September 2006

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CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA
So Much Legislation, So Little Time
G.O.P. Reaches Tentative Deal on Domestic Spying Legislation

OWNERSHIP
Jackson Pushes Media Ownership Activism
Media Ownership: Must the Show Go On?
Consumer groups urge limits on AT&T-BellSouth deal
Tribune Empire Could Crumble
State tries its hand at telecom regulation

TELEVISION
NAB, CEA Agree On Converter Box Basics
New America: Use Subsidy Program to maximize 'White Spaces'
NCTC Keeps Up Fox RSN Fight

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Center for Public Integrity Sues FCC for Broadband Records
Web's ad revenue up 37 pct in first half 2006: study

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
Stations pull Dem ad for using 'inappropriate' quotes from GOP Senator
Left-Leaning Think Tank To Dems: Buy Cable
Negative Ads a Positive in GOP Strategy

MEDIA & CHILDREN
DC Hones In On Media & Obesity
PBS Hones Its Pitch With New Sponsorships
Spreading the Word: A Deaf Boy Joins the Gang

CONTENT
Radio Marti: =93Hecka of a Job, Kenny=94
FCC fear cancels PBS airing

QUICKLY -- FCC Establishes Public Safety and=20
Homeland Security Bureau; Pirate Radio Stations=20
Challenge Feds; Study Sees Cable Widening Gains;=20
Congress wants answers from wireless firms on=20
privacy; Africa closes technology gap with flashy phones

CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA

SO MUCH LEGISLATION, SO LITTLE TIME
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Charles Babington]
It's hardly a news flash that Congress=20
procrastinates. But even by its own foot-dragging=20
standards, the 109th Congress has pushed an=20
extraordinary amount of unfinished business into=20
this week, its final stretch of legislative work=20
before the Nov. 7 elections. Republican leaders=20
in both houses share a handful of priorities,=20
starting with a bill to set standards for=20
interrogating and prosecuting terrorism suspects.=20
They also seem determined to approve spending=20
bills for the military and homeland security, and=20
to finance construction of a fence along 700=20
miles of the Mexican border before adjourning=20
Friday or Saturday. Items left unfinished next=20
weekend will have a final chance in the=20
legislative session scheduled to begin Nov. 13, a=20
week after the elections. But the "lame duck"=20
session's political atmosphere is unpredictable,=20
and it could become a graveyard even for bills=20
with substantial support. If Democrats make=20
strong gains, as many predict they will -- and=20
especially if they win enough seats to control=20
the House in the 110th Congress, which will=20
convene in January -- then Democratic senators=20
will have added incentives to use stalling=20
tactics to thwart legislation they dislike.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/25/AR200609...
1135.html
(requires registration)

GOP REACHES TENTATIVE DEAL ON DOMESTIC SPYING LEGISLATION
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Lichtblau]
Republican leaders said Monday that they had=20
reached a tentative agreement to garner political=20
support for legislation on domestic surveillance,=20
in part by sidestepping the question of whether=20
the president has the constitutional authority to=20
order wiretapping without a court order. There=20
was wide disagreement about the plan=92s impact.=20
Supporters billed the most recent version as a=20
way of requiring a court order for most domestic=20
wiretaps. But civil rights advocates and even=20
some administration officials suggested that it=20
would maintain the status quo in allowing the=20
continuation of wiretapping without warrants=20
under a program approved by President Bush.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/washington/26nsa.html
(requires registration)
* Wiretap Bill Moves Closer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/25/AR200609...
1021.html
* Wiretap, Tribunal Bills Get Senatorial Shuffle
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-tribunal26sep26,...
288964.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section

OWNERSHIP

JACKSON PUSHES MEDIA OWNERSHIP ACTIVISM
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Framing media ownership as a civil rights issue=20
and saying it was time to mobilize against=20
further media consolidation, Rainbow PUSH founder=20
the Reverend Jesse Jackson told a Washington=20
policy luncheon audience Monday that his group=20
planned to hold meetings across the country to=20
popularize mass media issues and engage fully in=20
a struggle for the airwaves. Rev Jackson was part=20
of the pushback against the rules in 2003, but he=20
suggested it was time to turn up the heat. That=20
includes a full-time staff to monitor=20
telecommunications issues, but more importantly a=20
push for volunteers to "get in some faces," as=20
Rep. Maxine Waters put it. =93Struggles around=20
media ownership have never been mass struggles,"=20
Jackson said Monday, though "the impact has been=20
mass." He said the dearth of powerful minority=20
media voices does not just hurt blacks, but "sets=20
the agenda for the rest of the U.S." The=20
flashpoint for the new activist mode is the FCC's=20
current media ownership review, which Rainbow=20
PUSH says is not sufficiently reviewing key=20
issues relating to minority, women and small business media ownership.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6375080.html
* Pols join Jackson in media debate
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117950710?categoryid=3D18&cs=3D1&nid=3...
62

