April 2007

BROADCASTING
FCC says no authority to act on Imus comments
Imus Second Biggest Story of 2007 So Far
Is Rush Limbaugh next?
Telemundo Joins NAB

MORE NEWS FROM FCC
FCC Assessing High-Speed Internet Access
Status of Children's Television Programming
Martin Says Congress Could Mandate A La Carte
Martin Asks Congress For DTV Education Money
Violence Report Imminent, Commissioners Say

CHILDREN & MEDIA
National League of Cities Eyes Media Violence
PTC Gives Nets an 'F' in Ratings Programs

JOURNALISM
Student-run media meet challenge
U.S. media reports fairly on success, failure in Iraq

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Sirius CEO Faces Skeptics in Senate
GE, NBC Universal debut $250M media fund

TELECOM
NY Attorney General Cuomo slams Verizon service
Vonage Says Patent Suits Could Lead to Bankruptcy

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Ban on monthly Net access taxes faces obstacles
Politicians fall behind in cyberspace race
House vote targets false IRS Web sites, e-mails

QUICKLY -- Music CD sales fall 13 pct through=20
2006 in U.S.; July 1, Feb. 17 Concern Small Cable=20
Operators; Lamb: No C-SPAN in 10 Years?

BROADCASTING

FCC SAYS NO AUTHORITY TO ACT ON IMUS COMMENTS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Karey Wutkowski]
The Federal Communications Commission does not=20
have the authority to fine or take other action=20
about fired radio host Don Imus' racist comments,=20
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told Congress on=20
Tuesday. He said Congress gave the FCC authority=20
to issue fines only for the broadcast of indecent=20
content, which is limited to sexual and excretory=20
language, or for inappropriate children's=20
programming. "Imus' comments were obviously very=20
offensive, more offensive than some of the=20
indecent remarks we've fined people for in the=20
past," Chairman Martin said during a budget=20
hearing before the House Appropriations=20
Subcommittee. "The commission doesn't fine based=20
on whether or not something is offensive=20
language." Although the Commission has received a=20
number of complaints about Imus, the appropriate=20
recourse for angry listeners is to complain when=20
a broadcast station's license is up for renewal.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DindustryNews&storyID=
=3D2007-04-17T183443Z_01_N17436734_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-FCC-IMUS-DC.XML
* FCC Chief Said Don Imus Did Not Break the Law
http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/telecomwatch.aspx?eid=3D2827&entry=
=3Dfeed

IMUS SECOND BIGGEST STORY OF 2007 SO FAR
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism,=20
AUTHOR: Tom Rosenstiel, Paul Hitlin, and Hong Ji ]
The downfall of talk show host Don Imus for=20
racist and misogynistic comments was the second=20
most-heavily covered story of the year to date,=20
according to the PEJ=92s weekly study of the agenda=20
of the American news media. From his attempted=20
redemption on the Rev. Al Sharpton=92s radio show=20
to the fallout over his firing by NBC and CBS,=20
the controversy over Imus=92s insults about the=20
Rutgers=92s women=92s basketball team filled more=20
than a quarter of the newshole (26%) of PEJ=92s=20
News Coverage Index for the week of April 8 to=20
13. Only the debate over American war policy with=20
Iraq when the President announced his =93surge=94=20
plan the week of January 7 to 12 got more media=20
coverage this year. It filled 34% of the newshole=20
in our index that week. Nothing else this year=20
has come close to capturing the media=92s attention=20
at this level. The next biggest story of the=20
year, the controversy over the firing of U.S.=20
Attorneys, filled 18% of the newshole the week of=20
March 18 to 23. The takeover by Democrats of=20
Congress reached 15% the first week of the year.=20
Several stories, including the presidential=20
campaign and the State of the Union speech, have=20
gone as high as 13% in a given week. The Anna=20
Nicole Smith story has never exceeded 10% of the total newshole.
http://journalism.org/node/5085

