June 2006

McDowell Announces Staff, Will Vote on Media Ownership

MCDOWELL ANNOUNCES STAFF, WILL VOTE ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]

Good Night and Good Luck

GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK
[SOURCE: Houston Chronicle, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]

ACLU Raises Surveillance as Issue in Big Phone Merger

ACLU RAISES SURVEILLANCE AS ISSUE IN BIG PHONE MERGER
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Ken Belson]

Consumer Groups Ask FCC to Reject AT&T, BellSouth Merger

CONSUMER GROUPS ASK FCC TO REJECT AT&T, BELLSOUTH MERGER
[SOURCE: Consumers Union press release]

Sprint Nextel Wants AT&T-BellSouth Conditions

SPRINT NEXTEL WANTS AT&T-BELLSOUTH CONDITIONS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]

Communication failures hampered London bombing rescues

COMMUNICATION FAILURES HAMPERED LONDON BOMBING RESCUES
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Andy McCue]

The Man Who Invented Saturday Morning

BERNARD LOOMIS -- THE MAN WHO INVENTED SATURDAY MORNING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Douglas Martin]

Benton's Communications-related Headlines For Tuesday June 6, 2006

HOUSE AGENDA
House GOP Leaders Push Telco Vote
Sensenbrenner Tries, Tries Again
Martin sounds off on Net Neutrality and National Franchises
Net Neutrality: Big Guns Trade Fire
Who Helps Fund Heritage Foundation? AT&T and Verizon

FCC AGENDA
FCC to Study DTV=92s Analog Impact
McDowell Announces Staff, Will Vote on Media Ownership
Good Night and Good Luck
The FCC Thinks You Would Look Totally Hot in a Diaper
ACLU Raises Surveillance as Issue in Big Phone Merger
Consumer Groups Ask FCC to Reject AT&T, BellSouth Merger
Sprint Nextel Wants AT&T-BellSouth Conditions

QUICKLY -- Communication failures hampered London=20
bombing rescues; Study: Web is the No. 1 media;=20
Online Newspaper Ads Gaining Ground on Print; Ad=20
Firms Wait to Get TV Spots; Wi-Fi and the Cities;=20
The Man Who Invented Saturday Morning

HOUSE AGENDA

HOUSE GOP LEADERS PUSH TELCO VOTE
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
House Republican leaders are pressing forward=20
with the Bell company-led effort to pass=20
telecommunications legislation and have scheduled=20
H.R. 5252 for a vote that likely will take place=20
Friday, said leadership aides. House leadership=20
wants to avoid requiring members to vote on the=20
contentious issue of network neutrality,=20
congressional and industry sources say. Bell=20
companies have been tasked with generating=20
sufficient support against a network neutrality=20
amendment. The bill, which passed the House=20
Energy and Commerce Committee 42-12 on April 26,=20
would ease municipal video franchising rules that=20
have limited the Bell companies' ability to offer=20
nationwide video services. Opposition to the=20
franchising aspect comes from the cable industry=20
and municipalities. H.R. 5252 is the final one=20
scheduled for the week, and comes after a day of=20
uncontroversial items on Tuesday, and two=20
appropriations bills on Wednesday and Thursday.=20
If Bell advocates of the telecom measure are not=20
able to generate support against a neutrality=20
amendment, the measure could slip to next week,=20
said industry sources. But an aide to House=20
Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said=20
leaders were going to proceed with an unusual=20
vote outside the chamber's normal work week. "We=20
will have a vote on Friday," said spokesman Kevin Madden.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-RUDJ1149532536938.html
* Internet key in telecommunication fight
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/14750683.htm

SENSENBRENNER TRIES, TRIES AGAIN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner=20
(R-WI) is still trying to get tougher=20
network-neutrality language into the House video=20
franchise bill. According to a top committee=20
staffer, he is still planning to introduce his=20
bill, which passed his own committee 20-13, as an=20
amendment on the House floor when the bill is=20
voted on, which is planned for sometime later=20
this week. Rep Sensenbrenner attempted to assert=20
jurisdiction over the bill, arguing that=20
questions about network control over the Internet=20
raise antitrust concerns that are in his=20
committee's wheelhouse. That effort failed, and=20
his amendment is not likely to survive, either,=20
even if it survives rules committee vetting on=20
germaneness. Now it looks like a vote on the=20
House bill won't happen until late this week,=20
according to a committee minority staffer, with a=20
rules committee meeting Wednesday on what amendments can be offered.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6341156?display=3DBreaking+News

