May 2007

To view Benton's Headlines feed in your RSS=20
Aggregator, paste=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dtaxonomy/term/6/all/feed into your read=
er.

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
News Corp. Makes a Bid for Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal
Murdoch's Bid Underscores His Attraction to Business News In the Digital A=
ge
Does media's mix lack flavors?
Big Media: Good, Bad or Both?
Tribune expected to seek FCC waivers
NBC Universal looks to feed off Rmail
Cablevision Nears Deal With Dolans

TELECOM/INTERNET
Board Begins Universal Service Reform Proceeding
Lawmakers May Refocus Rural Internet Financing
Big Apple Weighs In On Net Neutrality
Vonage requests retrial in Verizon patent dispute

BROADCASTING/CABLE
Fla. Statewide-Franchise Bill Heads to Gov
A Capitol Idea for Putting TV Stations on the Web
Broadcasters, Mike-Maker Push For More FCC Testing
U.S. is ready to move to digital TV
Nonprofit TV in big ad venture

CONTENT
Children's media skew gender
The FCC's not our mommy and daddy
Making a Killing

PRIVACY
Administration Pulls Back on Surveillance Agreement
Court Says Congressman Must Pay Damages

QUICKLY -- Cities Cut Wireless Chat, Build; House=20
Subcommittee Steps Up Oversight on Regulatory=20
Changes; $3 software suite aims to bridge digital=20
divide; SavetheInternet.com, David Bowie, eBay join winners of Webby awards

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

NEWS CORP MAKES A BID FOR DOW JONES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jeremy Peters & Richard Siklos]
The News Corporation, owner of the Fox News=20
Channel and The New York Post, has made an=20
unsolicited $5 billion takeover bid for Dow=20
Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal. Some=20
members of the Bancroft family are against the=20
bid. Dow Jones issued a communication saying that=20
some family members and their trustees planned to=20
vote =93shares constituting slightly more than 50=20
percent of the outstanding voting power of Dow=20
Jones=94 against the deal. News Corp. offered $60 a=20
share in cash for all outstanding stock in Dow=20
Jones =97 a whopping premium over the $36.33=20
closing price on Monday. After news of the offer=20
was reported this morning on CNBC, shares of Dow=20
Jones leaped 58 percent. Trading of the stock was=20
briefly halted on the New York stock exchange as=20
shares approached $58. At the end of the trading=20
day, shares closed up 57 percent, at $56.90. The=20
news had a ripple effect across the media=20
industry today. Shares of media companies rose=20
broadly in trading today, with stock of Reuters,=20
Gannett and The New York Times Company all=20
posting unusually high gains. The acquisition of=20
Dow Jones would broaden the reach of News Corp,=20
owned by Rupert Murdoch, into business reporting=20
and American media in general. The Journal has=20
the second biggest circulation of any American=20
newspaper, more than two million, behind USA=20
Today. In addition, Dow Jones owns a widely=20
circulated newswire service, other business news=20
outlets like Barron=92s and the MarketWatch Web=20
site. The company had $1.78 billion in revenue last year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/business/media/02dowjones-web.html?hp
(requires registration)
http://news.com.com/News+Corp.+sets+sights+on+Dow+Jones/2100-1030_3-6180...
.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/business/media/02dow.html
* Now Murdoch Must Persuade the Family
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/business/media/02nocera.html?hp
* Murdoch's bid for Dow Jones meets resistance
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DindustryNews&storyID=
=3D2007-05-01T223434Z_01_WEN7400_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-DOWJONES-1-DC.XML
* Union Representing DJ Employees Blasts Murdoch's Offer
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003578859
* Stocks for Most Newspaper Companies Jump After News of Murdoch Bid
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003578844

