November 2006

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POST-ELECTION AGENDA
For Post-Election Congress, Extensive To-Do List Is Awaiting Action
Telecom Bill Appears Dead For Year
Pelosi likely to speak up for tech industry
Dingell's Remarks On Telecom Bill
NAB, Democrats and the Election
Democrats In Charge, but Not Threatening to Cable
Barton Tries For Minority Leader
Michigan Restarts Stalled Bill

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
The Viral Vote
Campaign Coverage Statistics
For Democrats, How Long a Honeymoon?

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Tribune Draws Gannett Interest, But Media Firms Face Hurdles
Telemundo to consolidate some local news

CONTENT
No Turning Back
What if online portals had nothing but 'digital fish wrap'?
The farce behind 'Digital Freedom'

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Internet optimism replaces depression
Formerly homeless people work to wire their new digs

POST-ELECTION AGENDA

FOR POST-ELECTION CONGRESS, EXTENSIVE TO-DO LIST IS AWAITING ACTION
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Carl Huse]
The Democrats won the midterm elections, but time=20
has not run out on the Republican majority in=20
Congress. Despite devastating losses at the=20
polls, Republicans will control the post-election=20
session that opens Monday as lawmakers return to=20
try to finish 10 overdue spending bills and other=20
legislation that stalled because of pre-election=20
gamesmanship. Republican leaders have compiled an=20
ambitious to-do list, hoping to dispose of energy=20
legislation, a trade deal or two, a civilian=20
nuclear treaty with India and other favored bills=20
before turning over the keys to the House and=20
Senate chambers to the Democrats in January.=20
Democrats have some measures they want completed=20
as well, most notably the spending bills, to save=20
them the added work next year. President Bush,=20
hoping to get the most out of the remaining days=20
of a Republican majority, is pressing two=20
contentious matters: legislation authorizing=20
domestic wiretapping by the National Security=20
Agency and the nomination of John R. Bolton as=20
ambassador to the United Nations. And the Senate=20
has scheduled confirmation hearings for Robert M.=20
Gates to be the new secretary of defense to begin=20
the week of Dec 4. Members of both parties in=20
Congress have all but written off the wiretapping=20
legislation and the Bolton nomination, given the=20
strong Democratic opposition and the impending=20
power shift. It is also uncertain how hard=20
Congressional Republicans will be willing to=20
press President Bush=92s more divisive issues. Some=20
have expressed anger at his decision to remove=20
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld the day=20
after the election, contending that earlier=20
action might have cut Republican losses.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/washington/13lame.html
(requires registration)

TELECOM BILL APPEARS DEAD FOR YEAR
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 11/9, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Pending deregulatory telecommunications=20
legislation faces new hurdles now that Democrats=20
have won the House and gained control of the=20
Senate, industry sources said. "...The Senate=20
Democrats will keep anything from happening other=20
than that which is necessary for the continuity=20
of government," a former Democratic Hill staffer=20
said, referring to the forthcomgin post-election=20
session. "I don't think anybody is putting high=20
odds on [telecom] action this year," added a=20
telecom industry source, while another source was=20
even blunter. "That bill's dead," the source=20
said. In analysis issued late Tuesday, the=20
investment firm of Stifel Nicolaus predicted that=20
the Democratic takeover of the House and Senate=20
would not result in major communications policy=20
changes. Instead, the firm anticipates that any=20
telecom or media legislation enacted by Congress=20
would be "modest in scope." Despite the odds,=20
there continues to be speculation that Senate=20
Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens=20
(R-Alaska) will try to move at least portions of=20
his bill during the post-election session to=20
salvage part of his legislation following months=20
of debate, drafts, hearings and committee action.=20
Sen Stevens, who also is Senate president pro=20
tempore and a former Appropriations Committee=20
chairman, is an expert at parliamentary=20
procedure. He commands grudging respect from even=20
his fiercest critics, who concede that he should=20
never be underestimated or discounted.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-RGMZ1163185523370.html