FCC CHAIRMAN SOUNDS OFF ON NET NEUTRALITY AND NATIONAL FRANCHISE
[SOURCE: News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
Speaking with Telecommunications Industry=20
Association President Matthew Flanigan, FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin said that enacting new laws=20
protecting Net neutrality would be premature. He=20
said that the commission has already adopted a=20
set of principles, which he feels are sufficient=20
to address the issue. "Consumers need to be able=20
to access content on the Internet unimpeded," he=20
said. "But at the same time, we understand=20
network operators may offer differentiated tiers=20
and differentiated speeds." He added that the=20
Commission hasn't seen any widespread abuse that=20
would justify making new laws. Chairman Martin=20
also talked about changes to the video franchise=20
rules to allow telephone companies to get=20
national franchises instead of negotiating with=20
every local government across the U.S. While=20
Martin said the Commission would support any new=20
laws passed by Congress, he also said that the=20
FCC is investigating whether it needs to add its=20
own rules to current laws, which prohibit local=20
municipalities from unreasonably denying=20
franchise applications. So far, the FCC has found=20
instances where some governments have sat on=20
franchise applications or put onerous conditions=20
on new entrants, he said. While he stopped short=20
of supporting a new national franchise law,=20
Chairman Martin said anything the Commission or=20
the government could do to increase competition=20
for TV service would be welcomed. He noted that=20
while other communications services, such as=20
broadband, cellular and long distance phone=20
services, have dropped in price over the past 10=20
years, cable rates have actually increased 80=20
percent. But in areas where an over-builder was=20
present to offer a similar wireline cable=20
service, prices and choice benefited consumers, he said.
http://news.com.com/2061-10785_3-6080314.html?part=3Drss&tag=3D6080314&s...
=3Dnews

NET NEUTRALITY: BIG GUNS TRADE FIRE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
On Monday, Microsoft sent a letter to House=20
members advising them to vote for a network=20
neutrality amendment to the national video=20
franchise bill, saying that decision "could=20
dictate whether or not the United States will=20
continue to lead the world in Internet-related=20
technologies, communications, content and=20
services over the next decade." Meanwhile,=20
academics, led by David Farber, former chief=20
technologist at the FCC and dubbed "grandfather"=20
of the Internet by net neutrality opponents,=20
argued that neutrality is not a plus in all=20
cases, citing traffic management, where=20
prioritizing is important: i.e. moving VoIP=20
faster than e-mail, or blocking viruses and spam.=20
They also argued that, if companies can't charge=20
more for security and speed, they might not be=20
able to provide key services that depend on those additional features.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6341184?display=3DBreaking+News
* Net Hypocrisy
Public Knowledge's Art Brodsky writes, "It is=20
ludicrous for the telephone companies and their=20
congressional allies, principally Republicans, to=20
fight against net neutrality on the basis of the=20
fraudulent don't regulate the Internet' mantra.=20
The industry has the gall to name one of their=20
propaganda sites, www.dontregulate.org, part of=20
the =93Hands Off the Internet=94 family=97brought to=20
you by the telephone and cable industries . All=20
of their other arguments hang from this one basic, misapplied concept."
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/06/02/net_hypocrisy.php
* Protection needed for 'Net neutrality
Lincoln (NE) Journal Star says, "Congress should=20
pass legislation that protects network neutrality."
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/06/05/editorial_main/doc448382a...
eb7189713293.txt
* Telecom giants threaten Net neutrality
Jacksonville (FL) Business Journal says, "Phone=20
and cable companies have begun to stir. They=20
don't want a marketplace of ideas. They don't=20
want the innovative, idea-rich laboratory of=20
speech, media, religion and thought that we know today. They want money."
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/06/05/edit...
al2.html

