June 2007

Two events of note next week: 1) NTIA hosts a=20
public meeting on the Public Safety Interoperable=20
Communications Grant Program and 2) Rainbow/PUSH=20
hosts a panel Securing a Broadband Future for=20
People of Color. For these and other upcoming=20
media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

FCC MEETING SUMMARY
FCC to Implement Katrina Panel Recommendations
FCC Takes Action to Further Strengthen Nation's Emergency Alert System
Enhanced 911 Requirements for Wireless and VoIP Carriers
Disability Access Requirements Extended to VOIP Services
FCC Chairman Reiterates That XM-Sirius Merger Faces 'High Hurdle'
FCC Revives Sheetrock Rule
Commissioner Adelstein Announces Staff Change

IN THE STATES
TV bill passes Illinois state House
West Virginia Getting Up to Speed

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Oversight of US Broadband Efforts
Broadband Fact Book
An Odd-Bedfellow Coalition
NPR Joins Appeal of Online Music Royalties
Google Photos Stir a Debate Over Privacy

OWNERSHIP
Dow Jones Says It Will Consider Options for Sale

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Ch=E1vez Looks at His Critics in the Media and Sees the Enemy

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
2 More Democratic Candidates Decline to Join in Fox News Debate
John Edwards and... spectrum?

QUICKLY -- ChoicePoint Settles With 43 States,=20
D.C.; Soap Opera; YouTube signs broad licensing=20
pact with EMI; Unions, Advertisers Pick Booz=20
Allen For Pay Study; Tribune Wraps Up Tender=20
Offer; Five Telecoms to Vie for Government Pact

FCC MEETING SUMMARY

FCC TO IMPLEMENT KATRINA PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission implemented=20
various recommendations of the FCC's Independent=20
Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina=20
on Communications Networks. The programs and=20
policies stemming from the Panel's work are aimed=20
at improving emergency response capabilities and=20
assist first responders, the communications=20
industry and all levels of government to=20
communicate effectively with one another during=20
emergencies, disasters and public health threats.=20
The Order extends, by one year, exemptions on=20
large telephone companies allowing them to=20
share information to facilitate disaster=20
planning. The order also instructs the FCC's=20
Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau to: 1)=20
Develop and implement an awareness program to=20
educate public safety agencies about alternative=20
communications technologies; 2) Continue to work=20
to enhance a voluntary, streamlined approach for=20
collection of outage and situational awareness=20
information during emergencies; 3) Continue to=20
reach out to the emergency medical community to=20
facilitate the resiliency and effectiveness of=20
their emergency communications systems; 4)=20
Continue to work with the Department of Homeland=20
Security on developing credentialing standards=20
and ensuring that all communications service=20
providers are treated as "essential personnel";=20
5) Continue to work with the Department of=20
Homeland Security to promote the Priority=20
Communications Service Programs (i.e., Government=20
Emergency Telecommunications Service,=20
Telecommunications Service Priority and Wireless=20
Service Priority) -- particularly among first=20
responders, health care facilities and 911=20
emergency call centers nationwide; 6) Take=20
various steps, in conjunction with the National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration=20
and the Department of Homeland Security, to=20
facilitate first responder interoperability; 7)=20
Promote the implementation of various best=20
practices to ensure a more robust E911 service;=20
8) Take steps to revitalize and publicize the=20
current Emergency Alert System; and 9) Work with=20
industry, state and local governments and=20
organizations representing people with=20
disabilities and non-English speaking persons to=20
ensure that they receive emergency information.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-273455A1.doc

