January 2007

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

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Power Players say they Don't Control Agenda
At Davos, the Squabble Resumes on How to Wire the Third World
Popularity of Web Brands Signals Power Shift
Internet to Revolutionize TV in 5 Years: Gates
Internet Brands Leave Music Services to Experts
Markey And His Net Neut Show
Tracking Who's Saying What About Whom

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Why the FCC Will Get Media Ownership Wrong Again
Black broadcasters call FCC media ownership proceeding "grossly deficient"
The State of the Media
View of Media Ownership Limits Changes
New Tribune deal in works
Comcast, Verizon Out of RCN Race

JOURNALISM
The Needless Doctrine
Libby Trial Offers Insight Into Media 'Manipulation'
CBS Refuses to Broadcast Iraq Footage
Newspapers lose ground in Web-savvy schools
Politico: Niche Web Site Isn't Yet A Notch Above

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
A Warning for Media -- Likely to Be Ignored
Attack ads go online and underground
Plugged-in candidates

LOCALISM
Local governments: FCC not playing fair
Court Backs Mo. Regulators
Judge Orders Reinstatement of Public-Access Show

QUICKLY -- Broadcast Station Totals

=09
INTERNET/BROADBAND

POWER PLAYERS SAY THEY DON'T CONTROL AGENDA
[SOURCE: MarketWatch, AUTHOR: William Watts]
Being the boss just doesn't carry the same weight=20
it used to when it comes to setting the global=20
agenda -- but that's OK, a high-powered mix of=20
politicians and executives agreed Friday. The=20
Internet and other media and communications=20
platforms have given regular folk around the=20
world more power to set the agenda, but=20
politicians haven't yet caught on, said Gordon=20
Brown, the U.K.'s chancellor of the exchequer, in=20
a panel discussion focused on the rather fuzzy=20
concept of exactly who sets the global agenda.=20
Politicians "remain stuck in the slow lane of the=20
information superhighway," Brown said. Lloyd=20
Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs Group=20
, said the proliferation of new media platforms=20
and sources of information has extended the=20
marketplace metaphor to the world of ideas. And=20
while leaders shouldn't necessarily go with the=20
flow of every social movement that springs up,=20
they should look closely at what's feeding=20
discontent and recognize that there may be a=20
legitimate reason for it, he noted. On the issue=20
of globalization, for instance, "there are people=20
who really are being left out," Blankfein said.=20
But that doesn't mean the Internet should drive=20
decision-making, said media magnate Rupert=20
Murdoch. "We shouldn't all lie down and say let's poll the Internet," he sa=
id.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/davos-power-players-say-they/story...
px?guid=3D%7B27129F87%2D61D7%2D4C6B%2D8ADB%2D0237B6673AF9%7D
* 'It's like networking on steroids'
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070129/davos29.art.htm

AT DAVOS, THE SQUABBLE RESUMES ON HOW TO WIRE THE THIRD WORLD
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: John Markoff]
At the World Economic Forum, the annual conclave=20
of world leaders, concerns over a growing digital=20
divide this year have taken a back seat to the=20
challenge of climate change. Being out of the=20
limelight, however, has not dimmed passions over=20
what the best way is to deploy computers in the=20
developing world. The controversy boiled over on=20
Saturday at a breakfast meeting where Craig R.=20
Barrett, the chairman of Intel, squared off with=20
Nicholas P. Negroponte, the former director of=20
the M.I.T. Media Laboratory, whose nonprofit=20
organization One Laptop Per Child is trying to=20
develop a low-cost computer for the 1.2 billion=20
children in the developing world. Barrett,=20
speaking about Intel=92s efforts to train teachers=20
to use personal computers, said that it is=20
impressive to see what students =93are able to=20
accomplish with some help from a teacher,=94=20
adding, =93You can literally change people=92s=20
lives.=94 But Negroponte suggested that Intel=20
executives had engaged in a campaign to=20
discourage world leaders from committing to=20
purchasing his laptop systems. Negroponte also=20
accused Intel of marketing its strategy to the developing world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/business/worldbusiness/29cheap.html
(requires registration)

