April 2006

To view Benton's Headlines feed in your RSS=20
Aggregator, paste=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dtaxonomy/term/6/all/feed into your read=
er.

The week's not over. There's a big telecom policy=20
forum today (see=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/1144) and=20
the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee meets=20
tomorrow. For these and other upcoming media=20
policy events, see http://www.benton.org

NEWS FROM CONGRESS
House Panel Approves Telecom Bill; Rejects Democratic 'Buildout' Plan
'Build Out' Rule Divides Lawmakers
Sens. Seek Adelphia Conditions

INTERNET
San Francisco picks Google, EarthLink
FCC Commissioner Copps at Freedom to Connect 2006
Reed Hundt steals the show

TELEVISION
Report Faults Video Reports Shown as News
Network Censorship can't Silence Church's Campaign
Stage Set for Competition for Long Island Cable TV

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
The White House and FCC Connection: New Giveaway to Big Media
Scarborough: Newspaper Industry 'Vibrant, Growing' With
Addition Of Online Readers

NEWS FROM FCC
FCC Open Meeting Agenda
FCC Amends Rules to Implement Junk Fax Act

QUICKLY -- Resolving the Wiretap Debate; New=20
Orleans Mayoral Debate Goes National; Alcatel to=20
Sell Satellite Units to Contractor

NEWS FROM CONGRESS

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES TELECOM BILL; REJECTS DEMOCRATIC 'BUILDOUT' PLAN
[SOURCE: Congress Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
As a House of Representatives subcommittee moved=20
toward passage of a telecommunications overhaul=20
bill prior to the forthcoming Easter=20
congressional recess, it rejected a=20
Democratic-sponsored amendment that would have=20
required the regional Bell operating companies to=20
=93build out=94 services to all customers within=20
given geographic areas. The move came as the=20
House Telecommunications and the Internet=20
Subcommittee approved legislation to grant=20
national franchises to the Bells and other new=20
entrants into the pay video market. On another=20
key issue, the subcommittee also voted down a=20
Democratic amendment designed to strengthen=20
provisions in the bill related to "network=20
neutrality" -- which involves a requirement that=20
the Bells and cable operators not discriminate=20
against outside Internet content providers in=20
sending data over high speed networks. House=20
Commerce ranking member John Dingell (D-MI) and=20
Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee=20
ranking member Edward Markey (D-MA) offered the=20
buildout amendment, which was defeated 22-11.=20
Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) opposed the=20
amendment, which he said "really goes to the=20
heart of the bill." In fact, differences over the=20
buildout issue were key to the breakdown of=20
negotiations between Chairman Barton and Rep=20
Dingell last month as they sought to reach a=20
bipartisan accord on telecom legislation.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-BKZH1144269035135.html
* US House panel backs help for telcos on TV service
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-04-06T051518Z_01_N05260131_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-CONGRESS.xml&arch=
ived=3DFalse
* House Panel Backs Phone Firms On Plans for Rollout of TV Service
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114428716024518433.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)
* National Franchise Bill Passes Subcommittee
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6322530?display=3DBreaking+News
* House Subcommittee Clears Franchise Bill
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6322537.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* Republicans defeat Net neutrality proposal
http://news.com.com/Republicans+defeat+Net+neutrality+proposal/2100-1028...
6058223.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert
* Network Neutrality Amendment Defeated
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6322494?display=3DBreaking+News
* Subcommittee Votes Down Build-Out Guarantee
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6322390?display=3DBreaking+News
* "Misguided" Internet Bill Aids "Broadband Barons"
http://www.uspirg.org/consumer/archives/2006/04/misguided_inter.html
* Local Officials Have Concerns With Telecom Bill
http://www.nlc.org/Newsroom/Nation_s_Cities_Weekly/Weekly_NCW/2006/04/03...
90.cfm

'BUILD OUT' RULE DIVIDES LAWMAKERS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
One of touchiest disputes over a draft bill to=20
create national video franchises is whether it=20
would have a positive or negative impact on=20
racial minorities and low-income groups. Bell=20
telephone companies support House Commerce=20
Committee Chairman Joe Barton's national video=20
franchise without a "build out" rule, while the=20
cable industry generally opposes it. Cable=20
operators have been regulated by municipalities,=20
which generally require commitments to build out=20
video service to entire regions before franchise=20
agreements are granted for those regions. But=20
Republicans, and the Bells, have attempted to=20
inoculate themselves against charges of=20
discrimination by race or income. Build-out rules=20
would kill the competition that national=20
franchises would bring, they argue. They have the=20
support of at least two black Democrats, Bobby=20
Rush of Illinois and Albert Wynn of=20
Maryland. And the draft telecom bill by Rep=20
Barton includes several anti-discrimination=20
provisions. Besides banning discrimination by=20
race and income within an area, the measure calls=20
for the FCC to yank national franchises from any=20
company for "willful and repeated violation of=20
the anti-discrimination requirement."
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-VIIU1144268641659.html

