July 2007

Yes, it is hot, but there's still time for=20
telecom events before everyone escapes to the=20
beach: 1) On Tuesday there's a FCC oversight=20
hearing, 2) the Senate considers protecting=20
children on the Internet, 3) APT and Benton host=20
a discussion on how Broadband Changed My Life, 4)=20
the annual Alliance for Community Media=20
Conference is 7/25-28, and 5) the Senate checks=20
in to see how the digital TV transition is going=20
Thursday. For these and other upcoming media=20
policy events, see http://www.benton.org

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Commerce Committee Approves Inouye Broadband Data Collection Bill
China says 162 million Internet users
Sprint Moves to Build WiMax Network
MPAA: Net neutrality could hurt anti-piracy tech

BROADCASTING/ CABLE
Senate Commerce Passes Indecency Bill
House Retains Public Broadcasting Funds
NCTA and MAP Take Aim at Home Shoppers
52 Million HDTV homes in U.S. by '08

OWNERSHIP
Director Resigns Dow Jones Board In Protest Over News Corp. Deal
Blair, Murdoch Spoke Three Times In Run-Up To Iraq War

AGENDA
FCC Media Ownership in Chicago Sept 20
Sept 25 Converter Box Coupon Program Public Meeting

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
Google Goes to Washington With Own Brand of Lobbying

INTERNET/BROADBAND

COMMERCE COMMITTEE APPROVES INOUYE BROADBAND DATA COLLECTION BILL
[SOURCE: US Senate Commerce Committee]
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously=20
approved a bill to improve the quality of federal=20
and state broadband data collection and encourage=20
initiatives that promote broadband deployment.=20
The Broadband Data Improvement Act specifically=20
would: 1) Direct the Federal Communications=20
Commission to decide whether the current 200=20
kilobit standard for broadband=97which was adopted=20
in 1999=97should be revised. It also would require=20
the FCC to revise its broadband reporting form to=20
help identify which service tiers can be used by=20
consumers to reliably receive high-definition=20
video content. 2) Direct the FCC to revise=20
existing broadband reporting obligations to=20
require providers to report the actual numbers of=20
broadband connections either within a census=20
tract, 9-digit postal zip code, or 5-digit postal=20
zip code. Under the current system, if there is=20
a single subscriber in a 5-digit zip code, it is=20
assumed there is broadband availability to all=20
within the 5-digit zip code. 3) Direct the FCC to=20
conduct inquiries into the deployment of advanced=20
telecommunications services on an annual, rather=20
than periodic, basis. 4) Direct the Census Bureau=20
to include a question in its American Community=20
Survey that assesses levels of residential=20
computer use and determines levels of dial-up=20
versus broadband Internet subscribership. 5)=20
Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO)=20
to develop broadband measurements that may be=20
used to provide consumers with broadband=20
connection cost and capability information and=20
improve the process of comparing the deployment=20
and penetration of broadband in the United States=20
with other countries. 6) Direct the Small=20
Business Administration=92s Office of Advocacy to=20
conduct a study evaluating the impact of=20
broadband speed and price on small businesses. 7)=20
Authorize a 5-year, $40 million per year program=20
that would provide matching grants to state=20
non-profit, public-private partnerships in=20
support of efforts to more accurately identify=20
barriers to broadband adoption throughout the state.
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=3DPressReleases.D...
il&PressRelease_id=3D248887&Month=3D7&Year=3D2007
* U.S. Moves One Step Closer to Universal Broadband
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D256
* Public Knowledge Commends Senate Panel for Adopting Broadband Data Bill
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1108

CHINA SAYS 162 MILLION INTERNET USERS
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The number of Internet users in China hit 162=20
million at the end of June, a state information=20
centre said, with growth in the first six months=20
of this year nearly matching that for the whole=20
of 2006. The world's second-largest online=20
population grew by 25 million from January to the=20
end of June, according to a report by the China=20
Internet Network Information Center, as the=20
country closes the gap with the United States' 211 million Internet users.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSSHA17814220070719

SPRINT MOVES TO BUILD WIMAX NETWORK
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Kim Hart]
Sprint Nextel is taking a different path to=20
high-speed wireless than its rivals: Instead of=20
bidding billions of dollars on airwaves in a=20
federal auction, Sprint is building a network=20
that uses WiMax technology, a move that has=20
attracted plenty of criticism. Sprint yesterday=20
mapped out more plans for its network by=20
announcing a 20-year partnership with Clearwire,=20
a three-year-old start-up that provides wireless=20
Internet service and is headed by entrepreneur=20
and early Nextel investor Craig O. McCaw. Both=20
companies hope the partnership will help build=20
the new network faster and cheaper. Sprint's=20
gamble on the technology is controversial because=20
the $3 billion project has guzzled investment=20
while the company struggles to keep wireless=20
customers and fix problems with the old Nextel network.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR200707...
1090.html
(requires registration)

