July 2007

Sure, summer's here, but there's still lots going=20
on it telecom policy. 1) The Minority Media and=20
Telecommunications Council's annual meeting=20
begins today, 2) on Tuesday New America=20
Foundation hosts a discussion on America's $480=20
billion spectrum giveaway and 3) on Thursday the=20
Senate Commerce Committee markups a number of=20
telecom bills. For these and other upcoming media=20
policy events, see http://www.benton.org/?q=3Devent

NEWS FROM CONGRESS
Dems Block Fairness Doctrine Amendment
Brownback's Push for Tougher FCC Defeated

OWNERSHIP
Dingell, Markey to Study Private Equity Role
Tribune sees positive FCC ruling on TV licenses in 4Q
Homer Simpson Has What the Bancrofts Want

SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
FCC plan exempts public safety band
Going Once, Going Twice...
Rural cell users may get break on fees

BROADCASTING
Rockefeller Plans To Introduce TV Violence Bill By August Recess
On St. Croix, Senators Feel Heat Over a Pay Increase
Political-Ad Rate Up in the Air
With Condoms in Particular, Local Stations Can Say No
Television channel critical of Ch=E1vez returns

DIVERSITY
The Real Media Divide
Media diversity hearings are long overdue

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Public radio: No Webcast changes for us for now
Give Net Neutrality a Chance
New York must encourage investment in broadband
Broadband for All? Gaps in California=92s Broadband Adoption and Availabil=
ity

QUICKLY -- Intel backs project to give laptops to=20
poor kids; Bancroft member moves to block sale of=20
Dow Jones; Unknowns' commercial tune; Bill Would=20
Expand Number Portability Rules; When Do You Stop=20
The Presses?; Young Adults Are Giving Newspapers=20
Scant Notice; Google initiates Internet outreach=20
efforts; Connecticut Bans Noncompetes, Eases Franchise Rules

NEWS FROM CONGRESS

DEMS BLOCK FAIRNESS DOCTRINE AMENDMENT
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
Democrats may not be winning the talk radio=20
battle, but they quashed the first Senate bid to=20
bar the Federal Communications Commission from=20
doing something about the inequity. In a=20
procedural move, Senate Majority Whip Richard=20
Durbin (D-IL) prevented Republicans from amending=20
a defense appropriation bill to block the FCC=20
from reviving the Fairness Doctrine. The doctrine=20
requires broadcasters to offer competing=20
viewpoints in a balanced manner when presenting=20
controversial issues. In turn, the objection=20
kicked off an expansive colloquy on broadcasting=20
fairness issues between Sen. Durbin and Sen. Norm=20
Coleman (R-MN), the amendment=92s chief sponsor.
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/07/democrats_block_fairness_doctr.php
(requires free registration)

BROWNBACK'S PUSH FOR TOUGHER FCC DEFEATED
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Brooks Boliek]
Lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Committee=20
on Thursday turned back Sen. Sam Brownback's=20
(R-Kansas) attempt to strengthen the government's=20
hand regulating content. Sen Brownback, one of=20
Congress' most conservative members and a=20
presidential hopeful, attempted to get a pair of=20
anti-content amendments tacked on to a government=20
spending bill but could not muster enough votes=20
on the committee to win. One of the amendments=20
would restore the FCC's power to fine=20
broadcasters for a slip of the tongue, while the=20
other would allow the commission to regulate=20
violent content like it does indecent speech.=20
Appropriations Committee chairman Sen. Robert=20
Byrd (D-WV) asked Sen Brownback to withdraw the=20
amendments and bring them up on the floor. Sen=20
Brownback refused, asking for a voice vote on the=20
indecency measure, only to have it fail. He then=20
withdrew the amendment on violent content.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
1407
* Brownback's push for tougher FCC defeated
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i5...
53d15a771eecc731f3a00a7beb93