FCC TAKES ACTION TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN NATION'S EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission adopted a=20
Second Report and Order and Further Notice of=20
Proposed Rulemaking that strengthens the nation's=20
Emergency Alert System (EAS). The Commission's=20
Order promotes the development of fully digital=20
Next Generation technologies and delivery systems=20
that will better serve the American public. The=20
Order requires EAS participants to accept=20
messages using Common Alerting Protocol (CAP),=20
the groundwork for Next Generation EAS delivery=20
systems, no later than 180 days after FEMA=20
announces its adoption of standards in each=20
case. The use of CAP will help to ensure the=20
efficient and rapid transmission of EAS alerts to=20
the American public in a variety of formats=20
(including text, audio and video) and via=20
different means (broadcast, cable, satellite, and=20
other networks) and to promote the development of=20
Next Generation EAS. One result of these=20
developments will be enhanced access to EAS=20
alerts and warnings for persons with disabilities=20
and for non-English speakers. The Further Notice=20
seeks comment on how best to deliver EAS alerts=20
as well as broader emergency and public safety=20
information to these groups, and commits to=20
adoption of a final order within six months. The=20
Commission directs the Public Safety and Homeland=20
Security Bureau to convene a meeting -- or series=20
of meetings -- as soon as possible on providing=20
emergency information to non-English=20
speakers. The stakeholders should submit into=20
the record a progress report on these discussions=20
within 30 days of the Order's release. The Order=20
also requires terrestrial EAS participants to=20
transmit state and locally targeted EAS alerts=20
that are originated by governors or their=20
designees. The Further Notice seeks comment on=20
whether Participants should be required to=20
deliver EAS alerts originated by local, county,=20
tribal, or other state governmental entities.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-273458A1.doc

ENHANCED 911 REQUIREMENTS FOR WIRELESS AND VOIP CARRIERS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission adopted a=20
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking=20
comment on tentative conclusions and issues=20
related to Enhanced 911 (E911) location accuracy=20
and reliability requirements for wireless=20
carriers and providers of interconnected voice=20
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The NPRM=20
seeks to ensure that E911 service meets the needs=20
of public safety and the American people. The=20
NPRM also takes into consideration the evolution=20
in the use of wireless devices and the further=20
development of location technologies. The=20
primary objective is to advance policies, rules=20
and initiatives that support the efficient and=20
reliable transmission of meaningful automatic=20
location information for wireless cell phone=20
users and users of interconnected VoIP service to=20
Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to better=20
ensure rapid emergency response and save lives.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-273457A1.doc
* FCC moves to improve cell 911 technology
Despite strong industry opposition, the Federal=20
Communications Commission voted to move forward=20
on a rule that would require cell phone companies=20
to employ a much stricter geographic standard=20
when testing the location accuracy of their handsets.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/politics/17305643.htm

DISABILITY ACCESS REQUIREMENTS EXTENDED TO VOIP SERVICES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Commission has extended the disability access=20
requirements of Sections 225 and 255 of the=20
Communications Act, which currently apply to=20
traditional phone services, to providers of=20
interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol=20
(VoIP) services and to manufacturers of specially=20
designed equipment used to provide those=20
services. Section 255 of the Communications Act=20
requires manufacturers of "telecommunications=20
equipment or customer premises equipment" and=20
providers of "telecommunications service" to=20
ensure that such equipment or service is=20
accessible to and usable by individuals with=20
disabilities, if readily achievable. In adopting=20
Section 255, Congress sought to ensure that all=20
Americans, including people with disabilities,=20
could benefit from advances in telecommunications services and equipment.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-273452A1.doc

FCC CHAIRMAN REITERATES THAT XM-SIRIUS MERGER FACES 'HIGH HURDLE'
[SOURCE: The Center for Public Integrity, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin on Thursday reiterated his position that=20
the proposed merger between XM Satellite Radio=20
and Sirius Satellite Radio faces a high=20
regulatory hurdle. Speaking to reporters after=20
the FCC's May meeting, Martin was asked why the=20
commission has taken so long to begin the merger=20
review process. Although the merger was announced=20
in mid-February, the FCC has not yet issued a=20
public notice seeking formal comment. "It's an=20
unusual merger, and I've said there is a high=20
hurdle that the parties would have to meet=20
because the commission has a previous order that=20
would prohibit the two parties [the satellite=20
radio companies] from being owned by one party," he said.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/telecomwatch.aspx?eid=3D2963&entry=
=3Dfeed