SENS SEEK ADELPHIA CONDITIONS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Apparently, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman=20
Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Sen. Byron Dorgan=20
(D-ND) have asked the Federal Communications=20
Commission to consider imposing programming=20
conditions on the sale of Adelphia Communications=20
to Time Warner and Comcast. In an April 4 letter=20
to the FCC, the Senators took the side of DirecTV=20
and EchoStar that Comcast and Time Warner would=20
have the market power to control access to and=20
the price of widely popular regional sports=20
networks, perhaps giving the MSOs too much=20
leverage over pay TV competitors. In their=20
letter, Stevens and Dorgan voiced concern that=20
Comcast and Time Warner might migrate programming=20
services to terrestrial-distribution formats in=20
order to withhold the programming from=20
competitors in a manner consistent with federal=20
program-access rules. Those rules require MSOs to=20
sell just satellite-delivered programming that=20
they own. The lawmakers also said they were=20
concerned that Comcast and Time Warner would=20
control large regional clusters with a high=20
percentage of pay TV subscribers, and that they=20
would use that clout to obtain unaffiliated=20
programming on an exclusive basis. Sens Stevens=20
and Dorgan also suggested that Comcast and Time=20
Warner might make programming available to=20
satellite on discriminatory terms by offering a=20
license-fee structure designed to ensure that=20
satellite providers pay more than cable for the same programming.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6322524.html?display=3DBreaking+News

INTERNET

SAN FRANCISCO PICKS GOOGLE, EARTHLINK
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Verne Kopytoff]
San Francisco on Wednesday chose the high-tech=20
team of Google and EarthLink to bring free,=20
wireless Internet access to virtually everyone in=20
the city, possibly by the end of the year. The=20
two companies, which were recommended by a city=20
panel evaluating the project, beat out five other=20
bidders for a chance at the highly coveted=20
contract. After a contract is negotiated by the=20
city, reviewed by the Board of Supervisors and=20
the network built, residents will be able to log=20
on wirelessly whether at home, in a park or at=20
work. Both companies would share the cost of=20
installing the necessary equipment, estimated at=20
up to $12 million. San Francisco will pay nothing=20
and actually reap some fees by leasing city=20
property as perches for Wi-Fi antennas. The=20
project, championed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, is=20
intended to boost the city's technology=20
credentials and help bridge the digital divide=20
between the Internet haves and have-nots. It has=20
also generated intense interest from other cities=20
looking to build similar networks.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/c/a/2006/04/06/GOOGLE.TMP...
pe=3Dtech
* Google to build wireless network in San Francisco
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/1f2538da-c52f-11da-b675-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)
* San Francisco picks companies for Wi-Fi
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/14272485.htm

REMARKS OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL COPPS FREEDOM TO CONNECT 2006
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
We view the Internet as a place of freedom and=20
openness. We view it as a place where innovation=20
can flourish, where it seems almost anyone with a=20
good idea, some technological savvy and a healthy=20
dose of persistence can develop a business with=20
global reach. With the genius of a dumb pipe=20
connecting to intelligence at the edges and the=20
common language of IP communications, the=20
possibilities are endless. And this is indeed=20
the way things ought to work. But if we are not=20
watchful, we will miss the signs that there are=20
threats to the openness that makes the Internet=20
so great. Some telltale clues are out=20
there. News reports-from Business Week to The=20
Wall Street Journal to The Financial Times to The=20
New York Times-have sounded warning bells,=20
suggesting a future where new broadband toll=20
bridges may restrict the use of services like=20
VoIP, or make it difficult to watch videos or=20
listen to music over the web. It's not=20
impossible to imagine these things taking=20
place. Because the more concentrated our=20
facilities providers grow, the more they have the=20
ability, and possibly even the incentive, to act=20
as Internet gatekeepers-unduly influencing the=20
flow or speed of Internet traffic, ultimately=20
perhaps even dictating who can use the Internet=20
and for what purposes. We can't let this=20
happen. If we do, there's no doubt in my mind we=20
will look back, shake our heads and wonder=20
whatever happened to that open, dynamic and=20
liberating Internet that we once knew. "What=20
promise it held," we'll say. And if that occurs,=20
history won't forgive us. Nor should it. So=20
let's roll up our sleeves and work together-all=20
of us-to make sure that the Internet continues to=20
foster freedom and innovation, and that the=20
original vision that inspired this liberating=20
technology lives for another day and another=20
generation. This is not just about better=20
communications or a better Internet, it's about a better America.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264765A1.doc
* See coverage of another recent Copps' speech:
* Broadband access needs a champion, FCC commissioner says
http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=3D2835
* Wireless Web could aid disaster response
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=3D413300