MEDIA OWNERSHIP: MUST THE SHOW GO ON?
[SOURCE: TVNewsDay, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
[Commentary] The show at FCC Chairman Kevin=20
Martin's renomination hearing served to remind=20
Martin that a lot of important people on Capitol=20
Hill care about media ownership. And those people=20
may become more important if the Democrats emerge=20
from the November elections in control of the=20
House and/or Senate. But is it any more than=20
that? Let=92s assume the worse (at least as Boxer=20
sees it) and say that the studies in question=20
both landed on desks of Martin and Powell at some=20
point and that one or both immediately ordered=20
that all copies be bundled up and thrown into the=20
Tidal Basin. Well, so what? There=92s no law=20
against the higher ups shelving staff studies=20
that they don't think are well done or don't=20
support the policy goals of the day. And there=92s=20
no law that says they have to make them public.=20
I'm willing to bet that if you shook the Portals=20
hard enough, you could fill the Tidal Basin with=20
such memos and studies, some going back to the=20
Hoover Administration. The FCC is a political=20
operation. In any proceeding, the chairman=20
decides what the result is going to be and then=20
gets the staff to do some selective research to=20
get to that result. The chairman=92s principal job=20
is simply making sure he has at least three=20
votes. It is probably true that further=20
consolidation is unlikely to increase diversity.=20
Most of the people buying stations are those who=20
already own stations and can take advantage of=20
the economies of scale in buying more. Because of=20
those economies, they can usually outbid=20
newcomers of any gender or color. But freezing=20
the ownership rules as they are is not going to help much.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2006/09/25/daily.2/

CONSUMER GROUPS URGE LIMITS ON AT&T-BELLSOUTH DEAL
[SOURCE: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AUTHOR: Marilyn Geewax]
Consumer advocates and civil libertarians=20
demanded Monday that regulators refrain from=20
approving AT&T's purchase of BellSouth unless the=20
phone companies accept tough restrictions on=20
their $67 billion deal. While the two phone=20
companies want the FCC to move quickly, consumer=20
groups say regulators should not rush to sign off=20
on a combination that could affect consumers for=20
decades. "This merger will haunt the consumer,"=20
said Mark Cooper, research director at the=20
Consumers Federation of America. When the=20
combined companies strengthen their grip on the=20
marketplace, he said, "they will use it against=20
the public." Consumer groups belonging to the=20
Competition Coalition called on regulators to=20
impose restrictions on the new telecom giant. For=20
example, they want AT&T to accept rules=20
guaranteeing "net neutrality," meaning the=20
company would have to treat all Internet content=20
in a neutral way. AT&T has expressed interest in=20
charging content providers for speedy delivery of=20
enhanced services, such as video. Consumer groups=20
say that forcing Internet companies to pay=20
"tolls" for premium delivery of their content=20
would hurt young companies trying to compete=20
against established giants. "AT&T's approach to=20
the Internet is one which does not bode well for=20
maintaining the Internet as an avenue of=20
innovation, an avenue of free expression, an=20
avenue of political speech," said Andrew=20
Schwartzman, president of the Media Access=20
Project. The American Civil Liberties Union also=20
is trying to reshape the proposed merger. Barry=20
Steinhardt, director of the ACLU's Technology and=20
Liberty Program, said the FCC should be=20
investigating the phone companies' possible=20
involvement with the National Security Agency,=20
which conducts surveillance of potential=20
terrorist activities. "We believe the FCC has=20
both a statutory and a public interest obligation=20
to investigate whether or not AT&T and BellSouth=20
have been engaging in illegal cooperation with=20
the NSA and spying on Americans," Steinhardt=20
said. "We are very disappointed that the FCC has=20
fallen down in its obligation to conduct this investigation."
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2006/09/25/0925bizb...
south.html?cxtype=3Drss&cxsvc=3D7&cxcat=3D6