IS RUSH LIMBAUGH NEXT?
[SOURCE: Salon, AUTHOR: Alex Koppelman]
First they came for Don Imus. And now they'll=20
come for Rush. At least, that was the fear at the=20
Free Congress Foundation on April 13, where a=20
panel discussion of an ancient broadcasting=20
regulation quickly turned into a discussion of=20
Don Imus and how his firing might portend a=20
similar fate for some of the right's best-known=20
media personalities. In the absence of any=20
compelling evidence, participants in the latest=20
of the conservative think tank's occasional Next=20
Conservatism Forum series managed to convince=20
themselves that the Fairness Doctrine, a rule=20
that was scrapped by the Federal Communications=20
Commission 20 years ago, was poised for a=20
comeback, and was about to become a weapon in a=20
liberal jihad against the right wing's freedom of=20
speech. In fact, the prominent conservatives,=20
addressing a crowd of 30 on the ground floor of a=20
Washington row house, described what sounded like=20
a conspiracy. Panelist Ken Blackwell, formerly=20
Ohio's secretary of state and the Republican=20
candidate for governor last fall, said Imus was=20
"not a conservative" and that "the left has=20
sacrificed one of their own to give them a=20
platform to go after true conservative talk show=20
hosts." Cliff Kincaid, of the conservative media=20
watchdog Accuracy in Media, said the Imus firing=20
had been a revelation. "It wasn't exactly clear=20
to me how [liberals] intended to bring back the=20
Fairness Doctrine, but I think now with the Imus=20
affair, we know ... [And it's a] short leap from=20
firing Imus to going after Rush Limbaugh."
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/04/16/fairness_doctrine/index_np....

TELEMUNDO JOINS NAB
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
On the heels of fellow NBC Universal television=20
network NBC's announcement earlier this week,=20
Spanish-language network Telemundo has joined the=20
National Association of Broadcasters, NAB President David Rehr said Tuesday.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434607.html

MORE NEWS FROM FCC

FCC ASSESSING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Federal Communications Commission wants to=20
determine whether high-speed Internet access is=20
being made available fast enough to all=20
Americans, calling it "critical" to the nation's=20
economy. The Commission said Monday it has begun=20
to assess the availability of broadband, or=20
high-speed, service, especially in rural and=20
other underserved areas. The agency will also=20
focus its inquiry on the cost of service and=20
analyze competition among broadband providers.=20
The FCC is seeking comments on how to speed up=20
the rollout of high-speed Internet access, as=20
well as opinions on investment trends in the=20
industry. Additionally, the FCC is seeking=20
comment on how to improve the data collected on=20
wireless broadband services and data about=20
subscribers who make telephone calls over the=20
Internet. The agency said improving this data=20
will help set broadband policy in the future.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?Feed=3DAP...
te=3D20070417&ID=3D6758000
* FCC news release
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272365A1.doc
* Broadband Data Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-17A1.doc
* Broadband Deployment Notice of Inquiry
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-21A1.doc
* FCC Launches Inquiry into Broadband Market Practices
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-31A1.doc

STATUS OF CHILDREN'S TELEVISION PROGRAMMING
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC has released a Public Notice requesting=20
comment on the status of children's television=20
programming, and compliance with the Children's=20
Television Act ("CTA") and the Commission's=20
rules. The FCC asks: Are licensees complying with=20
the CTA? Does the programming that licensees=20
have reported as core children's programming=20
generally meet the Commission's standards? 6. Are=20
the core programming criteria listed in the=20
Commission's rules adequate to properly define=20
educational and informational programming? Do=20
these criteria fulfill the requirements of the=20
CTA? Should the Commission consider additional=20
criteria? Does the current level of preemption=20
affect compliance with the CTA and Congressional=20
intent? In what other ways are licensees=20
complying, or not, with the CTA and the=20
Commission's rules related to children's=20
programming? Comments are due 30 days after the=20
notice is published in the Federal Register.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-1716A1.doc