OWNERSHIP

DINGELL, MARKEY TO STUDY PRIVATE EQUITY ROLE
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), chairman of the=20
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Rep. Edward=20
Markey (D-MA), chairman of the Subcommittee on=20
Telecommunications and the Internet, sent a=20
letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin requesting=20
information on the growing trend of private=20
equity ownership of communications-related=20
entities. Asking for a reply by July 20, the=20
chairmen asked Martin eight questions and said=20
they are trying to ascertain =93whether there are=20
policy implications for this trend and whether=20
the Federal Communications Commission's current=20
attribution rules for ownership and control of=20
Commission licenses is adequate.=94 The letter=20
continued: =93History also suggests that private=20
equity ownership is marked by a management=20
structure that is not overly transparent and by=20
fluid asset management where actual holdings and=20
control may vary significantly, as properties are=20
bought and sold. These historical styles may not=20
be consistent with many of the core public=20
interest and localism values that Congress has=20
assigned to local media outlets and may=20
implicitly undermine the Commission's media ownership rules.=94
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/07/13/daily.4/
* Text of letter:
http://markey.house.gov/docs/telecomm/Letter%20to%20FCC%20re%20private%2...
uity%20ownership.pdf
* Commerce Concerned About Private Equity Media Deals
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6460078.html?rssid=3D193
* Hillary Clinton slams private equity tax rate
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1339356720070714

TRIBUNE SEES POSITIVE FCC RULING ON TV LICENSES IN 4Q
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Newspaper publisher Tribune Co. said on Friday it=20
hoped to receive a positive response from the=20
Federal Communications Commission in the fourth=20
quarter regarding its television licenses,=20
allowing a deal to take the company private to=20
close prior to year end. Tribune said in a filing=20
that the most significant condition to closing=20
the deal, aside from getting shareholder=20
approval, will be receiving approval from the FCC=20
regarding the transfer of Tribune TV licenses and=20
its request for waivers in cross-ownership markets.
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=3D25656

HOMER SIMPSON HAS WHAT THE BANCROFTS WANT
[SOURCE: Slate, AUTHOR: Jack Shafer]
[Commentary] Editorial independence may be rare=20
in Murdoch's News Corp. empire, but it's not=20
unheard-of. For example, if News Corp. employees=20
toe the shifting Murdoch line, they're granted=20
all the editorial independence they can carry on=20
their stooped backs. Or, if they're the inventors=20
and proprietors of a phenomenally successful News=20
Corp. property=97such as The Simpsons=97Murdoch and=20
his minions know well enough to keep hands off.
http://www.slate.com/id/2170387/pagenum/all/

SPECTRUM/WIRELESS

FCC PLAN EXEMPTS PUBLIC SAFETY BAND
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
When Federal Communications Commission Chairman=20
Kevin Martin proposed sweeping new rules for=20
wireless broadband last week, he included an=20
escape hatch. And it's a big one: The winner of=20
the "D-block" license will not be covered by his=20
controversial proposal requiring bidders for the=20
national licenses to let consumers use any device=20
and supporting software they choose on the=20
networks that use these airwaves. The national=20
D-block license will be sold separately in the=20
federal auction of the 700 MHz spectrum next=20
year. The D-block, sometimes called the public=20
safety band, is to be used for a national=20
broadband network linking public safety agencies=20
in emergencies. The plan grew from communications=20
lapses exposed by the Hurricane Katrina disaster.=20
Under Martin's plan, wireless carriers that win=20
the other national licenses could not limit or=20
control the devices and software applications to=20
which consumers have access, as they do now. U.S.=20
consumers, for the first time, would be free to=20
use the multitude of devices, applications and=20
innovations available worldwide. The D-block=20
winner would have to give priority network access=20
to fire, police and other agencies during=20
emergencies. The rest of the time, it could use=20
the spectrum as it pleases, and profit=20
accordingly. Another draw: The carrier could=20
continue to control which devices and software consumers use.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070716/3b_auction16.art.htm

