August 2007

NEWS FROM CONGRESS
Congress yields to pass Bush spying bill
Surveillance Law Limits Protection For Phone Carriers
House passes farm bill, faces veto
Congress Approves America COMPETES Act Conference Report
TV Blocking Bill Clears Senate Panel, Threatening Cable Ops

NEWS FROM THE FCC
F.C.C. Hands Google a Partial Victory
FCC Seeks Comment on Research Studies on Media Ownership
FCC Releases 2nd NPRM on Media Ownership Rules
FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed DTV Education=20
Initiatives to Facilitate Transition to Digital
Initial Evaluation of the Performance of=20
Prototype TV- Band White Space Devices
FCC Invites Comments on Broadband Petition
FCC Open Mtg Tuesday August 7

OWNERSHIP
Murdoch's Dow Jones will have money, scale, time

JOURNALISM
Broadcast Newswriters Speak About News Quality
Pew: Consumers Sick of Celeb Scandals

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Democratic candidates see the light: the Internet
Why it will Be Hard to Close the Broadband Divide
Antitrust now a battleground for Google and foes

NEWS FROM CONGRESS

CONGRESS YIELDS TO PASS BUSH SPYING BILL
[SOURCE: Reuters 8/4, AUTHOR: Thomas Ferraro]
The Congress yielded to President George W. Bush=20
on Saturday and approved legislation to=20
temporarily expand the government's power to=20
conduct electronic surveillance without a court=20
order in tracking foreign suspects. Civil=20
liberties groups charged the measure would create=20
a broad net that would sweep up law-abiding U.S.=20
citizens. But the House of Representatives gave=20
its concurrence to the bill, 227-183, a day after=20
it won Senate approval, 60-28. The measure would=20
authorize the National Security Agency to=20
intercept without a court order communications=20
between people in the United States and foreign=20
targets overseas. The administration would have=20
to submit to a secret court a description of the=20
procedures they used to determine that=20
warrantless surveillance only targeted people=20
outside the United States. The measure is to=20
expire in six months. Lawmakers are to come up=20
with permanent legislation in the meantime.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN0328188520070805
* House Passes Changes in Eavesdropping Program
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/washington/05nsa.html?hp
* Congress Votes to Expand Warrantless Wiretapping
Following the Senate\'s lead, the House of=20
Representatives on Saturday night voted to expand=20
warrantless intelligence surveillance of=20
international communications -- including those=20
between people in the United States and people=20
abroad. The legislation, which the President is=20
expect to sign, includes virtually none of the=20
checks and balances that civil liberties=20
advocates had called for to ensure that=20
warrantless surveillance did not result in=20
unchecked snooping on innocent Americans in the=20
United States. CDT strongly opposes the measure.
http://www.cdt.org/
* Bush Signs Law to Expand Eavesdropping
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR200708...
1404.html
* Bush Signs Law Widening Reach for Wiretapping
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/washington/06nsa.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
* Warrantless Surrender
[Commentary] Congress, more concerned with=20
protecting its political backside than with=20
safeguarding the privacy of American citizens,=20
left town early yesterday after caving in to=20
administration demands that it allow warrantless=20
surveillance of the phone calls and e-mails of=20
American citizens, with scant judicial=20
supervision and no reporting to Congress about=20
how many communications are being intercepted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR200708...
1050.html
* Report: Home Searched In Probe of Wiretap Leak
FBI agents searched the home of a former Justice=20
Department lawyer last week in an effort to=20
determine who leaked details of the warrantless=20
eavesdropping program to the news media.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR200708...
1402.html

SURVEILLANCE LAW LIMITS PROTECTION FOR PHONE CARRIERS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Evan Perez=20
evan.perez( at )wsj.com & Amol Sharma amol.sharma( at )wsj.com]
A new law expanding the government's ability to=20
conduct wiretaps without a court order fails to=20
resolve liability concerns faced by phone=20
companies that cooperate, ensuring prolonged=20
controversy and perhaps continuing problems in=20
carrying out the surveillance program. The law,=20
an update of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence=20
Surveillance Act, or FISA, spells out and=20
broadens the government's ability to tap into=20
communications, including email, of suspected=20
terrorists. It was passed over the weekend only=20
grudgingly by the Democratic-controlled Congress,=20
and signed by the president yesterday. But the=20
measure lacks a provision sought by the White=20
House and telecommunications companies:=20
protection from lawsuits filed against phone=20
companies by privacy groups and customers for=20
past cooperation with government spy programs.=20
Under the expansion of surveillance authority=20
since Sept. 11, 2001, some major phone companies=20
have complained that their cooperation has left=20
them vulnerable to legal liabilities. AT&T Inc.=20
and Verizon Communications Inc. have been sued by=20
civil-liberties groups and state-utility=20
regulators. Some phone companies have curtailed=20
their cooperation with intelligence programs in=20
recent months, according to people familiar with=20
the matter. The new law instead provides a more=20
limited element of legal cover by compelling phone companies to cooperate.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118636145049188855.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