REED HUNDT STEALS THE SHOW
[SOURCE: Paul Kapustka's Blog 4/4]
[Commentary] It's one thing to talk about network=20
neutrality, but yet another to formulate a plan=20
of action, with real numbers, costs and ways to=20
compromise to get things done in the real world.=20
With a speech at the F2C: Freedom to Connect=20
event that embraced all of the latter, former FCC=20
chairman Reed Hundt on Tuesday eclipsed most of=20
the "net neutrality is good" offerings in recent=20
memory, and moved the ball forward by putting a=20
price tag -- $25 billion -- on the cost of=20
bringing fiber to all U.S. homes. Hundt thinks=20
that it's time for the government to step in and=20
"create a public thoroughfare to the Internet --=20
and it ought to be fast, and every year faster.=20
It should constantly improve, like roads." Unlike=20
others who just call for such things, Hundt has=20
the cost parsed out: Estimating a cost of $1,000=20
per household (the actual cost of laying fiber,=20
minus the amount people have demonstrably been=20
willing to pay for such services) to build a=20
nationwide fiber network would cost between $20=20
and $25 billion, Hundt said -- "less than=20
one-tenth of the money budgeted for a missile=20
defense system that doesn't work." Far from=20
excluding the telcos, Hundt said to let everyone=20
and anyone bid on the contracts -- lowest bidder=20
wins, and whoever builds the fiber can keep "half=20
of it for their VPN," and let the other half be=20
the public conduit. While acknowledging that=20
calling for huge domestic expenditures might seem=20
"crazy" in Washington today, Hundt noted that=20
building national broadband systems "only happens=20
to be the dominant paradigm in every developing country in the world."
http://paulsblog.pulver.com/archives/2006/04/f2c_reed_hundt.html

TELEVISION

REPORT VAULTS VIDEO REPORTS SHOWN AS NEWS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: David Barstow]
Many television news stations, including some=20
from the nation's largest markets, are continuing=20
to broadcast reports as news without disclosing=20
that the segments were produced by corporations=20
pitching new products, according to a report to=20
be released today by the Center for Media and=20
Democracy. Television news directors have said=20
that the segments, known as video news releases,=20
are almost never broadcast, but CMD assembled=20
television videotape from 69 stations that it=20
said had broadcast fake news segments in the past=20
10 months. The report said none of the stations=20
had disclosed that the segments were produced by=20
publicists representing companies like General=20
Motors, Capital One and Pfizer. The center also=20
said that many of the 69 stations took steps to=20
blend the fake segments into their news=20
broadcasts. Some had their news reporters or=20
anchors read scripts supplied by corporations,=20
the report said, and many had altered screen=20
graphics to include the station's logo. The=20
report said that a few stations had introduced=20
publicists as if they were their on-air=20
reporters. Only a handful of stations added any=20
independently gathered information or videotape,=20
it said. The 69 stations reach about half the population of the United Stat=
es.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/business/media/06video.html
(requires registration)
* See the report, Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed:
http://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary
** Also see campaign to stop fake news: http://www.freepress.net/fakenews/

NETWORK CENSORSHIP CAN'T SILENCE CHURCH'S CAMPAIGN
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Ron Buford, United Church of Christ]
[Commentary] Network censorship is alive and=20
well. The United Church of Christ, the same=20
organization that won a landmark case against a=20
Jackson (Miss) TV station that edited out civil=20
rights activities as too controversial to air, is=20
now itself a victim of censorship. This month, a=20
new television ad for UCC's "God Is Still=20
Speaking" campaign is airing across the country.=20
The ad, called "Ejector Seats," shows a variety=20
of people being literally ejected from a church=20
because they're "different": homeless, gay,=20
Middle Eastern or just ordinary people with noisy=20
kids. The campaign's message is simple. No matter=20
who you are or where you are on life's journey,=20
you're welcome in the UCC. Like modern Bible=20
parables, these commercials are short, catchy,=20
simple and memorable. And like the Bible=20
parables, they challenge the status quo. Perhaps=20
that's why they've been branded as "too=20
controversial" by the major television networks.=20
The message about rejection was itself rejected,=20
and ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX all refused to air the=20
ad. Network executives believe they're being fair=20
because they air programs with gay characters.=20
From "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'" to "Will=20
& Grace," the networks portray gay people in one=20
dimension, like minstrels who exist simply to=20
entertain viewers. But showing lesbians and gay=20
men seeking relationships with God is deemed "too=20
controversial" for the public airwaves. We're=20
simply asking to pay for airtime, like any other=20
advertiser reaching people in the marketplace.=20
Just as Jackson's WLBT refused to sell=20
advertising time to an African-American minister=20
who was running for Congress in 1962, the=20
networks will not do business with a church that=20
proclaims everyone is welcome in 2006.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/14276603.htm

