May 2006

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

LEGISLATION UPDATE
Pickering Optimistic About Fate Of Telecom Measure
Comcast on Net Neutrality: Cool Off
House Vote Will be Crucial to Future of Your Internet

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Bush Broadband Goal Fading
Hidden cost of 'free' wireless
Cell Carriers to Web Customers: Use Us, but Not Too Much

CHILDREN & MEDIA
Senate Committee Mulls Action On 'Indecency' Bill
FCC Pushes Economic Answer To Indecency
Studies linking TV viewing to violence short on evidence
Current TV Now Includes Ads Created by Users
Icann Spurns A Porn-Site Suffix
TV Programming for Babies to Premiere Amid Criticism
Republicans target social network sites

QUICKLY -- A Failure To Communicate; NSA has=20
massive database of Americans' phone calls;=20
Fractured phone system consolidating once again;=20
House Panel Challenges Smithsonian; Our Right And=20
His Wrongs; Time Warner Cable, partners consider=20
wireless bid; Yahoo, Telemundo form US Hispanic=20
Web business; The Perfect News Site, 2016

LEGISLATION UPDATE

PICKERING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FATE OF TELECOM MEASURE
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Despite the fact that the 109th Congress is in=20
its waning days, a bill overhauling the nation's=20
telecommunications laws still has a chance of=20
passage -- because Republicans want legislative=20
victories going into the 2006 election in=20
November, Rep. Charles (Chip) Pickering (R-Miss)=20
said Tuesday. "The Republicans in the House and=20
the Senate, we are operating under survival=20
instinct," said Rep Pickering, and want "to have=20
accomplishments so that we can continue in the=20
majority." During a speech keynoting a Pike and=20
Fischer conference on high speed Internet access,=20
Rep Pickering -- vice chairman of the House=20
Commerce Committee -- said that final passage of=20
the legislation by this fall would require prompt=20
House passage, Senate passage in June or July,=20
and a conference committee over the August=20
congressional recess. He asserted that the issue=20
would not be decided in a post-election=20
"lameduck" session considered a near certainty by=20
many on Capitol Hill. Rep Pickering said three=20
key ingredients in a final legislative package=20
must be 1) a national video franchises, 2)=20
interconnection between telecom companies and=20
others, and 3) changes to the universal service=20
fund that provides low-cost communications=20
services to all Americans. The pending House=20
bill, sponsored by House Commerce Chairman Joe=20
Barton (R-TX) and co-sponsored by Rep Pickering,=20
includes a national video franchise and rights=20
for cable operators and Internet telephone=20
companies to connect to traditional telephones --=20
but no language on universal service.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-YPEI1147288884910.html

COMCAST ON NET NEUTRALITY: COOL OFF
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The political battle over network neutrality=20
deserves a =93cooling-off period=94 to give federal=20
regulators time to study business relationships=20
between cable broadband-access providers and=20
Web-based content and communications providers, a=20
senior Comcast Corp. official said Wednesday.=20
Comcast external affairs vice president Joe Waz=20
said that before Congress takes any steps to=20
regulate broadband-access providers in ways it=20
might regret, the Federal Communications=20
Commission should be given time to collect and=20
analyze market developments in an effort to allow=20
facts to triumph over fiction. =93I propose that we=20
start with a cooling-off period,=94 Waz said. A=20
House bill (H.R. 5252) would allow the FCC to=20
fine cable companies up to $500,000 per offense=20
for violating the agency=92s network-neutrality=20
principles. While cable is troubled by the bill,=20
network-neutrality proponents consider it weak=20
and want more regulatory power given to the FCC.=20
Senate legislation (S. 2686) sponsored by Ted=20
Stevens (R-Alaska) would offer a different=20
approach. It would require the FCC to monitor the=20
market, file annual reports and make=20
recommendations to address problems it had uncovered.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6333710.html?display=3DBreaking+News

HOUSE VOTE WILL BE CRUCIAL TO FUTURE OF THE INTERNET
[SOURCE: Kansas City Infozine]
[Commentary] Within the next two weeks, and with=20
very little media attention, the House of=20
Representatives is expected to vote on the=20
Communications Opportunity, Promotion and=20
Enhancement Act, also known as the COPE bill. The=20
bill will have an impact on every American=20
family, but the only agenda that will be promoted=20
and enhanced by this bill will be that of the=20
country's largest telephone and cable companies.=20
As the House prepares to vote soon, the House=20
leadership wants this bill to be rushed through=20
before the public gets a chance to voice its=20
opposition. But that opposition already is being=20
heard. Common Cause alone has generated more than=20
80,000 e-mails and calls to Congress and=20
telecommunications executives calling for 'net=20
neutrality:" As one Member of Congress put it:=20
"There's a prairie fire going on out there."
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/14914/

