Benton's Communications-related Headlines For Monday June 18, 2007
UNIVERSAL BROADBAND/UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Make no little digital plans, group tells Chicago Mayor
APT: U.S. at Risk of Becoming Gated Digital Communities
Guarding The Beachfront
Fund to subsidize rural phones faces dispute
Studies Questioning the Benefits of USF Subsidies to Wireless Carr=
iers
NETWORK NEUTRALITY
NCTA: Don't Regulate Net Neutrality
Internet Content Providers Urge the FCC Not to Regulate the Net
Earthlink Asks FCC to Ensure Broadband Competition
Hands Off the Internet on Net Neutrality
NBC Tells FCC To Fight Traffic In Stolen Digital Goods
JOURNALISM
It's Not About Dan and Katie
Kennedy critiques government and press on environment
Bill Clinton Issues Media Challenge
Mirror, Mirror
Newspapers try to restore investor confidence
Pearson puts out feelers on Dow Jones
NBC goes to print for '08 race
Building a TV Station and a Platform for Leftists
Citizens are the media in S. Korea
BROADCASTING/CABLE
FCC Seeks Comment on Commercial Leased Access Rules
Broadcasters See Red Over White Spaces
Ohio House OKs Franchise-Reform Bill
TV Networks Gain In 'Upfront' Ad Deals
QUICKLY -- Internet Radio Races To Break Free of the PC; Cereal Killer
UNIVERSAL BROADBAND/UNIVERSAL SERVICE
MAKE NO LITTLE DIGITAL PLANS, GROUP TELLS DALEY
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: Jon Van]
Chicago should undertake a communitywide campaign=20
to become the nation's most advanced digital=20
city, a mayor's advisory committee report urged=20
Friday. Instead of only seeking to extend=20
connectivity to underprivileged neighborhoods,=20
the city should help poorer residents get=20
subsidized computers, get needed instruction and=20
make digital communications an integral part of=20
community activities, said the report presented=20
by Julia Stasch, an executive at the John D. and=20
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Mayor=20
Richard Daley's former chief of staff. She=20
unveiled the report at a Community Media Summit,=20
a gathering at Columbia College of about 150=20
policymakers, philanthropists and others=20
concerned with promoting neighborhood=20
communications. Called the "City That Networks,"=20
the report said that rather than merely seeking=20
to close the digital divide that separates=20
cyberspace haves from have-nots, the city should=20
pursue digital excellence, which Stasch defined=20
as "universal, active and meaningful=20
participation" in the digital world. The report=20
calls upon Mayor Daley to appoint two local=20
business leaders to head a private campaign to=20
rally citizens toward digital excellence.
http://feeds.chicagotribune.com/~r/chicagotribune/business/~3/125308184/...
-sat_wifi_0616jun16,0,3835615.story
http://feeds.chicagotribune.com/~r/chicagotribune/business/~3/125184742/...
-070615wifi,0,6021013.story
* Chicago Report on Digital Excellence
http://wrythings.net/2007/06/16/chicago-report-on-digital-excellence/
* "A very special day for community in Chicago=20
and for Chicago community media."
http://www.afcn.org/node/271
ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC TECHNOLOGY WARNS FCC: US AT=20
RISK OF BECOMING GATED DIGITAL COMMUNITIES
In comments filed by the Alliance for Public=20
Technology with the Federal Communications=20
Commission, Dr. Robert Atkinson cautioned that=20
the alternative to universally deployed broadband=20
is "a nation of gated digital communities." The=20
subject of the comments is the Commission's=20
measurements of broadband deployment in the=20
United States and the need for more detailed data=20
collection tactics (WC Docket No. 07-38). To spur=20
U.S. deployment efforts, APT urged the Commission=20
to adopt the following recommendations: 1)=20
Collect data based on the exact number of=20
subscribers in each 9-digit zip code. The current=20
system, which uses one subscriber in a 5-digit=20
zip code is inadequate and misleading. 2) The FCC=20
should collect data on the number of homes passed=20
with high-speed services. The availability of=20
broadband connections to the home is essential to=20
a community's quality of life today, regardless=20
of the level of subscribers. 3) The FCC should=20
make use of commercial databases and services to=20
augment its own data, but not rely exclusively on=20
private sources. Government resources, such as=20
NTIA, the Bureau of the Census and the GAO should=20
be considered as well. 4) APT supports the=20
development of an automated voluntary reporting=20
mechanism for consumers to inform the FCC about=20
the state of broadband in their communities. 5)=20
The Commission should analyze broadband prices,=20
looking for discrepancies between zip=20
codes. Where inequities are found, they should be addressed.