POPULARITY OF WEB BRANDS SIGNALS POWER SHIFT
[SOURCE: Reuters]
A consumer poll on Friday exposed the worst kept=20
secret in the business world: Internet companies=20
are becoming more important to people than firms=20
that operate in the real world. Google retained=20
its title as the world's most influential brand,=20
and video-sharing site YouTube and online=20
encyclopedia Wikipedia were catapulted into the=20
top five at the No. 3 and 4 spots, according to=20
the annual survey by online branding magazine=20
brandchannel.com. "Ask yourself how many more=20
hours you are using the Internet compared with 10=20
years ago. Now ask yourself how many more minutes=20
you make calls on a mobile phone. There's no=20
comparison," said Bengt Nordstrom, chief strategy=20
officer at business and technology consultants=20
InCode. "Internet brands are the brands people=20
use and which they like. They are much stronger than mobile brands," he add=
ed.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2007-01-26T170853Z_01_L26570473_RTRUKOC_0_US-BRANDS-GLOBAL-INTERNET.xml&=
WTmodLoc=3DInternetNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-5

INTERNET TO REVOLUTIONIZE TV IN 5 YEARS: GATES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Ben Hirschler]
The Internet is set to revolutionize television=20
within five years, due to an explosion of online=20
video content and the merging of PCs and TV sets,=20
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said on Saturday.=20
"I'm stunned how people aren't seeing that with=20
TV, in five years from now, people will laugh at=20
what we've had," he told business leaders and=20
politicians at the World Economic Forum. The rise=20
of high-speed Internet and the popularity of=20
video sites like YouTube has already led to a=20
worldwide decline in the number hours spent by=20
young people in front of a TV set. In the years=20
ahead, more and more viewers will hanker after=20
the flexibility offered by online video and=20
abandon conventional broadcast television, with=20
its fixed program slots and advertisements that=20
interrupt shows, Gates said. "Certain things like=20
elections or the Olympics really point out how TV=20
is terrible. You have to wait for the guy to talk=20
about the thing you care about or you miss the=20
event and want to go back and see it," he said.=20
"Internet presentation of these things is vastly superior."
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2007-01-27T220203Z_01_L27910975_RTRUKOC_0_US-DAVOS-INTERNET-TV.xml&WTmo=
dLoc=3DTechNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-2

INTERNET BRANDS LEAVE MUSIC SERVICES TO EXPERTS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Antony Bruno]
Veterans of the subscription service field say a=20
successful music subscription business needs at=20
least 1 million subscribers in order to reach=20
critical mass and become self-sustaining,=20
although one can be profitable with lower=20
numbers. To date, the only company to achieve=20
that milestone is RealNetworks' Rhapsody.=20
Assuming it can retain most of the subscribers it=20
acquired from AOL and Virgin, Napster will not be=20
far behind, at around 900,000 subscribers.=20
Meanwhile, household names like Yahoo and MTV are=20
not even close. Neither company has disclosed=20
subscriber figures, but analysts estimate they=20
lag far behind. AOL Music Now had just 350,000=20
subscribers when it handed the service over to=20
Napster -- 100,000 less than when it acquired=20
Music Now in November 2005. The complex market is=20
defined by technology, device and supply problems=20
far out of their control. The technology=20
governing the transfer of subscription tracks to=20
portable devices still has problems. None of the=20
services work with the popular iPod; the few=20
devices that are compatible are unoriginal clones=20
that have not sold well; and the monthly music=20
licensing fees are a constant drain on already=20
thin resources. And to cap it all off, most=20
consumers are just not ready to accept the=20
concept of music as a service rather than as a=20
product. Convincing consumers otherwise will take=20
an expensive marketing effort that the surviving=20
services from MTV and Yahoo have promised, but not yet delivered.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2007-01-27T022904Z_01_N26386535_RTRUKOC_0_US-INTERNET.xml&WTmodLoc=3DInt=
ernetNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-2

MARKEY AND HIS NET NEUT SHOW
[SOURCE: Internet News, AUTHOR: Roy Mark]
[Commentary] The dynamics of the Network=20
Neutrality issue have changed. For starters, the=20
telcos will have to deal with Sen. John Kerry and=20
Rep. Ed Markey, both of Massachusetts, who will=20
chair the committees considering network=20
neutrality legislation. Both championed bills=20
last year that would have imposed network=20
neutrality provisions on broadband providers.=20
Their bills would have curbed Verizon and AT&T's=20
plans to charge content providers like Google and=20
Yahoo additional fees based on bandwidth=20
consumption. The bills went nowhere under the=20
Republicans. The Senate version never got past=20
the Commerce Committee. Markey's House amendment=20
failed in committee and was rejected again on the=20
House floor. Sen Kerry has already agreed to=20
co-sponsor the Senate network neutrality bill=20
introduced earlier this month by Byron Dorgan=20
(D-N.D.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). Rep Markey=20
is expected to re-introduce his failed network=20
neutrality bill in the next few weeks.
http://www.internetnews.com/commentary/article.php/3656306