INTERNET/BROADBAND

BUSH BROADBAND GOAL FADING
[SOURCE: EarthWeb, AUTHOR: Roy Mark]
President Bush's goal of "universal, affordable"=20
broadband access for all Americans by 2007 is=20
becoming a flagging notion, according to a study=20
by the Government Accountability Office (GAO)=20
(see=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/2246). In=20
the report, the GAO determined only 28 percent of=20
Americans had a broadband connection in 2005. In=20
addition, 30 percent of the surveyed households=20
use a dial-up connection to access the Internet,=20
leaving 41 percent of U.S. homes without any=20
Internet connection. The GAO report also found=20
that rural Americans are much less likely to=20
subscribe to broadband than those living in=20
cities. In all, only 17 percent of rural=20
households have broadband service. The report=20
also questions Federal Communications Commission=20
numbers showing that 99 percent of Americans live=20
in the 95 percent of ZIP codes that have at least=20
one broadband provider reporting to be serving at=20
least one subscriber. "For its ZIP-code level=20
data, FCC collects data based on where=20
subscribers are served, not where providers have=20
deployed broadband infrastructure," the report=20
states. Although it is clear that the deployment=20
of broadband networks is extensive, the data may=20
not provide an accurate depiction of local=20
deployment of broadband infrastructures for=20
residential service, especially in rural areas.=20
The GAO concluded the price of broadband service=20
remains a barrier for some consumers, but the=20
availability of broadband applications and=20
services also influences whether consumers=20
purchase high-speed connections. According to the=20
GAO, even when cost-and-demand factors are=20
favorable, "technical factors can limit the=20
deployment of broadband service in certain=20
contexts." For instance, the GAO notes, copper=20
DSL connections can generally extend only three=20
miles from the central office, precluding many=20
U.S. households from obtaining DSL. The GAO also=20
found that broadband deployment can stumble at=20
the local level, with disputes over=20
rights-of-way, pole attachments and wireless tower sites.
http://news.earthweb.com/infra/article.php/3604971

HIDDEN COST OF "FREE" WIRELESS
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Privacy advocates have raised an=20
alarm about Smart Valley Initiative's ambitious=20
plan to provide free or low-cost wireless network=20
access to 34 Silicon Valley municipalities. In a=20
passionate six-page letter, officials from the=20
Northern California ACLU, the Electronic Frontier=20
Foundation and the Electronic Privacy Information=20
Center presented a number of privacy concerns=20
that they hope the initiative will address with=20
bidders before accepting a proposal. The=20
advocates are tapping into something that's often=20
been neglected in the hoopla surrounding free=20
wireless programs: Most of the commercial vendors=20
lining up to offer services do, in fact, have a=20
business model. And its currency is user=20
information. We could be missing out on a=20
tremendous opportunity. At the very least,=20
officials need to actively engage the public in a=20
discussion of what users are and aren't willing=20
to surrender in return for free wireless -- and=20
inform bidders accordingly. Cities and towns=20
around the nation are eagerly pursuing free=20
wireless -- why shouldn't the Bay Area provide=20
them with a responsible, forward-thinking model?=20
This is uncharted territory for many=20
municipalities, and it won't be easy for any=20
vendor to strike a balance between privacy,=20
profitability and security. But this is supposed=20
to be a service for the public, and our privacy=20
can't be moved to the bottom of the priority list.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/chronicle/archive/2006...
/10/EDGDOIJKE11.DTL

CELL CARRIERS TO WEB CUSTOMERS: USE US, BUT NOT TOO MUCH
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amol Sharma=20
amol.sharma( at )wsj.com and Dionne Searcey]
In the past two years, Verizon Wireless, Sprint=20
Nextel Corp. and other carriers have launched=20
services that allow consumers to log onto the Web=20
by plugging a small card into their laptops and=20
signing up for a high-speed Internet plan. Unlike=20
Wi-Fi "hotspots", which allow Internet access in=20
public places such as coffee shops and airports,=20
the cellular services allow roving connections=20
almost anywhere cellphone calls can be made. But=20
the new services, while offering the convenience=20
of mobility, come with limitations tucked into=20
their policies that are unfamiliar to users of=20
land-line Internet connections. Applications that=20
consume large amounts of capacity are prohibited.=20
In practice, that puts off-limits popular=20
activities such as Internet calling, video=20
streaming and using routers that let multiple=20
users share a single Internet connection. Verizon=20
Wireless has sent service-cancellation notices to=20
customers it says are using excessive network=20
capacity. Sprint and Cingular Wireless,=20
meanwhile, have moved to charge people for the=20
amount of data bits they wirelessly transfer to their computers each month.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114730710262849676.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