TRIBUNE EMPIRE COULD CRUMBLE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens]
A boardroom fight over the Tribune Company's=20
limping stock price has caused anxiety in Tribune=20
newsrooms around the country, from an open revolt=20
by the top editor in Los Angeles to "fear and=20
loathing" about potential job cuts among=20
reporters and editors at some of the company's=20
Washington bureaus. Dissident board members have=20
lost confidence in Tribune management and seek to=20
break up the company to boost stock price. At a=20
board meeting last week, they forced the rest of=20
the board to explore restructuring and=20
divestiture plans, setting a quick Dec. 31=20
deadline for options. Tribune has 11 newspapers=20
and 26 television stations; the stations appear=20
the most vulnerable to sale. For nearly a=20
century, newspapers were unrivaled in their=20
ability to deliver news and sell advertising.=20
News staffs grew fat as hiring decisions were=20
made on coverage needs rather than bottom lines.=20
Now, as newspapers lose readers and advertising=20
to other media and struggle to transition to=20
Internet and other digital forms of delivery --=20
while attempting to maintain profit margins of=20
more than 20 percent and mollify Wall Street's=20
need for growth -- cuts in jobs and newsroom=20
budgets are coming fast and deep. All those=20
factors alone would make things tough enough on=20
Tribune. But, like an unlucky home buyer, Tribune=20
purchased a group of newspapers at the height of=20
the market only to watch the market nose-dive.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/25/AR200609...
1367.html
(requires registration)

STATE TRIES ITS HAND AT TELECOM REGULATION
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Mike Langberg mike( at )langberg.com]
[Commentary] This week, California Gov. Arnold=20
Schwarzenegger (R) is expected to sign the=20
Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act=20
of 2006, also known by its designation in the=20
Legislature, AB 2987. The new law will accelerate=20
a profound transformation in the way information=20
and entertainment comes into our homes. Telephone=20
companies, most notably AT&T and Verizon, will be=20
able to obtain a single statewide franchise=20
agreement to offer TV service through their=20
wires. Cable companies, most notably Comcast,=20
will also get to switch to a single statewide=20
franchise once the phone companies start=20
providing TV. This ends the previous system, in=20
place for nearly half a century, by which cable=20
companies negotiated franchise agreements with=20
each city where they offered service. Almost no=20
one, other than the cities themselves, is=20
mourning the end of local franchising. The=20
process was time-consuming and expensive, and it=20
yielded little for consumers. The end of local=20
franchising for TV service is a good thing. City=20
councils aren't the right place to tackle=20
something as complicated as telecommunications=20
regulation. But we still need appropriate=20
regulation, especially around the much-discussed=20
concept of network neutrality. The fat pipes=20
coming into our homes must be an open link to the=20
digital world. We need to be able to go anywhere=20
online, without AT&T or Verizon or Comcast=20
unfairly favoring their own offerings. As long as=20
the state's politicians and regulators refuse to=20
be intimidated, AB 2987 could ultimately do as=20
much for consumers as for the big telecom=20
companies that pushed the bill forward.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/15604070.htm

TELEVISION

NAB, CEA AGREE ON CONVERTER BOX BASICS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Monday was the deadline for filing comments with=20
the National Telecommunications & Information=20
Administration on a new digital television=20
converter box subsidy program. NTIA will get up=20
to $1.5 billion to administer the DTV-to-analog=20
subsidy, which is intended to keep over-the-air=20
analog sets from going dark after February 2009,=20
when television broadcasting goes=20
all-digital. In joint comments filed to the=20
NTIA, the National Association of Broadcasters,=20
the Consumer Electronics Association and the=20
Association for Maximum Service Television=20
(broadcasters' spectrum policy watchdog) called=20
for the program to cover all analog-only sets,=20
not just ones in analog-only households, and said=20
that the subsidies should not be based on=20
economic need, but instead on "continuity of=20
service." The groups identifies four core=20
principles: 1) Continued Consumer Access to the=20
Broadcast Service. The associations state that=20
the DTA coupon is not a subsidy program; it is a=20
consumer reimbursement program. NTIA's=20
administration of the program must effectively=20
ensure continuity of service to existing analog=20
television sets. 2) Availability of High Quality,=20
Usable, Low-Cost Converter Boxes. Consumers'=20
out-of-pocket expenses for DTA converters must be=20
minimized and the converter boxes must be=20
intuitive and work properly in the myriad of=20
challenging installation configurations in which=20
they will be placed. 3) Simplicity and Clarity.=20
NTIA's administration of the program must strive=20
for simplicity. For consumers and others=20
involved, the program must also be easy to=20
understand and follow. 4) Fairness and Prevention=20
of Waste and Abuse. The program should be structured
to facilitate equitable distribution of coupons=20
to all Americans with analog televisions that=20
depend on over-the-air broadcasts. The program=20
should also be structured to prevent abuses and=20
waste and deter fraudulent attempts to obtain=20
program benefits. 5) Cooperation. The government,=20
broadcasters, manufacturers, and retailers must=20
each contribute to the above goals by providing=20
consumers with the tools and information=20
necessary to make effective use of the converter box program.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6375082.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

