March 2006

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THE BIG STORY WE ALMOST MISSED
A Reborn AT&T To Buy BellSouth

NEWS FROM CONGRESS
Proposed AT&T-BellSouth Merger Could Slow Telecom Bill Debate
Wyden Offers 'Net Neutrality' Bill
Florida Reps Push Multicasting Must-Carry
McDowell FCC Nomination Hearing Slated
Chairman Martin's House Testimony
Web-Gambling Opponents Restore Old Fight

TELEVISION
NAB Supports DTV Kids Rule Deal
PTC Slams Kids Shows
Children & Media Center Slams PTC Study
TiVo, PTC, Common Sense Detail KidZone
Moonves Predicts Nine-Figure Retrans Pot

INTERNET
NBC buying iVillage for $600 million
Holdouts manage to resist Net's lure
AOL to roll out free e-mail to non-profits
US, UN should confront China on Web policy
Heavy Spending Becomes a Fact Of Life for Many Web Companies

QUICKLY -- USAC Board Reorganizes

THE BIG STORY WE ALMOST MISSED

A REBORN AT&T TO BUY BELLSOUTH
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Dionne=20
Searcey dionne.searcey( at )wsj.com, Amy Schatz, Almar=20
Latour and Dennis K. Berman]
Apparently, a small telephone company from Texas=20
would like to purchase BellSouth for like $67 and=20
assuming some debt. Oh, wait, check that... the=20
little Texas firm goes by the initials AT&T and=20
the present phone giant has agreed to purchase=20
the other phone giant for $67 billion and=20
assuming $22 billion in debt. You know, you turn=20
your back for a couple of days so the kids can=20
enjoy Casimir Pulaski Day and this is what we=20
get. Damn you, Ed Whitacre! Big story, lots of=20
coverage and reaction. You may have read it all=20
yesterday, so you'll find it online today at http://www.benton.org/?q=3Dhea=
dlines
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114153322699689697.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

NEWS FROM CONGRESS

PROPOSED AT&T-BELLSOUTH MERGER COULD SLOW TELECOM BILL DEBATE
[SOURCE: National Journal's Insider Update, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
The proposed merger agreement between AT&T and=20
BellSouth could slow the push for a=20
telecommunications bill this year -- as the cable=20
industry told Congress that regional Bell=20
operating companies are so big that they need no=20
additional legislation. The National Cable and=20
Telecommunications Association Monday sent a=20
letter to legislators highlighting that a merged=20
AT&T- BellSouth would be larger than the entire=20
cable industry. The merger could put the brakes=20
on a possible overhaul of the 1996=20
Telecommunications Act, "especially with regard=20
to video franchising," a cable industry source=20
suggested. News of the merger came as key members=20
of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have=20
been negotiating a bill focused largely on=20
granting nationwide franchises to expedite the=20
entry of the Bells into pay video services. AT&T=20
-- along with another Bell, Verizon=20
Communications -- has been actively seeking such=20
legislation. One of the legislators involved in=20
the Energy and Commerce negotiations --=20
Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee=20
ranking member Edward Markey (D-MA) -- said that=20
the AT&T-BellSouth deal deserves close scrutiny.=20
By and large, initial reaction on Capitol Hill to=20
the $67 billion proposed merger -- which would be=20
the fifth largest merger in U.S. history --=20
ranged from noncommittal to skeptical, as several=20
key players said that they planned to hold=20
hearings on the deal. They include House=20
Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI),=20
Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman Mike=20
DeWine (R-OH) and subcommittee ranking member Herb Kohl (D-WI)
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-LPTS1141679598269.html