CHILDREN & MEDIA

SENATE COMMITTEE MULLS ACTION ON 'INDECENCY' BILL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Apparently, the Senate Commerce Committee is=20
exploring a possible vote on broadcast=20
"indecency" legislation. Committee Chairman Ted=20
Stevens has sent mixed signals for months about=20
his approach to the broadcast indecency issue. In=20
November he floated draft legislation similar to=20
the House language. In February, the Commerce=20
Committee's majority staff director, Lisa=20
Sutherland, said Sen Stevens would craft a=20
television indecency bill this spring. But=20
recently, Sen Stevens has indicated that he first=20
wants to give the broadcast industry a chance to=20
deploy a $300 million initiative designed to=20
educate TV viewers about parental controls. One=20
source said the Senate Commerce panel is eying a=20
mid-May vote on a bill introduced by Sen Sam=20
Brownback (R-KS) which would increase penalties=20
from $32,500 per incident to $325,000 for=20
violating the FCC's obscenity rules. Sources=20
speculated that if a debate occurs, amendments=20
might be offered to expand the FCC's indecency=20
rules to cable and satellite, impose penalties on=20
stations airing excessively violent fare, and=20
extend indecency fines to artists and performers.=20
Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is readying=20
legislation that would grant regulatory relief to=20
video providers that offer per channel=20
programming. An announcement about the bill could=20
occur soon, perhaps as early as today (see=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/2283).
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-ORNA1147288481539.html
See also --
* Vote on Indecency Bill Likely in Senate
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-indecency11may11,1,41...
00.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
* Brownback Bill Could Get Commerce Mark-up
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6333688?display=3DBreaking+News

FCC PUSHES ECONOMIC ANSWER TO INDECENCY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
FCC Chief Economist Leslie Marx offered an=20
economic model -- a la carte and cable tiers--as=20
the answer to giving parents' more control over=20
TV programming. She said the FCC agrees that=20
parents should have total control over TV=20
programming, then said that could be=20
accomplished, at least on the cable side -- she=20
did not address broadcasting at all -- via family=20
tiers or a la carte cable offerings. She cited=20
examples from Canada, Hong Kong, and the UK where=20
such systems were in place. Marx shared the=20
podium with former Motion Picture Association of=20
America president Jack Valenti. He wanted to talk=20
about the First Amendment and the FCC's vague and=20
fuzzy standards of indecency enforcement. Valenti=20
is heading up a $300 million education campaign=20
to let parents in on the power they already have=20
through the ratings, V-chip, and cable and satellite blocking technologies."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6333598?display=3DBreaking+News
* FCC's Top Economist Trumpets a la Carte
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6333642.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* FCC Uses Forum to Call for A La Carte
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
0764

STUDIES LINKING TV VIEWING TO VIOLENCE SHORT ON EVIDENCE
[SOURCE: Asbury Park Press, AUTHOR: Paul K. McMasters, First Amendment Cent=
er]
[Commentary] Children whine about monsters under=20
their beds, but their parents have more adult=20
fears: They cower under the covers whimpering=20
about those scary television sets in their living=20
rooms. But there is no sure way to predict how=20
media, violent or otherwise, will affect a=20
particular individual. While some links between=20
TV viewing and defined effects are suggested, it=20
is a rare study that asserts a cause-and-effect=20
relationship. Hours of TV watched daily by=20
children have increased dramatically over the=20
past three decades, yet the rate of youthful=20
violence declined dramatically during that same=20
period. Another uncomfortable fact is a clear=20
link between this cycle of panic and bad public=20
policy. When legislators and regulators punish=20
and restrict certain programming, choices for=20
viewers, creators and broadcasters dwindle.=20
Attention and resources are diverted from real=20
problems affecting children's well-being. And the=20
role parents should play =97 and that polls say the=20
overwhelming majority want to play =97 in guiding=20
children's choices is usurped or compromised.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D/20060510/OPINION/6051003...
1030