HEY! GUESS WHO HELPS FUND HERITAGE FOUNDATION? AT&T AND VERIZON
[SOURCE: Digital Destiny, AUTHOR: Jeff Chester]
[Commentary] Ready as always to weaken the public=20
interest potential of U.S. communications, James=20
L. Gattuso wrote a anti-network neutrality=20
=93Backgrounder=94 for the Heritage Foundation=20
(released June 2, 2006). Subtitled =93Will Congress=20
Neuter the Net?=94, the piece is a politically=20
timed missive designed to undermine the growing=20
pressure on Congress to enact network neutrality=20
safeguards. It contains the usual litany of=20
rationalizations and under-developed analysis=20
used by big cable and phone advocates to=20
criticize network neutrality. But notably missing=20
from Mr. Gatttuso=92s piece is any admission that=20
two of the Heritage Foundation=92s funders just=20
happen to be=ADyes, AT&T and Verizon. In its 2005=20
annual report, AT&T is listed as one of the few=20
=93premier associates.=94 Verizon is placed at=20
=93executive associates=94 status. It just so=20
happens, as you know, that AT&T and Verizon are=20
leading the charge against network neutrality=20
(and paying a lot for the work of many opposition=20
groups). Perhaps it was an oversight of Mr.=20
Gattuso. But such financial ties must be=20
identified (he should also have noted that=20
Professor Yoo, whom he frequently cites,=20
undertook a anti-network neutrality study funded by the cable lobby).
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/

FCC AGENDA

FCC TO STUDY DTV'S ANALOG IMPACT
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The Federal Communications Commission is planning=20
to examine the obligations of cable operators to=20
ensure that consumers with analog-TV sets can=20
view digital signals of local TV stations, an=20
agency source said Monday. FCC chairman Kevin=20
Martin is trying to round up support to launch a=20
rulemaking that would establish federal policy=20
well before TV stations must cease analog=20
transmission Feb. 17, 2009, the source said.=20
Chairman Martin is hoping to launch the=20
rulemaking at the FCC=92s June 15 public meeting=20
and at the same the commission adopts rules that=20
would allow digital-TV stations to demand cable=20
carriage of every free programming services they=20
transmit. FCC rules currently require carriage of=20
just one signal per TV station. Broadcasters'=20
transition to digital could prove costly to cable=20
operators, depending on the substance of the FCC=92s rules.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6341224.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* FCC's Martin Ready to Rumble
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_conte...
id=3D1002612892

MCDOWELL ANNOUNCES STAFF, WILL VOTE ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell announced the=20
hiring of Dana Shaffer, Angela Giancarlo, and=20
Cristina Chou Pauz=E9 as Acting Legal Advisors.=20
Dana Brown Shaffer, Acting Wireline Advisor,=20
joined the FCC as Deputy Bureau Chief of the=20
Wireline Competition Bureau, and served as an=20
interim legal advisor to Commissioner Deborah=20
Taylor Tate. Angela Giancarlo, Acting Wireless=20
Advisor, recently served as Associate Chief for=20
Spectrum Policy in the Public Safety and Critical=20
Infrastructure Division of the Wireless=20
Telecommunications Bureau. Cristina Chou Pauz=E9,=20
Acting Media Advisor, joined the FCC as an=20
Associate Bureau Chief in the Media Bureau. Her=20
prior experience includes positions at Morrison &=20
Foerster's Washington DC office, the National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration=20
at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Teleglobe=20
USA Inc. Ms. Pauz=E9 received her JD from=20
Vanderbilt University School of Law and her AB=20
from Duke University. She served as a law clerk=20
to the Honorable John G. Heyburn II of the US=20
District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-265784A1.doc
* McDowell to Vote on Media Ownership
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
In one of his first official duties, Robert=20
McDowell, the Federal Communications Commission's=20
new Republican commissioner, is planning to vote=20
next week on a controversial proceeding to relax=20
agency media ownership restrictions, Dana Brown=20
Shaffer, his press liaison, said Monday. Ms.=20
Shaffer's remark is important because it=20
represents the first public confirmation that Mr.=20
McDowell plans to serve as the tie-breaking vote on the media ownership iss=
ue.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D10123
(requires free registration)

GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK
[SOURCE: Houston Chronicle, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Most Americans who care about things=20
such as energy want to know the facts. A new=20
study suggests that TV news might be the wrong=20
place to look. In the past 10 months, 77 stations=20
foisted off as news at least 36 videos paid for=20
and filmed by corporations. In their own way,=20
these faux news broadcasts are masterful pieces=20
of work. The videos expertly ape the tone, pacing=20
and structure of traditional news. Only near the=20
end, or slipped subtly into the "reporting," does=20
product placement occur -- pushing Cadillacs,=20
prescription-strength drugs or, in one case,=20
ethanol. The 36 VNRs studied represent only 1=20
percent of those produced nationwide last year.=20
Certainly, TV stations face crushing competitive=20
pressures to program more with smaller staffs.=20
And news businesses, whether print or TV, will=20
always make mistakes. What's so troubling about=20
the VNR plague, though, is the TV industry's=20
indifference to stopping it. The industry itself,=20
not a media watchdog group, should have been the=20
first to report the widespread corruption of the=20
news. It should have already examined, even=20
isolated, stations that were infected. Since that=20
hasn't happened, it is for the FCC to enforce=20
regulations it has too long overlooked. There's=20
nothing wrong with advertising, but viewers need=20
to show they won't put up with false pretenses.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/3926021.html

THE FCC THINKS YOU WOULD LOOK TOTALLY HOT IN A DIAPER
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Simon Dumenco]
[Commentary] Does the FCC or anyone in particular=20
actually gain anything by placing all these=20
restrictions on what we watch? What criteria are=20
used? the problem with trying to parse the=20
behavior of the FCC is that, like much of what's=20
happened at the federal level the past few years,=20
logic is beside the point. Instead, politics is=20
the point. As are a faith-based agenda, a pro-Big=20
Media slant and shameless cronyism. Commissioner=20
Robert McDowell's appointment is a belated reward=20
for his having helped out the Bush-Cheney legal=20
team during the 2000 Florida presidential=20
election recount. But he is not only a=20
Bush-campaign crony, he's a telecom crony. In=20
other words, a telecom lobbyist is now regulating=20
telecoms! But who's driving the action on=20
indecent programming? Groups like the American=20
Family Association. "Those who would condescend=20
to the American public -- deciding that more and=20
more things are "dirty" and that everyone,=20
including grown men and women, must simply not be=20
allowed to watch or hear them under any=20
circumstances -- are often the ones with the most=20
pitiable psychosexual issues. We're paying=20
federal taxes, at least in theory, to protect us=20
against real threats like terrorism and the new=20
hurricane season. Not to have a bunch of=20
Church-Lady commissioners think up new ways to=20
infantalize us. In other words, beware of freaks=20
in Washington who fantasize about putting adults back in diapers."
http://www.adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=3D109634

ACLU RAISES SURVEILLANCE AS ISSUE IN BIG PHONE MERGER
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Ken Belson]
The American Civil Liberties Union asked the=20
Federal Communications Commission yesterday to=20
withhold approval of AT&T's acquisition of=20
BellSouth until it reviews allegations that the=20
companies gave customer records to the government=20
without warrants. In its filing, the ACLU. cited=20
a provision in the Telecommunications Act that=20
says that in considering a merger, the commission=20
must "weigh the public-interest harms of the=20
proposed transaction against the potential=20
public-interest benefits." The group said the FCC=20
should determine if AT&T and BellSouth handed=20
over phone records to the National Security=20
Agency's surveillance program and, if so, whether=20
that violated any privacy laws.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/technology/06phone.html
(requires registration)

CONSUMER GROUPS ASK FCC TO REJECT AT&T, BELLSOUTH MERGER
[SOURCE: Consumers Union press release]
On Monday, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation=20
of America, Free Press and U.S. Public Interest=20
Research Group (U.S. PIRG) filed their petition=20
with the Federal Communications Commission to=20
deny AT&T's request to transfer the licenses and=20
authorizations held by BellSouth. "Congress and=20
federal regulators need to look carefully at the=20
lifeless 'competition' their flawed policies have=20
created and reject this merger," said Gene=20
Kimmelman, vice president for federal and=20
international affairs for Consumers Union. "The=20
government has been deceived before by promises=20
that somehow more concentration would produce=20
more choices and competition, when the result has=20
been just the opposite. It shouldn't be fooled=20
again." Kimmelman said that if the government=20
refuses to stand in the way of the recreation of=20
the old telephone monopoly, it should at least=20
require the merging companies to sell their=20
Cingular wireless business to create more=20
opportunities for competition between wireless and wireline services.
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_telecom_and_utilities/003516.html
* Complete filing:
http://www.hearusnow.org/other/newsroom/phoneservices/consumergroupscomm...
sonattbellsouthmerger/
* Center for Digital Democracy filing:
http://www.democraticmedia.org/PDFs/ATTBellSouthPetitionToDeny.pdf