MARTIN SAYS CONGRESS COULD MANDATE A LA CARTE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's push for cable a la=20
rate just became a shove. The chairman said=20
Tuesday that Congress may want to mandate a la=20
carte as a way to help viewers deal with=20
controlling indecent and/or violent content. That=20
came in a House appropriations committee hearing=20
where Chairman Martin was defending his agency's=20
budget but also responding to questions about=20
content issues. Chairman Martin was asked about=20
indecency and explained that he had been=20
suggesting a la carte to the cable industry as a=20
way to control content and prices, but that the=20
industry had not been receptive to the=20
suggestion. He then agreed with one legislator=20
that it might be time for Congress to step in and=20
that that would be a good thing.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434492.html
* Chairman Martin Prepared Testimony
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272381A1.doc
* Martin Endorses a la Carte Legislation
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6434611.html
* Religious Broadcasters: A La Carte Is a 'Dagger'
The Faith and Family Broadcasting Coalition --=20
which represents religious broadcasters including=20
Dr. Paul Crouch of Trinity, Jerry Falwell and Pat=20
Robertson -- said cable a la carte is a "dagger=20
aimed at the heart of religious broadcasting in America."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434589.html

MARTIN ASKS CONGRESS FOR DTV EDUCATION MONEY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable]
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin made his pitch to a=20
House Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday for=20
$1.5 million for a DTV education campaign. That=20
would be in addition to the $5 million the=20
National Telecommunications & Information=20
Administration got for its campaign to promote=20
the DTV converter box subsidy program. The=20
request was part of a pitch for an extra $4.5=20
million for four projects. The DTV money, said=20
Chairman Martin, would " allow the Commission to=20
initiate a wide range of outreach projects to=20
help educate consumers about the DTV transition,"=20
though he didn't say what those efforts would be.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434480.html
-- See also --
FCC'S COPPS WORRIED ABOUT DTV TRANSITION
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Seth Sutel]
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on Tuesday called=20
for greater efforts to educate the public about a=20
government-mandated switch-over to digital=20
television signals in two years. Commissioner=20
Copps, appearing alongside fellow Commissioner=20
Deborah Taylor Tate, told the annual convention=20
of the National Association of Broadcasters that=20
there was a possibility of serious disruptions=20
when analog TV signals go off the air on Feb. 17,=20
2009. ''I am really worried about this entire=20
transition process,'' Copps said at the NAB=20
convention in Las Vegas. The guiding principle,=20
he said, should be ''no consumer left behind.''=20
Commissioner Copps called for more efforts in=20
both the private and public sector to educate the public about the issue.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/04/17/daily.8/
* Copps 'Really Worried' About Digital Transition
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434582.html

VIOLENCE REPORT IMMINENT, COMMISSIONERS SAY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Speaking to the National Association of=20
Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, FCC=20
Commissioners Michael Copps and Deborah Tate=20
promised a report to Congress on violent=20
programming will be released soon. A group of=20
powerful Congressmen asked the FCC to produce the=20
report back in 2004. So far, all the=20
commissioners but one -- Jonathan Adelstein --=20
are said to be on board with the report, which a=20
commission source says concludes that TV has=20
become more violent. It also reveals that studies=20
indicate violence has an adverse effect on kids,=20
and that Congress could find a constitutional way=20
to expand the FCC's regulatory authority to include violence.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434472.html

CHILDREN & MEDIA

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES EYES MEDIA VIOLENCE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The National League of Cities (NLC) used Monday's=20
shootings at Virginia Tech as a springboard for a=20
media violence conference in Indianapolis April=20
17. Indianapolis Mayor and NLC President Bart=20
Peterson noted that communities have seen too=20
many incidents of extreme violence by and against=20
children and a "prominent" concern "is the=20
heightened exposure of children to graphic=20
violence in video games, television, movies, and=20
music." He said rather than government=20
intervention, he favors action that would likely=20
take the form of "partnering with industry and=20
other interested organization," an approach=20
similar to the one being advocated by the FCC and=20
legislators on the issue of childhood obesity.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434593.html
* Summit on Media Violence Held in Shadow of Virginia Tech Tragedy
http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp;jsessionid=3D46CBB248A9B27...
E6E040FD4D9DE9BA.tomcat1?resourceid=3D3448184&access=3DEH