AN AGENCY'S WORST NIGHTMARE: ADS CREATED BY USERS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Julie Bosman]
User-generated content, best known for fueling=20
the popularity of Web sites like YouTube and=20
MySpace, is rapidly taking hold in advertising.=20
Dozens of entries were recently submitted for a=20
contest on the cable channel Current TV to create=20
an ad for Sony. In the coming weeks, more=20
user-generated ads for companies like L'Or=E9al and=20
Toyota will follow the Sony commercial.=20
User-generated content, best known for fueling=20
the popularity of Web sites like YouTube and=20
MySpace, is rapidly taking hold in advertising.=20
"User-generated content is sort of the word of=20
the day," said Anne Zehren, the president of=20
sales and marketing for Current TV, which was=20
started last August. "And I think smart marketers=20
will start harnessing that." Current relies on=20
user-generated content for roughly one-third of=20
its programming, from fashion features to foreign=20
documentaries. The network operates under the=20
theory that its programming will be more relevant=20
if its audience, primarily 18- to 34-year-olds,=20
have a voice in creating it. If the audience is=20
interested, there is less of a risk that they=20
will tune out in favor of other entertainment=20
like the Internet and video games. User-generated=20
content owes part of its popularity to the=20
younger age group's increasing agility at working=20
with video and audio tools at home to mimic what=20
television studios and advertising agencies do=20
for hefty fees. For people who are relatively=20
obscure professionally, Current is an instant national platform.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/11/business/media/11adco.html
(requires registration)
More advertising news...
* Marketing the Unmentionable? Talk to the Web
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114731646074149879.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace

ICANN SPURNS A PORN-SITE SUFFIX
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Christopher=20
Rhoads christopher.rhoads( at )wsj.com]
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and=20
Numbers, which governs domain names and other=20
technical Internet matters, rejected a=20
controversial proposal to create a domain name=20
for the adult entertainment industry. Icann's=20
board Wednesday rejected the proposal for the new=20
domain name suffix, called dot-xxx, by a 9-5=20
vote. The board's rejection was based in part on=20
questions about whether the targeted usership --=20
the adult entertainment industry -- supported=20
such a domain name suffix. It also cited "public=20
policy concerns." The matter has exploded into a=20
global debate, involving conservative Christian=20
groups, child protection advocates, First=20
Amendment lawyers and others about how and=20
whether such a domain name suffix would address=20
concerns about online pornography, an industry=20
with an estimated annual revenue of up to $5=20
billion. Beyond that, the proposal focused=20
attention on the role of the U.S. government in managing the Internet.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114730077808949475.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

TV PROGRAMMING FOR BABIES TO PREMIERE AMID CRITICISM
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Escalating an already heated national debate, a=20
first-of-its-kind TV channel is set to premiere=20
today designed specifically for babies -- an age=20
group that the American Academy of Pediatrics=20
says should be kept away from television=20
altogether. The round-the-clock channel is called=20
BabyFirstTV. For $9.99 a month, it is available=20
initially by satellite through DirecTV and later=20
through cable TV providers as well. The three=20
companies behind BabyFirstTV are Regency=20
Enterprises, a film and TV production company=20
that is a partner of News Corp.'s Fox=20
Entertainment; Kardan, an investment group based=20
in the Netherlands and Israel; and Bellco=20
Capital, a private Los Angeles-based investment=20
fund. TV offerings already abound for older=20
toddlers, and a lucrative -- though controversial=20
-- market has developed for baby-oriented videos,=20
attracting Walt Disney Co. and the makers of=20
Sesame Street. But until now there had been no=20
ongoing TV programming aimed at infants. Critics=20
of TV for infants also are skeptical of=20
assertions by BabyFirstTV and other companies=20
that their products are designed to be watched by=20
babies and parents together in an interactive=20
manner. "Experience tells anyone that it's not=20
going to be used that way," said Michael Rich,=20
director of the Center on Media and Child Health=20
at Children's Hospital Boston. "Parents use it to=20
park their kids in front of the TV so they can get things done."
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-baby11may11,1,3480611...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