GOING ONE, GOING TWICE...
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The FCC's current spectrum auction=20
rules proposal would theoretically improve access=20
to Internet services. It has relatively stringent=20
build-out requirements meant to alleviate some of=20
the rural-urban digital divide. In practice,=20
though, build-out requirements are difficult to=20
enforce. The FCC proposal requires the purchaser=20
of a spectrum block adjacent to the public safety=20
block to "coordinate" with discordant emergency=20
responders nationally, to negotiate such details=20
as constructing a public-private network and=20
sharing the contiguous spectrum blocks but giving=20
public safety priority. The terms of the FCC=20
proposal sound vague and unenforceable and,=20
worse, they allow local public safety groups to=20
opt out, which would defeat the purpose of a=20
nationwide network. None of the auction=20
conditions on the table would forbid any company=20
from bidding, despite what many lobbyists=20
suggest. Restrictions would just make spectrum=20
less valuable to some potential bidders, thereby=20
bringing down bids (now expected to reach about=20
$15 billion total). The FCC has partially=20
protected itself against revenue losses by=20
setting minimum bids. To maximize revenue and=20
public policy goals, it should keep the=20
conditions on open devices and applications and=20
drop the private-public safety arrangement.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/15/AR200707...
1007.html
(requires registration)

RURAL CELL USERS MAY GET A BREAK ON FEES
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
Customers of rural wireless companies would be=20
able to roam in more cities and at lower rates=20
under new rules likely to be adopted soon by the=20
Federal Communications Commission. Rural carriers=20
complain that the large national carriers often=20
charge them exorbitant roaming fees and sometimes=20
refuse to let them roam on their networks at all.=20
The strategy has squeezed many rural providers=20
out of the market, says the Rural=20
Telecommunications Group (RTG), a small-carrier=20
association. Kevin Martin, the chairman of the=20
Federal Communications Commission, is=20
recommending new rules requiring carriers to=20
offer competitors roaming agreements at "just and=20
reasonable rates," FCC officials say. The=20
officials asked to remain anonymous because the=20
five commissioners have not yet voted on the=20
proposal. But the proposal stops short of a=20
request by rural companies for a hard cap on=20
roaming fees. Perhaps more significant: It does=20
not cover roaming for broadband services, a fast-growing market.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070716/2b_rural_wireless16....
.htm

BROADCASTING

ROCKEFELLER PLANS TO INTRODUCE TV VIOLENCE BILL BY AUGUST RECESS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The long-awaited Rockefeller TV violence bill=20
will be introduced before the August recess, says=20
Steven Broderick, the press secretary to Senator=20
Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). The bill will give the=20
FCC the power to regulate cable and satellite=20
violence, as well as broadcast. It will also=20
likely require the FCC to come up with a=20
definition of indecent violent content, a call=20
the FCC punted to Congress in a report it issued=20
several months ago. Rockefeller last week=20
introduced--with the support of Commerce=20
Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)-- a=20
bill that would clarify the FCC has power to=20
regulate fleeting profanities and images, which=20
would essentially be a response to a federal=20
court that in June told the FCC to explain why it=20
had changed policy and found the fleeting expletives to be indecent.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6460143.html?rssid=3D193

ON ST CROIX, SENATORS FEEL HEAT OVER A PAY INCREASE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal 7/13, AUTHOR: Conor=20
Dougherty conor.dougherty( at )wsj.com]
A group of Virgin Island senators are asking the=20
Federal Communications Commission to block a=20
radio show host's proposed purchase of WYAC-FM=20
93.5, the station that broadcasts his show. The=20
host has been accused of leading an attempt to=20
overthrow the Virgin Islands government; some=20
suggest he's a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Why=20
all the fuss over Roger Morgan? He led an=20
unsuccessful effort to recall four St. Croix=20
senators after the senate voted itself a 31% pay=20
increase. The fight between Mr. Morgan and the=20
senators has touched on lots of lofty issues,=20
like free speech, political accountability and=20
race relations on an island where most people are=20
black and many newcomers, including Mr. Morgan,=20
are white and wealthy by comparison. But the=20
friction also illustrates what can happen when=20
Americans from the mainland -- known as=20
"continentals" to the local Crucians -- bring a=20
more abrasive brand of political criticism to a=20
place where politicians have a cozier relationship with their electorate.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118426754160764945.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)(SORRY WE MISSED THIS ON FRIDAY)