PELOSI LIKELY TO SPEAK UP FOR TECH INDUSTRY
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera]
Although her San Francisco district sits on the=20
outskirts of the country's technology capital,=20
Rep. Nancy Pelosi has never been considered a=20
high-tech champion or, for that matter, very=20
friendly to business. So why is Silicon Valley's=20
massive industry so hopeful about the liberal=20
Democrat's likely tenure as speaker of the House?=20
Tech's enthusiasm started in the fall of last=20
year, when Rep Pelosi reached out to Cisco Chief=20
Executive John Chambers and others to develop a=20
wide-ranging "innovation agenda" that included=20
calls for more federal funding for research and=20
education. Then Rep Pelosi and her fellow=20
Democrats took the plan on the campaign trail,=20
trumpeting it to raise money, show their=20
governing vision and counter charges that the=20
party was anti-business. "I'm ecstatic for the=20
tech industry," said Josh Ackil, vice president=20
of government relations for the Information=20
Technology Industry Council, a leading trade=20
group. "I think she strongly believes that she=20
can show business that she can get things done."=20
Pelosi, the House minority leader, continues to=20
press her innovation agenda and raised it in a=20
meeting with President Bush on Thursday. Because=20
it has wide bipartisan support -- President Bush=20
rolled out a similar plan in January -- Democrats=20
and tech lobbyists hope to pass it in early 2007.=20
High-tech innovation is an area where Democrats=20
and President Bush have common ground and the=20
plan was crafted to reach consensus, said Pelosi=20
spokeswoman Jennifer Crider. It called for=20
doubling funding for the National Science=20
Foundation and for broadband Internet access over=20
five years, producing 100,000 scientists,=20
engineers and mathematicians over four years and=20
permanently extending and expanding the research=20
and development tax credit. The Democrats' tech=20
agenda doesn't deal with trade, a volatile issue=20
that tends to divide the party and could cause discord with the tech indust=
ry.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-pelosi13nov13,1,44660...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

DINGELL'S REMARKS ON TELECOM BILL DRAW MIXED REACTION FROM BELLS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 11/9, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Speaking to reporters a day after Democrats won=20
control of the House, incoming House Commerce=20
Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) on=20
Wednesday outlined several issues he plans to=20
tackle, including reform of the universal service=20
fund. But he was noncommittal about whether the=20
creation of national video franchises -- a key=20
tenet of this year's bill and the main reason for=20
the Bells' support -- is on his agenda. He=20
opposed this year's deregulatory bill -- passed=20
by the House in June -- that was strongly backed=20
by AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon Communications.=20
Rep Dingell tried unsuccessfully to amend the=20
House bill with provisions requiring new video=20
providers to offer their services within entire=20
communities. The latter move put him at odds with=20
Bell companies opposed to such requirements.=20
Under local franchise regulations, cable=20
operators have been required to make sure their=20
systems reach all members of communities. Rep=20
Dingell said he also wants to re-examine the need=20
for so-called network neutrality regulations,=20
which would prohibit high-speed Internet=20
providers from potentially blocking or degrading=20
competing content sent over their networks. On a=20
related note, Dingell appeared to backtrack from=20
remarks Wednesday to reporters that the FCC=20
should delay voting on the AT&T- BellSouth merger=20
until 2007 so his panel could exert oversight.=20
"Well, first of all, I've not said that it should=20
be delayed," he told the CNBC cable network,=20
according to a transcript circulated by Bell=20
companies. "I've said that it should be looked at=20
and looked into carefully by the agencies responsible for that."
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-GHNE1163185221524.html

NAB, DEMOCRATS AND THE ELECTION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Washington turned Democratic blue after last=20
week=92s midterm elections, with broad implications=20
for broadcasters and cable operators. The change=20
in the makeup of the House and Senate could=20
affect the TV-sex-and-violence debate and give=20
new ammo to foes of media consolidation. A=20
veteran lobbyist sees a tough time for FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin on ownership issues, with=20
hearings and perhaps even legislation blocking=20
further deregulation. One lobbyist says=20
Democratic Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and=20
Michael Copps, vocal consolidation critics, =93will=20
be happy to gin things up.=94 This lobbyist,=20
however, says, =93I expect, if they do anything on=20
ownership, it will be [lifting the ban on=20
newspaper/broadcast crossownership] and that will=20
be it.=94 The old Congress comes back this week for=20
a last, lame-duck hurrah, but that will likely be=20
focused on the budget. One broadcast-related=20
action could be FCC Chairman Kevin Martin=92s=20
renomination hearing and vote. There has been a=20
hold on his nomination, widely believed to have=20
been placed by Senator John Sununu (R-NH) over Internet- phone issues.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6390449.html?display=3DNews

DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE, BUT NOT THREATENING
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
If anything bad happens to the cable industry as=20
a result of the Democratic takeover of Congress,=20
it shouldn't happen very fast. because House and=20
Senate Democrats have made the issues that drove=20
voters to the polls their legislative agenda to=20
start 2007, it=92s highly unlikely that incoming=20
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has plans to=20
move telecommunications policy to the forefront=20
of the new Congress. =93I would just note that this=20
election was not about telecom,=94 Stifel Nicolaus=20
telecom analyst Blair Levin said. For the time=20
being, Levin expects a benign environment for=20
cable on such matters as franchise reform,=20
network neutrality, and any mandate, to sell=20
cable channels one at a time to viewers, known as=20
a la carte pricing. =93I don't believe that=20
Congress is likely to pass a big, comprehensive=20
bill,=94 Levin said. Jessica Zufolo, who tracks=20
telecom policy at Medley Global Advisors, said=20
telecom legislation won't be foremost on=20
Democrats=92 minds. =93Telecom is not going to be a=20
big focus in the next two years,=94 Zufolo said.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6390451.html?display=3DTop+Stories

BARTON TRIES FOR MINORITY LEADER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Rep Joe Barton (R-Te.x), chairman of the House=20
Commerce Committee until January, has thrown his=20
hat in the ring for House minority leader. He=20
pledged to re-take the House by the 2012 election=20
and to gain seats in each intervening one. "After=20
prayerful consideration and literally hundreds of=20
discussions with my colleagues," he said, "I have=20
decided to seek the position of Republican=20
leader." Rep Barton=92s decision made it a=20
three-way race involving current Majority Leaders=20
Reps. John Boehner (R-OH) and conservative=20
backbencher Mike Pence (R-IN). The elections are=20
being held Nov. 17. On Wednesday, House Speaker=20
Dennis Hastert (R-II) said he would not seek the leadership post.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6390277.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
* Barton to Seek Top House GOP Job
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6390365.html?display=3DBreaking+News

MICHIGAN RESTARTS STALLED BILL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
With the elections over, Michigan legislators=20
will revisit a bill pending since September that=20
would authorize state oversight of video=20
franchises. House Bill 6456 was put on the back=20
burner in the run-up to Nov. 7, facing unified=20
opposition by the Michigan Municipal League, the=20
Michigan Coalition to Protect Public=20
Rights-of-Way (PROTEC), members of the National=20
Association of Telecommunications Officers and=20
Advisors and the Alliance for Community Media.=20
Advocates for municipalities claim the measure =97=20
which would shift authority over franchising from=20
local governments to the Michigan Public Service=20
Commission =97 would cost localities $47 million to=20
$57 million per year. Cities say their local=20
agreements call for community benefits such as=20
institutional networks, which were built and are=20
maintained by local cable franchisees. Cable=20
incumbents would be allowed to opt for state licensing.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6390300.html?display=3DPolicy

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

THE VIRAL VOTE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] 2006 may be remembered as the first=20
"viral-vedio" election. In the two closest races,=20
lost by former broadcaster Sen. Conrad Burns of=20
Montana and Sen. George Allen of Virginia, the=20
margin of defeat was only a relative handful of=20
votes. And in each, damaging videos seen on the=20
Web and then given mainstream exposure on=20
television helped change the results. The videos=20
were produced by a new breed of campaign=20
operative: ones armed with digital video cameras=20
and a mandate to shadow the opposition and keep=20
rolling in case there is any video to be used=20
against them. The candidates provided ample=20
fodder for local newscasts and social-networking=20
sites. There was Burns nodding off at a hearing;=20
the =93naptime=94 video alone attracted more than=20
100,000 views. Then there was his comment=20
comparing taxi drivers to terrorists and=20
condescending remarks about his Guatemalan-born=20
yard man. Burns lost by 2,644 votes, which means=20
that only 1,323 people were the difference=20
between Republicans holding onto control of the=20
Senate and losing it. Likewise, in Virginia, the=20
reigning political wisdom says the deciding=20
factor in George Allen's race was his =93macaca=94=20
comment captured by a college kid=97the person he=20
was aiming the slur at=97doing video stalking duty=20
for Allen's opponent. Before we start writing=20
obits for traditional media, broadcasting and=20
cable news networks remained the place where=20
candidates had to go to be seen and heard to get=20
elected. That meant record campaign spending,=20
much of it on TV advertising, much of it horribly=20
negative. It also meant broadcasters' covering=20
debates and giving up time to candidates. But=20
it's clear from last week that the election=20
landscape of the future is going to be a=20
combination of the viral and the traditional, each fueling the other.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6390446.html?display=3DOpinion