WYDEN OFFERS 'NET NEUTRALITY' BILL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 3/2, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Communications companies could not create a=20
"priority lane" allowing some content owners to=20
have faster Internet connections to consumers=20
under legislation unveiled by Sen. Ron Wyden=20
(D-OR). The measure would require Internet=20
service providers to treat content equally by not=20
blocking, degrading, altering or modifying data=20
traffic. Refraining from blocking Internet=20
content is a core aspect of the=20
non-discriminatory "network neutrality"=20
principles that are widely endorsed within the=20
technology and communications industries. The FCC=20
last August issued a policy statement in support=20
of Internet neutrality. Besides encoding the=20
principles in law, Sen Wyden's bill would take a=20
significant step by barring carriers from=20
creating a high-speed lane for some Web site=20
owners at the expense of others. Sen Wyden's bill=20
also would enforce other aspects of network=20
neutrality, including provisions allowing=20
consumers to choose Internet connection devices.=20
The measure also further seeks to ensure=20
transparency in the rates, terms and conditions for Internet services.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-XSNO1141420510008.html
See also:
* Senate Bill to Address Fears of Blocked Access to Net
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/02/technology/02online.html
* The High-Speed Money Line
One way or another, consumers are going to pay=20
more in the future for Web content, experts say.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/06/technology/06broadband.html?n=3DTop/

FLORIDA REPS PUSH MULTICASTING MUST-CARRY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
A dozen Florida representatives, eight=20
Republicans and five Democrats, have sent a=20
letter to ranking House Commerce Committee=20
members Joe Barton (R-TX.) and John Dingell=20
(D-MI), asking that they include a multicasting=20
must-carry provision in any telecommunications=20
law introduced this year. A rewrite of the 1996=20
Telecommunications Act is planned for markup in=20
the next couple of weeks. Multicast must-carry=20
would require cable to carry all of a=20
broadcasters free digital signals. Cable counters=20
that it should only have to carry a digital=20
replica of the analog channel, a reading of the=20
law that the FCC has upheld, which is why=20
broadcasters are seeking help from Congress. The=20
legislators said that Florida is home to the=20
country's "only general market independent=20
broadcast network" (i, formerly Pa TV), as well=20
as "many smaller, independent broadcasters,=20
including locally focused, and several minority=20
broadcast companies [Telemundo, for one, though=20
that is owned by NBC U]." They argued the state=20
is heavily dependent on niche programming from=20
those small and independent sources.=20
"Unfortunately," they argue, "broadcasters not=20
associated with a multi-media conglomerate will=20
be unable to leverage other assets to secure=20
multicast carriage of their signals in the=20
digital environment and our state will lose=20
important sources of local news, information, and entertainment."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6313526?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

MCDOWELL NOMINATION HEARING SLATED
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Senate Commerce Committee will consider on=20
Thursday the nomination of Robert McDowell for an=20
open seat on the Federal Communications=20
Commission. The hearing begins at 3:15pm=20
(eastern). Multichannel News says reported assets=20
of between $493,000 and $1.5 million on his=20
executive-branch financial disclosure filed in=20
February with the U.S. Office of Government=20
Ethics. McDowell=92s assets can't be pinpointed=20
because the disclosure forms provided boxes to=20
check that include ranges in property values --=20
for example, $15,001-$50,000 and $500,001-$1=20
million. In addition to real estate holdings,=20
McDowell reported that a substantial portion of=20
his assets were held in mutual-fund retirement=20
accounts. Individual stock holdings included up=20
to $15,000 in shares of Intel Corp. He reported a=20
mortgage of between $15,001 and $50,000 as his=20
only financial liability. McDowell, a Virginia=20
resident, is senior vice president and assistant=20
general counsel of COMPTEL, a trade group=20
representing rivals to the Baby Bells. His 2005=20
salary was $209,000, according to his disclosure.
For more info on the nomination hearing, see:=20
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=3D1794
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6313456?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* FCC Nominee McDowell Reports Assets
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6313000.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

MARTIN SEEKS END TO INDUSTRY-PAID TRAVEL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable 3/1/06, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Pointing out that the FCC accepted $260,000 from=20
industry to pay for "important travel" in 2005,=20
the FCC has asked Congress for a $235,000=20
increase in its travel budget so that it can=20
"eliminate" industry-sponsored travel for all=20
commission employees. Chairman Kevin Martin made=20
that request as part of his testimony to a House=20
Appropriations subcommittee last week. The FCC=20
had already cut back on that travel in 2006 after=20
the same committee had expressed concerns. Martin=20
also asked for $500,000 for an industry-outreach=20
campaign on the DTV transition (that would be in=20
addition to $5 million set aside for a government=20
outreach campaign in the DTV hard date bill=20
recently passed by Congress). He also wants $20=20
million from the Universal Service Fund. The FCC=20
wants to take up to $20.4 million from that fund=20
to cover monitoring for waste, fraud, and potential abuse.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312124?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* See Chairman Martin's written testimony:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264102A1.pdf
See also --
* Martin Again Pushes Cable Industry On Offering Channels 'A La Carte'
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 3/1, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said the cable=20
television industry needs to do more to respond=20
to consumer interest in purchasing television=20
programming on a channel-by-channel -- or=20
so-called a la carte -- basis. Appearing before=20
the House Science-State-Justice-Commerce=20
Appropriations Subcommittee, Chairman Martin said=20
he agrees with complaints -- lodged primarily by=20
family organizations and consumer groups -- that=20
the "family tiers" of channels created by cable operators are inadequate.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-XSNB1141333006194.html