MURDOCH'S BID UNDERSCORES HIS ATTRACTION TO BUSINESS NEWS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Stephanie Kang stephanie.kang( at )wsj.com]
As News Corp. expanded into film, television,=20
satellite TV and the Web in recent years --=20
acquiring properties from Twentieth Century Fox=20
to MySpace, and starting the Fox network -- its=20
newspapers have dwindled in importance. With=20
well-known names like the London Sun and Times,=20
the Australian and the unprofitable New York=20
Post, the newspaper division accounted for only=20
13% of News Corp.'s operating income last year.=20
Buying Dow Jones wouldn't dramatically boost the=20
share contributed by newspapers but it would=20
raise the division's profile in the U.S. Given=20
the newspaper industry's slow growth rate,=20
however, investors may be=20
concerned. Anticipating such concerns, people=20
close to News Corp. emphasized the=20
digital-business opportunities of Dow Jones. Mr.=20
Murdoch has been particularly vocal in the past=20
couple of years about the newspaper industry's=20
need to adjust to the Internet. Mr. Murdoch=20
acknowledged that "young people are reading=20
newspapers less" but said financial journalism=20
has advantages over other forms of news on the=20
Web: "You can charge for it." The Journal and=20
Pearson PLC's Financial Times "are the only two=20
newspapers in the world that charge for their online editions," he said.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117806470417888917.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

DOES MEDIA'S MIX LACK FLAVORS?
[SOURCE: St Petersburg Times, AUTHOR: Eric Deggans]
It didn't take long for Monday's public hearing=20
on media ownership issues by the Federal=20
Communications Commission to boil down to a=20
single question: Does media "convergence" -=20
pooling the news-gathering resources of commonly=20
owned news outlets, particularly as practiced by=20
Tampa Tribune, WFLA-Ch. 8 and TBO.com owner Media=20
General - serve the public good or subvert it?=20
The crowd was a lively mix of media=20
professionals, activists, politicians and=20
observers, some of whom had waited for hours to=20
address the commission. And those who spoke out=20
against relaxing rules against further consolidation drew the largest appla=
use.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/01/Business/Does_media_s_mix_lack.shtml
* Media Consolidation Hearing Provides a Lesson in How Not to Cover the News
Media General's news operation in Tampa is=20
regularly cited by proponents of media=20
consolidation to illustrate the possible benefits=20
of allowing a single big media company to=20
dominate a local market. But watching the=20
company's web coverage of the FCC's media=20
ownership hearing demonstrates how media owners=20
can work to suppress views they don't like.
http://www.consumersunion.org/blogs/hun/2007/04/media_consolidation_hear...
_pr.html
-- See for yourself -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DxjLALt2YMAU

BIG MEDIA: GOOD, BAD OR BOTH?
[SOURCE: Poynter Institute, AUTHOR: Pat Walters]
At times, the debate surrounding media ownership=20
can appear singularly uncomplicated.=20
Consolidation is evil, one person argues.=20
Consolidation is good, says another. But if any=20
one thing became clear at the FCC's media=20
ownership hearing in Tampa, it is this: Like most=20
public-policy issues, the question of media=20
ownership is more complex than that. In all, more=20
than 100 people spoke to the commissioners. But=20
while opinions, viewpoints and stories were easy=20
to come by, practical suggestions were scarce.=20
When she spoke in the second panel, Poynter=20
president Karen Brown Dunlap offered one. As she=20
emphasized the importance of local public affairs=20
reporting, Dunlap suggested the FCC require what=20
she called a "community report" before=20
relicensing any station. "It would be a return to=20
a more rigorous assessment," she said. "It could=20
involve a small task force of citizens, a=20
cross-section of a community, led by a leader=20
from outside that community, maybe a journalism=20
professor." The task force would present its=20
findings to the station leaders, the community=20
and, ultimately, the FCC. "Clearly any one form=20
of media ownership doesn't determine the quality=20
of stewardship," Dunlap said. "Many communities=20
suffer under local owners who bleed their=20
stations for profits and to promote personal=20
interests. There are large corporations,=20
including chain owners who serve local communities with outstanding service=
."
http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=3D122318&sid=3D56

TRIBUNE EXPECTED TO SEEK FCC WAIVERS
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Tribune Co. is expected to ask federal regulators=20
to waive restrictions that could prevent it from=20
owning television stations and newspapers in the=20
same city as part of an $8.2-billion deal to go=20
private. Under current FCC rules, a company=20
cannot own a daily newspaper and a television or=20
radio station in the same market although many=20
media companies do under agency waivers. Tribune=20
has such arrangements in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.;=20
Hartford, Conn.; Los Angeles, and New York. It=20
has also been allowed to own the Chicago Tribune=20
as well as the WGN television and radio network=20
because it owned the properties before the media=20
ownership rules became law. Tribune will ask for=20
a waiver of the rules until the FCC completes its=20
review of media ownership rules. "We're going to=20
lose grandfathering (rights) when Zell gets=20
control of company, but we remain confident that=20
at the end of the day, cross-ownership relief in=20
the largest markets literally has to be granted," said a Tribune spokespers=
on.
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=3D24802