STAGE SET FOR COMPETITION FOR LONG ISLAND CABLE TV
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Bruce Lambert]
Across the nation, telephone and cable television=20
companies are starting to invade each other's=20
traditional turf. Their latest battleground, and=20
one of the biggest anywhere, is now on Long=20
Island, New York. Hempstead Town officials have=20
granted Verizon Communications a franchise to=20
provide cable television through its fiber-optic=20
telephone lines, setting the stage for=20
head-to-head competition with the longtime local=20
monopoly, Cablevision. Both companies also=20
provide telephone and Internet connections and=20
offer packages that include television.=20
Cablevision's introductory rate is about $90 a=20
month for all three services. Hempstead's 750,000=20
residents =97 more than Boston, Washington or Miami=20
=97 make it by far the biggest jurisdiction in the=20
New York region to promote such competition. The=20
deal needs the approval of the state's Public=20
Service Commission, but it has already allowed=20
such competition in Massapequa Park and Nyack.=20
Other battlefronts are also opening up, a result=20
of technological advances and deregulation that=20
is forcing the telecommunications industry to=20
reinvent itself. "What's happening there in New=20
York is an early curve of what's going to be=20
happening around the country in the next few=20
years," said Jeff Kagan, a telecommunications=20
analyst. "This is a new wave of competition.=20
Basically the telephone and cable television=20
companies are both rushing to offer the same=20
bundle of services: television, phone, Internet=20
and wireless. The sooner they do, the sooner=20
prices will come down for all the customers."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/nyregion/06cable.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

THE WHITE HOUSE AND FCC CONNECTION: NEW GIVEAWAY TO BIG MEDIA
[SOURCE: Digital Destiny, AUTHOR: Jeff Chester]
[Commentary] The Bush Administration and the U.S.=20
newspaper, broadcasting and telecommunications=20
industry are now involved in subtle=20
conversations/negotiations about media ownership=20
policies that will likely have an impact on=20
journalism. The newspaper and broadcast lobby=20
wants the Administration=92s help to over-turn=20
what=92s left of the media ownership safeguards.=20
This week, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told a=20
meeting of the powerful newspaper publishers=20
lobby, that he=97like his predecessor Michael=20
Powell=97was ready to hand them their key political=20
objective: the scuttling of the=20
broadcast-newspaper cross-ownership rule. That=20
policy has helped ensure that one company in a=20
community couldn't simultaneously operate the two=20
most important sources of information: TV=20
channels and the daily paper. The rule has also=20
protected newspapers from being swept up into=20
ratings-driven/show-biz focused TV industry=20
empires. If the cross-ownership rule is axed,=20
expect even less serious print reporting and more=20
tabloid/infotainment TV-business models for=20
dailies. Mr. Martin clearly doesn't have the=20
facts with what=92s causing the crisis in U.S.=20
journalism today. Media consolidation and=20
cost-cutting to please Wall Street has led to=20
this crisis. Additional consolidation will=20
further weaken the last vehicle currently capable=20
of sustained and meaningful serious journalism:=20
the daily newspaper. As we proceed into the 2006=20
election, it will be interesting to look at how=20
both the newspaper and broadcast TV news=20
operations treat the Bush agenda. Will it be --=20
as it was during the run up to the war in Iraq --=20
a subtle quid pro quo: you waive the rules and we'll waive the flag?
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=3D19

SCARBOROUGH: NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY 'VIBRANT,=20
GROWING' WITH ADDITION OF ONLINE READERS
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher]
A new Scarborough Research analysis of its=20
so-called "Integrated Newspaper Measurement"=20
shows that newspaper Web sites are adding=20
hundreds of thousands of online readers and=20
attracting an audience with a significantly=20
greater percentage of younger people than their=20
print readers. "Scarborough continues to find=20
that when online readers are considered, the=20
story of newspaper readership for many papers=20
transforms from one of slow and steady decline to=20
one of vibrancy and growth," the firm said in its=20
announcement of the study results Wednesday. (So=20
maybe we don't need to scrap media ownership rules to "save" the industry?)
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1002312647
In a related story...
* Report: Circ 'Quality' Improved Dramatically
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1002312552