NEW AMERICA: USE SUBSIDY PROGRAM TO MAXIMIZE 'WHITE SPACES'
[SOURCE: New America Foundation]
The New America Foundation filed comments in the=20
National Telecommunications & Information=20
Administration's proceeding creating a new=20
digital television converter box subsidy program.=20
NAF recommends the following: The minimum=20
technical capabilities for the converter boxes=20
should maximize the utility of the TV white=20
spaces within channels 2-51 for broadband and=20
wireless innovation. The primary goal in=20
designing the converter box subsidy should be to=20
ensure that the return of TV Channels 52-69 is=20
not endangered as a result of inadequate=20
distribution of converter boxes to eligible households.
http://www.newamerica.net/publications/resources/2006/comments_on_dtv_co...
rter_box_coupon_program

NCTC KEEPS UP FOX RSN FIGHT
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
In a new letter to federal regulators, the=20
National Cable Television Cooperative fired=20
another salvo at Fox Cable Networks, all part of=20
their dispute over negotiations of potential=20
carriage deals for 13 regional sports networks.=20
In a missive sent last Wednesday to Federal=20
Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin,=20
the NCTC charged that Fox Cable is trying to=20
circumvent its obligations under conditions set=20
when News Corp. purchased a stake in DirecTV=20
Group in 2004. Under those strictures, small=20
cable systems can designate bargaining agents to=20
negotiate their carriage deals.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6375064.html?display=3DBreaking+News

INTERNET/BROADBAND

CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY SUES FOR BROADBAND RECORDS
[SOURCE: The Center for Public Integrity]
The Center for Public Integrity today filed suit=20
against the Federal Communications Commission for=20
failure to provide a database of records=20
requested under the Freedom of Information Act.=20
The lawsuit alleges that the FCC has failed to=20
provide the Center with an electronic copy of a=20
database about the companies that provide=20
broadband within particular zip codes in the=20
United States. "We filed suit against the FCC to=20
obtain the data that the public and policy-makers=20
need in order to get a complete and accurate=20
picture of the current state of broadband," said=20
Drew Clark, who leads the Center's=20
Telecommunications and Media Project. The Center=20
desires to make the data that examines broadband=20
deployment publicly available, which will aid in=20
the nation's understanding of the extent of=20
broadband availability. "All of the legislative=20
debates surrounding communications policy rely on=20
the availability of broadband -- whether the=20
subject is Net neutrality, universal service, or=20
video competition," said Clark.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/about/release.aspx?aid=3D64

WEB'S AD REVENUE UP 37 PERCENT IN FIRST HALF 2006: STUDY
[SOURCE: Reuters]
U.S. Internet advertising revenue rose 37 percent=20
in the first six months of the year, hitting a=20
record of nearly $8 billion, according to a study=20
released on Monday. The study, released by the=20
Interactive Advertising Bureau and=20
PricewaterhouseCoopers, comes just days after a=20
revenue warning by Yahoo raised concerns that ad=20
spending in new media could be slowing.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-09-25T154937Z_01_N25268733_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-ADVERTISING.xml&arch=
ived=3DFalse