CAMPAIGN COVERAGE STATISTICS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John M.=20
Laabs, Wisconsin Broadcasters Association]
[Commentary] The president of the Wisconsin=20
Broadcasters Association argues that a recent=20
study by the University of Wisconsin finding=20
little election coverage by Badger State TV=20
stations. Laabs' biggest beef is that the study=20
did not look at any other newscasts than the 6pm=20
and 10pm shows. Loss, he says, is any coverage=20
during early morning, 5pm and 9pm newscasts. Also=20
missed in the study were weekend public-affairs=20
programming, free-time offers to candidates and debate coverage.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6390445.html?display=3DOpinion

FOR DEMOCRATS, HOW LONG A HONEYMOON?
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
[Commentary] The GOP lost control of Capitol=20
Hill last week for a number of reasons,=20
particularly the war (the televised pictures of=20
growing casualties were hard to shake off) and=20
the scandals involving Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay,=20
Duke Cunningham and Mark Foley (all of which were=20
broken by news organizations). At times it seemed=20
journalists and administration officials were=20
offering two different versions of reality. But=20
in the end the polls accurately forecast the=20
thumping to come. Now the question is whether a=20
press corps that has been openly at odds with the=20
president will hold the newly empowered Democrats=20
to the same tough standards. As with any new=20
regime, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi are=20
enjoying a media honeymoon for the moment --=20
especially Pelosi, because of her status as the=20
first woman in line to become House speaker and=20
her grandmother-of-five persona. That may not=20
last long. But where will journalists set the=20
performance bar? If the Democrats don't pass much=20
legislation, or if they craft bills that Bush=20
vetoes, will the press blame them for gridlock?=20
If they start rejecting one Bush nominee after=20
another, will the press say they are=20
obstructionist? If, after railing against=20
Republican corruption, they pass only cosmetic=20
ethics reform, will the press say they were all=20
talk and no action? When Democratic committee=20
chairmen issue subpoenas and conduct oversight=20
hearings, will news accounts portray them as=20
harassing the White House? Or will journalists=20
recognize that aggressive congressional inquiries=20
were a normal practice until the GOP Congress,=20
which loved to investigate the Clinton White=20
House, essentially stopped scrutinizing the Bush=20
administration? And if Senate Republicans who=20
denounced Democratic filibusters start trying to=20
talk things to death, will journalists call them on the double standard?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/12/AR200611...
1036.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

TRIBUNE DRAWS GANNETT INTEREST, BUT FIRMS FACE HURDLES
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sarah=20
Ellison sarah.ellison( at )wsj.com and Dennis K. Berman]
Since Tribune Co. opened up to selling itself in=20
pieces, the company has attracted an expanded=20
array of potential bidders, including strategic=20
buyers that are interested in part or all of the=20
company. Last week, after putting in a=20
preliminary bid for the entire company, Gannett=20
Co. executives visited Tribune in Chicago to hear=20
management's presentations. Gannett's bid makes=20
it the first newspaper publisher to join the=20
ranks of private-equity firms and wealthy=20
individuals interested in all of Tribune. Even=20
though Tribune has indicated it would entertain=20
bids for individual assets, tax bills could make=20
selling individual newspapers or TV stations=20
prohibitively expensive. Another issue at hand=20
for a buyer like Gannett would be Federal=20
Communications Commission rules governing media=20
concentration. A separate auction for radio giant=20
Clear Channel Communications Corp., the nation's=20
largest operator of radio stations, could affect=20
the outcome of Tribune's process, given that some=20
private-equity firms, such as Providence Equity=20
Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners, are involved=20
in bidding for both properties. The outcome of=20
the Clear Channel auction could force some=20
private-equity firms to bow out of bidding for=20
Tribune, which would force the remaining firms to form new alliances.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116337890205621164.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)
* Dubious Mix: Rich Suitors, Ailing Newspapers
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/business/media/13carr.html
(requires registration)
* Bids Are Expected For Radio Giant
Two consortiums of private equity firms are=20
expected to submit final bids today for radio=20
giant Clear Channel. Offers are expected from a=20
group that includes Providence Equity Partners,=20
the Blackstone Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts=20
& Company. Another bidder includes Bain Capital,=20
Thomas H Lee partners and the Texas Pacific Group.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/business/media/13clear.html
(requires registration)