NEWS FROM FCC

FCC OPEN MEETING AGENDA
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission will hold=20
an Open Meeting on Wednesday, April 12, 2006,=20
which is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. in=20
Room TW-C305, at 445 12th Street, S.W.,=20
Washington, D.C. Here's the agenda (remember,=20
there's still just 4 commissioners): 1) the=20
relocation of Broadband Radio Service and Fixed=20
Microwave Service operations, including cost=20
sharing obligations, in the 2.1 GHz band; 2)=20
spectrum sharing among services in the 2495-2500=20
MHz band and concerning changes to the service=20
rules applicable to the Broadband Radio Service=20
and the Educational Broadband Service; 3) rules=20
for an auction of licenses for Advanced Wireless=20
Services scheduled for June 29, 2006 (see a=20
little coverage of this issue at the 2nd URL=20
below); and 4) an order addressing the petition=20
filed by Forest Conservation Council, American=20
Bird Conservancy and Friends of the Earth for=20
National Environmental Policy Act Compliance.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264803A1.doc
* FCC chairman says spectrum auction a priority
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=3D%7B66016F3A%2D7A...
2D42E0%2DB00D%2DDB869AA79878%7D&siteid=3Dmktw&dist=3Dmoreover

FCC AMENDS RULES TO IMPLEMENT JUNK FAX PREVENTION ACT OF 2005
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Commission has adopted rules to implement the=20
provisions of the Junk Fax Prevention Act of=20
2005. The FCC: 1) Codified an exemption to the=20
fax rules to allow fax advertisements to be sent=20
to parties with whom the sender has an=20
established business relationship (EBR); 2)=20
Required that, even in the case of an EBR, a=20
person sending a fax advertisement must obtain=20
the fax number directly from the recipient or=20
ensure that the recipient voluntarily agreed to=20
make the number available for public=20
distribution; 3) Provided a definition of an EBR=20
to be used in the context of sending fax=20
advertisements; 4) Required the sender of fax=20
advertisements to provide clear and conspicuous=20
notice and contact information on the first page=20
of a fax that allows recipients to "opt-out" of=20
future fax transmissions from the sender; 5)=20
Required senders to honor opt-out requests within=20
the shortest reasonable period of time, not to=20
exceed 30 days; 6) Determined not to exempt=20
small businesses or nonprofit trade associations=20
from the rules; and, 7) Clarified the term "unsolicited advertisement."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264811A1.doc
See also --
* Telecommunications: Weaknesses in Procedures=20
and Performance Management Hinder Junk Fax Enforcement. GAO-06-425, April 5
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-425
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06425high.pdf

QUICKLY

RESOLVING THE WIRETAP DEBATE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Congress seems to lack the backbone=20
to stop President Bush from authorizing wiretaps=20
without court orders, and censuring him would=20
probably not do much to make him follow the law.=20
What could make a real difference would be a=20
Supreme Court ruling that found his domestic=20
surveillance program to be illegal. A recently=20
introduced bill would provide a good way to=20
resolve the matter: putting the National Security=20
Agency's secret spying program on a fast track to=20
Supreme Court review. Getting the courts involved=20
would elevate the domestic spying debate from the=20
level at which it has languished in Congress =97=20
where defenders of the program have been quick to=20
charge critics with being politically motivated=20
and unpatriotic. A ruling from the Supreme Court=20
would keep the focus where it should be, on the=20
law and the serious civil liberties issues=20
presented by Mr. Bush's domestic espionage.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/opinion/06thu1.html
(requires registration)

WDSU, MSNBC TEAM ON MAYORAL DEBATE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
MSNBC is teaming with Hearst-Argyle's WDSU TV New=20
Orleans on what they say is the first ever nationally televised mayoral deb=
ate.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6322535?display=3DBreaking+News

ALCATEL TO SELL SATELLITE UNITS TO CONTRACTOR
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Kanter]
Thales, the French military contractor and=20
electronics company, said Wednesday that it had=20
agreed to buy satellite and security businesses=20
from Alcatel for cash and stock worth about $2.1=20
billion to keep the operations in French hands.=20
The deal comes days after Alcatel, which is based=20
in Paris, agreed to buy Lucent Technologies of=20
Murray Hill, N.J., to create a global=20
telecommunications equipment giant in a deal that=20
raised national security concerns in France and in the United States.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/technology/06alcatel.html
(requires registration)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------