HOUSE PASSES FARM BILL, FACES VETO
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Democratic-controlled House passed=20
legislation Friday that combines billions in aid=20
to farmers with funds for low-income nutrition=20
programs, defying a veto threat from President=20
Bush over the bill's largesse to crop producers.=20
The measure, which was passed on a 231-191 vote,=20
includes provisions aimed at focusing rural=20
development support for broadband telecom=20
services in areas that do not already have=20
sufficient service by existing broadband service=20
providers. Among other things, the bill would=20
require the Rural Utilities Service to prioritize=20
broadband loan applications based on how many=20
broadband service providers already have at least=20
a 5% share of the potential market.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-27-farm-bill_N.htm?csp=3D34
* Farm Bill contains rural development provisions (TR Daily)

CONGRESS APPROVES AMERICA COMPETES ACT CONFERENCE REPORT
[SOURCE: US Senate Commerce Committee]
The United States Senate and House of=20
Representatives approved the America COMPETES Act=20
conference report on August 2. The Act expands=20
education, and research and development, in the=20
areas of science, technology, mathematics and education.
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=3DPressReleases.D...
il&PressRelease_id=3D248914&Month=3D8&Year=3D2007

TV BLOCKING BILL CLEARS SENATE PANEL, THREATENING CABLE OPS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News 8/2, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously adopted=20
a bill (S. 602) that requires the Federal=20
Communications Commission to study the=20
availability of =93advanced blocking technologies=94=20
to filter not just TV programming but also=20
Internet content. The bill, sponsored by Sen.=20
Mark Pryor (D-AR), was different from the version=20
introduced in February, which contained language=20
that allowed the FCC to mandate use of blocking=20
devices =93across a wide variety of distribution=20
platforms, including wired, wireless and Internet=20
platforms.=94 Under the bill that now heads to the=20
Senate floor, the FCC would have 90 days to=20
initiate and 270 days to conclude a notice of=20
inquiry that results in a report to Congress. The=20
bill would not authorize the FCC to adopt rules.=20
The Pryor bill contains language signaling to the=20
FCC to look for alternatives to a la carte=20
mandates. In examining blocking tools, the bill=20
said, the FCC should do so in ways =93that do not=20
affect the packaging or pricing of a content provider=92s offering.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6465207.html

NEWS FROM THE FCC

FCC HANDS GOOGLE A PARTIAL VICTORY
[SOURCE: New York Times 8/1, AUTHOR: John Markoff and Matt Richtel]
The Federal Communications Commission moved=20
cautiously toward creating a more open national=20
wireless broadband network, handing a partial=20
victory to Google, which was pushing for more=20
competition in cellphone services. The agency=20
approved rules for an auction of broadcast=20
spectrum that its chairman, Kevin J. Martin, said=20
would promote new consumer services. The rules=20
will let customers use any phone and software=20
they want on networks using about one-third of=20
the spectrum to be auctioned. The FCC did not=20
approve a provision that would have required the=20
winner of the auction to sell access to its=20
network on a wholesale basis to other companies.=20
Google favored the rule as a way to hasten=20
competition and innovation in the cellphone=20
industry, a market it is considering. While the=20
language of the ruling has not been made public,=20
it appears that any company that buys the new=20
spectrum will have to leave it open to devices it=20
does not approve or control. If, for instance,=20
Verizon were to buy spectrum, consumers would=20
have to pay Verizon for access to its network but=20
they could use devices of their own choosing on=20
it. At present, the carriers decide what devices=20
are used on their networks and therefore control=20
many of the services and software available to=20
consumers. The carriers contend this lets them=20
control the quality of the customer=92s experience.=20
The ruling does not affect the existing spectrum,=20
controlled by major companies like Verizon=20
Wireless. But it appears to signal a shift in how=20
policy makers and, in turn, companies, will=20
approach access to and control of future wireless=20
networks. The ruling did not go far enough for=20
some consumer activist groups, but even those groups applauded parts of it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/technology/01spectrum.html?_r=3D1&oref...
slogin
(requires registration)
* FCC Backs Spectrum Open Access
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118590936354383530.html?mod=3Ddist_smart...
ef
* FCC Meets Google Only Halfway
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2164828,00.asp
* Compromises Lead To New Wireless Rules
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/08/compromises_lead_fcc_to_new_wi.html
* FCC Chief May Fall Short of Wireless Market Shakeup
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601103&sid=3DaZpYKqJdYxkk&refer=
=3Dnews
* Braving the telecom lobbyist backlash
http://news.com.com/Braving+the+telecom+lobbyist+backlash/2010-1047_3-61...
50.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed
* Spectrum Auction Won't Bring Needed Broadband Competition
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D261
* A Half-Win for Cellphone Users
[Commentary] The closed nature of America=92s=20
wireless networks is the main reason that its=20
cellphone technology is so primitive compared=20
with Europe=92s and Japan=92s. The F.C.C.=92s new rules=20
go part of the way to solve this, but=20
unfortunately, American consumers have once again=20
been denied a truly open and competitive cellular market.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/opinion/06mon3.html

FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON RESEARCH STUDIES ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission 7/31]
The Federal Communications Commission announces=20
the release of ten research studies on media=20
ownership intended to inform the Commission's=20
comprehensive review of its broadcast ownership=20
policies undertaken in its rulemaking proceeding=20
in MB Docket No. 06-121 involving the issues=20
raised by the opinion of the U.S. Court of=20
Appeals for the Third Circuit in Prometheus v.=20
FCC and its quadrennial review of its broadcast=20
ownership rules and certain other rules. The=20
studies, which were conducted by outside=20
researchers and by Commission staff, examine a=20
range of issues that impact diversity,=20
competition, and localism, three important policy=20
goals of those rules. Pursuant to this Public=20
Notice, the Commission seeks public comment on=20
the studies. The Commission will incorporate the=20
studies and the public comments in the record of=20
this proceeding. The studies will also be=20
peer-reviewed. The Commission intends to use the=20
data collected in the studies, as well as the=20
comments, to inform its decisions in the=20
ownership proceeding. Comments are due 60 days=20
from the release of this Public Notice (by=20
October 1, 2007), and reply comment are due 15=20
days after the deadline for initial comments (by=20
October 16, 2007). All filings must be submitted in MB Docket No. 06-121.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3470A1.doc
* Find all ten studies at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership/studies.html
* FCC Dems Cry Foul On Media Ownership
FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan=20
Adelstein are accusing FCC Chairman Kevin Martin=20
of largely excluding them from shaping 10 new=20
reports on media ownership that could directly=20
impact the agency's regulations. The authors and=20
topics were selected by Chairman Martin with the=20
exception of one report in which Commissioner=20
Copps had some involvement, agency sources said.=20
But an FCC spokeswoman insisted that Copps and Adelstein were involved.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/08/fcc_democrats_cry_foul_on_medi.html
* Statement by Commissioners Copps and Adelstein
Just when we hoped an open media ownership=20
process was developing here at the FCC, along=20
comes this bucket of ice water. These are ten=20
supposedly serious studies put together by teams=20
of economists and analysts over an eight month=20
period. One study alone contains over 13 million=20
data points. Yet the Commission expects the=20
public to analyze all ten studies, and reams of=20
underlying data, and file comments 60 days from=20
today! This is unfair, unnecessary, and=20
ultimately unwise - inviting public,=20
Congressional, and judicial outrage reminiscent=20
of what happened when the FCC tried to loosen=20
media ownership rules four years ago.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275674A1.doc
* Consumer Groups Blast FCC=92s Biased Research
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D262