POLITICAL-AD RATE UP IN THE AIR
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
With the first of the presidential primaries only=20
six months away, broadcasters are urging the FCC=20
to rule quickly on how online auctions of radio=20
and TV ad time might figure into the rate that=20
stations are required to charge political=20
candidates for their campaign spots. Factoring in=20
the auctions could temper the=20
political-ad=ADspending windfall that stations are=20
expecting from this election season, estimated at=20
upwards of $3 billion. But broadcasters say a=20
speedy resolution will at least enable them to=20
prevent a logistical nightmare down the road.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6460238.html

WITH CONDOMS IN PARTICULAR, LOCAL STATIONS CAN SAY NO
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Adam Newman]
Controversy over a new advertising campaign by=20
Trojan, the condom maker, has trickled down to=20
the local level, with television stations in=20
Pittsburgh roundly refusing to show it, and=20
stations in Seattle giving it the green light.=20
When Trojan introduced the condom commercial last=20
month, it was rejected as national advertising by=20
both CBS and Fox. Fox said it objected to the=20
message that condoms can prevent pregnancy, while=20
CBS said it was not =93appropriate,=94 drawing a=20
firestorm of criticism from public health=20
advocates and bloggers. But Trojan, which is=20
owned by Church & Dwight and a private equity=20
firm, Kelso & Company, was in for more unhappy=20
surprises last week. Local affiliates in=20
Pittsburgh for ABC and NBC, two networks that had=20
agreed to run the ad nationally, also snubbed it.=20
The odd effect of these decisions will be that=20
viewers in the Pittsburgh area will be able to=20
see the commercials during national advertising=20
slots on ABC or NBC =97 if with less frequency.=20
Stations sell their own commercial slots as well,=20
to local and national advertisers, and the ads=20
are subject to local review even if they pass muster with networks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/business/media/16adco.html
(requires registration)

TELEVISION CHANNEL CRITICAL OF CH=C1VEZ RETURNS
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Benedict Mander]
Venezuela's opposition-aligned television=20
station, RCTV, resumed operations via cable and=20
satellite after being forced off the public=20
airwaves almost two months ago when President=20
Hugo Ch=E1vez refused to renew its licence. The=20
return of RCTV - which previously enjoyed=20
nationwide coverage and has since resorted to=20
showing the latest episodes of its popular soap=20
operas on YouTube - will be limited to the third=20
of Venezuelan households that can afford cable and satellite subscriptions.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8a8d3a2c-3334-11dc-a9e8-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)

DIVERSITY

THE REAL MEDIA DIVIDE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Markus Prior, Princeton University]
[Commentary] Today's news world is a political=20
junkie's oyster. Cable TV offers CNN, Fox News,=20
MSNBC and C-SPAN. The Washington Post, BBC=20
online, The Note and many, many more news Web=20
sites are only a click away. But that's where=20
they remain for many Americans. Decades into the=20
"information age," the public is as uninformed as=20
before the rise of cable television and the=20
Internet. Greater access to media, ironically,=20
has reduced the share of Americans who are=20
politically informed. The most significant effect=20
of more media choice is not the wider=20
dissemination of political news but mounting=20
inequality in political involvement. Some people=20
follow news more closely than in the past, but=20
many others avoid it altogether. More troubling=20
is that entertainment fans reduce the political=20
representation of their interests when they avoid=20
news and cut down on their political=20
participation. Politicians pay more attention to=20
voters than to nonvoters, so the views of these=20
less-involved entertainment fans may not be=20
reflected in political outcomes as much as they were in the past.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/15/AR200707...
1110.html
(requires registration)