REPUBLICANS TARGET SOCIAL NETWORK SITES
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
MySpace and other social-networking sites like=20
LiveJournal.com and Facebook are facing a new=20
threat: a proposed federal law that would=20
effectively require most schools and libraries to=20
render those Web sites inaccessible to minors, an=20
age group that includes some of the category's=20
most ardent users. "When children leave the home=20
and go to school or the public library and have=20
access to social-networking sites, we have reason=20
to be concerned," Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, a=20
Pennsylvania Republican, said. Rep Fitzpatrick=20
and fellow Republicans, including House Speaker=20
Dennis Hastert, on Wednesday endorsed new=20
legislation that would cordon off access to=20
commercial Web sites that let users create public=20
"Web pages or profiles" and also offer a=20
discussion board, chat room, or e-mail service.=20
That's a broad category that covers far more than=20
social-networking sites such as Friendster and=20
Google's Orkut.com. It would also sweep in a wide=20
range of interactive Web sites and services,=20
including Blogger.com, AOL and Yahoo's=20
instant-messaging features, and Microsoft's Xbox=20
360, which permits in-game chat. Fitzpatrick's=20
bill, called the Deleting Online Predators Act,=20
or DOPA, is part of a new, poll-driven effort by=20
Republicans to address topics that they view as=20
important to suburban voters. Republican pollster=20
John McLaughlin polled 22 suburban districts and=20
presented his research at a retreat earlier this=20
year. Rep. Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican, is=20
co-sponsoring the measure. The group, which is=20
calling itself the "Suburban Caucus," convened a=20
press conference on Wednesday to announce new=20
legislation it hopes will rally conservative=20
supporters -- and prevent the Democrats from=20
retaking the House of Representatives during the November mid-term election.
http://news.com.com/Congress+targets+social+network+sites/2100-1028_3-60...
40.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede

QUICKLY

A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
[SOURCE: Evansville Courier, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The Department of Homeland Security=20
might just as well have been named the Department=20
of Scary Talk, and this week its secretary,=20
Michael Chertoff, had some for the public.=20
Because of turf wars and inertia, first=20
responders -- police, firefighters, emergency=20
medical services -- are still largely unable to=20
talk to one another and thus coordinate rescue=20
efforts in the event of a large-scale crisis,=20
despite the billions the federal government has=20
spent post-9/11. Homeland Security has spent $2.1=20
billion to remedy communications deficiencies,=20
without satisfactory results, according to Sec=20
Chertoff. He is backed by a report card of the=20
former 9/11 Commission that found it "scandalous"=20
that big-city first responders "still cannot=20
communicate reliably in a major crisis."
http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/editorials/article/0,1626,ECP_768_468565...
0.html

NSA HAS MASSIVE DATABASE OF AMERICANS' PHONE CALLS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
The National Security Agency has been secretly=20
collecting the phone call records of tens of=20
millions of Americans, using data provided by=20
AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth. The NSA program=20
reaches into homes and businesses across the=20
nation by amassing information about the calls of=20
ordinary Americans -- most of whom aren't=20
suspected of any crime. This program does not=20
involve the NSA listening to or recording=20
conversations. But the spy agency is using the=20
data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to=20
detect terrorist activity. For the customers of=20
these companies, it means that the government has=20
detailed records of calls they made -- across=20
town or across the country -- to family members,=20
co-workers, business contacts and others.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060511/1a_secretstory11_dom....
.htm

FRACTURED PHONE SYSTEM CONSOLIDATING ONCE AGAIN
[SOURCE: USAToday]
AT&T's relationship with the federal government=20
has been a century in the making. The company was=20
founded in 1885 and over the next century became=20
the nation's de facto phone monopoly. At its peak=20
in the early 1980s, it employed 1 million people.=20
In 1984, the Bell Telephone System was broken up=20
by a court decree. AT&T's local operating=20
companies -- there were 22 in all -- were grouped=20
into seven =93Baby Bells=94 and spun off as separate=20
companies. Each had monopoly control over local=20
phone service in a specific region of the=20
country. Since then, Ma Bell has been largely=20
reconstituted. Today's AT&T is an amalgam of=20
three Bells: Ameritech, Southwestern Bell and=20
Pacific Telesis, plus AT&T, which is essentially=20
the long-distance arm of the company. The carrier=20
recently announced plans to buy BellSouth,=20
another of the original seven Baby Bells, for $67=20
billion. Once the BellSouth deal closes, AT&T=20
will cement its position as the nation's biggest=20
communications company. It will also assume=20
control of Cingular, the nation's biggest=20
cellphone carrier with more than 45 million customers.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060511/a_history11.art.htm