PTC GIVES NETS AN 'F' IN RATING PROGRAMS
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
A new Parents Television Council study released=20
Monday at the National Association of=20
Broadcasters convention claims that the=20
television ratings system is still not accurate,=20
and thus grossly unreliable, due to the fact that=20
content descriptors are being arbitrarily and=20
inconsistently applied by the broadcast networks=20
during primetime viewing hours. The study said=20
that two-thirds of the shows reviewed containing=20
potentially offensive content lacked one or more=20
of the appropriate content descriptors, which,=20
PTC says, =93render the ratings system and V-chip=20
virtually useless.=94 =93The TV Networks are=20
perpetrating a fraud on the American public, on=20
the Congress, on the courts and even their on own=20
advertisers when they say that the TV ratings and=20
V-chip are sufficient to protect children and=20
families from inappropriate content,=94 said PTC President Tim Winter.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/04/17/daily.5/

JOURNALISM

STUDENT-RUN MEDIA MEET CHALLENGE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Molly Hennessy-Fiske]
As major news outlets scrambled to learn about=20
the Virginia Tech shooter, the wounded and the=20
dead, they found themselves scooped by Virginia=20
Tech's student-run media: The Collegiate Times=20
newspaper and website, collegemedia.com; the=20
web-only news site, planetblacksburg.com; and=20
radio station WUVT-FM. The news marathon began=20
shortly after 7 a.m. Monday, as unofficial=20
reports of the first Virginia Tech shootings=20
began trickling in through e-mails, text messages=20
and cellphone calls. During the course of that=20
day and through the next, student reporters=20
fanned out to cover the shattering events that=20
overwhelmed the campus =97 interviewing students,=20
teachers, school administrators, police officers=20
and hospital workers. Collegiate Times editor-in=20
chief Amie Steele became a staple on CNN,=20
explaining details of the shooting. Reporters for=20
the student-run newspaper churned out stories=20
even as phones failed, police evacuated them from=20
their offices in the student center, and their=20
website crashed as it was discovered by readers the world over.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-paper18apr18,1,7...
133.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)
* Editor of Virginia Tech Paper: On Scooping the Major Media
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003572546

US MEDIA REPORTS FAIRLY ON SUCCESS, FAILURE IN IRAQ
[SOURCE: Army Times, AUTHOR: Gian P. Gentile]
[Commentary] "From my foxhole-view as a tactical=20
battalion commander in western Baghdad in 2006,=20
the American press, although not perfect, has=20
reported the reality of the Iraq war. Contrary to=20
what most believe in the American military, as=20
well as some conservative columnists and a few=20
politicians, the American press does give a=20
reasonably full, fair and balanced picture of what is happening in Iraq."
http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_opinion_gentile_070416/