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

STATIONS PULL DEM AD FOR USING 'INAPPROPRIATE' QUOTES FROM GOP SENATOR
[SOURCE: The Raw Story]
Television stations in Montana have been warned=20
that an advertisement produced by the Democratic=20
Senatorial Campaign Committee containing=20
statements made by Republican Senator Conrad=20
Burns may be inappropriate for television. The=20
warning came from the Montana Broadcaster's=20
Association, Congressional Quarterly is=20
reporting. The ad included statements made by=20
Burns, including the phrase "piss poor" and the=20
Senator's claim that a firefighter hadn't "done a=20
God damned thing," during a now-infamous July encounter at a Montana airpor=
t.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Stations_pull_Dem_ad_for_using_0922.html

LEFT-LEANING THINK TANK TO DEMS: BUY CABLE
[SOURCE: MediaDailyNews, AUTHOR: Tom Siebert]
The New Politics Institute think tank has=20
released a report advising Democrats and other=20
left-leaning politicians and cause-related groups=20
to significantly increase their cable TV buys for=20
political ads at the expense of broadcast. The=20
study's arguments will sound familiar to any=20
media-industry veteran. Cable delivers better=20
geographic and demographic targeting. It also=20
costs less, and offers a better CPM for the price=20
than national broadcast. The report, succinctly=20
titled, "Buy Cable," is the first of four from=20
the NPI recommending new messaging platforms and=20
strategies for successful political marketing in=20
the 21st century. The subsequent three will=20
address search, blogging and speaking Spanish.
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=3DArticles.san&s=...
8648&Nid=3D23703&p=3D368626

NEGATIVE ADS A POSITIVE IN GOP STRATEGY
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Janet Hook]
While President Bush and national GOP leaders are=20
attacking Democrats on such big issues as=20
national security and America's role in the=20
world, individual Republicans are hitting their=20
opponents hard -- below the belt, some critics=20
say -- on personal and local issues. Negative=20
campaigning is hardly new, and Democrats are=20
dishing dirt against Republicans too. But=20
mudslinging is crucial to the Republican plan for=20
this year's midterm elections, because the=20
party's hold on power will probably hinge on=20
shifting attention from the unpopular war in Iraq=20
and other national issues that cut against them.=20
"When people are looking at national issues that=20
are not breaking our way, what you want to do is=20
focus on your opponent," said Rep. Tom Cole=20
(R-OK), a former Republican National Committee=20
chief of staff. "You've got to play the field's=20
conditions. They demand very tough tactics."=20
Republican incumbents this year began running=20
attack ads earlier than ever. But the=20
hardest-hitting are yet to come. "You haven't=20
seen the majority of the negative ads yet," said=20
Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican=20
Congressional Committee, where a staff of 10 has=20
been deployed on opposition research. The=20
strategy rests on the widely held belief that=20
negative political ads make more of an impression=20
on voters than positive ones. Republican=20
incumbents have moved aggressively to shape early=20
perceptions of their Democratic challengers.=20
Democratic strategist Peter Fenn said: "You have=20
a blackboard that's not written on very much --=20
what Republicans are trying to do is write all=20
over that blackboard in great big letters before=20
the challengers have a chance to write on it."
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-negads26sep26,1,...
5765.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)

MEDIA & CHILDREN

DC HONES IN ON MEDIA & OBESITY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC and Congress Wednesday will announce the=20
formation of a joint task force, Media and=20
Childhood Obesity: Today and Tomorrow, to explore=20
the media's impact on children's health and=20
possible legislative and/or regulatory=20
approaches. The task force, chaired by FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin, commissioner Deborah=20
Taylor Tate, and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS),=20
will hold a series of meetings with programmers,=20
marketers, health professionals and government=20
officials about what the surgeon general has=20
warned is a looming national health crisis.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6375092.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

PBS HONES ITS PITCH WITH NEW SPONSORSHIPS
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: John Consoli]
The Sponsorship Group for Public Television --=20
the advertising arm of WGBH in Boston, the public=20
TV powerhouse that produces about a third of the=20
series that air on PBS -- is stepping up its=20
pitch to media agencies and advertisers. SGPTV,=20
in particular, is stressing value-added packages=20
that include not only on-air spots but assorted=20
ways of involving advertisers with the shows=20
off-air. One recent example involves first-time=20
PBS advertisers Arby=92s and Macy=92s. The pair in=20
May, began sponsoring a new kids=92 show Fetch!=20
with Ruff Ruffman, which taps an animated canine=20
host, Ruff, who poses science-based challenges to=20
real kids. Arby=92s, in addition to its on-air=20
spots, has attached Ruff to one of its kids=20
meals, while Macy=92s, as it absorbs its newly=20
acquired Marshall Fields stores, is having the=20
kids on the show appear live in its kids=92=20
departments to promote its Greendog kids clothing line.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_conte...
id=3D1003155605