TRACKING WHO'S SAYING WHAT ABOUT WHOM
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Kim Hart]
Companies ranging from movie studios and=20
television networks to automakers and burger=20
chains hire these professional Web surfers to=20
scour the Internet for any mention of their=20
brands. Over the past few years, the "online=20
analysts" have helped the companies track their=20
reputations, found ways to get their products=20
noticed and joined online conversations to help=20
steer them the way clients want them to go. More=20
recently, as the explosion of blogs, social=20
networks and video-sharing sites has driven big=20
companies to recognize the role of Internet image=20
in protecting their bottom lines, traditional=20
media companies and private investors are seeking=20
to buy Web-savvy start-ups that have a toehold in cyberspace.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/28/AR200701...
1032.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

WHY THE FCC WILL GET MEDIA OWNERSHIP WRONG AGAIN
[SOURCE: American Progress, AUTHOR: Mark Lloyd]
[Commentary] The Federal Communications=20
Commission will complete its review of FCC media=20
ownership policies this spring. All those=20
concerned about the state of our democracy should=20
be very worried, which is why the Center for=20
American Progress on January 30 will unveil a new=20
set of formulas that the FCC could use to measure=20
the diversity available to all communities in=20
local media markets across the country. But what=20
if the FCC did something that was really new?=20
What if it defined the public interest in a way=20
that actually seemed to coincide with what most=20
of us think that means? What if the FCC defined=20
the public interest to mean the best interests of=20
a democratic public? What if the FCC created an=20
index that could really show the relationship=20
between media ownership and what local citizens=20
know about government? As a new Congress=20
controlled by Democrats begins oversight of an=20
FCC controlled by Republicans, it is crucial to=20
begin asking why the agency repeatedly fails to=20
ask the right questions before it tries to loosen=20
media concentration rules. Congressional=20
oversight, however, is not sufficient. An=20
entirely new way of discerning media diversity in=20
local American broadcast markets is clearly needed.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/01/media_myopia.html
See also --
* The FCC and Media Ownership Rulemaking
[SOURCE: The Associated Press]
A timeline, from June 2003 to January 2007, on=20
the FCC's media ownership proceeding.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Media-Ownership-Timeline.html
(requires registration)
* For more on the FCC's Media Ownership=20
proceeding see http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dinitiatives/ownership

BLACK BROADCASTERS CALL FCC MEDIA OWNERSHIP PROCEEDING "GROSSLY DEFICIENT"
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
A black broadcasters group and Jesse Jackson's=20
Rainbow/PUSH coalition have called the Federal=20
Communications Commission's ongoing media=20
ownership proceeding so "grossly deficient at=20
this point" that the two organizations cannot=20
file a complete reply to previous comments yet.=20
Rainbow/PUSH and the National Association of=20
Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) charge that the=20
proceeding fails to address key minority=20
broadcaster issues required by law and by an=20
appeals court decision in 2004. Those issues are:=20
furthering minority ownership, a definition of a=20
"socially and economically disadvantaged=20
business", and identifying "market entry barriers=20
for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in=20
the provision and ownership of telecommunications=20
services and information services." The groups'=20
filing, dated January 17th, also casts doubt on=20
the scope of media ownership studies commissioned=20
by the FCC in late November. "The brief=20
descriptions of the studies provided by the=20
Commission raise serious questions about whether=20
the studies will cover all necessary subjects or=20
go into the appropriate depth in their=20
examination of those subjects," PUSH and NABOB write.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/307