FCC RELEASES 2ND NPRM ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission 8/1]
On August 1, the FCC released a 2nd Notice of=20
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in its ongoing review=20
of media ownership rules, asking for comment on a=20
August 2006 motion by a coalition of groups=20
calling for the Commission to withdraw, revise=20
and republish its original (NPRM). The coalition=20
asserts that the original notice is deficient=20
because it fails to: 1) identify and describe=20
minority ownership proposals remanded by the=20
court in Prometheus Radio Project, et al. v.=20
FCC; 2) refer to or seek comment on a definition=20
of a socially and economically disadvantaged=20
business ("SDB"); and 3) identify Section 257 of=20
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a central=20
legal basis for minority ownership relief. MMTC=20
requests that the Commission restart the=20
ownership proceeding. Comments in this proceeding=20
are due October 1, 2007; reply comments are due=20
October 16, 2007. Commissioners Michael Copps and=20
Jonathan Adelstein dissented from the inadequate=20
time given for public comment saying, "Yesterday,=20
the Commission provided the public only 60 days=20
to comment on ten research studies that took=20
dozens of economists and lawyers over eight=20
months to prepare. Today - August 1st, after 11=20
months of inaction, the majority is providing the=20
same truncated time for public comment on=20
proposals that it neglected to discuss last year,=20
at the beginning of our review of the media=20
ownership rules.... Now a new agenda seems to be=20
brewing here. And whatever's being cooked up,=20
the public is not being given sufficient time to=20
take a close look. Maybe someone's worried that,=20
once again, the public will spit it out."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-136A1.doc
* Statement by Copps and Adelstein
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-136A2.doc
* FCC Stifles Public Debate on Media Ownership
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D263

FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON PROPOSED DTV EDUCATION=20
INITIATIVES TO FACILITATE TRANSITION TO DIGITAL
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission 7/30]
The Federal Communications Commission released a=20
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which seeks=20
comment on potential digital television (DTV)=20
consumer education initiatives. Among other=20
things, the NPRM seeks comment on requiring=20
broadcasters, multichannel video programming=20
distributors (MVPDs), retailers and manufacturers=20
to take certain actions to publicize the digital=20
transition. It will facilitate the upcoming=20
transition to digital on February 17, 2009, a=20
deadline established by Congress. A successful=20
completion of the digital transition depends upon=20
ensuring that appropriate policies are in place=20
to minimize the burdens and costs borne by=20
consumers. It also depends on government and=20
industry working together in promoting consumer=20
awareness. The NPRM seeks comment on proposals to=20
help convey the timing, logistics and benefits of=20
the DTV transition to consumers, including: 1)=20
Broadcaster Public Service Announcements, other=20
Consumer Education Requirements, and Reporting,=20
2) Notices in Cable and Satellite Bills, 3)=20
Notices from Consumer Electronics Manufacturers,=20
4) Employee Training by Consumer Electronics=20
Retailers, and 5) Adjustments to the DTV.gov Partners Program
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275624A1.doc
* Text of NPRM
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-128A1.doc

INITIAL EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF PROTOTYPE TV-BAND WHITE SPACE DEVI=
CES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission 7/31;=20
AUTHOR: Steven Jones & Thomas Phillips]
The Federal Communications Commission=92s=20
Laboratory has conducted a measurement study of=20
the spectrum sensing and transmitting functions=20
of prototype unlicensed low power radio=20
transmitting devices that would operate on=20
frequencies in the broadcast television bands=20
that are unused in each local area. These locally=20
unused frequencies are known as =93white spaces.=94=20
This research is part of the FCC=92s ongoing=20
proceeding to consider rules for permitting such devices to operate on TV
white spaces. As established previously by the=20
Commission, fixed =93white space devices=94 (WSDs)=20
will be allowed into the TV spectrum simultaneous=20
with the completion of the transition from analog=20
to digital television broadcasts on February 17,=20
2009. The Commission is also considering whether=20
to allow unlicensed =93personal/portable=94 WSDs
to operate in the TV spectrum. This report=20
determined that the sample prototype White Space=20
Devices submitted to the Commission for initial=20
evaluation do not consistently sense or detect TV=20
broadcast or wireless microphone signals. Our=20
tests also found that the transmitter in the=20
prototype device is capable of causing=20
interference to TV broadcasting and wireless=20
microphones. However, several features that are=20
contemplated as possible options to minimize the=20
interference potential of WSDs, such as dynamic=20
power control and adjustment of power levels=20
based on signal levels in adjacent bands, are not=20
implemented in the prototype devices that were=20
provided. Given these results, further testing of=20
these devices was not deemed appropriate at this time.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275666A1.pdf
* FCC: Devices Interfere With DTV
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6465633.html