NBC UNIVERSAL LOOKS AHEAD TO FEED OFF RMAIL
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Andrew Wallenstein]
NBC Universal has made a minor acquisition that=20
will play a part in a major shift for its=20
business down the road. Last week, the media=20
giant quietly scooped up Rmail, a two-year-old=20
firm that specializes in converting RSS feeds to=20
e-mail. Sources peg the cost of the acquisition,=20
which NBC Universal declined to announce, at a=20
mere $150,000. The service has only 50,000 users.=20
Rmail essentially functions as an RSS=20
intermediary, aggregating feeds so that they are=20
easily transferable if the subscriber changes=20
e-mail addresses. While that might seem a=20
relatively niche functionality to interest a=20
mass-media company, Kliavkoff notes that Rmail=20
provides insights into harnessing data on consumer behavior.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN0147588720070501

CABLEVISION NEARS DEAL WITH DOLANS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Ross Sorkin]
Cablevision Systems is nearing a deal to sell=20
itself to its founding family, the Dolans, for=20
more than $10.5 billion in cash. With the=20
addition of debt, the total price would be nearly=20
$23 billion. A deal would resolve a tortured=20
stalemate between the Dolans and the board over=20
the future of the company. During the last three=20
years, the Dolans have sought and failed three=20
times to buy out the public shareholders of=20
Cablevision, which has 3.1 million cable=20
subscribers in the New York metropolitan region.=20
The company also owns Madison Square Garden,=20
Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and=20
the New York Rangers. The board of Cablevision=20
met Tuesday evening to discuss the deal, the=20
people involved in the discussions said. There=20
remain several critical issues, they warned,=20
which may postpone or even derail a deal=20
altogether. The Dolans have appeared close to=20
clinching deals with the board before, only to=20
suffer setbacks at the 11th hour. While the=20
Dolans are the controlling shareholder,=20
Cablevision=92s special committee of independent=20
directors has not been afraid to stand up to them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/business/media/02deal.html
(requires registration)
* Cablevision Nears Deal With Dolans To Go Private for at Least $10.5 Billi=
on
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117805944955288792.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one

TELECOM/INTERNET

BOARD BEGINS UNIVERSAL SERVICE REFORM PROCEEDING
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal=20
Service recommended that the Federal=20
Communications Commission take immediate action=20
to rein in explosive growth in high-cost=20
universal service support disbursements. The=20
Joint Board is also seeking comment on proposals=20
for long-term, comprehensive reform of the high-cost program.
The Joint Board recommended that the Commission=20
immediately impose an interim, emergency cap on=20
the amount of high-cost support that competitive=20
eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) may=20
receive for each state, based on the average=20
level of competitive ETC support distributed in=20
that state in 2006. In a separate Public Notice,=20
the Joint Board is seeking comment on the=20
following issues and proposals for comprehensive=20
reform: 1) The use of reverse auctions to=20
determine high-cost universal service support; 2)=20
The use of geographic information systems=20
technology and network cost modeling to better=20
calculate and target support at more granular=20
levels; 3) Disaggregation of support below the=20
study area or wire center level; 4) The=20
methodology for calculating support for=20
competitive ETCs; AND 5) Whether universal=20
service funding should be used to promote=20
broadband deployment directly. The Joint Board=20
plans to make recommendations for comprehensive=20
high-cost universal service reform within six=20
months. It recommends that the Commission act on=20
these further recommendations within one year=20
from the date of the Joint Board's further recommended decision.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272806A1.doc
* Jt Brd Decision:=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07J-1A1.doc
* Public Notice:=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07J-2A1.doc
* Chairman Martin: "Today's recommendation is not=20
an end in itself, but rather signals the need for comprehensive reform."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07J-1A2.doc
* Commissioner Copps: "While I commend my=20
colleagues for their good intentions - to curb=20
the growth of the universal service fund - I have=20
serious concerns that such a cap will be=20
misinterpreted as a solution, even though it does=20
not address - or pretend to address - the=20
fundamental, comprehensive reforms needed to=20
carry a viable and improved system of universal=20
service forward in the twenty-first century. The=20
clear and compelling challenge to the Joint Board=20
and the FCC is to bring basic and advanced=20
telecommunications to all our citizens and to=20
ensure that our universal service system, which=20
has accomplished so much, can continue to sustain itself."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07J-1A8.doc
* Commissioner Tate: "Every member of this Joint=20
Board supports the principles of universal=20
service: to promote the availability of quality=20
services at just, reasonable, and affordable=20
rates; to increase access to advanced=20
telecommunications services throughout the=20
Nation; and to advance the availability of such=20
services to all consumers. Our recommendation=20
today is a step towards more fully implementing those principles."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07J-1A3.doc