THE STATE OF THE MEDIA
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Now that President Bush has delivered his the=20
state-of-the-union address, B&C asked some other=20
presidents -- and chairmen, CEOs, executive=20
directors and commissioners -- to weigh in on the=20
state of the media. Whether celebrating the=20
arrival of the digital future or grappling with=20
media ownership, all agree that 2007 will be a=20
year of great possibilities. 1) Bob Wright,=20
NBCUniversal: If you're a diversified media=20
company with good results in most of your areas,=20
you're probably fine. There are areas of=20
weakness, however. If you're more narrowly=20
focused -- in an advertiser-dependent print=20
business, for example -- you're having a tougher=20
time. 2) FCC Chairman Kevin Martin: Mark February=20
19, 2007 on your calendar -- the digital TV=20
transition offers broadcasters the opportunity to=20
offer new services and create new revenue=20
streams. "Policymakers should assist broadcasters=20
to carefully manage the digital transition.=20
Fostering new services while protecting existing=20
ones from interference must be a priority.=20
Equally important, however, is meeting the=20
Communications Act's basic requirements that the=20
digital signal be viewable by all TV watchers and=20
that it not be materially degraded by a cable or=20
satellite provider. 3) House Commerce Committee=20
Chairman John Dingell: "we must not forget that=20
large companies still control much of what we see=20
and hear, and it is incumbent on all of us to=20
remain vigilant, such that a glorious diversity=20
of voices remains the hallmark of our national=20
and local media landscape." 4) FCC Commissioner=20
Michael Copps: Media ownership concentration=20
imperils localism, diversity and coverage of=20
"great issues and controversies facing our=20
democracy." The FCC "can do a far better job than=20
it has in defining what broadcasters must provide=20
the American people in return for free use of the=20
spectrum." 5) Jeff Chester, Center for Digital=20
Democracy: It is the worst of times; it is the=20
best of times -- media giants operate without=20
regard for the public interest, financial=20
concerns squeeze newsrooms, and journalism failed=20
the country in the lead up to the war.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6410685.html?display=3DNews

VIEW OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP LIMITS CHANGES
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
When members of the Federal Communications=20
Commission look at TV stations these days, they=20
aren't just kicking back to watch American Idol=20
or Heroes. Regulators are about to reassess their=20
rules on who can own stations and how many -- a=20
review they are legally bound to do every four=20
years. And to rule on the most controversial=20
proposals, they must determine how much damage --=20
if any -- the Internet and other new media are=20
inflicting on local stations, which collectively=20
had an estimated $26 billion in ad sales last=20
year. If officials conclude that competition from=20
the digital world threatens local TV, they might=20
decide it's OK to ease the rules and let=20
companies own multiple stations in a market, or=20
let a newspaper buy a station in its town.=20
Broadcasters and newspaper companies (including=20
USA TODAY parent Gannett, the largest newspaper=20
publisher and a major owner of TV stations) are=20
lobbying for that. But the case for change=20
becomes weaker if, as many consumer advocates=20
say, stations still generate healthy cash flows=20
and dominate local news. While the issues are=20
important, some can't help but look at this=20
year's debate with skepticism. "The term 'media=20
monopoly' has meaning, it's had meaning for 60=20
years, but I think the content of the term is=20
changing," former FCC chairman Reed Hundt says.=20
"'Media monopoly' seems now to be about whether=20
you can use the Internet for free or whether=20
there's any limit on what you can send over the=20
Internet," he adds. "The issues of the last 10=20
years don't have that much resonance anymore."
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070129/mediaownership.art.htm

NEW TRIBUNE DEAL IN WORKS
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune 1/27, AUTHOR: Michael Oneal]
Tribune Co.'s top management team is talking with=20
private-equity companies about crafting a new=20
deal to restructure the company and will likely=20
begin discussing its ideas with the company's=20
special board committee Saturday in Chicago,=20
sources said. According to a source familiar with=20
the board's thinking, the committee overseeing=20
Tribune's auction process has concluded that=20
offers for the company tendered by California's=20
Chandler family and Los Angeles billionaires Eli=20
Broad and Ron Burkle don't value Tribune's assets=20
highly enough. That has opened the door for a=20
management-led solution, the source said, noting=20
that top executives led by Chairman and Chief=20
Executive Dennis FitzSimons are weighing options=20
with several private-equity firms. These firms=20
include Chicago's Madison Dearborn Partners,=20
which backed out of the original auction before=20
it closed Jan. 17. Tribune executives also are=20
exploring ways the McCormick Tribune Foundation,=20
a non-profit charitable organization that is=20
controlled by Tribune management, could=20
participate in a deal by converting its 13.1=20
percent Tribune stake into equity in a newly=20
formed company. McCormick Tribune is the=20
company's second-largest shareholder. The=20
Chandlers, with a 20 percent stake, are Tribune's largest.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0701270024jan27,1,133051.stor...
oll=3Dchi-news-hed