http://www.apt.org/news/apt-press-releases/2007/PR061507.html
* APT comments:
http://www.apt.org/news/apt-press-releases/2007/PR061507.html
GUARDING THE BEACHFRONT
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
If a handful of public-interest advocates had=20
their way, the Federal Communications Commission=20
would ban cable operators and phone companies=20
from the upcoming 700-MHz spectrum auction that=20
some consider the most important the agency will=20
ever conduct. Consumers Union, Public Knowledge=20
and the Media Access Project (MAP) are leading=20
the assault, claiming a ban would spur=20
competition in providing high-speed Internet=20
access to consumers. Otherwise, big cable-system=20
operators such as Comcast and Time Warner Cable=20
and phone giants such as AT&T and Verizon=20
Communications would keep out smaller rivals,=20
dominating the business and stifling innovation.=20
=93We think it makes excellent sense just to keep=20
the incumbents out of this auction,=94 said MAP=20
senior vice president Harold Feld. =93If we really=20
want a genuine third pipe -- that is to say, one=20
that competes against telephone [digital=20
subscriber line] and the cable broadband platform=20
-- keep those guys out.=94 While not unprecedented,=20
sweeping auction restrictions on cable would be a=20
setback as cable operators continue to search for=20
ways to add a robust wireless component to their=20
voice, video and data services. That =93triple=20
play=94 has been such a huge success that it=20
probably led Rupert Murdoch to give up News=20
Corp.=92s controlling stake in DirecTV, the leading satellite TV provider.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6452620.html
-- See also --
* Sides press for advantage in airwaves auction
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2007/06/18/sides_pres...
or_advantage_in_airwaves_auction/
* Spectrum auction has plenty on the line
http://www.thestar.com/article/226423
FUND TO SUBSIDIZE RURAL PHONES FACES DISPUTE
[SOURCE: St Louis Dispatch 6/13, AUTHOR: Tim Logan tlogan( at )post-dispatch.com]
Rural telephone companies and wireless companies=20
agree on this: the Universal Service Fund --=20
which eats up nearly 12 percent of every=20
American's phone bill to subsidize certain phone=20
services -- needs to be fixed. They don't agree=20
on much else. They sit at opposite ends of a=20
debate that's been roiling the telephone industry=20
in recent weeks: whether the expansion of=20
wireless phone service across rural America under=20
the $7 billion fund should be capped while=20
federal officials redesign the program for a=20
fast-changing telecommunications world. The=20
federally-mandated fund subsidizes a number of=20
things, including high-cost service in parts of=20
the country that no phone company will serve on=20
its own. That part of the fund has soared in=20
recent years, from $2.6 billion in 2001 to $4.1=20
billion in 2006. Most of the growth has been=20
driven by wireless companies that are using the=20
fund to build cell towers. In contrast, spending=20
by landline companies has been relatively stable in recent years.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/0/698B062B4BBB2C09...
572F9000C1E40?OpenDocument
STUDIES QUESTIONING THE BENEFITS OF USF SUBSIDIES TO WIRELESS CARRIERS
[SOURCE: Criterion Economics 6/13]
Criterion Economics released two studies today=20
calling into question whether universal service=20
subsidies for cell phone companies generate=20
benefits for consumers. The first study, by=20
Criterion expert Nicholas Vantzelfde, compares=20
the coverage of subsidized wireless carriers with=20
coverage provided by unsubsidized wireless=20
carriers in the same areas. The second study, by=20
Criterion economist Kevin Caves and Chairman=20
Jeffrey Eisenach, uses regression analysis to=20
examine the relationship between subsidies and=20
wireless availability. Both studies find that the=20
current universal service program is ineffective=20
in increasing wireless availability and that=20
policymakers should consider capping funding and/or implementing reforms.
* Press release:
http://www.criterioneconomics.com/docs/Criterion%20USF%20Press%20Release...
