July 2007

For upcoming media policy events, see=20
http://www.benton.org/?q=3Devent/2007/07/01/month/all/all/1

BROADCASTING
Many in the dark about TV switch: U.S. lawmakers
Martin Reinforces Opposition To Fairness Doctrine

SPECTRUM POLICY
Martin Rejects Google's Proposal
Is Verizon's flip-flop on the 700MHz auction rules for real?
NAB, MSTV: Unlicensed Devices Could Affect Converter Boxes

INTERNET/BROADBAND
The Tortured Road To Ubiquitous Broadband Wireless
Urban wireless networks set to surge
Net access tax compromise: A short extension?
With Tools on Web, Amateurs Reshape Mapmaking

QUICKLY -- Wiretap Debacle; YOUTUBE, TAKE TWO Few=20
GOP Candidates Commit to Debate; An Open=20
Knowledge Base for the National Broadband=20
Project; AT&T Is Cable Operator, Says Connecticut=20
Court; NSL Bill Would Restore Critical Privacy Protections

BROADCASTING

MANY IN THE DARK ABOUT TV SWITCH: US LAWMAKERS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Stephanie Beasley]
Not enough is being done to let American=20
consumers know that soon they will be unable to=20
watch their favorite shows on their old=20
television sets because they can't receive the=20
new digital signals, members of the Senate=20
Commerce Committee said on Thursday. "The time to=20
act is now -- before the digital transition=20
devolves into a digital disaster," Senate=20
Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye=20
(D-Hawaii), said at a panel hearing on public=20
readiness for the switch. U.S. television=20
stations are required to switch to digital only=20
broadcasts by February 17, 2009. People who do=20
not own digital sets will need to buy a converter=20
box or subscribe to digital or satellite cable to=20
be able to watch television. John Kneuer,=20
assistant secretary of the National=20
Telecommunications & Information Administration,=20
and Cathy Seidel, chief of consumer and=20
governmental affairs for the Federal=20
Communications Commission, said that they are=20
working with other organizations to target=20
specific communities that are less likely to know=20
about the transition. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)=20
and others expressed concern about the elderly=20
being able to make the switch and possibly=20
falling victim to scams. Sen. Claire McCaskill=20
(D-Missouri) suggested a tried and true method of=20
preparing the public for the change. "It's not=20
hard to educate the United States of America --=20
it's called: 'You do it over television."'
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/article/urn:newsml:tv.reuters.com:20070726:usa_...
evision_congress_dc__ER:77344;_ylt=3DAldFOIAE_hKKJv_CmrOVqaj6o9EF
* Lawmakers fret over digital TV transition
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2738723820070727
* Inouye: Congress Will 'Do Something' to Address DTV Concerns
The term "disaster" was used twice and "train=20
wreck" only once in a Senate Commerce Committee=20
hearing Thursday that discussed how well=20
consumers are being prepared for the=20
analog-to-digital TV transition. The transition=20
is now a little over 18 months away.
* Senators Worried About TV 'Train Wreck' (Associated Press)
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=3D116&sid=3D1201006
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6463359.html?rssid=3D193
* Lawmakers decry digital-TV notification efforts
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-digitaltv27jul27,1,68...
14.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
* NAB: DTV PSAs To Launch in December
National Association of Broadcasters President=20
David Rehr says the lobbying organization is=20
identifying target populations so PSA campaigns=20
can be tailored to them, opening a DTV speakers=20
bureau; and doing outreach to other countries=20
running campaigns. Rehr said the PSA package, at=20
a minimum, would include: four to six 30-second=20
spots and at least one 60 for "all 1,169" member=20
station; a couple of 30-second donut spots (no,=20
not plugging the new Simpsons' movie) with a hole=20
in the middle for a sound bite from an official=20
or anchor; "teaser" copy to plug the transition=20
in newscasts and send viewers to=20
www.DTVanswers.com; B-roll footage of towers,=20
converter boxes and more to illustrate stories=20
about DTV; a 25-minute special; and foreign=20
language spots. Rehr also said NAB will work with=20
networks to agree on the use of crawls during=20
programs to give viewers the heads-up.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6463538.html?rssid=3D193
* Rehr Outlines NAB's Transition Efforts
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/07/26/daily.9/
* FCC Proposes DTV Education Campaign Benchmarks
The FCC last Saturday approved a notice of=20
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on=20
various proposals to hold the broadcast and cable=20
industries to benchmarks for DTV education=20
campaigns. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin revealed the=20
NPRM to legislators at an FCC oversight hearing=20
in the House Telecommunications & Internet=20
subcommittee this week. The FCC proposals were=20
prompted by a letter from Subcommittee Chairman=20
Ed Markey and Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI).
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6463462.html?rssid=3D193
* Link to webcast and testimony
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=3DHearings.Hearin...
earing_ID=3D1888
* NTIA testimony
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/congress/2007/Kneuer_SenateCommerce_072...
.htm