FCC REVIVES SHEETROCK RULE
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The Federal Communications Commission voted=20
unanimously Thursday to revive a court-rejected=20
rule intended to aid new video providers that=20
want to serve consumers located in apartment=20
buildings and other multiple dwelling units=20
(MDUs). The FCC said it was promoting video=20
choice and competition by declaring that existing=20
cable wiring located behind sheetrock was=20
=93physically inaccessible.=94 As a result, new video=20
providers can tap into the existing cable plant=20
at a junction box many feet from the customer=92s=20
entrance instead of cutting into drywall closer to the front door.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6448232.html?rssid=3D196
* FCC: Cable Competitors Won't Have to Cut the Sheet Rock
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6448161.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC press release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-273439A1.doc

COMMISSIONER ADELSTEIN ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGE
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
In a truly inspired choice, FCC Commissioner=20
Jonathan S. Adelstein announced that Katie Yocum=20
has joined his staff. She serves as Confidential=20
Assistant and Director of Outreach. As=20
Commissioner Adelstein's Confidential Assistant,=20
Yocum will be responsible for coordinating all=20
aspects of the Commissioner's schedule. In her=20
role as Director of Outreach, she will manage the=20
office's interaction with a wide and diverse=20
group of organizations, governments, individuals,=20
and companies that are interested in the role of=20
the Commission and its impact on the=20
telecommunications and media marketplace. She=20
will also serve as the office's primary contact=20
for general media and press inquiries. Prior to=20
joining the Commission, Yocum worked as the=20
Campaign Coordinator for the Media and Democracy=20
Coalition, a national coalition of nonprofit=20
organizations committed to amplifying the voices=20
of the public in shaping media and=20
telecommunications policy. She graduated from=20
the University of Illinois Institute for=20
Communications Research with a B.A. in Media Studies.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-273431A1.doc

IN THE STATES

TV BILL PASSES ILLINOIS STATE HOUSE
[SOURCE: Crain's Chicago Business, AUTHOR: Paul Merrion]
It's amazing what can happen in one day in a=20
legislature. Legislation to bring TV over phones=20
lines to Illinois, ending cable TV=92s=20
near-monopoly, is on the move in Springfield.=20
Ending lengthy negotiations, AT&T agreed early=20
Thursday morning to a number of consumer=20
protection provisions crafted for the legislation=20
by Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D). Consumer=20
groups and municipalities had fought an earlier=20
version of the bill that would have allowed the=20
phone company to win a statewide television=20
franchise with few restrictions. Comcast Corp.=20
and other cable television operators are still=20
opposed, so passage is not certain. The bill=20
contains =93nothing the cable industry asked for=20
and a bone or two for public-access people,=94 says=20
a spokesman for the Cable TV and Communications=20
Association. The measure was passed Thursday=20
morning by the House Telecommunications=20
Committee. By Thursday evening, the bill passed=20
the Illinois House by a vote of 113-0.
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=3D25191

WEST VIRGINIA GETTING UP TO SPEED
[SOURCE: Charleston Daily Mail, AUTHOR: George Hohmann]
The effort to extend broadband access to all of=20
West Virginia has received lots of attention but=20
the state government's drive to harness=20
technology is much bigger than that, West=20
Virginia's chief technology officer said.=20
"Broadband is a component of the bigger=20
initiative," said Kyle Schafer. "Another=20
component of our three-year strategic plan is=20
getting technology into the home. West Virginia=20
ranks 45th in the nation in personal computers in=20
the home." The state Public Service Commission=20
reported last month that only 59 percent of West=20
Virginia households have a computer, compared to=20
69 percent of households nationwide. Also, "We=20
rank 47th in =91e-government,'" Shafer said. "Our=20
citizens are going to the Division of Motor=20
Vehicles and standing in line or standing in line=20
to get a nursing license. We're looking to put=20
those transactions online and make more and more=20
available online. One of Gov Joe Manchin's goals=20
is to make broadband available to all West=20
Virginians by 2010. According to the state Public=20
Service Commission report about advanced=20
services, 77 percent of West Virginia households=20
have access to high-speed Internet service=20
although only 34.6 percent subscribe to=20
broadband. In comparison, 86 percent of=20
households in the country have access to=20
broadband and 49.6 percent subscribe. Many=20
observers were surprised in March when Gov=20
Manchin vetoed a bill aimed at increasing=20
broadband availability. The governor said the=20
veto would preserve a new strategic alliance with=20
Cisco Systems, the computer-networking giant=20
headed by Charleston native John Chambers. Gov=20
Manchin also said the state is working with=20
Verizon to develop a map that shows exactly where=20
broadband is deployed in the state today.
http://www.dailymail.com/story/Business/2007053117/W-Va-getting-up-to-sp...