061307.pdf
* Links to studies:
http://www.criterioneconomics.com/news/070613.phphttp://www.criterionecon=
omics.com/news/070613.php
NETWORK NEUTRALITY
NCTA: DON'T REGULATE NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The cable industry asked the FCC Friday to leave=20
the Internet unregulated, saying it is network=20
flexibility that has promopted hundreds of=20
billions of dollars in investments in network build-outs and upgrades.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6452646.html?rssid=3D193
INTERNET CONTENT PROVIDERS URGE THE FCC NOT TO REGULATE THE NET
[SOURCE MovieFlix/Doctors TeleHealth/KinderStart]
MovieFlix, Doctors TeleHealth Network, and=20
KinderStart urged the Federal=20
Communications Commission not to regulate the=20
Internet by adopting network neutrality rules.=20
The companies differ from some other content=20
providers who think the government needs to adopt=20
network neutrality regulations. "There is growing=20
evidence that [network neutrality regulation]=20
could slow the deployment of the super-fast local=20
broadband networks that are crucial to continued=20
growth of our industry. Evidence of this risk=20
comes from the cable, cellular, and telephone=20
carriers who have begun to deploy these=20
extraordinarily expensive networks, from Wall=20
Street analysts, from telecom researchers, and=20
from scores of companies that produce the=20
hardware and software products necessary to make=20
broadband networks work. If investment in local=20
broadband networks were to slow as a result of=20
net neutrality regulation, the Internet content=20
industry would be hurt by forcing it to rely on=20
existing and less desirable network technologies."
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=3D109&STORY=3D/www/sto...
06-15-2007/0004609205&EDATE=3D
EARTHLINK ASKS THE FCC TO ENSURE BROADBAND COMPETITION
[SOURCE: TMCnet, AUTHOR: Spencer Chin]
Internet service provider EarthLink has filed=20
comments with the Federal Communications=20
Commission requesting that the Commission promote=20
market competition for last-mile broadband=20
access, in response to attempts by large cable=20
and telco companies to monopolize access to=20
unbundled cooper loops. EarthLink argued that the=20
Commission should not bow to pressure from cable=20
and telco providers to eliminate access to=20
unbundled cooper loops, to =93effectively protect=20
the vibrant, open nature of the Internet.=94=20
EarthLink argued that enabling it and other ISPs=20
to access the loops would make the market less=20
vulnerable to the anti-competitive practices of=20
the large cable/telco monopolies, who are=20
increasingly bundling phone, Internet, and TV=20
services. EarthLink contends that the incumbent=20
providers are more likely to =93block, impair,=20
degrade, and discriminate against Internet content and applications.=94
http://internetcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-mobile/article...
647-earthlink-asks-fcc-ensure-broadband-competition.htm
HANDS OFF THE INTERNET ON NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: Hands Off the Internet press release]
[Commentary] Hands Off the Internet, a coalition=20
of businesses, provided the Federal=20
Communications Commission with the results of its=20
study showing the reasons why adoption of new net=20
neutrality regulations would hinder development=20
of the next generation Internet, and would harm=20
consumers. Hands Off, which examined in depth the=20
legal, regulatory, economic, business and=20
consumer protection issues relating to the issue=20
of so-called =93net neutrality=94, provided the=20
results of its study in its submission to the=20
Commission in connection with the FCC=92s inquiry=20
into broadband market practices. The Hands Off=20
submission explains that broadband capacity,=20
especially in connections to consumers at their=20
homes, must be greatly increased to handle the=20
massive increase in data traffic (due in large=20
part to video applications like YouTube). As=20
explained in the FCC filing, tiered services and=20
new business arrangements by broadband access=20
providers will not result in content=20
discrimination or service degradation, but will=20
spread the cost of the new build-out so that=20
consumers will not be saddled with the entire=20
cost. Additionally, the submission shows that=20
prominent economists agree that the unintended=20
consequences of premature regulation could well=20
result in a slowdown in broadband deployment and higher costs for consumers.