MEDIA DIVERSITY HEARINGS ARE LONG OVERDUE
[SOURCE: The Toronto Star, AUTHOR: Michael Geist, University of Ottawa]
[Commentary] In a little noticed speech last=20
month at a Canadian broadcasting conference,=20
Konrad von Finckenstein, newly appointed chair of=20
the Canadian Radio-television and=20
Telecommunications Commission, told the industry=20
that new media is "the defining challenge of our=20
time in broadcasting. There is no more important=20
matter facing the Commission, nor does any other=20
matter have such long-term consequences." To=20
address the challenge, the CRTC has set in motion=20
two initiatives that will go a long way in=20
determining how it adapts Canadian broadcast and=20
new media regulation to the Internet environment.=20
First, the New Media Project initiative will=20
analyze whether new media should be regulated and=20
assess its impact on the creation and=20
distribution of Canadian content. The initiative=20
will also consider critical access issues=20
including network neutrality (described by von=20
Finckenstein as "Internet traffic=20
prioritization") and whether access to high-speed=20
broadband networks should be elevated to a core=20
policy objective. A final project report is not=20
expected until March 2009, however, the CRTC has=20
a second initiative that will cover some of the=20
same terrain much sooner. In April, the=20
commission announced plans to conduct hearings on=20
the diversity of voices within the Canadian=20
broadcasting environment (comments are due on=20
Wednesday with formal hearings to follow in September).
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/236193

INTERNET/BROADBAND

PUBLIC RADIO: NO WEBCAST CHANGES FOR NOW
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
Thanks to a "productive" meeting with=20
SoundExchange on Friday, National Public Radio=20
and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting "are=20
confident that public radio stations can continue=20
their music streaming operations for the next=20
three months as good faith discussions are=20
ongoing about the structure and amount of the=20
ultimate fee," NPR spokeswoman Andi Sporkin said=20
in an e-mail message Friday night. Sporkin said=20
CPB has offered SoundExchange a payment believed=20
to cover what it owes starting July 15, and the=20
group has accepted that money. "At this time,=20
public radio stations will continue music=20
Webcasting without a limit to visitors to their=20
Webstreams or changes in their current=20
operations," she said. Meanwhile, large and small=20
commercial Webcasters are still attempting to=20
reach a final agreement with SoundExchange over=20
the rates they owe, with those discussions=20
expected to heat up again early next week. Some=20
low-budget Webcasters have already shut down=20
their operations out of fear they wouldn't be=20
able to afford the new payments. Other industry=20
representatives, including Pandora founder Tim=20
Westergren, say they've been encouraged by the=20
tone of the most recent negotiations and aren't=20
planning to go silent come Sunday.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9744588-7.html
* Last-minute negotiations over Web radio royalties
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003788627_webr...
ofees14.html

GIVE NET NEUTRALITY A CHANCE
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: S. Derek Turner, Free Press]
[Commentary] The average consumer has just two=20
choices for high-speed Internet. In most cases,=20
that means the phone company or the cable=20
company. As a glance at your monthly bill will=20
tell you, a choice between two options isn't real=20
competition. Millions of Americans still can't=20
gain access to or afford high-speed Internet=20
services, and the U.S. continues to slip in every=20
global ranking of broadband progress. Yet the=20
very same phone and cable companies whose=20
anticompetitive policies created this sorry=20
situation are now proposing that they become=20
gatekeepers of Internet content and services.=20
They want to get rid of what's known as network=20
neutrality, the principle that prevents Internet=20
service providers from discriminating against Web=20
sites based on their source, ownership, or destination.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2007/tc20070712_243240...
m?chan=3Dsearch