LAWMAKERS MAY REFOCUS RURAL INTERNET FINANCING
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Dan Morgan and Gilbert Gaul]
Members of a House committee charged yesterday=20
that a five-year, $1.2 billion program to expand=20
broadband Internet services to rural communities=20
has missed many unserved areas while channeling=20
hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidized=20
loans to companies in places where service=20
already exists. "If you don't fix this, I=20
guarantee you this committee will," House=20
Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson=20
(D-Minn.) told James M. Andrew, administrator of=20
the Rural Utilities Service at the U.S.=20
Department of Agriculture. "I don't know why it=20
should be this hard." Rep Peterson said he was=20
"not happy" with the information in a recent=20
Washington Post article about the USDA's overall=20
rural development program. The program provides=20
grants, loans and loan guarantees to expand=20
housing, small business, water and sewer,=20
electricity and telecommunications services in=20
rural areas. The Post reported that since 2001=20
more than half the money has gone to metropolitan=20
regions or communities within easy commutes of a=20
mid-size city. An Internet provider in Houston=20
got $23 million in loans to wire affluent=20
subdivisions, including one that boasts=20
million-dollar houses and an equestrian center.=20
Congress created the rural broadband program in=20
2002. To date, according to Andrew, 69 loans for=20
$1.2 billion have been approved to finance=20
infrastructure in 40 states. Only 40 percent of=20
the communities benefiting were unserved at the time of the loan, Andrew sa=
id.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/01/AR200705...
1919.html
(requires registration)

BIG APPLE WEIGHS IN ON NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: Information Week , AUTHOR: KC Jones]
New York City will vote on a resolution urging=20
Congress to pass network neutrality legislation.
City Council member Gale Brewer, a Manhattan=20
Democrat, held a hearing Monday on the=20
resolution, which she introduced. Those=20
testifying in support of the net neutrality=20
resolution include Craig Newmark, founder of=20
Craigslist, who submitted written comments;=20
Timothy Karr, campaign director for Free Press;=20
Timothy Wu, the Columbia University Law School=20
professor who coined the phrase "net neutrality";=20
and Henning Schulzrinne, chairman of Columbia's=20
computer science department. "I am already=20
concerned about New Yorkers having access to the=20
Internet without them having to pay ridiculous=20
fees," Brewer said in a prepared statement. "The=20
Internet is too expensive for many of our city's=20
residents. We must urge Congress to take the=20
necessary step and legislate protections against=20
companies limiting the services available to Internet users."
http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=3D19...
2678&cid=3DRSSfeed_IWK_News

VONAGE REQUESTS RETRIAL IN VERIZON PATENT DISPUTE
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
A pivotal U.S. Supreme Court ruling designed to=20
make it easier to challenge obvious patents=20
prompted Vonage on Tuesday to ask for a new trial=20
in an ongoing dispute with Verizon. One day after=20
the high court released a unanimous opinion=20
widely viewed as one of the most sweeping changes=20
to patent law in years, the struggling Internet=20
phone company asked the U.S. Appeals Court for=20
the Federal Circuit to put its pending appeals=20
process on hold and send the case back to the=20
lower court for a new trial. Vonage interim CEO=20
Jeffrey Citron voiced confidence that the=20
decision would have "positive implications" for=20
his company's patent battle with the nation's second-largest phone company.
http://news.com.com/Vonage+requests+retrial+in+Verizon+patent+dispute/21...
1036_3-6180714.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed
* Vonage hopes recent Supreme Court decision can save it
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9714600-7.html

BROADCASTING/CABLE

FLORIDA STATEWIDE-FRANCHISE BILL HEADS TO GOVERNOR
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
By a 117-2 vote, the Florida state Assembly=20
concurred with the state's Senate, now sending a=20
franchise-reform bill to Gov. Charlie Crist (R).=20
If signed by the governor, the bill, approved=20
Monday, will allow incumbent cable providers to=20
submit applications to the Department of State on=20
the same date, July 1, that newcomers become=20
eligible for state regulation. The state office=20
will have 30 days to grant the franchises, or=20
else the application is automatically granted.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6438318.html