WEB-GAMBLING OPPONENTS RESTORE OLD FIGHT
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jeanne=20
Cummings jeanne.cummings( at )wsj.com]
Foes of Internet gambling are experiencing a=20
renaissance on Capitol Hill. One reason: Lobbyist=20
Jack Abramoff is now facing prison time instead=20
of working against them. House members are=20
rushing to co-sponsor a version of the Internet=20
ban that failed after an Abramoff-led lobbying=20
blitz in 2000. Another version of the ban will be=20
the subject of a House Financial Services=20
Committee meeting this week. In the Senate,=20
Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona plans to offer=20
companion legislation as an amendment to a=20
lobbying overhaul measure spawned by the Abramoff scandal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114169112434490893.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

TELEVISION

NAB SUPPORTS DTV KIDS RULE DEAL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to a source with knowledge of the=20
outcome, the National Association of Broadcasters=20
board has voted unanimously to support the deal=20
on new FCC kids DTV rules struck by a group of=20
major media companies and children's TV=20
activists. Both the media companies and activists=20
had threatened to take the new rules, which also=20
apply to analog stations and some to cable, to=20
court, but agreed to drop their suits if the FCC=20
accepts the compromise. The NAB board members=20
were said not to be unanimously in favor of the=20
deal, but all ultimately voted to back it.=20
Although the effective date of the rules was=20
stayed, as part of the agreement, the media=20
companies agreed to start complying with its terms as of March 1.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6313532?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

PTC SLAMS KIDS SHOWS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Last Thursday, the Parent's television Council=20
released a study on children's TV, "Wolves in=20
Sheep's Clothing: A Content Analysis of=20
Children's Television," purporting to show that=20
kids TV is more violent than adult fare. It is=20
the group's first look at TV targeted to=20
children, and its conclusion is that there is a=20
"staggering" amount of violence and sexual=20
innuendo. Sensitive to the criticism that=20
"cartoony" violence is hardly a threat to the=20
social fabric, the group also provided figures=20
for violent incident totals that excluded anvils=20
falling on Wile E. Coyote's head, for example.=20
With anvils included, PTC's study of programming=20
on ABC, Fox, NBC, WB, ABC Family, Cartoon=20
Network, Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon before=20
and after school and Saturday morning, found an=20
average of 7.86 violent incidents per hour, or=20
6.30 incidents without anvils. PTC contrasted=20
that with the 4.71 instances of violence per hour=20
they found across the six broadcast networks in a 2002 study.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312378?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

CHILDREN & MEDIA CENTER SLAMS PTC STUDY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The American Center for Children and Media, a=20
group representing commercial and noncommercial=20
producers/distributors, is highly critical of the=20
Parents Television Council study, released=20
Thursday, that purported to show that kids TV was=20
awash in violence, cussing, and sexuality. "The=20
Parents Television Council report on children=92s=20
TV is truly stunning," ACCM says. "Its=20
methodology might best be analogized to an=20
episode from the sitcom Third Rock from the Sun,=20
in which the character Harry runs a video=20
store. Asked by confused customers about his=20
cataloging system, he points and says, =93Things I=20
liked, things I didn't like, things I haven't=20
seen. The PTC created a review system that=20
isolates =AD totally out of context =AD any word or=20
behavior that falls outside its narrow boundaries=20
of good taste. Their laundry list of=20
=93problematic behaviors=94 and taboos involving=20
=93social institutions=94 (friendship?) is so=20
constricting that any show meeting their Puritan=20
standards would be devoid of drama or humor."=20
Board members of ACCM include Disney, Cartoon=20
Network (both of which were singled out in the=20
PTC survey), Nickelodeon, Discovery Kids, PBS, and Sesame Workshop
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312545?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

