May 2006

The U.S. Commerce Department is several weeks away from soliciting public comment on a $1.5 billion subsidy program to help consumers purchase converter boxes to run analog-television sets after the cessation of analog-TV broadcasting in early 2009. Congress has ordered Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration to supervise the program, but lawmakers gave NTIA director John Kneuer just a few instructions on how to allocate the money and how to limit ways consumer may use it. As a result, the NTIA is planning to issue “by late July” a notice of inquiry that would seek public input on program details, NTIA spokesman Ranjit De Silva said Monday. The Office of Management and Budget has the document under review, he added.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6335607.html?display=Breaking+News

MIDCONTINENT OFFICIAL FAULTS RUS PROGRAM
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]

REMARKS OF COMMISSIONER TATE AT ACCENTURE GLOBAL CONVERGENCE FORUM 2006
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]

STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL DEMAND STRICTER LIMITS ON ALCOHOL ADS
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
Unleashing a fresh attack on alcoholic beverage advertising, 20 state attorneys general are urging the Federal Trade Commission to limit alcohol ads to media in which only 15% of the audience is aged 12 to 20. Industry marketing codes in recent years have limited ads to media in which no more than 30% of the audience is under 21. But in a filing with the FTC, the attorneys general said current voluntary limits don't go far enough and that new ones should be mandatory.