A CAPITOL IDEA FOR PUTTING STATIONS ON THE WEB
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
Capitol Broadcasting owner Jim Goodmon is a true=20
HDTV pioneer. His WRAL Raleigh, N.C., began=20
experimenting with HD in 1996 and it aired its=20
first local HD newscast seven years ago -- long=20
before many other stations had begun HD=20
broadcasts of any kind. Now that the rest of the=20
industry is finally catching up with him on local=20
HD, he is on to his next cutting-edge project --=20
making sure that his TV stations (he also owns=20
four others in North Carolina) and every other TV=20
station is streamed in its entirety on the=20
Internet. To avoid the various regulatory and=20
copyright obstacles, Goodmon believes the way to=20
do it is to operate the stations' Web sites like=20
a cable system. He envisions Web sites where=20
subscribers can go to watch every station within=20
their market just as they do on cable. The trick=20
is to limit reception of the Web-delivered=20
broadcast signals to their over-the-air market, he says.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/05/01/daily.4/

BROADCASTERS, MIKE-MAKER PUSH FOR MORE FCC TESTING
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Shure company and the National Association of=20
Broadcasters (with and assist from the=20
Association of Maximum Service Television) are=20
asking the FCC for more interference testing and=20
are arguing that one way to protect the DTV=20
transition from interference would be not to=20
allow mobile unlicensed devices to operate in the=20
DTV band. The FCC commissioners have said they=20
were inclined to allow the devices to get more=20
use out of the spectrum and promote wireless=20
broadband, but they have also said that=20
preventing interference, and potential=20
impediments, to the DTV transition is also important.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6438381.html

US IS READY TO MOVE TO DIGITAL TV
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Jason Oxman]
[Commentary] The stage is set for the most=20
exciting and dynamic change in broadcasting since=20
the advent of color television. The nation is=20
transitioning from analog to digital television,=20
and this new technology holds enormous benefits=20
for consumers. The technical standards setting=20
process has been completed. The government is=20
finalizing details of a program that will=20
subsidize low-cost converter boxes for consumers=20
who want to continue using their analog=20
televisions. And the Federal Communications=20
Commission has opened a proceeding to begin=20
reallocating the old analog television spectrum=20
to public safety entities for use in improving=20
emergency response. The nation is ready for digital. [Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah!]
http://news.com.com/U.S.+is+ready+to+move+to+digital+TV/2010-1041_3-6180...
.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed

NONPROFIT TV IN BIG AD VENTURE
[SOURCE: Boston Herald, AUTHOR: Jesse Noyes]
The adventures of the modern media buyer aren't=20
usually the stuff of standard children=92s book=20
lore. But in an effort to woo sponsorship dollars=20
for its children=92s programming, Boston-based=20
public broadcaster WGBH has created a story book=20
about a media buyer convincing a client to spend=20
ad dollars on shows likes =93Arthur=94 and =93Clifford=20
the Big Red Dog.=94 The book, titled =93The Happy=20
Client,=94 was sent to over 1,000 industry=20
contacts. WGBH called it a creative way to keep=20
PBS Kids shows top of mind among media buyers.=20
But at least one activist group said it=92s a sign=20
of PBS diving further into a corporate-driven=20
culture. Robert Weissman, managing director of=20
the Washington, D.C., activist group Commercial=20
Alert, said the book is a sign of PBS=92 mission=20
eroding. =93It sounds like this product is a=20
further weakening of its noncommercial status,=94=20
he said. Weissman said PBS stations should be=20
spending more time and money trying to increase=20
government funding and soliciting public contributions.
http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=3D197550...
rmat=3Dtext