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

SIRIUS CEO FACES SKEPTICS IN SENATE
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Matthew Perrone]
Senate Commerce Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)=20
said Tuesday Sirius Satellite Radio has "a steep=20
hill to climb" in showing that its proposed=20
purchase of XM Satellite Radio will not hurt=20
competition in the audio entertainment market.=20
"Given the public interest in promoting=20
competition and maximizing a diversity of media=20
outlets, we should be skeptical of claims that=20
new technologies necessarily 'change the=20
equation' and provide competition sufficient to=20
restrain monopoly power," Sen Inouye said.
Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin told members=20
of the Committee a combined satellite radio=20
provider would benefit consumers by letting them=20
access both companies' services for a diminished=20
price. Both companies currently have subscription=20
fees of $12.95. Karmazin said a merged company=20
would be able to provide both companies'=20
programming on one "interoperable" radio for less=20
than the $25.90 it would currently cost to=20
subscribe to both services. Karmazin also said=20
the merged company would offer consumers the=20
option of subscribing to fewer channels for a=20
monthly price lower than $12.95. The combined=20
company would consider offering regulators a=20
guarantee that they would not raise prices in=20
order to complete the merger, Karmazin said.
http://www.latimes.com/technology/ats-ap_technology14apr17,1,6249215.sto...
coll=3Dsns-ap-toptechnology
(requires registration)
* Sirius CEO pitches US lawmakers again on XM merger
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1724611420070417
* Karmazin Commits To Merger Conditions
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6434583.html
* Statement of Senator Daniel K. Inouye on XM-Sirius and the Public Interest
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=3DPressReleases.D...
il&PressRelease_id=3D248783&Month=3D4&Year=3D2007
* Public Knowledge Testimony
http://feeds.publicknowledge.org/~r/publicknowledge-main/~3/109642088/911

GE, NBC UNIVERSAL DEBUT $250 MILLION MEDIA FUND
[SOURCE: Reuters]
General Electric Co. is launching a $250 million=20
equity fund to invest in media and technology=20
companies, an executive said Monday, part of a=20
broader push by traditional media companies to=20
get into hot areas such as digital advertising or=20
social networks. Adify, a company whose=20
technology helps build and support online ad=20
networks, received the first $3 million=20
investment announced by the fund, which is=20
overseen by NBC Universal and GE Media,=20
Communications and Entertainment. NBC Universal=20
is 80 percent owned by GE (Charts) and 20 percent=20
by Vivendi (Charts). Other investments by the=20
fund will focus on companies developing=20
technologies or businesses that NBC Universal can=20
use in building its digital business, said Beth=20
Comstock, NBC Universal's president of integrated=20
media. The companies would most likely be=20
involved in areas such as advertising services,=20
wireless or digital content, she said.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/16/news/companies/bc.ge.fund.adify.reut/

TELECOM

NY ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO SLAM VERIZON SERVICE
[SOURCE: Reuters]
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D)=20
criticized telecommunications company Verizon=20
Communications on Tuesday for "chronically poor"=20
telephone repair service in the state. AG Cuomo's=20
comments come as the No. 2 phone company is=20
trying to convince regulators and consumers that=20
it can offer better service than cable companies.=20
Cuomo said he had called on the New York State=20
Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates=20
Verizon, to set stricter standards and require=20
rebates for inadequate service. The PSC currently=20
requires Verizon to repair 80 percent of phone=20
lines within 24 hours of receiving a customer=20
repair request, but 20 out of Verizon's 35 repair=20
service bureaus across the state chronically=20
failed to meet the PSC's standards, Cuomo said.=20
In response, Verizon said the PSC had raised=20
questions over its service in December, and that=20
the company had already implemented a plan to=20
boost service. But Cuomo charged that Verizon was=20
neglecting to maintain its traditional phone=20
service in favor of expanding its fiber-optic=20
services. He cited inadequate service in areas=20
including Westchester, Northern Queens, and Long=20
Island, where Verizon is aggressively building its fiber services.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1742820020070417

VONAGE SAYS PATENT SUITS COULD LEAD TO BANKRUPTCY
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amol Sharma amol.sharma( at )wsj.com]
Vonage says bankruptcy is among the potential=20
risks from its continuing patent litigation with=20
phone giant Verizon Communications Inc., as the=20
Internet calling start-up's problems deepen. In a=20
filing with Securities and Exchange Commission,=20
Vonage listed problems it could face because of=20
the Verizon litigation and other patent lawsuits,=20
including loss of customers and distribution=20
channels, substantial employee layoffs, a=20
continued decline in its share price and the=20
inability to meet its debt obligations, which=20
could lead to a bankruptcy filing. In court,=20
Vonage has painted a gloomy portrait of how an=20
injunction would affect its business. The filing=20
provides the company's most detailed explanation=20
to investors of just how high the stakes are. The=20
challenge for Vonage is to be forthright with=20
Wall Street while reassuring its customers.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117684641246373131.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