MARTIN REINFORCES OPPOSITION TO FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has reasserted his=20
opposition to reinstating the fairness doctrine,=20
which once required broadcasters to cover both=20
sides of issues of public importance. In a letter=20
to Rep. Mike Pence (R-IL), Chairman Martin says:=20
"In my judgment, the events of the last two=20
decades have confirmed the wisdom of the=20
Commission=92s decision to abolish the Fairness=20
Doctrine. Discussion of controversial issues over=20
the airwaves has flourished absent regulatory=20
constraints, and the public now enjoys access to=20
an ever-expanding range of views and opinions.=20
Indeed, with the continued proliferation of=20
additional sources of information and=20
programming, including satellite broadcasting and=20
the Internet, the need for the Fairness Doctrine=20
has lessened ever further since 1987. In short, I=20
see no compelling reason to reinstate the=20
Fairness Doctrine in today=92s broadcast=20
environment, and believe that such a step would=20
inhibit the robust discussion of issues of public=20
concern over the nation=92s airwaves."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6463549.html?rssid=3D193
* See Pence press release:
http://mikepence.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=3D70110
* Martin Sees =91No Compelling Reason=92 to Revive Fairness Doctrine
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/07/martin_sees_no_compelling_reas.php
(requires free registration)
* FCC chair: Fairness Doctrine not needed (Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070726/ap_on_go_ot/fairness_doctrine_1

SPECTRUM POLICY

MARTIN REJECTS GOOGLE'S PROPOSAL
[SOURCE: webpronews.com, AUTHOR: Jason Lee Miller]
Time's running out for FCC Chairman Kevin Martin=20
to set rules for the 2008 spectrum auction, and=20
it looks like he's sticking with the=20
half-concession he originally made regarding open=20
access. And whether or not Google will bid is up=20
in the air. Google made four demands in order to=20
promise a bid of a certain amount. AT&T pitched a=20
fit about it, Chairman Martin has agreed to half=20
of them, and Verizon is okay with that. Martin's=20
new rules come up for a vote on July 31st, and=20
the auction is in early 2008, which is why, some=20
say, Chairman Martin is willing to make some=20
concessions in the first place. Tick tock. The=20
four demands Google made were that whoever bought=20
a particular slice of the spectrum, acridly=20
called "the Google Block" by detractors, open up=20
their network to any device, allow any=20
application consumers desired that didn't harm=20
the network, allow third parties to acquire=20
spectrum on a wholesale basis, and allow third=20
parties like ISPs to connect anywhere in the licensee's network.
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/07/26/martin-rejects-googles-prop...
l-what-next
* Wireless spectrum auction presents unique opportunity, says FCC=92s Martin
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Jessica Holzer]
A Q&A with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin on rules for=20
the upcoming 700 Megahertz (MHz) spectrum auction.
http://thehill.com/the-executive/wireless-spectrum-auction-presents-uniq...
opportunity-says-fccs-martin-2007-07-27.html

IS VERIZON'S FLIP-FLOP ON THE 700 MHz AUCTION FOR REAL?
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
[Commentary] Verizon Wireless says it will go=20
along with proposed Federal Communications=20
Commission rules for the upcoming 700Mhz spectrum=20
auction that would require the company to permit=20
subscribers to bring any device to its network.=20
But are AT&T and Verizon really compromising=20
anything? Combined, they have more influence in=20
Washington, D.C., than any other set of=20
technology or communications companies in the=20
entire country. They don't need to be making=20
conciliatory gestures that could hurt their=20
businesses. So why are they doing it? My guess is=20
because the proposal that Martin has touted won't=20
have much impact on the market anyway. Martin's=20
proposal, which few people have actually seen=20
yet, only would require the "any device rule" to=20
apply to a small sliver of the 700MHz spectrum.=20
So if Verizon won these licenses, the requirement=20
would be only for areas where those licenses are=20
used. The rest of the Verizon Wireless network=20
would be just as closed off as it always has=20
been. What would this mean for consumers? Well,=20
if you're a Verizon customer, you could=20
theoretically bring your own phone to the=20
network, but it would only work in regions where=20
Verizon has won and built out its network using=20
the 700MHz licenses. If you want to use the rest=20
of Verizon's nationwide network, you'd still have=20
to use a Verizon phone, because the company is=20
not required to adhere to this rule for any other=20
spectrum licenses that have been used to build=20
its nationwide network. So at the end of the day,=20
this rule by itself is completely meaningless for=20
the average consumer, and it does nothing to=20
promote true open access for devices. What Google=20
and others, like Frontline Wireless, really want=20
to see is for the FCC to also adopt rules that=20
would guarantee open access to wholesalers.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9750580-7.html
* AT&T and Verizon Endorsement Should Set Off=20
Alarm Bells On Airwave Auction Proposal
http://www.consumersunion.org/blogs/hun/2007/07/now_hear_this_electronic...
wsl_6.html