TELEMUNDO TO CONSOLIDATE SOME LOCAL NEWS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Meg James]
Local newscasts on some of the Telemundo=20
Spanish-language television stations will soon be=20
a lot less local. As part of a companywide,=20
$750-million restructuring by parent NBC=20
Universal, Telemundo TV stations in markets=20
including San Jose, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas=20
and Houston will no longer produce their own=20
newscasts. Instead, beginning early next year,=20
local news for seven Telemundo stations will=20
originate near Fort Worth. There, anchors and=20
editors will produce three live regionalized=20
newscasts using feeds from reporters and camera=20
operators in the field. Telemundo's restructuring=20
will eliminate about 110 jobs, primarily at the=20
local stations. However, NBC executives said the=20
company planned to hire 30 people to work at the=20
Fort Worth production facility. That means the=20
net job loss will be about 90 positions =97 or=20
about 5% =97 of Telemundo's total workforce. The=20
reductions reflect a trend by media companies to=20
cut newsroom jobs in an effort to boost corporate=20
profit and satisfy shareholders. In recent years,=20
revenue at traditional media outlets has declined=20
as more advertisers have embraced the Internet to=20
reach younger viewers. But centralizing the news=20
operation has drawn a rebuke of NBC Universal=20
from the National Assn. of Hispanic Journalists,=20
which is considering challenging upcoming Telemundo station license renewal=
s.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-telemundo13nov13,1,12...
55.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

CONTENT

NO TURNING BACK
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
Media-watchdog groups -- such as the Parents=20
Television Council, the American Family=20
Association and Industry Ears -- have been=20
fighting against racy programming for years now.=20
But this year, the war over televised indecency=20
took a different turn. A new group of=20
constituents =97 TV critics, advertisers and TV=20
fans alike =97 chimed in to publicly complain about=20
how far cable content has gone. Some claimed that=20
a handful of basic-cable networks shattered old=20
boundaries about what can be depicted on the=20
small screen. Whether or not new TV standards=20
have been established, long-time critics aren't=20
happy about where the bar has now been set. And=20
they want some changes. The PTC has a five-year=20
plan to crusade for a la carte offerings on=20
cable, arguing that consumers shouldn't be forced=20
to get networks with edgy content as part of a=20
basic-cable subscription. To try to tame TV=20
programming, the PTC has employed a strategy of=20
targeting advertisers and pressuring them to take=20
their commercials off specific shows. Chafing at=20
such tactics, cable programmers proudly point out=20
that some of the programs the PTC objects to are=20
huge hits for cable, with millions of viewers.=20
Such viewers are free to turn the dial if they=20
don't like what they see on the screen, and they=20
don't need the PTC or anyone else dictating to=20
them, according to cable executives.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6390303.html

WHAT IF ONLINE PORTALS HAD NOTHING BUT 'DIGITAL FISH WRAP'?
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle 11/12, AUTHOR:=20
Peter Scheer, California First Amendment Coalition]
[Commentary] Reports of the imminent death of=20
newspapers are, as a good print journalist once=20
said, greatly exaggerated. Newspapers, especially=20
big metropolitan dailies, are suffering, to be=20
sure. They are losing editorial staff as a result=20
of layoffs at nearly the rate they have been=20
losing advertising to the Internet. Although the=20
industry as a whole is still decently profitable,=20
valuations have been falling because the markets,=20
focused on revenue trends that point only=20
downward, are panicked about the future. The herd=20
is betting that newspapers are in a death spiral,=20
but some very smart investors think otherwise.=20
The challenge to newspapers today is how to=20
realize the value in their news content. Scheer=20
proposes that newspapers and wire services need=20
to figure out a way, without running afoul of=20
antitrust laws, to agree to embargo their news=20
content from the free Internet for a brief period=20
-- say, 24 hours -- after it is made available to=20
paying customers. The point is not to remove=20
content from the Internet, but to delay its free release in that venue.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/chronicle/archive/2006...
/12/EDGRMLJIGK1.DTL