INTERNET/BROADBAND

OVERSIGHT OF US BROADBAND EFFORTS
[SOURCE: House Committee on Oversight &=20
Government Reform 5/22, AUTHOR: Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis]
The House Committee on Oversight and Government=20
Reform has sent a letter to the Government=20
Accountability Office asking it to conduct a=20
survey of all actions undertaken by the federal=20
government to encourage broadband=20
deployment. Specifically they ask the study to=20
address: 1) Actions taken by the federal=20
government to encourage broadband deployment, 2)=20
A comparison of US broadband deployment to that=20
in other countries, 3) The extent the government=20
is using existing authority to encourage=20
broadband, 4) The unique characteristics of the=20
US that affect broadband deployment and 5)=20
Coordination of various governmental efforts to encourage broadband deploym=
ent.
http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20070525103116.pdf

BROADBAND FACT BOOK
[SOURCE: Internet Innovation Alliance]
Working on the premise that informed policy=20
makers make the right decisions when they have=20
the most accurate and current information at=20
their fingertips, the Internet Innovation=20
Alliance has attempted to gather the relevant=20
data on high speed Internet access in one single=20
location. The report cover Internet basics and=20
access speeds, demographics of Internet users,=20
broadband deployment in the US and abroad, the=20
consumer and economic benefits of broadband, and=20
the growth in Internet traffic. All in less than 30 pages -- what a bargain.
http://www.internetinnovation.org/iia/downloads/IIA_Fact_Book.pdf

AN ODD-BEDFELLOW COALITION
[SOURCE: National Review Online, AUTHOR: Kristina Rasmussen]
[Commentary] What's this? Democrats and=20
Republicans agreeing? What's next? Dogs hanging=20
out with cats? Key congressional players from=20
both parties have realized the potential gains of=20
making permanent a soon-to-expire federal=20
moratorium on Internet-access taxes. This would=20
mean no discriminatory taxes on Internet services=20
-- a policy more and more Democrats are coming=20
around to support. Why? 1) A low-tax Internet is=20
affordable for Americans of all income levels.=20
Telecom taxes can add 20 percent or more to a=20
wireless phone bill. Because this burden tends to=20
fall hardest on lower-income households, many=20
Democrats don't want to be responsible for=20
putting Internet access out of reach for the very=20
Americans they profess to care the most about. 2)=20
The ban has helped create a dynamic Internet=20
environment that is opening up new employment and=20
commerce opportunities. This is especially good=20
news for the blue states where manufacturing jobs=20
are departing for warmer climates. 3) Democrats=20
can tune their rhetoric on the moratorium so that=20
it=92s in sync with the familiar (but shrill) song=20
about =93protecting=94 the Internet with=20
(economically destructive) =93net neutrality=94=20
rules. It=92s hard to imagine the net-neutrality=20
scheme having any upside, but that=92s a fight for=20
another day. In the here and now, Democrats gain=20
an undeniable political benefit by relating these two issues.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=3DMmQ3NWNkZTgxMDNiNGE0MGIxMGVhZmYzN...
NTlhNmQ=3D