NAB, MSTV: UNLICENSED DEVICES COULD AFFECT CONVERTER BOXES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a letter from National Association of=20
Broadcasters President David Rehr and Maximum=20
Service Television President David Donovan to=20
National Telecommunications & Information=20
Administration chief John Kneuer, broadcasters=20
said allowing portable unlicensed devices to=20
operate in the DTV band, as computer companies=20
like Google and Microsoft are pushing for, would=20
be a "monumental mistake" that would have a=20
dramatic negative impact on the transition to=20
digital TV. NTIA is charged with overseeing the=20
distribution of digital-to-analog converters for=20
analog-only TVsets, and Rehr and Donovan warned=20
that those boxes are likely to be susceptible to=20
the interference the devices could cause.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6463551.html?rssid=3D193

INTERNET/BROADBAND

THE TORTURED ROAD TO UBIQUITOUS BROADBAND WIRELESS
[SOURCE: RedOrbit, AUTHOR: Michael Finneran, dBrn Associates]
[Commentary] The analyst community appears to=20
have come to the decision that municipal Wi-Fi is=20
a dead issue. You'll recall that municipal Wi-Fi=20
is the idea of building city-wide networks based=20
on Wi-Fi mesh technologies to provide broadband=20
Internet access to the general public. While the=20
business model was flawed, it's important that we=20
don't overlook the goal and the potential to use=20
mesh technology in conjunction with business=20
plans that do make sense. To those of us in the=20
wireless business, the muni Wi-Fi idea was a=20
loser from day one. Wireless offers a number of=20
advantages, in particular mobility and access to=20
communications facilities quickly or in areas=20
where it is difficult to install wires.=20
Nevertheless, for the foreseeable future,=20
wireless technology will not be as reliable as=20
wire-based facilities, so if you can get a wire,=20
save yourself the aggravation and do it with=20
wires! Muni wireless has all the inherent=20
shortcomings of wireless- particularly in indoor=20
environments where the customer needs a repeater=20
to make it work effectively-and none of the=20
advantages. So if you're looking for home or=20
small office Internet access, you still get a=20
better value proposition with DSL or cable modem=20
service. The longer-term goal should be to at=20
least have reliable, high capacity, ubiquitous=20
wireless Internet access available at a=20
reasonable price. Given the nature of wireless=20
technology, that "reliable" part will probably=20
require a mix of technologies and a user device=20
that is smart enough to sense the radio=20
environment and access the most appropriate network that is available.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1012679/the_tortured_road_to_ubi...
tous_broadband_wireless/index.html?source=3Dr_technology

URBAN WIRELESS NETWORKS SET TO SURGE
[SOURCE: CNET Networks, AUTHOR: Natasha Lomas]
Explosive expansion in the number of citywide=20
wireless networks is being predicted as local=20
government and ISPs get switched on to the=20
opportunities ubiquitous wi-fi can offer -=20
economic and otherwise. The report The Future of=20
Municipal Wireless Networks from analyst=20
Datamonitor forecasts spending on citywide wi-fi=20
in the UK and the US will swell from $900m this=20
year to $6.4bn in 2012 - a year-on-year growth=20
rate of 48 per cent. According to Datamonitor,=20
municipal wi-fi can help local governments=20
deliver on efficiency targets by lowering=20
communications costs, facilitating mobile working=20
and enabling the emergency services to have=20
on-the-spot access to information. But different=20
regions inevitably have different priorities in=20
mind for a wireless blanket, said the analyst --=20
whether it's expanding Internet access to more=20
disadvantaged citizens or attracting new=20
businesses to their area - therefore there are a=20
range of business models in play.
http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39167961,00.htm