THE FARCE BEHIND 'DIGITAL FREEDOM'
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Cary Sherman, RIAA]
[Commmentary] Last month, the Consumer=20
Electronics Association and other groups=20
announced a "Digital Freedom" campaign that=20
latches onto the concept of fair use--supposedly=20
to benefit consumers. Seems like a worthwhile=20
effort. But in truth, it's merely a return to an=20
increasingly used playbook, an extremist=20
interpretation of fair use to frighten and=20
mislead consumers and policymakers. The "Digital=20
Freedom" proponents have consistently staked=20
their case out of the mainstream. CEA president=20
and CEO Gary Shapiro's comment that unauthorized=20
downloading is neither "illegal nor immoral" is=20
illustrative of the extremist position of that=20
group, especially given the U.S. Supreme Court's=20
opinion otherwise in its 2005 Grokster ruling.=20
Fair use is, fundamentally, a balancing of=20
interests. All interests. Fairness requires us to=20
look in all directions and to hear from all=20
sides. The thousands of people who work in our=20
industry--from songwriters, to musicians, to=20
artists, to producers, to engineers, to=20
promoters, to label employees--deserve that=20
consideration. The "Digital Freedom" campaign=20
claims that the entertainment industry's goal is=20
to "outlaw new digital technology and devices."=20
This kind of knowingly false and incendiary=20
rhetoric is designed to distort the issue and=20
thwart solutions by demonizing us. The fact is,=20
we are not only music fans, but technology fans,=20
too. We celebrate advances in technology and=20
recognize the importance of finding new ways to=20
deliver content. Instead of redefining fair use=20
to promote a short-term free-for-all, let's=20
embrace the existing concept to allow for=20
long-term growth of technology, while valuing and=20
protecting the content it carries. That benefits us all.
http://news.com.com/The+farce+behind+Digital+Freedom/2010-1025_3-6134620...
ml?tag=3Dnefd.top

INTERNET/BROADBAND

INTERNET OPTIMISM REPLACES DEPRESSION
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Aline van Duyn]
People=92s willingness to pay more than the=20
absolute minimum needed for a basic Internet=20
connection has surprised stock market investors.=20
So much so that last year=92s fears of an all-out=20
price war that would erode profits =96 which hit=20
cable and telecoms stocks =96 have all but=20
disappeared. Many investors now think data=20
distribution via the Internet is not the=20
commodity it was feared to be. This switch has=20
led to an increase of more than 50 per cent this=20
year in the shares of Comcast, the biggest US=20
cable operator, and sharp rises in cable and=20
telecoms stocks in the US, Europe and elsewhere.=20
Other factors that have contributed to the share=20
rally include a switch of focus by investors from=20
the potential for competition for subscribers to=20
television, Internet and phone services, and a=20
realization that there are other business lines.=20
For telecoms groups, the growth of mobile=20
services =96 as well as cost savings after huge=20
mergers in the US and a reduction of price falls=20
for business customers =96 has underpinned share=20
prices. The potential for gains from mergers and=20
acquisitions has fuelled shares of US satellite=20
groups Echostar and DirecTV in particular. For=20
telecoms companies, the progress of the mergers=20
will be closely watched, particularly following=20
US government changes last week. Competition=20
between cable and telecoms companies for both=20
video and high-speed Internet customers may come=20
back into focus. Whether DirecTV and Echostar=20
merge or are acquired could become clearer too.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/834a5be6-727d-11db-a5f5-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

FORMERLY HOMELESS PEOPLE WORK TO WIRE THEIR NEW DIGS
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Heather Knight]
In a city where seemingly everybody wears an=20
armor of cell phones, Blackberries, laptop=20
computers and iPods, it sounds simple enough. But=20
wiring their home for Internet access and signing=20
up for cable TV hasn't been easy for the formerly=20
homeless ragtag crew that lives at San=20
Francisco's McAllister Hotel. After all, living=20
the high-tech life takes money, and the 80=20
residents of the single-room-occupancy hotel in=20
the Civic Center neighborhood don't have much of=20
it. But they do have gumption -- and hope to see=20
their dreams come to fruition after Tuesday night=20
when they hold a benefit at a swanky restaurant=20
next door. They hope to raise $2,000 and envision=20
being able to check e-mail whenever they want,=20
reconnect with family over the Internet, peruse=20
job Web sites with ease, join networking and=20
friendship sites, and stay current on the news and entertainment of the day.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/c/a/2006/11/13/INTERNET.TMP
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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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