SPREADING THE WORD: A DEAF BOY JOINS THE GANG
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Elizabeth Jensen]
=93Maya & Miguel=94 teaches children about the value=20
of Spanish and English bilingualism. So it only=20
seemed natural to incorporate a third language,=20
American Sign Language, in an episode. But=20
turning what seemed like a logical idea into=20
reality was another matter. The logistics of=20
animating sign language that was detailed and=20
accurate enough to read on the screen stretched=20
production of the episode to nine months, far=20
longer than typical, and pushed costs up by 50=20
percent. The episode will rerun every day this=20
week and will be seen with captions of the=20
dialogue. The episode introduces Marco, who=20
speaks American Sign Language, occasionally with=20
help from an interpreter. Marco befriends Tito=20
(the younger cousin of the twins Maya and Miguel)=20
and helps him conquer his fear of making mistakes=20
when he speaks English, his second language.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/arts/television/25sign.html?_r=3D1&oref=
=3Dslogin
(requires registration)

CONTENT

RADIO MARTI: "HECKA OF A JOB, KENNY"
[SOURCE: Center for American Progress 9/21, AUTHOR: Eric Alterman]
[Commentary] The revelation that =93at least=94 ten=20
Florida journalists received money from the U.S.=20
government to participate in programs broadcast=20
on the federally-funded Radio and TV Mart=ED feels=20
like 2004 and 2005 all over again. Back in those=20
days, stories of journalists secretly collecting=20
checks signed by the Bush administration were=20
coming fast and furious. The radio and television=20
programs broadcast by Marti are beamed into Cuba=20
with the aim of subverting the Castro regime.=20
They are run by the Broadcasting Board of=20
Governors, the federal office that runs the U.S.=20
government's overseas television and radio=20
stations. The BBG in turn is headed by none other=20
than Kenneth Tomlinson, the right-wing Bush=20
appointee who tried to recast the editorial=20
content of the Public Broadcasting Service and=20
Voice of America in the Bush administration=92s own=20
conservative image. The latest Marti scandal=20
joins a rich and well-funded heritage of=20
commentators, journalists, talking heads, and=20
think tank wonks who have proven themselves to be=20
not only =93in the tank=94 as so many journalists=20
are, but also =93on the take.=94 The use of taxpayer=20
dollars to subvert honest American journalism,=20
while deplorable, seems hardly necessary. After=20
all, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal=92s=20
editorial page, The Weekly Standard, and Rush=20
Limbaugh already broadcast anything and=20
everything the Administration claims to be true,=20
no matter how outlandish. The traditional=20
bulwarks against this kind of thing have been=20
weakened almost beyond recognition, as the work=20
of, say, The New York Times=92 Judy Miller or The=20
Washington Post=92s Bob Woodward quite neatly=20
illustrates. So why go to all this trouble to=20
bribe journalists when so many are willing to=20
work for free? Well, no one ever argued that=20
competence was this administration=92s strong suit.
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=3DbiJRJ8OVF&b=3D2074455

FCC FEAR CANCELS PBS AIRING
[SOURCE: Denver Post, AUTHOR: Dick Kreck]
Fear of fines from the Federal Communications=20
Commission caused Rocky Mountain PBS to cancel=20
the showing of the two-hour documentary "Marie=20
Antoinette." "I took a look at it at 10 this=20
morning," said James Morgese, president and=20
general manager of RMPBS. "What I saw is nothing=20
worse than what you see on TV elsewhere, but in=20
this era of heightened sensitivity by the FCC,=20
fines are pretty stiff." Specifically, he said,=20
the questionable scenes were 200-year-old pencil=20
drawings of nude couples having sex and "a very=20
specific" discussion of Louis VXI's apparent impotency.
http://www.denverpost.com/kreck/ci_4394264