NPR JOINS APPEAL OF ONLINE MUSIC ROYALTIES
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Seth Sutel]
National Public Radio is teaming up with online=20
radio broadcasters to appeal new music royalty=20
fees that they say would put smaller operators=20
out of business and force others to sharply scale=20
back their online music offerings. NPR filed a=20
notice with the U.S. Court of Appeals in the=20
District on Wednesday signaling that it would=20
challenge the ruling by a panel of copyright=20
judges that will sharply raise the amount of=20
royalties that NPR stations and others have to=20
pay record companies for streaming music over the=20
Internet. NPR also said it, along with other=20
webcasters, was filing a request with the same=20
court yesterday for an emergency stay blocking=20
the adoption of the new rates, which are set to take effect July 15.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/31/AR200705...
2186.html
(requires registration)

GOOGLE PHOTOS STIR A DEBATE OVER PRIVACY
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Miguel Helft]
The Web has been buzzing about the privacy=20
implications of Street View -- with varying=20
degrees of seriousness. Several sites have been=20
asking users to submit interesting images=20
captured by the Google service, which offers=20
panoramic views of miles of streets around San=20
Francisco, New York, Las Vegas, Miami and Denver.=20
Google said in a statement that it takes privacy=20
seriously and considered the privacy implications=20
of its service before it was introduced on=20
Tuesday. =93Street View only features imagery taken=20
on public property,=94 the company said. =93This=20
imagery is no different from what any person can=20
readily capture or see walking down the street.=94=20
=93The issue that I have ultimately is about where=20
you draw the line between taking public photos=20
and zooming in on people=92s lives,=94 said one=20
woman. =93The next step might be seeing books on my=20
shelf. If the government was doing this, people would be outraged.=94
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/technology/01private.html?ref=3Dbusiness
(requires registration)

OWNERSHIP

DOW JONES SAYS IT WILL CONSIDER OPTIONS SALE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Ross Sorking & Richard Perez-Pena]
The family that controls Dow Jones & Company,=20
publisher of The Wall Street Journal, announced=20
yesterday that it would consider selling the=20
company, ending more than a century of family=20
ownership. The announcement came after the=20
family, the Bancrofts, said that it was willing=20
to meet with Rupert Murdoch=92s News Corporation,=20
just weeks after the family rejected a $5 billion=20
takeover offer from Mr. Murdoch. Mr. Murdoch=20
requested a personal meeting with the Bancrofts=20
weeks ago, saying that he wanted his family and=20
theirs to become acquainted. Until yesterday,=20
there had been no reply to that overture. The=20
decision represents a remarkable about-face for=20
both the company and Mr. Murdoch=92s bid. A=20
successful deal would mean a huge victory for Mr.=20
Murdoch, the Australian media mogul, and new=20
ownership for The Wall Street Journal, the=20
second-largest newspaper in the country by=20
circulation and one of the great names in American journalism.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/business/media/01dow.html?ref=3Dtodays...
er
(requires registration)
* Wall St. Journal Owners to Consider Sale
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/31/AR200705...
2626.html
* Murdoch's $5 billion bid for Dow Jones gets new life
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070601/1b_dowjones01.art.htm
* Murdoch's Dow Jones pitch to get a listen
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-dowjones1jun01,1,6856...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

CH=C1VEZ LOOKS AT HIS CRITICS IN THE MEDIA AND SEES THE ENEMY
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Simon Romero]
Venezuelan President Hugo Ch=E1vez is talking tough=20
about both protestors and any media organizations=20
that oppose him. Analysts say such statements=20
reflect a savvy reading of Venezuela=92s polarized=20
politics that has enabled him to withstand acute=20
challenges to his government. On Sunday, the=20
government closed the dissident station, Radio=20
Caracas Televisi=F3n, or RCTV, describing the=20
action as a regulatory decision based on the=20
network=92s support for a brief coup in 2002.=20
Opponents say the decision is evidence that Mr.=20
Ch=E1vez=92s definition of the enemy has been=20
enlarged to include news media outlets that are=20
critical of his government. Otherwise, say=20
detractors like Teodoro Petkoff, the editor of=20
the small opposition newspaper Tal Cual, Mr.=20
Ch=E1vez would have also decided not to renew the=20
licenses of Venevisi=F3n and Televen, networks=20
whose coverage similarly supported the 48-hour=20
coup in 2002. Those networks have become far less=20
critical of Mr. Ch=E1vez, while RCTV has maintained=20
its criticism. Indeed, watching television here=20
this week has become a lesson in how Mr. Ch=E1vez=20
is extending his control beyond political=20
institutions to include the broadcast media. It=20
is a marked shift from the early years of his=20
presidency, when he faced vitriolic criticism=20
from most news organizations, which were owned by=20
the country=92s moneyed elite. With Ch=E1vez=20
loyalists controlling the National Assembly, the=20
Supreme Court and the federal bureaucracy, and=20
with RCTV off the air, coverage of the protests=20
by every television broadcaster except a small=20
cable news network, Globovisi=F3n, fell into=20
ideological step with the coverage by Mr.=20
Ch=E1vez=92s expanding state-controlled broadcasting interests.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/world/americas/01venez.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

