWNLOAD
[SOURCE: New York Times]
While current radio hits still dominate the=20
digital music charts, classics are regularly=20
ranking among the 200 best-selling tracks on the=20
Internet, a sign of their staying power even in=20
the accelerated culture of modern pop music. The=20
popularity of such songs raises a troubling issue=20
for the music business, which relies in part on=20
the huge profits generated by greatest-hits=20
collections, perennially selling classic albums=20
and the continual repackaging of old material.=20
The question: What if fans who might have paid=20
for a full album of "the very best" of an=20
established act instead choose to pay=20
substantially less and simply buy the very, very best song?
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/02/arts/music/02cata.html
(requires registration)

BEWARE OF INTERNET TRESPASS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Eric J. Sinrod, Duane Morris]
[Commentary] Information technology continues to=20
advance at warp speed, and the law struggles to=20
catch up. When new laws have not yet been enacted=20
to address emerging areas of Internet disputes,=20
courts are called upon to try to use and mold=20
ancient legal theories to achieve high-tech=20
resolution. Trespass is one of the ancient legal=20
theories relied upon more and more by courts that=20
are grappling with Internet cases.
http://news.com.com/Beware+of+Internet+trespass/2010-1071_3-6033581.html...
g=3Dfd_carsl

CPB BOARD MEETING
[SOURCE: Corporation for Public Broadcasting]
At a public session lasting two days, the=20
Corporation for Public Broadcasting's (CPB) Board=20
of Directors conducted business on a wide range=20
of public broadcasting issues, including: 1)=20
Unanimously Passed a Resolution on Public Radio=20
Programming Priorities; 2) Received an Update on=20
Recent Public Radio and TV Digital Consultations;=20
3) Heard a Presentation on Public Radio and the=20
New Media Environment; 4) Received an Update on=20
the Public TV Affinity Group Coalition Strategic=20
Planning Initiative; and 5) Received a Report on=20
Public Television Major Giving Initiative. CPB's=20
Board of Directors also received an update on=20
"The Champion Project" -- an initiative developed=20
to respond to recommendations contained in the=20
CPB Inspector General's November 2005 report as=20
well as to ensure that all CPB operations comply=20
with governing laws and conform with best=20
practices in the industry. CPB is also finalizing=20
work on a process to ensure political tests are=20
not applied in personnel decisions and to reform=20
its procurement and contracting policies and procedures.
http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=3D525

FCC CONTINUES EEO AUDITS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On January 30, 2006, the Federal Communications=20
Commission (FCC) began mailing the first of its=20
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) audit letters=20
for 2006 to randomly selected radio and=20
television stations. In accordance with the=20
provisions of 47 C.F.R. =A7=A7 73.2080(f)(4) and=20
76.77(d) of the Commission's EEO rules, the FCC=20
is auditing the EEO programs of randomly=20
selected broadcast licensees and multi-channel=20
video programming distributors (MVPDs). Each=20
year, approximately five percent of all licensees=20
and MVPDs are selected for random EEO audits.=20
Media Bureau Contact: EEO Staff (202) 418-1450
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-248A1.doc

EVANGELICAL FILMMAKERS CRITICIZED FOR HIRING GAY ACTOR
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Neela Banerjee]
Christian ministers were enthusiastic at the=20
early private screenings of "End of the Spear,"=20
made by Every Tribe Entertainment, an evangelical=20
film company. But days before the film's=20
premiere, a controversy erupted over the casting=20
of a gay actor that has all but eclipsed the=20
movie and revealed fault lines among evangelicals.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/02/national/02spear.html
(requires registration)

MINNESOTA SCHOOLS GET $55 MILLION TECH WINDFALL
[SOURCE: eSchool News]
Thanks to an antitrust settlement with Microsoft,=20
schools in Minnesota will receive $55 million in=20
hardware and software vouchers intended to=20
bolster educational technology programs across=20
the state. The Jan. 30 announcement has=20
significant implications for schools in as many=20
as 14 other states and the District of Columbia,=20
each of which received similar settlement deals=20
as the result of separate class-action lawsuits against the software giant.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=3D6097

US ACCUSES CYBER-PIRACY GROUP OF "MASSIVE" THEFT
[SOURCE: Reuters]
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced=20
indictments against 19 members of the underground=20
piracy group known as "RISCISO saying they stole=20
up to $6.5 million in copyrighted software, games and movies.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-02-01T194901Z_01_N01143981_RTRUKOC_0_US-CRIME-SOFTWARE.xml
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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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