NEW YORK MUST ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN BROADBAND
[SOURCE: The Buffalo News, AUTHOR: Mitchell L. Moss, New York University]
[Commentary] The Internet has emerged into an=20
essential and ubiquitous part of life. Yet, in=20
New York, communications companies are still=20
being regulated by laws written in another era.=20
While other states have adopted policies that=20
spur investment and expansion of their broadband=20
infrastructure, New York has yet to face the=20
future. It=92s time for New York to move ahead or=20
its economy will lag. Albany can help by=20
fostering private investment in a next-generation=20
broadband. A fully operational broadband network=20
is worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year=20
to the state=92s economy. That translates into more=20
jobs, better schools, a cleaner environment=20
through telecommuting and improved communications=20
for law enforcement and first responders. It=92s=20
time that legislators and policymakers act in=20
concert with communications companies to=20
accelerate deployment of high-speed broadband=20
technology. Anything less will drive New Yorkers=20
from the information highway to the service road.
http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/118524.html

BROADBAND FOR ALL? GAPS IN CALIFORNIA'S BROADBAND ADOPTION AND AVAILABILITY
[SOURCE: California Economic Policy, AUTHOR: Jed Kolko]
Nearly half of California households have=20
broadband Internet access. Broadband is more=20
widely available in higher-income and=20
higher-density areas, and there are large gaps in=20
access between the urbanized coastal regions of=20
California and the more rural inland areas.=20
Differences in broadband adoption rates between=20
different racial and ethnic groups are also=20
significant, although some of these are due to=20
different rates of computer ownership. The=20
technical features of broadband, including the=20
scale economies in providing broadband=20
infrastructure, make some regions of California=20
more profitable to serve than others, leading to=20
gaps in availability. Even where broadband is=20
available, the cost of service, as well as the=20
cost of computer hardware, results in higher=20
rates of adoption for some than others. However,=20
these gaps are hard to measure. This issue of=20
California Economic Policy assesses the extent of=20
inequalities in broadband adoption and=20
availability in California, using an innovative=20
method to measure its availability. All levels of=20
government=97federal, state, and local=97have=20
policies to make broadband more widely available:=20
Policymakers hope to raise the overall level of=20
adoption and to close the gaps between those who=20
have access and those who do not. This report=20
reviews the policy approaches that California and=20
its cities are taking to raise broadband adoption=20
and availability, including local efforts to=20
provide municipal Wi-Fi (wireless broadband). It=20
concludes that broadband policy in California=20
should focus on increasing availability in rural=20
areas and helping raise adoption rates among=20
disadvantaged groups in urban areas.
http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/cep/EP_707JKEP.pdf

QUICKLY

INTEL BACKS PROJECT TO GIVE LAPTOPS TO POOR KIDS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jim Finkle]
Intel Corp. said on Friday it would support a=20
non-profit foundation's project to put computers=20
in the hands of poor children around the world,=20
reversing its long-standing opposition to the=20
proposal. The world's biggest chipmaker will join=20
the board of the One Laptop Per Child Foundation,=20
which developed the XO laptop -- a personal=20
computer that it plans to put into production in=20
September and sell for $176. Intel markets the=20
Classmate PC, a computer that competes with the=20
foundation's XO laptop. The two parties said they=20
would be able to incorporate each other's=20
technologies, and would also consider collaborating on developing a laptop.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1325535220070713
* Intel, '$100 Laptop' Project Make Peace
http://feeds.chicagotribune.com/~r/chicagotribune/business/~3/133460848/...
-ap-hundred-dollar-laptop-intel,0,7509512.story

BANCROFT MEMBER MOVES TO BLOCK SALE OF DOW JONES: SOURCE
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Christopher Bancroft, part of the family that=20
controls Dow Jones, is trying to block a takeover=20
by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., a source familiar=20
with the situation said on Monday. Bancroft has=20
recently approached hedge funds and private=20
equity firms, hoping to buy enough voting shares=20
of Dow Jones to give him the power to thwart a=20
sale. Bancroft is trying to buy more=20
"supervoting" shares from other Bancroft heirs=20
who may be ready to sell their stakes but share=20
his distaste for handing the family legacy to Murdoch.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DindustryNews&storyID=
=3D2007-07-16T094752Z_01_N15301404_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-DOWJONES-BANCROFT-DC.=
XML