SPRINT NEXTEL WANTS AT&T-BELLSOUTH CONDITIONS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Sprint Nextel Corp., which is partnering with=20
four cable operators in a wireless joint venture,=20
urged the Federal Communications Commission=20
Monday to impose conditions on AT&T=92s merger with=20
BellSouth Corp. in order to prevent the=20
combination from harming wireless-phone=20
competitors. Sprint Nextel said the $67 billion=20
merger would result in AT&T holding a dominant=20
position in the special-access market, which=20
includes high-capacity circuits that connect=20
cellular sites to switches. =93Sprint Nextel has no=20
alternative to BellSouth or AT&T for more than=20
99% of Sprint Nextel=92s PCS=20
[personal-communications-services] cell sites in=20
the BellSouth and AT&T service areas,=94 Sprint=20
Nextel said in an FCC filing. Merger conditions=20
were necessary because a combined AT&T-BellSouth=20
could use its special-access dominance to benefit=20
its phone subsidiary, Cingular Wireless, to the=20
detriment of wireless competitors, Sprint Nextel=20
said. Sprint Nextel called for various=20
conditions, including rate freezes and=20
reductions, asset divestment and reporting requirements.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6341282.html?display=3DBreaking+News

QUICKLY

COMMUNICATION FAILURES HAMPERED LONDON BOMBING RESCUES
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Andy McCue]
A report on the July 7, 2005, London bombings has=20
said the lack of a digital radio network hampered=20
the efforts of emergency service rescue teams.=20
Noting that rescue teams were unable to=20
communicate properly between the sites of the=20
explosions underground, colleagues at ground=20
level and control rooms, the London Assembly's=20
July 7 Review Committee report said it is=20
"unacceptable" that the emergency services are=20
still not able to communicate by radio when they=20
are underground, 18 years after the official=20
inquiry into a fire at King's Cross station=20
recommended action to address the problem. The=20
report underscores the notion that there is no=20
point in having the technology to enable key=20
people to communicate with each other if the=20
relevant authorities do not make sure that the=20
right people are in possession of that technology.
http://news.com.com/Communication+failures+hampered+London+bombing+rescu...
2100-7348_3-6079889.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

STUDY: WEB IS THE NO. 1 MEDIA
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Candace Lombardi ]
A new report from the Online Publishers=20
Association finds that Internet media is the=20
dominant at-work media and No. 2 in the home. The=20
Web also ranked as the No. 1 daytime media. A=20
conservative estimate from the study says 17=20
percent of overall media is consumed via the Internet.
http://news.com.com/Study+Web+is+the+No.+1+media/2100-1024_3-6080280.htm...
ag=3Dnefd.top

ONLINE NEWSPAPER ADS GAINING GROUND ON PRINT
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Julie Bosman]
According to estimates released on Friday by the=20
Newspaper Association of America, newspaper print=20
ad spending in the first three months of 2006=20
increased only 0.3 percent, to $10.5 billion,=20
over the corresponding period last year. At the=20
same time, spending for online advertising surged=20
35 percent. "I think the handwriting is kind of=20
on the wall that there is a large migration to=20
the Web," said Colby Atwood, a newspaper analyst=20
and a vice president at Borrell Associates.=20
"Increasing amounts of revenue and focus should=20
be on the online properties. This is a transition=20
that's taking place over several years here. It's=20
not happening overnight, but it's definitely happening."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/business/media/06adco.html
(requires registration)

AD FIRMS WAIT TO GET TV SPOTS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Meg James]
Last June, the six broadcast networks took in=20
$9.1 billion in commitments for prime-time shows=20
for the current season. But this year, industry=20
experts predict that total will shrink by as much=20
as $500 million -- and not only because there=20
soon will be just five networks. "Advertisers are=20
holding money out of the market this year because=20
they want to experiment with other forms of=20
media," said Bill Cella, chief executive of ad=20
buying powerhouse Magna Global. "Last year it was=20
starting, and this year it's really happening."
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-upfront6jun06,1,59504...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