MPAA: NET NEUTRALITY COULD HURT ANTI-PIRACY TECH
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
Hollywood hasn't decided what it thinks about the=20
whole "Net neutrality" debate, but it knows one=20
thing: Any rules that would stunt roll-out of the=20
next new whiz-bang filtering technologies or=20
encourage unfettered sharing of copyrighted works=20
over peer-to-peer networks would be very, very bad.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9746938-7.html

BROADCASTING/ CABLE

SENATE COMMERCE PASSES INDECENCY BILL
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
The Senate Commerce Committee passed the=20
Protecting Children from Indecent Programming Act=20
(S. 1780). The legislation would, in essence,=20
overturn a Second Circuit of Appeals ruling and=20
return to the FCC the right to fine broadcast=20
stations for airing incidental words or images=20
deemed indecent. The legislation would=20
specifically allow the FCC to establish that a=20
single word or image in a given context may be=20
considered indecent and levy fines against the=20
broadcaster. The bill was introduced by Sen. John=20
D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV).
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/07/19/daily.14/
* FCC Chairman Martin:
I appreciate the actions by the Senate Committee=20
on Science, Commerce and Transportation, which=20
affirmed the Commission's ability to protect our=20
children from indecent language and images on=20
television and radio. Significantly, members of=20
Congress stated once again what we on the=20
Commission and every parent already knows; even a=20
single word or image can indeed be indecent.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275374A1.doc
* Bill Would Expand FCC Authority to Regulate Speech
The Senate Commerce Committee today passed=20
legislation that would authorize the Federal=20
Communications Commission (FCC) to punish=20
broadcasters for single "fleeting" utterances of=20
common expletives. The Protecting Children from=20
Indecent Programming Act would effectively negate=20
a recent ruling by a federal appeals court, which=20
found the FCC's policy of punishing "fleeting=20
expletives" to be unlawful. CDT opposes the=20
legislation, which seeks to expand the FCC's=20
authority to regulate speech at a time when the=20
legal basis for that authority is diminishing in=20
the face of convergence and evolving user empowerment technology.
PolicyBeta: Broadcast Indecency Bill:=20
http://blog.cdt.org/2007/07/17/bill-could-hasten-demise-of-fcc-indecency...
gulation/

HOUSE RETAINS PUBLIC BROADCASTING FUNDS
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Andrew Taylor]
The House Wednesday evening overwhelmingly=20
rejected President Bush's plan to eliminate the=20
$420 million federal subsidy for the Corporation=20
for Public Broadcasting. The 357-72 vote=20
demonstrated the enduring political strength of=20
public broadcasting. The outcome was never in=20
doubt, unlike a fight two years ago when=20
Republicans tried but failed to slash public=20
broadcasting subsidies. The move to kill=20
subsidies for the Corporation for Public=20
Broadcasting, which make up about 15 percent of=20
its budget, was launched by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR200707...
2644.html

NCTA AND MAP TAKE AIM AT HOME SHOPPERS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association (NCTA) and the Media Access Project=20
(MAP) both took aim at home shopping stations in=20
comments at the FCC. In 1993 the FCC ruled that=20
home shopping stations should get mandatory cable=20
carriage because they were significantly viewed,=20
met the public interest needs of the homebound=20
and elderly who could not get out to shop, they=20
provided competition to other non-broadcast=20
services, and that home shopping programming=20
helped minority owners remain financially viable.=20
MAP called the decision "fatally flawed" and said=20
stations that are predominantly used to host=20
sales presentations do not serve the public=20
interest given competing demands for the spectrum.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6461460.html?rssid=3D193

52 MILLION HDTV HOMES IN US BY 2008
[SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Thomas K. Arnold]
DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group estimates=20
that more than 30 million U.S. households have at=20
least one high definition digital television=20
(HDTV). An estimated 4.5 million HDTVs were sold=20
in the first half of 2007, 50% more than in the=20
first six months of 2006 and the Consumer=20
Electronics Association projects that 16 million=20
HDTVs will be sold by the end of this year,=20
bringing the U.S. household total to more than 52=20
million. That could bring the household=20
penetration rate to 36%, with about 20% of homes=20
having more than one high-def set.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i4...
7294f152ad2d311c94d12d48670b