UNKNOWNS' COMMERCIAL TUNE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Alana Semuels]
Licensing music for use in commercials isn't just=20
for big name bands like U2 and Led Zeppelin=20
anymore. As lesser-known artists struggle to=20
reach mass audiences in a fractured music=20
industry undercut by rampant piracy, they're=20
finding that TV commercials can give them the=20
exposure that radio play once did. Some bands are=20
even rewriting their lyrics to sell products,=20
prompting some observers to wonder whether the=20
term "sellout" is any longer an insult.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-bandads16jul16,1,1711...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

BILL WOULD EXPAND NUMBER PORTABILITY RULES
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Sarah Myers]
The Senate Commerce Committee is expected to=20
consider a bill next week that aims to make it=20
easier for consumers to keep the same numbers=20
when making wireless telephone moves. The bill,=20
S. 1769, is aimed at expediting the "porting"=20
process, which the FCC first authorized in 2004.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/07/bill_would_expand_number_porta.html

WHEN DO YOU STOP THE PRESSES?
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Joe Fine]
[Commentary] Which major American newspaper=20
should be the first to throw up its hands and=20
stop publishing a print product? It's a question=20
worth asking. This could be the worst year for=20
newspapers since the Great Depression. The=20
double-digit revenue declines long forecast by=20
doomsters have arrived. While nearly all the=20
major papers still post profits, albeit smaller=20
than before, a few prominent ones are losing boatloads.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_30/b4043029.htm

YOUNG ADULTS ARE GIVING NEWSPAPERS SCANT NOTICE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Juston Jones]
With the United States military fighting a=20
protracted war in Iraq and a wide-open=20
presidential campaign already making headlines=20
daily, Americans of all ages are interested in=20
current affairs and are consuming news like never=20
before, right? Not so, especially not teenagers=20
and young adults, according to a report released=20
last week by the Joan Shorenstein Center on the=20
Press, Politics and Public Policy at the John F.=20
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. In fact,=20
most teenagers and adults 30 and younger are not=20
following the news closely at all, the report,=20
titled =93Young People and News,=94 concluded. It is=20
based on a national sample of 1,800 Americans=20
that included teenagers, young adults aged 18 to=20
30 and older adults. Thomas Patterson, a=20
professor of government and the press at Harvard=20
who conducted the survey, said that young people=20
today do not make an appointment with news every day the way older adults d=
o.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/business/media/16habits.html
(requires registration)

GOOGLE INITIATES INTERNET OUTREACH EFFORTS
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Anick Jesdanun]
Google has launched an initiative to help=20
charities and other nonprofit groups use maps and=20
satellite images to raise awareness, recruit=20
volunteers and encourage donations. The Google=20
Earth Outreach program, announced late last=20
month, represents a formalization of ad-hoc=20
partnerships with organizations using the free=20
software to publicize their works.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D/20070715/BUS...
SS/207150334/-1/XML07

CONNECTICUT BANS NONCOMPETES, EASES FRANCHISE RULES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Connecticut has joined Arizona, California,=20
Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, and Washington as=20
states that ban noncompete clauses in broadcaster=20
contracts (California bans them in all=20
industries), according o the American Federation=20
of Television and Radio Employees, who had pushed=20
for the law. The clauses prevent, say, an anchor=20
at one station from leaving and immediately=20
appearing on a competitor. Connecticut Governor=20
M. Jodi Rell also signed a bill this week that=20
makes it easier for competitors to cable to=20
establish franchises in the state. Calling it an=20
injection of healthy competitions, Gov Rell said=20
that "Year after year, Connecticut residents have=20
seen their monthly cable rates steadily climbing=20
higher and higher. It is long past time we do something about that."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6460183.html?rssid=3D193
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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