HOUSE PANEL CHALLENGES SMITHSONIAN
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Edward Wyatt]
Bluntly rejecting the Smithsonian Institution's=20
defense of its recent television deal with=20
Showtime Networks, the House Appropriations=20
Committee yesterday demanded further information=20
on the contract, which members of the committee=20
have said limits access and "may be incompatible=20
with the trust placed in the Smithsonian." The=20
committee also cut $15 million from the=20
Smithsonian's proposed budget and sought a cap on=20
salaries. The committee's actions came one day=20
after the Smithsonian's governing board asserted,=20
in a letter to the Appropriations subcommittee=20
that oversees its finances, that the deal did not=20
restrict access to its collections, as claimed by=20
critics. The letter also rebuffed the=20
subcommittee's suggestion that it conduct public=20
hearings on business ventures that affect access to its collections.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/11/arts/11smit.html
(requires registration)
* Smithsonian Salary Cap Passes Panel
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR200605...
2415.html

OUR RIGHTS AND HIS WRONGS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: George Will georgewill( at )washpost.com]
[Commentary] Presidents swear to "protect and=20
defend the Constitution." The Constitution says:=20
"Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the=20
freedom of speech." On April 28, on Don Imus's=20
radio program, discussing the charge that the=20
McCain-Feingold law abridges freedom of speech by=20
regulating the quantity, content and timing of=20
political speech, John McCain did not really=20
reject the charge: "I work in Washington and I=20
know that money corrupts. And I and a lot of=20
other people were trying to stop that corruption.=20
Obviously, from what we've been seeing lately, we=20
didn't complete the job. But I would rather have=20
a clean government than one where quote First=20
Amendment rights are being respected that has=20
become corrupt. If I had my choice, I'd rather have the clean government."
Question: Were McCain to take the presidential oath, what would he mean?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR200605...
1787.html
(requires registration)

TIME WARNER CABLE, PARTNERS CONSIDER WIRELESS BID
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Yinka Adegoke]
Time Warner Cable on Wednesday said its mobile=20
partnership with other cable operators and=20
cellular company Sprint Nextel may bid in a U.S.=20
wireless license auction, a move that would put=20
leading cable companies squarely on cellular=20
operators' turf. The four cable companies -- Time=20
Warner Cable, Comcast Corp., Cox Communications=20
Inc. and Advance/Newhouse Communications --=20
linked up with Sprint Nextel in a $200 million=20
venture in November. A bid in a planned June=20
auction by the Federal Communications Commission=20
would open that venture considerably, with the=20
total sale of wireless licenses expected to bring=20
in $8 billion to $15 billion, according to analysts.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-05-10T184623Z_01_WEN7369_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-TIMEWARNERCABLE.xml&arc=
hived=3DFalse
* Cable Operators Plan to Apply for Wireless Airwaves
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9964

YAHOO, TELEMUNDO FORM US HISPANIC WEB BUSINESS
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Yahoo and NBC Universal Television Group's=20
Telemundo said on Wednesday they agreed to merge=20
their Internet sites to form a single Web site=20
targeted at the fast-growing U.S. Hispanic=20
market. The venture, called Yahoo! Telemundo,=20
will replace the existing Spanish-language sites=20
of Yahoo and Telemundo. The companies said they=20
will combine some staff and share advertising=20
revenue from the partnership, but neither will=20
make an equity investment in the other.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-05-10T180805Z_01_WEN7372_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-YAHOO-TELEMUNDO.xml&ar=
chived=3DFalse
* Yahoo, Telemundo, Team On Web
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6333331?display=3DBreaking+News
* Hispanic-Focused Sites to Merge
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR200605...
0537.html

THE PERFECT NEWS SITE, 2016
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Dave Pettit dave.pettit( at )wsj.com ]
In connection with WSJ.com's 10th anniversary,=20
the Wall Street Journal asked readers to look=20
ahead and describe the perfect news site, circa=20
2016. Some ideas: 1) People are awash in news=20
and information. What they really need is highly=20
edited coverage that makes the best use of their=20
time. 2) News sites should be portable -- with=20
content moved easily, by the user, onto other=20
sites. 3) Advertising-free sites. 4) Much has=20
been made lately of citizen journalism and the=20
perfect site of the future would build on that -- allowing input from reade=
rs.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114717839352947700-Nsu_HUWPFswsM7...
7vJSgDhonQ_20060516.html?mod=3Dblogs
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------