COMCAST, VERIZON OUT OF RCN RACE
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Farrell]
The auction for overbuilder RCN, once expected to=20
wrap up in January, will likely bleed into later=20
months now that two potential suitors have=20
dropped out of the running. According to several=20
executives familiar with the auction, Verizon=20
Communications and Comcast, once thought to be=20
looking closely at the cable overbuilder, are no=20
longer involved in the process. Also, two=20
private-equity firms that had been looking=20
closely at RCN=92s 424,000 subscribers have backed out of the auction.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6410676.html?display=3DTop+Stories

JOURNALISM

THE NEEDLESS DOCTRINE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The Fairness Doctrine -- requiring=20
broadcasters to air multiple viewpoints on=20
controversial subjects -- sounds fair, but making=20
it a government regulation inhibited discussion=20
of public affairs and led to coverage of only=20
non-controversial issues. Yes, broadcasters use=20
public spectrum, but government content control=20
is not a fair price to pay for the privilege. Nor=20
is inhibiting free speech. Media reformers should=20
know better than to pine for the return of this=20
antique rule, especially at a time when a rather=20
average cable package picks up 100 channels, and=20
the Internet offers tens of thousands of other places to get information.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6410632.html?display=3DOpinion

LIBBY TRIAL OFFERS INSIGHT INTO MEDIA 'MANIPULATION'
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
A smorgasbord of Washington insider details has=20
emerged during the perjury trial of the vice=20
president's former chief of staff. For example,=20
when Dick Cheney really needed friends in the=20
news media, his staff was short of phone numbers.=20
No one served up spicier morsels than Cheney's=20
former top press assistant. Cathie Martin=20
described the craft of media manipulation under=20
oath and in blunter terms than politicians like=20
to hear in public. The uses of leaks and=20
exclusives. When to let one's name be used and=20
when to hide in anonymity. Which news medium was=20
seen as more susceptible to control and what=20
timing was most propitious. All candidly=20
described. Even the rating of certain journalists=20
as friends to favor and critics to shun -- a=20
faint echo of the enemies list drawn up in=20
Richard Nixon's White House more than 30 years ago.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003538602

CBS REFUSES TO BROADCAST IRAQ FOOTAGE
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Rory O'Connor and David Olson, MediaChannel.org]
[Commentary] CBS's chief foreign correspondent=20
notified peers that the network won't broadcast=20
her grisly Baghdad story "that is largely being ignored."
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/47269/

NEWSPAPERS LOSE GROUND IN WEB-SAVVY SCHOOLS: STUDY
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Robert MacMillan]
More U.S. teachers are using national and=20
international online news sites in the classroom,=20
leaving behind newspapers that fail to grasp the=20
Internet's importance in trying to reach=20
students, found the Carnegie-Knight Task Force on=20
the Future of Journalism Education. Fifty-seven=20
percent of teachers use Internet-based news in=20
the classroom with some frequency, said the=20
study, which was based on a survey of 1,262=20
teachers in grades 5 through 12 in the fall of=20
2006. That compares with 31 percent for national=20
television news, and 28 percent for daily papers.=20
Local television news, at 13 percent, was at the=20
bottom of the list, the study found.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2007-01-29T065632Z_01_N28443894_RTRUKOC_0_US-NEWSPAPERS-SCHOOLS.xml&WTm=
odLoc=3DTechNewsHome_C2_technologyNews-1

POLITICO: NICHE WEB SITE ISN'T YET A NOTCH ABOVE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
For all the pregame hype about voice and attitude=20
and peeling back the curtain of traditional=20
journalism, the Politico debuted last week by=20
relying on an old-fashioned concept: reporting.=20
"I've always envisioned us as a reporting-driven=20
site, not a radical departure in creating a new=20
form of journalism," says John Harris, the former=20
Post editor and reporter who is editor in chief=20
of the new venture. "I don't really want=20
opinionizing, except from our outside editorial contributors."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/28/AR200701...
1355.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