FCC INVITES COMMENTS ON BROADBAND PETITION
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC invites comment on a petition filed by=20
Covad Communications Group, NuVox Communications,=20
Inc., and XO Communications, LLC requesting that=20
the Commission issue a written order addressing=20
the Verizon Telephone Companies=92 petition seeking=20
forbearance from certain regulatory requirements=20
applicable to its provision of broadband=20
services. Specifically, Petitioners seek either a=20
written order denying Verizon any regulatory=20
forbearance for its broadband services, or an=20
order expressly limiting the grant of forbearance=20
to the particular types of broadband services and=20
the Title II regulations specified by Verizon in=20
its February 7, 2006 ex parte letter. Petitioners=20
request that the Commission address the merits of=20
the Verizon broadband forbearance petition prior=20
to the expiration of the statutory deadline for=20
Commission action on pending forbearance=20
petitions seeking similar relief filed by Qwest=20
Corp., AT&T Inc., BellSouth Corp., Frontier and=20
Citizens, and the Embarq local operating=20
companies. Comment Date: August 13, 2007 Reply=20
Comment Date: August 17, 2007. Public Notice, WC Docket No. 04-440, DA 07-3=
473
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3473A1.doc

FCC OPEN MEETING TUESDAY AUGUST 7
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission will hold=20
an Open Meeting on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at=20
10:00 a.m. in Room TW-C305, at 445 12th Street,=20
S.W., Washington, D.C. There is just one item on=20
the agenda: a Report and Order and Further Notice=20
of Proposed Rulemaking addressing the roaming=20
obligations of Commercial Mobile Radio Service=20
providers. The item was dropped from last week's FCC meeting agenda.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275764A1.doc

OWNERSHIP

MURDOCH'S DOW JONES WILL HAVE MONEY, SCALE, TIME
[SOURCE: Reuters 8/1, AUTHOR: Robert MacMillan]
A Rupert Murdoch-controlled Dow Jones & Co Inc=20
will have some key advantages over competitors:=20
scale, financial resources and a little extra=20
time to figure out how to grapple with new media=20
trends. As investors heap pressure on newspaper=20
publishers to find a way to captivate audiences=20
that are moving to the Internet, Murdoch will be=20
able to invest in Dow Jones and its Wall Street=20
Journal newspaper, cut costs and insulate the=20
business within his larger media empire, media=20
executives and analysts said. Competitors from=20
New York Times Co to financial news providers=20
Bloomberg and Reuters Group Plc will need to form=20
new distribution alliances and compete against=20
the global network of Murdoch's News Corp, they said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSN0140681320070801
* No 'slam-dunk' approval for Dow Jones-News Corp.: FCC
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=3D%7B2DB07160%2D98...
2D4B2C%2DB267%2DC49E6E8D66C6%7D
* Dow Jones Director Resigns After News Corp Deal
Leslie Hill, a member of Dow Jones's controlling=20
Bancroft family, is resigning from the company's=20
board after participating in an unsuccessful=20
effort to prevent the sale to Rupert Murdoch's=20
News Corp. Hill says she is no longer able to=20
"protect what this brand has stood for."
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSWNAS922720070801
* Five People Chosen for WSJ Safeguard Panel
Five people are being named to a committee that=20
is intended to prevent News Corp. from dictating=20
what goes into the Wall Street Journal. They=20
include former Associated Press CEO Louis=20
Boccardi, who is the only member of the group=20
with a background in news, rather than opinion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/business/media/02journal.html
* WSJ Watchdog Member Has Murdoch Ties
Dow Jones says it did not know that Nicholas=20
Negroponte, one of the five people named to the=20
special committee to protect its editorial=20
independence after it becomes part of News Corp.,=20
runs a foundation that received $2.5 million in=20
funding from Rupert Murdoch's media conglomerate.
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN0223284220070802
* Commissioner Michael Copps:
It's interesting to hear the "experts" claim the=20
transaction faces no regulatory hurdles. Not so=20
fast! This deal means more media consolidation=20
and fewer independent voices, and it specifically=20
impacts the local market in New York=20
City. What's good for shareholders of huge media=20
conglomerates isn't always what's good for the=20
public interest or our civic dialogue. We should=20
immediately conduct a careful factual and legal=20
analysis of the transaction to determine how it=20
implicates specific FCC rules and our overarching=20
statutory obligation to protect the public=20
interest. I hope nobody views this as a slam-dunk.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275689A1.doc
* Sen. Dodd: FCC Should Investigate News Corp-Dow Jones Deal
In a statement, Sen Chris Dodd (D-CT) expressed=20
concern at the proposed deal and its "effects on=20
consumers and the public goodwill be as a result=20
of these types of media consolidation."
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200708021621DOWJONES...
NLINE001050_FORTUNE5.htm
* Edwards Urges Dems to Fight Dow Jones Sale
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/08/edwards_urges_dems_to_fight_do.php
* Murdoch=92s Deal for the Journal: Yet Another Blow for Journalism
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D260
* The Media Equation: Murdoch Gives In, So to Speak
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/business/media/06carr.html