NET ACCESS TAX COMPROMISE: A SHORT EXTENSION?
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
A political compromise could temporarily, but not=20
permanently, renew the Internet access tax ban=20
when it expires on November 1. At a hearing=20
convened Thursday by a U.S. House of=20
Representatives Judiciary subcommittee, a=20
National Governors Association lobbyist said his=20
group would support a "reasonable" -- as opposed=20
to infinite -- extension of the ban, provided=20
that it makes clear what services states can and=20
cannot tax and gives them the freedom to collect=20
taxes that were in effect before Congress adopted=20
the original 1998 federal ban.
http://news.com.com/Net+access+tax+compromise+A+short+extension/2100-102...
-6199043.html?tag=3Dnefd.top

WITH TOOLS ON WEB, AMATEURS RESHAPE MAPMAKING
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Miguel Helft]
With the help of simple tools introduced by=20
Internet companies recently, millions of people=20
are trying their hand at cartography, drawing on=20
digital maps and annotating them with text,=20
images, sound and videos. In the process, they=20
are reshaping the world of mapmaking and=20
collectively creating a new kind of atlas that is=20
likely to be both richer and messier than any=20
other. They are also turning the Web into a=20
medium where maps will play a more central role=20
in how information is organized and found.=20
Already there are maps of the best BBQ joints in=20
Manhattan, yarn stores in Illinois and hydrofoils=20
around the world. Many maps depict current=20
events, including the detours around a collapsed=20
Bay Area freeway and the path of two whales that=20
swam up the Sacramento River delta in May.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/technology/27maps.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

WIRETAP DEBACLE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] The U.S. homeland hasn't been struck=20
by terrorists since September 11, and one reason=20
may be more aggressive intelligence policies. So=20
Americans should be alarmed that one of the best=20
intelligence tools -- warrantless wiretapping of=20
al Qaeda suspects -- has recently become far less=20
effective and is in danger of being neutered by Congressional Democrats.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118549840246979803.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)

YOUTUBE, TAKE TWO FEW GOP CANDIDATES COMMIT TO DEBATE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jose Antonio Vargas]
Four days after the Democratic debate in=20
Charleston, S.C., more than 400 questions=20
directed to the GOP presidential field have been=20
uploaded on YouTube, as Republicans are scheduled=20
to take their turn at video-populism on Sept. 17.=20
But only Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and Rep. Ron=20
Paul (Tex.) have agreed to participate in the=20
debate, co-hosted by the Republican Party of Florida in St. Petersburg.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/27/AR200707...
0283.html
(requires registration)

AN OPEN KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR THE NATIONAL BROADBAND PROJECT
[SOURCE: DrewClark.com]
[Commentary] The Well Connected Project at the=20
Center for Public Integrity has been engaged in a=20
joint effort with Congresspedia =97 we call it Well=20
Connected on SourceWatch -- to "map out"=20
knowledge about the policy aspects of telecom,=20
media and intellectual property at this portal.=20
We "seeded" the portal with a variety of key=20
articles, including broadband availability,=20
digital copyright and spectrum policy. But anyone=20
can read, edit and adapt these articles, and we=20
welcome everyone's collaboration!
http://www.drewclark.com/2007/07/open-knowledge-base-for-national.shtml

AT&T IS CABLE OPERATOR, SAYS CONNECTICUT COURT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
A Connecticut U.S. District Court has ruled that=20
AT&T's Lightspeed IPTV video service is a cable=20
service subject to local franchising laws. The=20
summary judgment was a victory for the New=20
England Cable & Telecommunications Association,=20
and the cable industry at large. It was a defeat=20
for the Connecticut Department of Public Utility=20
Control (DPUC), which had ruled that AT&T's=20
service was an information service, like other data services.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6463465.html?rssid=3D193

NSL BILL WOULD RESTORE CRITICAL PRIVACY PROTECTIONS
[SOURCE: Center for Democracy & Technolgy]
The National Security Letters Reform Act --=20
introduced in the House of Representatives by=20
Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Jeff Flake -- takes some=20
vital first steps in restoring basic privacy=20
protections to law-abiding Americans, while still=20
providing the government with the tools it needs=20
to pursue real threats, CDT said today. In 2001,=20
the PATRIOT Act drastically expanded the FBI's=20
authority to obtain the business and personal=20
records of Americans by issuing National Security=20
Letters (NSLs). The National Security Letters=20
Reform Act would limit the reach of this powerful=20
tool by, among other things, requiring that NSLs=20
only be used to obtain records that pertain to=20
suspected spies or terrorists. Although the=20
legislation does not require prior judicial=20
approval of NSLs -- a key reform -- CDT supports=20
the bill and looks forward to working with lawmakers to make it even strong=
er.
Press Release: Nadler-Flake Bill: http://www.cdt.org/press/20070726press.php
--------------------------------------------------------------
...and we are outta here. See ya in the Big Apple and at the YearlyKos.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------