September 2007

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

OWNERSHIP
House Dems Criticize FCC Ownership Studies
FCC Waives Rules For Decatur Duopoly
Satellite radio merger still orbiting hurdles
Leap Wireless Rejects Takeover Bid

NOTES FROM THE DTV TRANSITION
Did FCC Blow Up Cable=92s Public TV Deal?
DTV Transition Order Will Cost Cable Operators
Quincy Gets Jump on Equipping Viewers for DTV

CABLE
Public Access Remains Vital
FCC Creates a Climate of Chaos over Video Franchising
California PUC issues state franchise to Wave Broadband

BROADCASTING
Among networks, Spanish-language Univision is now a top contender
CBS Gets Fourth Extension On Trace Complaint
FCC Hammers Pokemon, Buzz Lightyear

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Wiring rural America
New Net taxes could arrive in November
Qwest Petition Comments Sought
Why Metered Broadband Slows Internet Innovation

JOURNALISM
NAA Study Finds Newspaper Readers Drive 'Civic'
On Wikipedia, Debating 2008 Hopefuls' Every Facet
Fox only broadcast network that did not air Democratic response to Bush sp=
eech
Why Does Commercial News Suck?
The Lukewarm Truth

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Intelligence chief pushes new spy law

ANTITRUST
Microsoft suffers stunning EU antitrust defeat

QUICKLY -- Diversity for the Fun of It; Nonprofit=20
group hikes price of "$100 laptop"

OWNERSHIP

HOUSE DEMS CRITICIZE FCC OWNERSHIP STUDIES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Five House Democrats have joined consumer groups=20
in registering complaints about the FCC's=20
recently released 10 media ownership studies.=20
Reps Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Maurice Hinchey (NY),=20
Louise Slaughter (NY), Bart Stupak (Mich.) and=20
David Price (NC) wrote FCC Chairman Kevin Martin=20
to complain that the studies were "totally=20
lacking in transparency," and biased toward=20
consolidation. The legislators asked the FCC to,=20
at a minimum, 1) reveal its recruitment and peer=20
review efforts for the studies; 2) justify the=20
topics chosen; 3) reclassify the studies at a=20
higher priority; 4) seek more peer reviews; 5)=20
publish bios of the reviewers they did use; 6)=20
freeze the public comment period until more peer=20
reviews are received and the IG completes (within=20
60 days) his investigation into the two earlier=20
studies; and 7) provide an additional 90 days for=20
comment. They also complained that the FCC=20
inspector general (IG) had yet to complete an=20
investigation into charges the FCC suppressed two=20
media ownership studies under former Chairman Michael Powell.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478624.html?rssid=3D193

FCC WAIVES RULES FOR DECATUR DUOPOLY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has waived its duopoly rules to allow=20
Gocom Media to buy failing station and CW=20
affiliate WBUI-TV Decatur (IL) from ACME=20
Television. The FCC prevents duopolies in markets=20
where allowing one owner to own two stations=20
would not leave at least 8 independently owned=20
TV's in the market, as would be the case in=20
Decatur, where Gocom already owns WRSP, the Fox=20
affiliate. But it makes exceptions for financial=20
hardship. ACME's CFO Thomas Allen told the FCC=20
that the station had lost money for three years=20
running and saw no change in that short of joint=20
operation with another station. Before it can=20
qualify for a failed station waiver, the seller=20
must show that it tried to sell the station to a=20
buyer who would not need the waiver. Allen said=20
Acme did so with no "meaningful interest."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478493.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC decision:=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3916A1.doc