JOURNALISM

BROADCAST NEWSWRITERS SPEAK ABOUT NEWS QUALITY
[SOURCE: Writers Guild of America, East 7/27, AUTHOR: ]
The news about the news is not good, according to=20
a study released today by the Writers Guild of=20
America, East. The report, entitled Broadcast=20
Newswriters Speak About News Quality, traces an=20
ongoing decline in the quality of broadcast news=20
driven by the continual reduction of newsroom=20
staff. The report, based on 10 months of in-depth=20
research culled from news quality surveys and the=20
WGAE's own extensive member information database,=20
includes direct interviews with WGA members at=20
local and national ABC and CBS News television=20
and radio outlets. Among the reasons for the=20
declining quality of news cited in the report=20
are: 1) Recycling of news is becoming more=20
commonplace as fewer newsroom employees mean less=20
stories being developed on a daily basis.=20
2) There is a dramatic and growing shift away=20
from hard news to more lifestyle/ entertainment=20
or "infotainment" news. The report includes four=20
recommendations: 1) The FCC should hold public=20
hearings specifically regarding localism and=20
broadcast news quality in top U.S. markets; 2)=20
The appointment of a commission or working group=20
to develop standards for broadcast news quality=20
as a public interest requirement; 3) Continue=20
support of the Center For Media and Democracy's=20
proposals for video news releases and have U.S.=20
government agencies funding or producing video or=20
audio for broadcast use be required to makes such=20
material public and archive it online; 4) Make=20
infractions to these public interest requirements=20
punishable by fine and require adherence to these=20
standards for license renewal.
http://www.wgaeast.org/index.php/articles/736?wgra=3D1#wga736

PEW: CONSUMERS SICK OF CELEB SCANDALS
[SOURCE: MediaWeek 8/3, AUTHOR: Katy Bachman]
Americans are sick of celebrity scandals=20
dominating the news. According to a study=20
released by the Pew Research Center for the=20
People & the Press, 87 percent of those surveyed=20
said celebrity scandals receive too much=20
coverage. Only 2 percent responded there wasn't=20
enough coverage. The public put most of the blame=20
for the coverage squarely on the new media, with=20
54 percent responding that news organizations are=20
at fault; nearly one third (32 percent) blamed=20
the public for paying so much attention to=20
celebrity coverage; 12 percent said the blame=20
should be equally shared between the public and the media.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
1131
* Study: News is scandalous
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i2...
8db852ae616046d30da869e1a035

INTERNET/BROADBAND

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES SEE THE LIGHT: THE INTERNET
[SOURCE: Reuters 8/4, AUTHOR: Andrew Stern]
Every U.S. presidential candidate has a Web site,=20
of course, but when the top Democratic hopefuls=20
were asked on Saturday whether they would appoint=20
a White House blogger if elected, all of them=20
said yes. The candidates' impromptu show of hands=20
at a convention organized by the leading Internet=20
forum for liberal-minded writers on the Internet,=20
DailyKos.com, was tangible evidence of the Web's=20
increasing political sway. That seven of the=20
eight Democratic hopefuls would show up at a=20
convention attended by a mere 1,500 people --=20
joined by 250 members of the traditional media --=20
was further evidence that the Web is the medium=20
of the moment. Many political analysts say the=20
"blogosphere" has injected a more populist=20
sentiment into the eight-way race to become the=20
Democratic nominee next year. "You can't win an=20
election with the 10 million people who read=20
blogs. But you are going to get people who will=20
get out there and knock on doors," said Markos=20
Moulitsas, founder of convention sponsor DailyKos.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSMOL47799120070804
* FCC Commissioner: US playing "Russian roulette with broadband and Interne=
t"
In a speech at the YearlyKos convention, FCC=20
Commissioner Copps spoke like a man with a fire=20
in his guts. He's proud of America but "worried"=20
by the path that it has gone down with respect to=20
broadband Internet and media consolidation, which=20
he sees as ideas joined at the hip.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070803-fcc-commissioner-us-playin...
ussian-roulette-with-broadband-and-internet.html
* A Diversity of Opinion, if Not Opinionators
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR200708...
1580.html
* Clinton Wins Bloggers' Respect
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/c/a/2007/08/05/MNS6RD3Q01...
* Democratic candidates spar over K Street money
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/democratic-candidates-spar-over-k-stree...
oney-2007-08-04.html
* Bloggers seeking to form a labor union
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-bloggerunion6aug06,1,...
9723.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