INTERNET/BROADBAND

BAN ON MONTHLY NET ACCESS TAXES FACES OBSTACLES
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache and Declan McCullagh]
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said Tuesday that Congress=20
may fail to renew a temporary ban on some state=20
and local Internet access taxes that expires on=20
November 1. He fears that lobbyists for state and=20
local governments and their powerful allies in=20
Washington will stymie efforts by Internet and=20
telecommunications companies and free-market=20
groups to make the ban permanent--or even to=20
renew it again. "There remain a lot of officials=20
in local government who are licking their lips at=20
the prospect of going after this cash cow," Sen=20
Wyden said. If the tax moratorium expires,=20
monthly bills for Internet access could come to=20
resemble bills for telephone service, with a=20
welter of confusing taxes, recovery fees,=20
surcharges and administrative fees tacked on at=20
the end. Those fees can raise a subscriber's=20
total cost by 20 percent to 30 percent.
http://news.com.com/Ban+on+monthly+Net+access+taxes+faces+obstacles/2100...
34_3-6176788.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed

POLITICIANS FALL BEHIND IN CYBERSPACE RACE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Griffiths]
Politicians are lost deep in cyberspace,=20
struggling to reach a new generation of=20
tech-savvy voters through blogs, social=20
networking sites and video-sharing. There is a=20
sense it is mostly one-way traffic -- from "them"=20
to "us" and analysts say politicians need to=20
expand their online ambitions towards=20
interactivity and user-generated content. To=20
reach an electorate bombarded with messages from=20
the new and old media, politicians will have to=20
make more use of online journals or blogs, and=20
sites such as Facebook and MySpace. They also=20
need to move into video-sharing sites and forums=20
where ideas and policies can be challenged online.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSL1319545220070418

HOUSE VOTE TARGETS FALSE IRS WEB SITES, E-MAILS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday=20
voted to punish commercial Web sites and e-mail=20
senders that falsely portray themselves as having=20
ties with the Internal Revenue Service. The=20
regulation is part of the so-called Taxpayer=20
Protection Act, which passed by a 407-7 vote in=20
the U.S. House of Representatives.
http://news.com.com/House+vote+targets+false+IRS+Web+sites%2C+e-mails/21...
1028_3-6176994.html?tag=3Dnefd.top

QUICKLY

MUSIC CD SALES FALL 13 PCT THROUGH 2006 IN US
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The continuing sales drop of music compact discs=20
accelerated to nearly 13 percent in 2006 while=20
fast-growing digital download sales failed to=20
make up for the sales shortfall, according to=20
figures published by the Recording Industry=20
Association of America on Tuesday. Though sales=20
of music in digital formats such as downloads and=20
mobile ringtones more than doubled in some cases=20
during the year, digital sales did not grow fast=20
enough to cover the revenue gap caused by the=20
downturn in CD sales. Consequently overall music=20
sales were down by 6.2 percent to $11.51 billion.
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=3DmusicNews&storyID=...
007-04-17T214121Z_01_N17242136_RTRIDST_0_MUSIC-SALES-DC.XML
* Despite Drop in CD Sales, Music Industry Is Upbeat
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR200704...
1869.html

JULY 1, FEB 17 CONCERN SMALL CABLE OPERATORS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
Independent cable operators kicked off their=20
lobbying summit here Tuesday voicing dour=20
concerns about the double-whammy the industry=20
faces: the July 1 ban on set-tops with integrated=20
security and the 2009 cutoff of analog-TV service.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6434457.html

LAMB: NO C-SPAN IN 10 YEARS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
Citing the changing media landscape and the=20
uncertainty of his network=92s carriage, C-SPAN=20
founder and CEO Brian Lamb said Tuesday that he=20
=93wouldn=92t be surprised=94 if his public-affairs=20
network wasn=92t around in a decade.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6434591.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
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
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