http://handsoff.org/blog/press-releases/reason-instead-of-rhetoric/
NBC TELLS FCC TO FIGHT TRAFFIC IN STOLEN DIGITAL GOODS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
One thing NBC Universal is not neutral on is=20
copyright violations. NBCU used comments in the=20
FCC's network neutrality docket Friday to push=20
for a government crackdown on intellectual=20
piracy, specifically calling for FCC regulations=20
requiring Internet service providers to police=20
their networks for illegal content.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6452680.html?rssid=3D193
JOURNALISM
IT'S NOT ABOUT DAN AND KATIE
[SOURCE: The Nation, AUTHOR: Katrina Vanden Heuvel]
[Commentary] The media firestorm following Dan=20
rather's remark -- that network executives had=20
tried to boost ratings by "dumbing [CBS Evening=20
News] down and tarting it up" -- illustrates the=20
very point Rather was trying to make about the=20
degradation of the mainstream, corporate news biz=20
and the obliteration of the line between news and=20
entertainment. As another CBS alum, Walter=20
Cronkite, recently said, that the pressure for=20
profits is "threatening the very freedom the=20
nation was built upon." And in a recent New York=20
Times op-ed, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps=20
warned of "pressure from media conglomerates"=20
that has made licensing renewals for the free use=20
of the public airwaves a virtual "rubber-stamp"=20
every eight years. He contrasts this with a past=20
when every three years the requirement that=20
networks serve the public interest was given "a=20
hard look" =96 prior to "deregulatory mania in the=20
1980's." We desperately need a news media that=20
raises the tough questions, acts as watchdogs of=20
the public interest, questions=20
authority--performs the basic duties required of=20
a free press in a democracy. A flawed media leads=20
to a flawed democracy. And in these past six or=20
so years, with some notable exceptions, the media=20
has been too easily intimidated by an=20
administration that used fear to make its case=20
for war, labeled its critics un-American, quashed=20
dissent, perverted the meaning of patriotism and=20
brazenly -- on all fronts -- subverted the=20
Constitution. It ain't about Dan, and it ain't=20
about Katie. It's about consolidation,=20
conglomeration, and the impact on the Fourth Estate and our democracy.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?bid=3D7&pid=3D204994
KENNEDY CRITIQUES GOVERNMENT AND PRESS ON ENVIRONMENT
[SOURCE: SunValleyonline.com, AUTHOR: Gary Stivers]
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. railed against the failures=20
of the current American government, corporate=20
power and the press who he said are committing a=20
travesty against the public trust. Speaking about=20
the Bush Administration he said, "These=20
individuals have entered public service not to=20
serve the public interest but to subvert the very=20
laws they are charged with enforcing in order to=20
enrich the president's corporate paymasters. They=20
have imposed tremendous diminution in quality of=20
live for people in this country. Most Americans=20
don't know about it, they're unaware of the=20
connections, they don't make the connection,=20
because we have a negligent and indolent press in=20
this country that has simply let down American=20
democracy. That's a really important issue and=20
one of the two most important environmental=20
issues -- the other one is campaign finance=20
reform." Kennedy continued. "People are talking=20
about the 'liberal' media. I was thinking,=20
'There's no such thing as the Liberal Media.'=20
What do you have? You have The Nation magazine,=20
Mother Jones, I guess Rolling Stone, and Air=20
America Radio and Pacifica Radio and that's=20
pretty much it. That's the Liberal Media. But=20
there's a right-wing media in this country and if=20
you look at where Americans are=20
disproportionately getting their news, that's=20
where it's coming from. The Pew [Research Center]=20
just did a survey which showed that 30% of=20
Americans now say their primary news source is=20
talk radio, which is 95% controlled by The Right.=20
Twenty-two percent said cable news, mainly Fox=20
News. Ten percent [said] Sinclair Network =96the=20
most right-wing of them all- which is the largest=20
television network in America and it's run by a=20
former pornographer who requires all 75 of his=20
local affiliate stations to take a pledge not to=20
report critically about this president on Iraq=20
and other issues. Only 11% of Americans now read=20
newspapers," Kennedy went on, "The rest of us are=20
getting our news from the traditional corporate=20
media, ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN, who have no=20
ideology other than their own pocketbooks."