WHY IT WILL BE HARD TO CLOSE THE BROADBAND DIVIDE
[SOURCE: Pew Research, AUTHOR: John B. Horrigan]
According to the Pew Internet Project's February=20
2007 survey, 47% of American adults have=20
broadband at home, nearly double the 24%=20
penetration level of three years earlier. With=20
home broadband penetration poised to surpass 50%=20
this year, it will have taken 9 years from the=20
time the service became widely available for home=20
high-speed to reach half the population. To put=20
this in context, it took 10 years for the compact=20
disc player to reach 50% of consumers, 15 years=20
for cell phones, and 18 years for color TV. Each=20
of those technologies, like broadband,=20
represented an upgrade from a good or service=20
with which most consumers had experience. But=20
there are two large segments of the population=20
without broadband: those who are not Internet=20
users, and those who have home Internet access,=20
but use dial-up connections. Some 29% of=20
Americans do not use the Internet, and 15% have=20
dial-up Internet access from home. Non-Internet=20
users as a group are disproportionately old and=20
poor. Non-Internet users do not have very=20
positive attitudes about information technology.=20
Moreover, non-Internet users are apt to see the=20
online environment as a dangerous place =AD that=20
is, a place with inappropriate or irrelevant=20
content. Improving infrastructure availability=20
will help, especially in rural areas, but not by=20
enough to alter the U.S. position in the world.=20
What, then, could policymakers do? One answer is=20
to renew focus on demand-side stimulation=20
targeted at hard-to-reach populations.
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/556/why-it-will-be-hard-to-close-the-broadba...
divide&reason=3D0
* And the Broadband growth slows
[SOURCE: GigaOM, AUTHOR: Om Malik]
The law of large numbers eventually catches up=20
with everyone, so why would the new broadband=20
subscription numbers be any different. And that=92s=20
precisely what is happening to the big three US=20
broadband providers: AT&T, Verizon and Comcast.=20
The problem is that the slowdown in new additions=20
is happening at much faster rate that one would=20
think. According to UBS Research, the net=20
additions in the quarter for AT&T, Verizon, and=20
Comcast were 1.018 million combined versus 1.67=20
million last quarter and 1.245 million in the second quarter of 2006.
http://gigaom.com/2007/07/31/and-the-broadband-growth-slows/

ANTITRUST NOW A BATTLEGROUND FOR GOOGLE AND FOES
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera]
Opponents see one last chance to cut Google Inc.=20
off at the pass before the Internet giant attains=20
total dominance -- by staging an old-fashioned=20
regulatory ambush. The behind-the-scenes battle=20
over federal approval of Google's proposed=20
$3.1-billion acquisition of DoubleClick Inc.=20
could shape the Internet's future. At stake:=20
control of the growing online advertising market,=20
estimated at $21.7 billion this year. "Google=20
dominates half the online ad market. It wants the=20
other half," said Jeffrey Chester, executive=20
director of the Center for Digital Democracy,=20
which has joined other public-interest groups in=20
asking the Federal Trade Commission to block the=20
deal unless privacy safeguards are put in place.=20
"Once it does that, it is unstoppable." Blair=20
Levin, an analyst at brokerage Stifel, Nicolaus &=20
Co., said competitors such as Microsoft Corp. are=20
trying to take advantage of the edge they have=20
over Google in the nation's capital where the=20
company is a relative newcomer to Washington.=20
Competitors and public interest groups sprung=20
into action this year, when Google moved to=20
solidify its dominance as the leading Internet=20
search engine and provider of text ads by=20
purchasing DoubleClick, a leading online=20
advertising firm. Led by Microsoft, which lost=20
out in the bidding for DoubleClick, they=20
complained to federal officials that Google was=20
on the verge of amassing too much power over=20
Internet advertising and the trove of personal information that comes with =
it.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-google6aug06,1,484660...
tory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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