TIVO, PTC, COMMON SENSE DETAIL KIDZONE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable 3/2/06, AUTHOR: Glen Dickson]
Personal-video-recorder manufacturer TiVo=20
released details last week of a new programming=20
service aimed at delivering quality programming=20
to children. The service, called =93TiVo KidZone,=94=20
will incorporate children=92s programming=20
recommendations from advocacy groups Common Sense=20
Media and the Parents Television Council while=20
also giving parents the ability to block out=20
other programming they deem offensive. Parents=20
can fine-tune the =93KidZone=94 electronic program=20
guide to meet their children=92s age and their own=20
programming choices, and access to the KidZone=20
settings is protected by a parental password.=20
Software for KidZone, which will available as a=20
free feature on TiVo =93Series2=94 units, is still=20
under development, but the service is expected to=20
be available in June. TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said=20
that KidZone should offer viewers a big=20
improvement over cable operators=92 initial =93family=20
tier=94 offerings, which block offensive=20
programming from the home but also limit viewing=20
options for adults (in their defense, cable=20
operators say they need to completely block=20
offensive channels from the home to ensure that=20
crafty kids don't bypass the set-top to watch=20
racy fare offered on broadcast and basic cable=20
networks). =93This is not about blocking shows,=20
this is about finding the best shows,=94 says=20
Rogers, who thinks the KidZone functionality will=20
be a selling point as TiVo continues its efforts=20
to license its software for use in cable=20
set-tops. While DirecTV has incorporated TiVo=20
functionality into its set-tops in the past, it=20
has discontinued that relationship with TiVo and=20
those existing =93Series 1=94 boxes won't support the KidZone service.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312447?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

MOONVES PREDICTS NINE-FIGURE RETRANS POT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable 3/1/06, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
CBS will, eventually, get "hundreds of millions=20
of dollars" from retransmission-consent deals=20
covering the total 60 million households reached=20
by the CBS and soon-to-be CW stations it owns,=20
President and CEO Les Moonves predicted at the=20
annual Bear Stearns Media Conference last week.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312015?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

INTERNET

NBC BUYING IVILLAGE FOR $600 MILLION
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Paul J. Gough]
NBC Universal has signed a deal to acquire=20
iVillage, the women's and parenting website, for=20
about $600 million. The companies said Monday=20
that shares in the publicly-traded iVillage will=20
be purchased for $8.50 a share, up a little more=20
than 50 cents a share from its $7.98 a share=20
close on the Nasdaq on Friday. The deal still has=20
to be approved by shareholders and regulators=20
although it's likely to close in the second quarter.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-03-06T213416Z_01_WEN2173_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-IVILLAGE.xml&archived=
=3DFalse
See also --
* NBC Buys a Web Site for Women
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/07/business/media/07place.html
(requires registration)
* NBC Universal to Buy Women's Web Site iVillage
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114164674594890276.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

HOLDOUT'S MANAGE TO RESIST NET'S LURE
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Mike Langberg]
[Commentary] Brace yourself for a shock: There=20
are people in the United States who don't see any=20
reason to use the Internet. There's hardly anyone=20
left in the United States who wants to go online=20
and isn't already there. This means newbies,=20
those innocent first-time Internet users, are now=20
an endangered species heading toward extinction.=20
Two-thirds of the 109 million households in the=20
United States now have at least one home computer=20
connected to the Internet. Of households online,=20
two-thirds have high-speed or ``broadband=20
service,'' such as a cable modem or DSL line.=20
One-third still have slower dial-up phone line=20
connections. Three out of every four Americans=20
are online; most at home, some only away from=20
home at work, school, libraries or Internet=20
cafes. That leaves about 25 percent of the=20
population not online at all. There are at least=20
three important lessons to be learned from this=20
data. First, Internet companies are entering a=20
new and much more competitive era. There won't be=20
flocks of newbies to help support start-up=20
companies or established companies offering new=20
services. And existing users aren't willing to=20
spend more time in front of their computers,=20
giving companies the much harder task of luring=20
users away from their competitors. Second, the=20
so-called ``digital divide'' is much more of a=20
social issue than a financial problem. Simply=20
offering subsidies or setting up generic training=20
programs won't bring many holdouts online.=20
Instead, the private and public sector must work=20
on creating applications that give the holdouts a=20
compelling reason to turn to the Internet. Third,=20
the so-called ``broadband gap'' is likely to=20
resolve itself. The United States lags a number=20
of nations in Europe and Asia in percentage of=20
homes connected to broadband. But that's only=20
because many dial-up users can't overcome the=20
inertia to switch, not because they lack access=20
to broadband or find it too expensive. Even if it=20
takes another 10 years for 90 percent of the=20
population to be online, the arrival of the=20
Internet Age will still have happened with=20
record-breaking speed. We just need to be patient=20
as the holdouts slowly join us online.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/14028023.htm