2 MORE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES DECLINE TO JOIN IN FOX NEWS DEBATE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jacques Steinberg and Raymond Hernandez]
The congressman overseeing plans to stage a=20
debate among Democratic presidential hopefuls on=20
the Fox News Channel said yesterday that the=20
forum would go on as planned, despite the=20
defection of two more candidates, Senator=20
Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Gov. Bill=20
Richardson of New Mexico. The congressman,=20
Representative Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi,=20
said in an interview that he was disappointed in=20
Senator Dodd and Governor Richardson for=20
following the lead of three other candidates who=20
had previously announced they were skipping the=20
debate: Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New=20
York and Barack Obama of Illinois, and John=20
Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina.=20
The debate is being co-sponsored by the=20
Congressional Black Caucus. Three candidates=20
seeking the Democratic nomination in 2008 =97=20
Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, former=20
Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska and Representative=20
Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio =97 have committed to=20
attend the forum, which is scheduled for Sept. 23 in Detroit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01debate.html
(requires registration)

JOHN EDWARDS AND... SPECTRUM?
[SOURCE: TPM Cafe, AUTHOR: Art Brodsky, Public Knowledge]
[Commentary] For those of us who labor in the=20
arcane world of telecommunications policy, this=20
had been a red-letter week. One presidential=20
candidate, and one person who should be a=20
presidential candidate are helping to put the=20
issues of who owns the Internet front and center.=20
Who knew? Democratic candidate John Edwards came=20
out with a public letter to the Federal=20
Communications Commission on one of the most=20
arcane issues of them all -- spectrum policy. In=20
his new book, "The Assault on Reason," Al Gore=20
talks about the breakdown of public debate over a=20
whole range of issues. One of the remedies, he=20
said, is that: "We must ensure that the Internet=20
remains open and accessible to all citizens=20
without any limitation on the ability of=20
individuals to choose the content they wish=20
regardless of the Internet service provider they=20
use to connect to the World Wide Web."
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/may/31/john_edwards_and_spe...
um

QUICKLY

CHOICEPOINT SETTLES WITH 43 STATES, DC
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
ChoicePoint Inc. has agreed to implement more=20
safeguards as part of a settlement with 43 states=20
and the District of Columbia over allegations it=20
failed to adequately secure consumers' personal=20
information related to a breach of its database=20
it disclosed in 2005. The consumer data provider=20
has agreed to adopt significantly stronger=20
security measures. Among them are written=20
certification for access to consumer reports and,=20
in some cases, onsite visits by ChoicePoint to=20
ensure the legitimacy of companies before they=20
are allowed access to personally identifiable information.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?Feed=3DAP...
te=3D20070531&ID=3D6977511
* Rep Markey (D-MA): ChoicePoint Settlement Sends=20
Important Signal to Data Industry
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=3Dcontent&task=3Dview&id=3D2871...
emid=3D125

SOAP OPERA
[SOURCE: Slate, AUTHOR: Seth Stevenson]
[Commentary] You may have no interest in the plot=20
line of a six-month (um, hour) USA network=20
miniseries, by the attendant marketing blitzkrieg=20
deserves some attention. The show has a sole=20
sponsor which will run a ton of ads and a=20
contest. Branded entertainment has been around=20
forever and goes back to the days of the radio=20
soap opera. What's remarkable about this show is=20
how intertwined the marketing effort is with the=20
creative effort. The sponsor's involvement goes=20
beyond mere sponsorships, ads, and contests. It=20
identified the project as a good match early on=20
in its development stage and became an=20
underwriter. In exchange for financing, the=20
sponsor was allowed to put its marketing agents=20
in the room with the show's writers during the scripting process.
http://www.slate.com/id/2167188?nav=3Dtap3