QUICKLY

FCC ESTABLISHES PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
To promote a more efficient, effective and=20
responsive organizational structure and to better=20
promote and address public safety, homeland=20
security, national security, emergency management=20
and preparedness, disaster management, and=20
related issues, the Federal Communications=20
Commission has concluded that the proper dispatch=20
of its business and the public interest will be=20
served by creating a Public Safety and Homeland=20
Security Bureau. In an Order released Monday,=20
the Commission amended its rules to reflect the=20
new structure, described the new Bureau's functions and delegated authority.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-35A1.doc

PIRATE RADIO STATIONS CHALLENGE FEDS
[SOURCE: Idaho Statesman, AUTHOR: Martha Mendoza]
Pirate radio is radio without a license, radio=20
without government regulations. It's "america the=20
criminal" at midnight on Human Rights Radio in=20
Springfield, Illinois and pre-dawn erotica on=20
Freak Radio in Santa Cruz, Calif. It's an=20
inordinate amount of Frank Zappa at WFZR in West=20
End, Pa. and the "Voice of the American Patriot"=20
at NLNR in Butte, Mont. The rapidly proliferating=20
scofflaws - and there are now hundreds of them=20
broadcasting at any given moment in this country=20
- are usually only audible within a few miles of=20
their "home-brewed" transmitters. They find=20
unused sections of the FM dial, fire up their=20
mini-transmitters, raise their antennas and set=20
up their station. Some opt to broadcast on the=20
Internet as well, opening up their audience to=20
the entire globe. Costs typically range from=20
about $250 to $1,500. Pirates, as they call=20
themselves, draw loyal audiences in their=20
communities but complaints from the larger,=20
licensed public and private radio stations who=20
say the microbroadcasters interrupt their=20
signals. And they are a thorn in the side of the=20
FCC, which is tasked with shutting them down.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PIRATE_RADIO?SITE=3DIDBOI&SECTION...
HOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT

STUDY SEES CABLE WIDENING GAINS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Kent Gibbons]
A new study predicts U.S. cable operators will=20
have 24% of residential telephone customers at=20
year-end 2009, up from 5% in 2005, while phone=20
companies will have claimed just 6% of=20
residential video customers by then. The=20
Convergence Consulting Group said 45% of U.S.=20
cable companies=92 customers take broadband service=20
and TV from cable, versus 25% of phone companies=92=20
customers taking digital subscriber line=20
high-speed Internet service along with voice=20
service. That helps cable claim voice over=20
Internet protocol service customers at a rapid=20
rate, and so far the cable VoIP product has the=20
edge over telcos=92 local and long-distance packages.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6375089.html?display=3DBreaking+News

PANEL WANTS ANSWERS FROM WIRELESS FIRMS ON PRIVACY
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
Top executives of Verizon, Sprint Nextel,=20
Cingular and T-Mobile USA have been invited to=20
testify Friday at a House Commerce Committee=20
hearing into the use of deceptive measures to=20
obtain personal information, known as pretexting.=20
The same panel will hear on Thursday from=20
Hewlett-Packard chief executive Mark Hurd, former=20
chairman Patricia Dunn, general counsel Ann=20
Baskins and other company officials about HP's=20
use of pretexting to investigate boardroom leaks.=20
The heads of the Federal Communications=20
Commission, Kevin Martin, and Federal Trade=20
Commission, Deborah Majoras, have also been=20
invited to testify at the Friday hearing, which=20
is on the broader issue of pretexting.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-09-25T175336Z_01_WAT006294_RTRUKOC_0_US-HEWLETTPACKARD-CONGRESS.xm=
l&archived=3DFalse
* Telcos feeling the pretexting heat
http://news.com.com/Telcos+feel+the+pretexting+heat/2100-1037_3-6119435....
l?tag=3Dnefd.lede

AFRICA CLOSES TECHNOLOGY GAP WITH FLASHY PHONES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Rebecca Harrison]
About a decade after mobile phones started to=20
spread across the poorest continent, trailing=20
Europe by several years, wireless technology in=20
major African cities is catching up with the=20
West. "African operators are definitely catching=20
up, or at least following closely behind Europe,"=20
said Devine Kofiloto, principal analyst at=20
Informa telecoms and media research group.=20
"Whether there is a business case (high-speed=20
wireless connections) is a different question."
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-09-26T070229Z_01_L19897725_RTRUKOC_0_US-AFRICA-3G.xml
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------