OWNERSHIP

DIRECTOR RESIGNS DOW JONES BOARD IN PROTEST OVER NEWS CORP DEAL
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sarah Ellison & Shira Ovide]
Dieter von Holtzbrinck, an heir to the von=20
Holtzbrinck publishing empire, resigned from Dow=20
Jones & Co's board of directors to protest the=20
board's decision to endorse a $5 billion offer=20
from News Corp. "Although I'm convinced that News=20
Corp. offer is very generous in financial terms,"=20
he wrote in a letter to directors today, "I'm=20
very worried that Dow Jones unique journalistic=20
values will long-term strongly suffer after the=20
proposed sale." Mr. von Holtzbrinck said his=20
concerns were based on News Corp.'s business=20
practices and the concerns raised by other=20
shareholders, such as Jim Ottaway, who has been=20
an outspoken critic of News Corp. chairman Rupert=20
Murdoch. He also said that he didn't believe that=20
a "special committee" on editorial independence=20
would protect Dow Jones's journalistic integrity.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118479154947870694.html
(requires subscription)
* Dow Jones Director Resigns Over Bid
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR200707...
2319.html
* News Corp, which gets most of its revenues from=20
entertainment, is not a good home for Dow Jones, writes Jim Ottaway
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/18508fd8-3620-11dc-ad42-0000779fd2ac.html

BLAIR, MURDOCH SPOKE THREE TIMES IN RUN-UP TO IRAQ WAR
[SOURCE: Dow Jones]
In final days leading up to the Iraq war,=20
then-prime minister Tony Blair spoke three times=20
with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, whose newspapers=20
and broadcast outlets were among the strongest=20
supporters of launching the war, the government=20
has revealed. The government, in responding to a=20
freedom of information request filed by an=20
opposition lawmaker, didn't say what Blair and=20
Murdoch discussed in the three telephone=20
conversations. But the timing of them is likely=20
to renew speculation about the extent of=20
Murdoch's influence in the former UK government.=20
Murdoch's UK newspapers - including The Sun and=20
The Times - had been crucial supporters of Blair=20
since he took office in 1997, and were staunch supporters of the Iraq war.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200707191135DOWJONES...
NLINE000830_FORTUNE5.htm

AGENDA

FCC MEDIA OWNERSHIP IN CHICAGO SEPT 20
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission announced=20
the fifth public hearing on media ownership=20
issues will be held in Chicago, Illinois in the=20
afternoon and evening on Thursday, September 20,=20
2007. The hearing will provide an opportunity for=20
those in the Chicago area to discuss media=20
ownership, including specific issues facing that=20
local market. Further details will be released at a later date.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275376A1.doc

DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER BOX COUPON PROGRAM PUBLIC MEETING
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
NTIA will hold a public meeting on September 25,=20
2007, in connection with its Digital-to-Analog=20
Converter Box Coupon Program described in the=20
Final Rule that was released on March 12, 2007.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/DTVPublicMeeting_092507....

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

GOOGLE GOES TO WASHINGTON WITH OWN BRAND OF LOBBYING
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Kevin J.=20
Delaney kevin.delaney( at )wsj.com and Amy Schatz Amy.Schatz( at )wsj.com]
In a conference room overlooking the Washington=20
Monument, about 150 young Democratic=20
operatives-in-training recently munched on animal=20
crackers as Google Inc. executives pitched the=20
Internet company's offerings. Google's newly=20
hired team leader for political sales, Peter=20
Greenberger, explained how attendees could use=20
online ads and other services from Google to help=20
their candidates win. One Google product could=20
provide details about people who visited a=20
campaign's Web site, such as the approximate area=20
where they lived, Mr. Greenberger explained.=20
"Tremendously valuable info," he said, adding,=20
"It's free. Did I mention it's free? It's free."=20
Free in the sense that Google isn't charging=20
money for the service. But the Internet giant is=20
ultimately hoping for something in return:=20
greater influence in the nation's capital. As=20
Google's ambitions grow -- along with the ranks=20
of its rivals -- the company is relying on people=20
like Mr. Greenberger to reinvent corporate=20
influence-peddling for the Internet Age. Instead=20
of just hiring a roster of lobbyists and tossing=20
out millions of dollars in campaign=20
contributions, Google has embarked on a quiet=20
march through the conference rooms of Washington=20
to explain how its products can help politicians get elected.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118489524982572543.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck, Dylan.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------