OBAMA 'MUSLIM SCHOOL' MISTAKE A WARNING FOR MEDIA -- LIKELY TO BE IGNORED
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Chances are "about 100 percent" that a candidate=20
will be ruined by a story that he or she hasn=91t=20
anticipated, said ABC News political reporter=20
Jake Tapper. "A long and protracted campaign like=20
we=91re going to see means you=91re going to have=20
long periods with not much news and news outlets=20
are going to want to fill the void," said Tom=20
Rosenstiel, a former political reporter for the=20
Los Angeles Times and now director of the Project=20
for Excellence in Journalism. "In some ways,=20
there are more openings for opposition research,=20
dirty tricks, to get into play." Before the=20
Internet=91s spread, a newsroom used to have only a=20
handful of news sources coming into their=20
computers, said Marty Ryan, political director at=20
Fox News Channel. Being careful about the facts=20
is a lesson drummed into every journalist. But=20
opinion-based talk shows aren=91t run by=20
journalists. They=91re a staple of Fox=91s lineup and=20
spreading around other cable news outlets.=20
Television quickly magnifies stories that might=20
have been forgotten or not even noticed=20
otherwise, with Howard Dean =91s scream an infamous=20
example. Remember: Most Americans did not have=20
three cable news networks in their homes until=20
the 2000 campaign. Similarly, it wasn=91t too long=20
ago that the only Web site political=20
professionals watched carefully was the Drudge=20
Report. Now, there are dozens of political blogs that must be monitored.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003538562
* Feeding Frenzy for a Big Story, Even if It=92s False
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/us/politics/29media.html?ref=3Dtodaysp...

ATTACK ADS GO ONLINE AND UNDERGROUND
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Michael Finnegan]
There's a rapidly growing collection of Web=20
videos posted by critics of leading contenders in=20
the 2008 presidential race. Targets so far=20
include Barack Obama, Rudolph W. Giuliani, John=20
Edwards, Mitt Romney and Hillary Rodham Clinton.=20
The explosion of video-sharing on the Web poses=20
major risks for presidential candidates: Gaffes=20
and inconsistent statements witnessed by dozens=20
can be e-mailed instantly to millions. For the=20
candidates, as well as their detractors, the=20
chief attribute of Web video is its broad reach,=20
accomplished at little or no expense. "You can=20
grab it, send it, link it, and at zero cost,"=20
said Matthew Dowd, a top strategist for President=20
Bush's 2004 reelection campaign. "Two hundred=20
thousand people could see it in 24 hours."=20
Several White House contenders have already made=20
promotional Web videos a central part of their=20
communications strategy, using them to reach=20
supporters directly, without a media filter.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-internet29jan29,1,7...
249.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)
* The hats fly into the virtual ring
Candidates announce via the Web but can't bypass traditional media.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20070129/mediamix29.art.htm

PLUGGED-IN CANDIDATES
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Following the trail blazed by=20
Howard Dean in 2003, at least five of the nine=20
would-be Democratic nominees are incorporating=20
MySpace, Facebook and other social networks into=20
their campaigns. In fact, many are taking a=20
shotgun approach to the Internet, posting links=20
to an array of sites in the hope of spreading=20
buzz about their candidacy to the far corners of=20
the World Wide Web, if not the world itself. The=20
nine Republicans in the race are taking a more=20
buttoned-down approach. Their sites include no=20
links to social networks, viral video outlets or=20
other sites outside the candidate's control.=20
Instead, they focus on the meat-and-potatoes of=20
campaigning =97 raising money and manpower. That's=20
not surprising, given the GOP's knack for=20
campaign discipline. When candidates embrace=20
sites such as MySpace and YouTube, they sacrifice=20
some discipline and control in exchange for=20
energy, creativity and a network to distribute=20
their message for free. The obvious risk is that=20
someone in the loose-knit confederation will do=20
something that embarrasses the candidate. Still,=20
in the era of YouTube and cellphone video,=20
candidates have less control over their image and=20
message than ever before. Over the next year and=20
a half, we'll see whether the Internet's social=20
tools can make a candidate as well as it can break one.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-ed-websites29jan29,...
737651.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)