YOUTUBE SIGNS BROAD LICENSING PACT WITH EMI
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Yinka Adegoke and Eric Auchard]
EMI has joined the other three major music=20
companies in letting YouTube users play with its=20
music videos, allowing people to get clips by the=20
likes of David Bowie, Norah Jones and Coldplay=20
from the Google-owned site and edit them into=20
their own videos. EMI and YouTube said they are=20
still working on developing business models to=20
generate revenue, particularly with regards to=20
new areas such as allowing users to create=20
'mash-up' videos that include their own content=20
alongside EMI music and clips. EMI will use the=20
YouTube content management system to help the=20
music company track its content and pay its=20
artists, the companies said. No financial terms were disclosed.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN3132886120070531
* YouTube, EMI sign breakthrough licensing pact
http://news.com.com/YouTube%2C+EMI+sign+breakthrough+licensing+pact/2100...
30_3-6187759.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed

UNIONS, ADVERTISERS PICK BOOZ ALLEN FOR PAY STUDY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Unions and advertising industry representatives=20
have picked consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton=20
to investigate possible new models for=20
compensating commercial actors in the digital=20
age. Both sides agreed to hire an outside=20
consultant and take the firm's findings into=20
account during contract negotiations that begin=20
next year. The unions involved are the Screen=20
Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of=20
Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). In the=20
other corner is an Association of National=20
Advertisers/American Association of Ad Agencies joint committee.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6448126.html?rssid=3D193

TRIBUNE WRAPS UP TENDER OFFER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Michael Malone]
Tribune Company took a step towards becoming a=20
private company, as it accepted for payment 126=20
million of the 218 million-plus shares tendered=20
in the tender offer, at $34 a share. Tribune will=20
start payments for the shares no later than June 5, 2007.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6447979.html?rssid=3D193
* Tribune Buying Back 52% Of Outstanding Shares From 'Oversubscribed' Tender
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003592292

FIVE TELECOMS TO VIE FOR GOVERNMENT PACT
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Corey Boles corey.boles( at )dowjones.com]
Major telecommunications companies AT&T Inc.,=20
Verizon Communications Inc., Qwest Communications=20
International Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. won=20
the right to compete for a large=20
federal-government telecommunications contract,=20
the General Services Administration said. A fifth=20
company, broadband fiber-network operator Level 3=20
Communications Inc., was also on the list for the=20
contract, which covers part of an overhaul of the=20
government's telecommunications infrastructure.=20
The contract is the second announcement in two=20
months by the GSA. Combined, the two programs=20
have a budget of $20 billion, although that could=20
go as high as $68 billion. The GSA couldn't say=20
how much will fall into the first program, called=20
Networx Universal, and how much will be spent in=20
the contract announced Thursday, called Networx=20
Enterprise. The programs' main focus will be=20
moving the federal government to an=20
Internet-protocol-based technology for its=20
telecommunications system. It includes replacing=20
and upgrading the range of services including=20
wired, wireless, broadband and satellite=20
telecommunications. Thursday's announcement, like=20
that for the earlier contract at the end of=20
March, effectively creates short lists of=20
companies that can now compete for government=20
business. They can now offer their services to=20
individual government departments which will be=20
able to choose from among the various companies.=20
No departments are obliged to participate in the=20
Networx program, although the GSA said 135=20
government departments and agencies, including=20
the largest such as the Department of Defense and=20
the U.S. Treasury, are likely to participate. The=20
budgeted $20 billion is to be spent over the next decade.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118062928129020210.html?mod=3DdjemTECH
(requires subscription)
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Thanks for reading this far. have a great weekend... and we are outta here.
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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