WI-FI AND THE CITIES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] No fewer than 300 cities and towns=20
around the nation have taken wireless Internet=20
access, or Wi-Fi, to the people. San Francisco's=20
aim is to make the entire city a hot spot,=20
Chicago plans to blanket the city with access,=20
and large parts of Philadelphia are to go=20
wireless soon. But New York, which should be=20
leading the way, is dragging. A plan to offer=20
free Wi-Fi access in city parks has been moving=20
slowly, and a larger vision has yet to take=20
shape. The minimal goal should be free or=20
low-cost access in its densely populated, poor=20
neighborhoods in all the boroughs. That is where=20
cable and phone line options are out of financial=20
reach, and where education especially suffers as a result.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/opinion/06tue3.html
(requires registration)

BERNARD LOOMIS -- THE MAN WHO INVENTED SATURDAY MORNING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Douglas Martin]
Bernard Loomis, who had no toys as a child but=20
became a toy industry legend by using children's=20
television to turn Star Wars dolls, Strawberry=20
Shortcake and Care Bears into stupendous=20
successes, died on Friday. Mr. Loomis originated=20
the idea of producing television specials and=20
series that promoted toys as much as they=20
entertained. This reversed the suddenly quaint=20
notion that toy-selling followed the movie, book=20
or television program. His television special=20
featuring the character Strawberry Shortcake=20
"opened the way for what sometimes seemed to be=20
the transformation of children's television into=20
a promotional arm of the toy industry," David=20
Owen wrote in The Atlantic in 1986. Mr. Owen=20
included the article in a book of essays he=20
published in 1988. The title referred to Mr.=20
Loomis: "The Man Who Invented Saturday=20
Morning." Similarly, Mr. Loomis pioneered the=20
notion of selling lines of toys, not individual=20
products. That created the possibility of=20
concocting entire imaginary environments with=20
ever more products, as exemplified by the Barbie=20
doll, whose career he shepherded for a time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/business/06loomis.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.
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Net Neutrality Puts Time Crunch On Telecom Agenda

Time is running out for Congress to pass several telecommunications rule changes this year because the changes are tied to another contentious issue: network neutrality. Since net neutrality is holding the telecommunications agenda hostage, the idea of compromise legislation is catching on. "As sand runs out of the hour glass, compromises are reached," said Thaddeus Strom, vice president of congressional relations for Parry, Romani, DeConcini & Symms. "It's a question of finding floor time," said Strom, whose powerful lobbying firm represents Verizon. And, there are several obstacles to overcome. Committee chairs are vying for jurisdictional control over net neutrality also called Internet neutrality. Members are drafting and revising several bills to guarantee equal access to networks or to protect providers' ability to charge more for better access and improved networks. As a challenging election season approaches, lobbyists are applying pressure from both sides. If Congress cannot get one version to the floor, and soon, members are likely to turn their attention away from telecommunications issues during recesses, budgeting and campaigns. Then there is the threat of returning to a more net neutrality-friendly congress ­ one controlled by Democrats in one house or both. Political strategists believe, and telecommunications lobbyists acknowledge, that voters could sweep out Republican incumbents over national issues. "There's certainly speculation about a sea-change in the control," Strom said. While several Republicans favor legislation aimed at preserving neutrality, Democrats are not jumping to the aid of telecommunications companies. That means it could be a better strategy for telecommunications providers to make some concessions on net neutrality now, in a more certain environment. "It will probably be more than they want because it's the only way to get legislation passed this year," said Chris McKee, vice president and assistant general counsel of Covad Communications Group, a broadband voice and data communications provider. Strom said compromise legislation, which could be introduced next week, would likely include promises not to block, degrade or modify network access. The House Rules Committee is likely to decide next week whether to send an existing net neutrality bill to the floor.
http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=UPN...

House Schedules COPE Vote

HOUSE SCHEDULES COPE VOTE
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation]
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) has released the agenda for this week and it includes time for consideration of HR 5252, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006, sponsored by House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (T-TX). The bill's main aim is to pave the way for the creation of national video franchises. In April the Commerce Committee approved the bill 42 to 12. Learn more about the bill at the URL below.