LOCALISM

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: FCC NOT PLAYING FAIR
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
Local government officials are accusing the=20
Federal Communications Commission of=20
misrepresenting the facts while pushing through=20
rules that will make it easier for big phone=20
companies to get into cable television. The=20
policy change won FCC approval on a 3-2 vote Dec.=20
20. The new rules are meant to spur more=20
competition for cable television providers. They=20
require local governments to speed up the=20
approval process for new competitors, cap the=20
fees paid by new entrants and ease requirements=20
that competitors build systems that reach every=20
home. opponents of the FCC's action say the new=20
rules amount to a "federalization" of the cable=20
franchising process. They contend the change will=20
mean a loss of local oversight, fewer dollars for=20
public and government access channels and the=20
possibility of "cherry picking" by companies that=20
choose to serve only the richest neighborhoods.=20
Supporters of the policy change have cited dozens=20
of instances in which local governments have made=20
unreasonable demands of new competitors,=20
effectively blocking them from offering service.=20
It was one of those claims that raised the ire of=20
David L. Smith, the city attorney in Tampa, Fla.=20
He said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin made a=20
"blatantly inaccurate allegation" about Tampa's=20
conduct during franchise negotiations with=20
Verizon. Chairman Martin was quizzing an agency=20
employee during a commission meeting before=20
casting his vote when he asked: "Is Verizon still=20
required to film the tutoring classes for the=20
math classes in Tampa, Florida in order to get a=20
franchise?" Rosemary Harold, a deputy chief in=20
the FCC's Media Bureau, answered, "Yes, Mr.=20
Chairman." Harold was put on the spot earlier by=20
Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, who voted=20
against the FCC proposal. Commissioner Adelstein=20
asked Harold to cite "specific communities" that=20
are "particularly having a problem right now" in=20
gaining a franchise. Smith, who negotiated with=20
Verizon in Tampa, says Martin's allegation=20
neither was in nor a condition of the franchise=20
agreement. Martin's characterization, the lawyer=20
said, was "complete and abject fiction." Smith=20
also said the FCC had never contacted him about the claim.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8MUEAB80.htm

COURT BACKS MO REGULATORS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
Missouri utility regulators will pursue action to=20
compel Comcast to apply for an operating=20
certificate for its telephone operation in the=20
state, bolstered by a federal court ruling=20
affirming that state officials have the authority=20
to interpret federal policy on some=20
voice-over-Internet Protocol products. The=20
ruling, issued Jan. 18 by Judge Nanette Laughrey=20
of U.S. District Court for the Western District=20
of Missouri, came in response to a suit Comcast=20
filed last October to determine if the Missouri=20
Public Service Commission lacked legal authority=20
to classify Comcast's Digital Phone product as a=20
telephone service subject to state authority. In=20
rejecting the injunction bid, Laughrey said=20
Congress intended to allow states to regulate=20
some telecommunications services.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6410574.html?display=3DPolicy

JUDGE ORDERS REINSTATEMENT OF PUBLIC ACCESS SHOW
[SOURCE: Multichannel News]
St. Clair County (IL) Associate Judge Andrew=20
Gleeson ruled that the East St. Louis City=20
Council must reinstate Lee Coleman=92s public=20
access show on Charter Communications=92 system.=20
Judge Gleeson ruled that the City Council did not=20
give Coleman the proper 30-day written notice=20
before voting to end its contract with him last=20
month. Coleman signed a 15-year deal with the=20
city in March 2005 to operate the channel, which=20
is provided by Charter as part of its franchise.=20
But the City Council questioned Coleman's use of=20
the channel to criticize the city administration=20
and his granting of airtime to former city=20
manager Alvin Parks Jr., who is attempting to=20
unseat Mayor Carl Officer. The city is expected=20
to argue in court March 5 why it should be able=20
to break Coleman's contract, adding that a 30-day=20
termination notice was sent to Coleman Jan. 18.=20
Talk of the City was pulled Dec. 27.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6410547.html?display=3DBreaking+News

QUICKLY

BROADCAST STATION TOTALS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
According to the FCC, there are 13,837 radio=20
stations in the US: 4,754 AM stations, 6,266 FM=20
stations and 2,817 noncommercial radio stations.=20
There are 1,756 TV stations: 1,376 commercial=20
stations and 380 noncommercial stations. In total=20
there are 27, 807 broadcast outlets. For more=20
dinner party trivia, see the URL below.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269784A1.doc
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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