http://www.sunvalleyonline.com/news/article.asp?ID_Article=3D3554
BILL CLINTON ISSUES MEDIA CHALLENGE
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Chris Pursell]
Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd of=20
marketers, branders and media executives from=20
around the country, former President Bill Clinton=20
challenged the press to =93render complex messages=20
to audiences without turning them into=20
two-dimensional cartoons=94 as the next election=20
approaches. Considering the average Promax=20
participant controls 20,000 minutes of air time a=20
year at their stations, President Clinton=92s=20
message to the media was clear, noting how=20
certain messages from candidates and officials=20
are never highlighted by the media because they=20
didn=92t fit in with how parties and issues are=20
pre-branded by the press. Comparing show business=20
to politics, the Democratic former president=20
noted how the political shift back to the=20
Republican Party in 2000 was due to the fact that=20
=93they were better branders than we were.=94
http://tvweek.com/news/2007/06/bill_clinton_issues_media_chal.php
(requires free registration)
MIRROR, MIRROR
[SOURCE: The Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Rory O'Connor]
[Commentary] The Mirror Awards -- sponsored=20
by Syracuse University's S.I Newhouse School of=20
Public Communications -- honored reporters,=20
editors and teams of writers "who hold a mirror=20
to their own industry for the public's benefit."=20
So who's the fairest of them all? To O'Connor,=20
not the Big Media boys like David Carr of The New=20
York Times, whose weekly column won for 'Best=20
Commentary,' or Philip Weiss and Clive Thompson=20
of New York magazine, who won for 'Best Profile'=20
and 'Best Single Article,' respectively -- as=20
worthy as their entries may have been. Instead,=20
O'Connor's favorite was culled from Nieman=20
Reports, the small publication of The Nieman=20
Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.=20
The category was 'Best Coverage of Breaking=20
Industry News,' and the author is Dean Miller,=20
executive editor of the definitely small and=20
obscure Post Register in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rory-oconnor/mirror-mirror_b_52357.html
NEWSPAPERS TRY TO RESTORE INVESTOR CONFIDENCE
[SOURCE: Reuters 6/15, AUTHOR: Robert MacMillan]
U.S. newspaper executives will meet in New York=20
to wrestle with one of their biggest challenges:=20
persuading investors to stick around. But there=20
will be some conspicuous absences at the annual=20
Mid-Year Media Review hosted by the Newspaper=20
Association of America. Los Angeles Times owner=20
Tribune Co. and Wall Street Journal publisher Dow=20
Jones & Co. Inc. will skip the meeting. One is=20
going private, the other may get bought.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DindustryNews&storyID=
=3D2007-06-15T171409Z_01_N15268387_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-NEWSPAPERS-CONFERENCE=
-DC.XML
PEARSON PUTS OUT FEELERS ON DOW JONES
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Andrew=20
Edgecliffe-Johnson, Francesco Guerrera and Joshua Chaffin]
Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, is in=20
active discussions with General Electric about a=20
possible joint offer for Dow Jones in response to=20
Rupert Murdoch=92s $5bn attempt to buy the Wall=20
Street Journal. Neither Pearson nor General=20
Electric would comment, but people familiar with=20
the situation said that Pearson had made contact=20
in recent weeks with the US conglomerate, which=20
controls the NBC entertainment group and CNBC,=20
the business news channel. GE and Pearson have=20
met, these people said, but they cautioned that=20
the talks were of a preliminary nature and that=20
it was not yet clear whether they would lead to a=20
bid. GE would be expected to finance a large part=20
of any offer, according to people familiar with=20
the matter. Pearson is also understood to have=20
reached out to Barry Diller=92s IAC and Hearst.=20
Neither company was available to comment.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/efdf08a2-1b82-11dc-bc55-000b5df10621.html
(requires subscription)
* FT Looking To Enter Joint Bid For Dow Jones
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003599759
* G.E. and Pearson Are Said to Study Bid for Dow Jones
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/18/business/media/18dow.html
NBC GOES TO PRINT FOR '08 RACE
[SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Paul J. Gough]
NBC News is reaching into the world of print to=20
help it cover the 2008 presidential election. NBC=20
News is teaming up with the National Journal=20
Group for reporters who will go in-depth with the=20
candidates on the campaign trail beginning late=20
this summer. The staff will be a mix of new hires=20
and existing employees from NBC News and National=20
Journal; all the staff will be on board within=20
the month. These "mobile campaign bureau"=20
journalists will cover the candidates and=20
political events with a mixture of text, audio=20
and video to supplement the work of NBC News=20
crews. The blogs, video blogs and other material=20
will appear on platforms from NBC to MSNBC and=20
MSNBC.com as well as the National Journal, the Hotline and CongressDaily.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ie...