CONTENT

CHILDREN'S MEDIA SKEW GENDER
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Geena Davis, Actress]
[Commentary] In 2005-06, the University of=20
Southern California's Annenberg School of=20
Communication conducted the most comprehensive=20
analysis of children's movies and TV programming=20
ever done. Analyzing the 101 top-grossing G-rated=20
movies released from 1990 through 2004, USC's=20
research reveals that there are three male=20
characters for every one female. Children's TV=20
does better on gender balance: Shows rated TVY=20
(for children under 7) and TVY7 (for children 7+)=20
have a male/female ratio of roughly 2-1, while=20
TVG (for all ages) is nearly 1-1. It is=20
troubling, though, that the imbalance is greatest=20
in shows for the youngest viewers. In films and=20
TV for children, male characters are half as=20
likely as females to be parents or married, and=20
much more likely to be violent and dumb; those=20
disparities are even greater for male characters=20
of color. As for females in G-rated movies, about=20
a third are either entertainers or royalty=20
(compared with the 0.1% of the American women who=20
are entertainers; the USA has no royalty). Kids=20
learn their value by seeing themselves reflected=20
in the culture. If their reflection is visible=20
and common, they can say, "I must count. I see=20
myself." But what message are we sending children=20
with so few female characters? Or when male=20
relationships and female accomplishments are=20
devalued? We're teaching them that girls and=20
women are less valuable, while options for boys=20
and girls are determined primarily by gender.=20
This message damages girls and boys.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070502/opthree_02.art.htm

THE FCC'S NOT OUR MOMMY AND DADDY
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Nick Gillespie, Reason Magazine]
[Commentary] The FCC's recent study sent to=20
Congress rests on the demonstrably false idea=20
that violent TV breeds violence in reality, and=20
it also fails to take seriously the vast increase=20
in child-friendly programming and=20
parent-empowering viewing tools. The result is a=20
list of recommendations to Congress that seems=20
comically and absurdly detached from contemporary=20
America. The FCC seems to be wholly unaware that,=20
in recent years, cable TV has become jampacked=20
with channels dedicated to the sort of fare Tate=20
demands. Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney=20
Kids, Sprout, Noggin and others devote most or=20
all of their hours to kid-friendly culture. At=20
the same time, parents have gained unprecedented control over the tube.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-oe-gillespie2may02,...
379255.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)

MAKING A KILLING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Mike White, screenwriter]
[Commentary] Someone who helps make movies asks=20
"before cashing those big checks, shouldn't we at=20
least pause to consider what we are saying with=20
our movies about the value of life and the pleasures of mayhem?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/opinion/02white.html
(requires registration)

PRIVACY

ADMINISTRATION PULLS BACK ON SURVEILLANCE AGREEMENT
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: James Risen]
Senior Bush administration officials told=20
Congress on Tuesday that they could not pledge=20
that the administration would continue to seek=20
warrants from a secret court for a domestic=20
wiretapping program, as it agreed to do in=20
January. Rather, they argued that the president=20
had the constitutional authority to decide for=20
himself whether to conduct surveillance without=20
warrants. As a result of the January agreement,=20
the administration said that the National=20
Security Agency=92s domestic spying program has=20
been brought under the legal structure laid out=20
in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,=20
which requires court-approved warrants for the=20
wiretapping of American citizens and others=20
inside the United States. But on Tuesday, the=20
senior officials, including Michael McConnell,=20
the new director of national intelligence, said=20
they believed that the president still had the=20
authority under Article II of the Constitution to=20
once again order the N.S.A. to conduct=20
surveillance inside the country without warrants.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/washington/02intel.html
(requires registration)
* Senators dubious of spying rules
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-spy2may02,1,4468...
.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section

COURT SAYS CONGRESSMAN MUST PAY DAMAGES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Adam Liptak]
No, this isn't a "Ten Years Ago" feature... A=20
federal appeals court in Washington ruled Tuesday=20
that Rep Jim McDermott, Democrat of Washington,=20
must pay damages to another congressman for=20
giving reporters a tape of an illegally=20
intercepted telephone call. The case was brought=20
by Rep John A. Boehner of Ohio, now the House=20
Republican leader. It arose from a conference=20
call in 1996 in which Newt Gingrich, who was then=20
speaker of the House, discussed how to deal with=20
a finding against him by the House ethics=20
committee. Mr. Boehner participated by cellphone.=20
A Florida couple, Alice and John Martin, recorded=20
the call using a radio scanner. They delivered=20
the tape to Rep McDermott, then the ranking=20
Democrat on the ethics committee, who passed it=20
along to The New York Times and The Atlanta=20
Journal-Constitution. The Martins pleaded guilty=20
to intercepting the call and were fined $500 each=20
for violating the federal wiretapping law. That=20
law also forbids the dissemination of information=20
obtained through illegal interception. But a 2001=20
decision of the United States Supreme Court,=20
Bartnicki v. Vopper, ruled that the part of the=20
law concerning disclosure violates the First=20
Amendment, at least when the person doing the=20
disclosing was not involved in the eavesdropping=20
and the information was of public=20
importance. Earlier decisions in the Boehner=20
case had rejected arguments from Rep McDermott=20
based on Bartnicki and the First Amendment.=20
Yesterday=92s decision, from the full United States=20
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia=20
Circuit, was much narrower, turning on an ethics=20
committee confidentiality rule.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/washington/02court.html
(requires registration)