AOL TO ROLL OUT FREE E-MAIL TO NON-PROFITS
[SOURCE: Reuters 3/3/06]
AOL, the Internet service provider unit of Time=20
Warner, on Friday said it will not charge=20
legitimate not-for-profit organizations and=20
advocacy groups to have their e-mails=20
authenticated and delivered to consumers. The=20
decision addresses an outcry from political and=20
civic activist groups, which said AOL's plans to=20
charge mass senders of e-mail a fee to reduce=20
junk mail amounted to an "attack" on the "free=20
existence of online civic participation." The=20
company said that it is seeking to make it=20
"crystal clear" that nonprofit groups would have=20
all their e-mails delivered, including enabled=20
Web-links and images, contrary to recent=20
criticism in the media by advocacy groups.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-03-03T211725Z_01_N03394922_RTRUKOC_0_US-AOL-TIMEWARNER.xml&archive=
d=3DFalse

US, UN SHOULD CONFRONT CHINA ON WEB POLICY: SCHOLAR
[SOURCE: Reuters 3/3/06]
Jiao Guobiao, a Chinese journalism professor who=20
was pressured out of his job in March 2005 after=20
denouncing China's propaganda controls in an=20
article circulated on the Internet, is calling on=20
the US, the United Nations and international=20
media to confront China over its efforts to impose Internet controls.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-03-03T205315Z_01_T290671_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-CHINA.xml&archived=3DFa=
lse
See also --
* Censuring China's censors
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Seth Faison]
[Commentary]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-faison7mar07,1,75...
08.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

HEAVY SENDING BECOMES A FACT OF LIFE FOR MANY WEB COMPANIES
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Mylene=20
Mangalindan mylene.mangalindan( at )wsj.com]
As the big survivors among Internet companies=20
mature, they are learning a painful -- and=20
unexpected -- lesson: Staying in the online game=20
requires heavy, constant spending -- for workers=20
and customers, as well as for the technology that=20
keeps their businesses humming: computers,=20
servers, networking equipment, data-storage=20
equipment and the like. That's especially true as=20
Web companies challenge one another's turf in=20
areas like retail and search engines. Meanwhile,=20
telecommunications companies, consolidating and=20
rethinking their business models, are considering=20
ways to charge online businesses for the traffic=20
they send over phone networks, which could add to Web companies' costs.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114170450561091194.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

USAC BOARD REORGANIZES
[SOURCE: Universal Service Administration Company]
On March 1, the Universal Service Administrative=20
Company (USAC) Board of Directors elected=20
officers, committee chairs and vice chairs, and appointed members to
committees. The board's chair is Dr. Brian=20
Talbott, Association of Educational Service=20
Agencies. The High Cost/Low Income Committee=20
Chair is Kevin Hess of TDS Telecom. Chair of the=20
Rural Health Committee is Dr. Jay H. Sanders of=20
the Global Telemedicine Group. Chair of the=20
Schools and Libraries Committee is Anne Leslie=20
Campbell of National City (CA) Public Library.=20
Terms begin immediately and will end at the=20
conclusion of the January 2007 Board of Directors
meeting. More info at the URL below.
http://www.universalservice.org/_res/documents/about/pdf/2006%20Board%20...
ctions.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------