c170a1ef017816373814392a09ff
BUILDING A TV STATION AND A PLATFORM FOR LEFTISTS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Simon Romero]
A look at Telesur, the regional Spanish-language=20
network financed largely by Venezuela=92s=20
government. Less than two years old, Telesur is=20
seen as this hemisphere=92s answer to Al Jazeera, a=20
Latin American network aimed at fostering=20
integration and countering the influence of news=20
organizations like CNN. The man guiding this=20
experiment is Andr=E9s Izarra, a rising star of=20
President Hugo Ch=E1vez=92s ambitious project to=20
upend elites in Venezuela and elsewhere in the region.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/16/world/americas/16izarrap.html
(requires registration)
CITIZENS ARE THE MEDIA IN S KOREA
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Don Lee]
Although traditional newspapers and magazines=20
around the world are cutting jobs amid declining=20
circulation and a shift toward the Internet,=20
OhmyNews continues to recruit. It currently has a=20
reporting corps of 50,000. The company's motto,=20
posted outside its crammed office in central=20
Seoul, is a big help-wanted sign: "Every citizen can be a reporter."
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-ohmynews18jun18,1,744...
1.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
BROADCASTING/CABLE
FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON COMMERCIAL LEASED ACCESS RULES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Adopted March 2, but just released Friday is a=20
new FCC proceeding on leased access and program=20
carriage rules which require a cable operator to=20
set aside channel capacity for commercial use by=20
video programmers unaffiliated with the operator.=20
The FCC is seeking public comment on the=20
following: The current status of leased access=20
programming. Do programmers actually use leased=20
access channels? To what extent are they able to=20
use the set-aside channels? How many leased=20
access channels do cable operators=20
provide? Which programmers are using those=20
channels? Are programmers using the channels on=20
a full-time or part-time basis? For what=20
purposes are leased access channels used? Do=20
cable operators turn down requests for leased=20
access? If so, why? To what extent and for what=20
purposes do the cable operators use the channels=20
for themselves? Does the cable operators' option=20
to use the channels contribute to programmers'=20
lack of use of the set-aside channels? Are the=20
terms in leased access agreements the same or=20
similar to those that the cable operator has with=20
its programmers? Do cable operators impose=20
different requirements regarding, for example,=20
insurance or termination provisions? If so,=20
why? We also seek comment on the effectiveness=20
of leased access enforcement. We seek comment=20
specifically on the costs associated with the=20
complaint or other dispute resolution processes,=20
as well as whether there should be a defined time=20
period for cable operators to respond to leased=20
access requests or other aspects of the=20
enforcement process. The Commission's rules=20
allow programmers to file complaints to challenge=20
a cable operator's rates before the=20
Commission. To what extent do programmers make=20
use of this provision to challenge rates that=20
they believe violate the Commission's=20
regulations? Is the process too burdensome? Is=20
it effective? Should there be changes to the=20
complaint process, such as an expedited complaint=20
process before the Commission? The Commission's=20
rules also require a cable operator to respond to=20
a programmer's request for rate information=20
within 15 calendar days. Are cable operators=20
responsive to programmer's requests? When they=20
respond, do they include all required information?