QUICKLY
Cities Cut Wireless Chat, Build
CITIES CUT WIRELESS CHAT, BUILD
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Corey Boles corey.boles( at )dowjones.com]
As debate on Capitol Hill and the Federal=20
Communications Commission continues on how to=20
improve communications systems for police and=20
firefighters, some parts of the country are tired=20
of waiting. Last week FCC Chairman Kevin Martin=20
launched a public consultation on proposals for a=20
national wireless broadband network that would be=20
built by the private sector. The system would be=20
used by both commercial operators and the=20
emergency-services community. For two of the=20
nation's most important cities, however, the time=20
for talk is over. Construction of wireless=20
networks is already under way for use by=20
emergency-services workers in New York City and=20
Washington. Both have taken steps so that their=20
first responders can talk to one another via=20
radio. Now city leaders also are nearing the end=20
of the first phase of testing for=20
state-of-the-art wireless broadband networks.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117807510092589224.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE STEPS UP OVERSIGHT ON REGULATORY CHANGES
[SOURCE: OMBWatch]
A House subcommittee held a second hearing April=20
26 on the regulatory changes President George W.=20
Bush issued in January. Subcommittee Chairman=20
Brad Miller (D-NC) hoped to discover the reasons=20
that the White House issued the changes, but the=20
hearing turned stormy as Chairman Miller's=20
inquiries were repeatedly rebuffed by an=20
administration official. After tense exchanges=20
with the official, Miller promised to seek=20
additional documents from the Office of=20
Management and Budget (OMB) and to hold=20
additional hearings on regulatory changes "that=20
affect the lives of millions of Americans. "The=20
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of=20
the House Science and Technology Committee held=20
the first hearing on Executive Order 13422 and=20
OMB's Good Guidance Practices Bulletin in=20
February. This time, the hearing focused on the=20
internal process OMB used in drafting the E.O.=20
and how OMB intends to implement the changes=20
these two documents require. Rep Miller summed up=20
the changes in his opening remarks: "Under this=20
order, not just major regulations, but guidance=20
is subject to review by OIRA. And the order=20
creates a new requirement -- 'market failure' --=20
for any agency to promulgate any regulation.=20
'Market failure' does not appear in any statute=20
as a consideration in rule-making; in fact,=20
Congress flatly rejected the argument that the=20
market will solve the problem when Congress=20
enacted the legislation granting rule-making authority."
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3816/

$3 SOFTWARE SUITE AIMS TO BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE
[SOURCE: eSchool News]
Governments that subsidize a certain percentage=20
of the cost of computers for students to use both=20
at home and at school might be eligible to=20
purchase a new Student Innovation Suite of=20
software from Microsoft Corp. for $3 per license,=20
provided they have subsidized at least 10,000 PCs=20
for students' personal use. The offer, which aims=20
to help close the digital divide, includes=20
Microsoft Windows XP, Office Home and Student=20
2007, Microsoft Math 3.0, and other programs--and=20
U.S. states could be eligible.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=3D7069

DAVID BOWIE, EBAY JOIN WINNERS OF WEBBY AWARDS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Belinda Goldsmith]
Winners of the 11th annual Webbys, dubbed "the=20
Oscars of the Internet," were chosen from a=20
record 8,000 entries from 60 countries by 400,000=20
public votes and a panel of 80 Web experts to=20
recognize excellence in about 100 different=20
categories. The winners of this year's awards=20
will be honored in ceremonies in New York on June=20
4 and June 5 where winners are only allowed a=20
five-word acceptance speech. A full-list of=20
winners is at http://www.webbyawards.com/.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN3044864720070501
* Press release
http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=3D130
* SavetheInternet.com Wins =91Oscar of the Internet=92
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D233
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------