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-18A1.doc
* FCC Commissioner Copps:
"This rulemaking is about independent programming=20
and ensuring that independent programmers have a=20
fair shot at carriage on cable and other=20
multi-channel distribution platforms.... We must=20
meet these statutory directives, not only because=20
it's our duty, but because these independent=20
programmers provide the diversity of voices that=20
is so central to the proper functioning of our=20
media and, ultimately, to our democracy=20
itself. If our rules aren't giving independent=20
programmers the carriage opportunities to which=20
they're entitled, we'd better fix them -- and fast."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-18A2.doc
* FCC Commissioner Adelstein:
"Commission rules and practices have made it=20
prohibitively expensive and unnecessarily=20
burdensome for most independent programmers to=20
obtain and maintain leased access."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-18A3.doc
BROADCASTERS SEE RED OVER WHITE SPACES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Broadcasters are warning FCC Commissioners and=20
staffers of a threat to the DTV transition from=20
allowing unlicensed personal, portable devices=20
like PDAs and microphones to operate in the=20
so-called white spaces between DTV channels. They=20
say the potential for interference to DTV signals=20
could stop the transition cold. Congressional=20
Democrats have been hammering the commission over=20
the DTV transition, warning that the February=20
2009 date to end analog broadcasts could slip if=20
the FCC doesn't move more aggressively.=20
Broadcasters argue that their DTV signals will be=20
sitting ducks if the FCC allows unlicensed=20
wireless devices to share their digital spectrum,=20
as computer companies have been pushing for.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6452661.html
OHIO HOUSE OKs FRANCHISE-REFORM BILL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
The Ohio House overwhelming approved a=20
franchise-reform bill Thursday that will transfer=20
video oversight to the state Director of=20
Commerce. Under the terms of the bill, the state=20
official will have 45 days to approve competitive=20
video-service agreements. Unlike other states,=20
this bill contains some customer-service=20
regulatory specifics. For instance, the law would=20
mandate that consumers be compensated for=20
provider-caused outages of four hours or more=20
with a credit for a full day's service. Rebates=20
will be mandatory for outages of more than 24=20
hours that are caused by external forces. The=20
House added more service regulations to its=20
version and revised the number of public,=20
educational and government channels required by=20
operators going forward. The latter amendments=20
are also causing concern among incumbent operators.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6452424.html?rssid=3D196
TV NETWORKS GAIN IN 'UPFRONT' AD DEALS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Suzanne=20
Vranica suzanne.vranica( at )wsj.com]
In television's upfront advertising market, which=20
usually occurs between mid-May and early June, TV=20
networks sell about three-quarters of their=20
prime-time ad inventory for the coming fall=20
season. For the past couple of years the major=20
broadcast networks' overall upfront take has=20
fallen slightly, to about $9 billion last year,=20
due to advertisers shifting money out of=20
television into Web ads and delaying their TV ad=20
purchases until later in the year. Several of the=20
major TV networks are winning significant price=20
increases this year, reflecting stronger early=20
demand for ad time than in the past couple of=20
years. Apparently, some advertisers are moving=20
money typically reserved for ad purchases later=20
in the year -- in the so-called scatter ad market=20
-- for ad time bought close to the airdate, and=20
putting it into the upfront. The reason: Scatter=20
prices in 2006 and early 2007 rose higher than=20
upfront prices for the first time in several=20
years because of the decision by some advertisers=20
to do their ad deals later in the year.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118212505467738526.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)
QUICKLY
INTERNET RADIO RACES TO BREAK FREE OF THE PC
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sarah McBride sarah.mcbride( at )wsj.com]
Internet radio, which can draw on vast troves of=20
music from around the world and customize them to=20
a listener's personal tastes, is growing. While=20
ratings for traditional radio broadcasters have=20
been lackluster, Internet radio listenership in=20
the U.S. has risen to 29 million a week, up from=20
20 million three years ago. Even so, the nascent=20
industry has yet to capture the biggest prize --=20
portability. Some halfway solutions exist, such=20
as music devices that allow people to stream=20
Internet radio on speakers, or software that=20
allows technology buffs to access Internet radio=20
from their phones. But results can be glitchy,=20
expensive and technically against the terms of=20
contracts with mobile-phone service providers.=20
Now, start-ups and giants are jockeying for=20
position in mobile Internet radio, in a race that=20
could rearrange the business model of music and broadcasting.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118213164387538671.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)
CEREAL KILLER
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] Remember when the idea of lawsuits=20
over sugared cereal was a joke? Back when Joe=20
Camel was public enemy number one, skeptics=20
warned that Tony the Tiger would be next. Well,=20
we're almost there: Last Thursday, Kellogg Co.=20
announced it would stop using licensed characters=20
like Shrek for marketing, unless the food in=20
question meets certain nutrition benchmarks for=20
sugar, fat and calories. No family brand looks=20
forward to a public shellacking for causing=20
obesity and other afflictions in children, but=20
for Kellogg to cave so quickly is an unfortunate=20
sign of the times. By withdrawing advertising=20
from elementary schools and certain programming,=20
and getting rid of movie characters like Shrek=20
and Spongebob (bad body types?), companies like=20
Kellogg will only encourage more intimidation by lawsuit.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118212415966038500.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------