SATELLITE RADIO MERGER STILL ORBITING HURDLES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeffrey Yorke]
Satellite radio companies Sirius and XM invested=20
billions in infrastructure and millions more in=20
marketing to differentiate themselves from one=20
another. Now, they're spending millions more in=20
an attempt to merge. Already they have put up $13=20
million -- $5 million by Sirius, $8 million by XM=20
-- trying to convince Washington, D.C.,=20
regulators that their union "will bring=20
unprecedented benefits to consumers and=20
significantly enhance, rather than harm,=20
competition." But with a decision from the=20
regulators expected before year's end, there's=20
plenty of money pushing against the merger as=20
well. A disclosure that the National Association=20
of Broadcasters filed with the Senate Office of=20
Public Records states that broadcasters spent=20
$4.28 million during the first half of 2007 on=20
lobbying against such issues as the Sirius-XM=20
merger, resurrection of the Fairness Doctrine and=20
the Recording Industry Association of America's=20
proposed performance royalties.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DindustryNews&storyID=
=3D2007-09-16T231821Z_01_N16216740_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-SATELLITE-DC.XML
* More NPR lobbying against XM/Sirius merger; but why?
[Commentary] Why is National Public Radio so=20
adamantly against the proposed XM-Sirius merger?=20
NPR has offered a variety of arguments against=20
the merger. LLFCC finds most convincing among=20
them the fear that a united XM/Sirius will put it=20
at a disadvantage on the satellite platform.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/464
* The Buzz on Satellite Radio
Excerpts of public comments submitted to the=20
Federal Communications Commission in connection=20
with the proposed merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/16/AR200709...
1313.html
(requires registration)
* The Future for XM, With or Without a Sirius Merger
[SOURCE: New York Times 9/15, AUTHOR: Eric Taub]
Sirius Satellite Radio XM Satellite Radio, the=20
only satellite radio networks authorized to=20
operate by the Federal Communications Commission,=20
expect to learn by the end of this year whether=20
their request to merge will be successful. The=20
move has been opposed by the National Association=20
of Broadcasters, the group representing=20
traditional television and radio companies, and=20
by some consumer groups as anticompetitive and=20
counter to agreements the companies made when the=20
government approved their requests for operating=20
licenses. Nate Davis, XM=92s president and interim=20
chief executive, and Gary Parsons, the company=92s=20
chairman, recently discussed the merger and the=20
future of the company if the merger petition is=20
not successful. "If the merger does not happen,=20
we will be very focused on making sure we=20
continue to move to generate cash from operations=20
in the near term and being earnings positive. We=20
have to compete in all markets so we will=20
continue to make our content better and better."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/business/15interview.html?ref=3Dtodays...
er
(requires registration)

LEAP WIRELESS REJECTS TAKEOVER BID
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Michael J de la Merced]
Leap Wireless International, the prepaid=20
cellphone service provider, said yesterday that=20
its board had rejected an unsolicited takeover=20
offer from MetroPCS. MetroPCS, another prepaid=20
service provider, offered on Sept. 4 to buy Leap=20
in an all-stock deal that would almost double its=20
customer rolls and expand its reach throughout=20
the country. But since MetroPCS=92s announcement,=20
Leap=92s stock has traded above the offer price,=20
indicating that investors expect a higher offer.=20
In a letter to the chairman and chief executive=20
of MetroPCS, the chief executive of Leap, S.=20
Douglas Hutcheson, said that the takeover offer=20
undervalued Leap=92s revenue and growth prospects.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/technology/17leap.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)
* Leap Wireless rejects bid from MetroPCS
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-leap17sep17,1,4000315...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

NOTES FROM THE DTV TRANSITION

DID THE FCC BLOW UP CABLE'S PUBLIC TV DEAL?
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The Federal Communications Commission may have=20
just blown up cable=92s 2005 digital-TV carriage=20
agreement with hundreds of public TV stations.=20
Without any government intervention, cable=20
operators agreed to carry as many as four digital=20
programming services from each local public=20
station after all TV broadcasts went digital. But=20
there was one element missing from the agreement:=20
Any mention of delivering an analog signal to TV=20
viewers after the transition. That absence=20
conflicts with the unanimous FCC vote Tuesday=20
night regarding cable systems=92 carriage of=20
must-carry TV stations after Feb. 17, 2009. That=20
is the official cutoff date for all analog=20
broadcasts. All 386 full-power public TV stations=20
have mandatory cable carriage rights. And in its=20
new ruling, the FCC said all cable systems that=20
have not gone all-digital by Feb. 17, 2009 are=20
required to transmit in analog and digital all=20
must-carry stations until Feb. 17, 2012. It=92s=20
possible that cable operators might have to=20
comply with both the agreement and the new FCC=92s=20
rules, which would mean public stations would get=20
multicast must carry and analog carriage. It=92s=20
just as possible that if the public stations are=20
forced to rely just on the FCC=92s rules, they=20
would get analog carriage and carriage of just=20
one digital service, losing multicast carriage contained in the cable deal.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6478611.html

DTV TRANSITION ORDER WILL COST OPERATORS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Todd Spangler]
The Federal Communications Commission last week=20
gave cable operators two choices: either convert=20
all their analog-video subscribers to digital by=20
February 2009 or be forced to carry one analog=20
and one digital signal for all stations that opt=20
for mandatory cable carriage, or must-carry,=20
until 2012. Which is the lesser evil? For much of=20
the industry, the latter will be the preferred=20
route, even though the National Cable &=20
Telecommunications Association at one point=20
called this tantamount to an unlawful seizure of=20
private property. The alternative =97 converting to=20
all-digital set-tops in the next 18 months =97 would cost upward of $6 bill=
ion.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6478705.html
* FCC: Dual Carriage Will Last Three Years
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6478706.html
* Unclear Picture
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
before the analog transmissions -- the lifeblood=20
of broadcasting for 80 years -- are turned off,=20
TV stations must resolve an assortment of=20
problems =97 ranging from what channel their=20
signals will be on to whether their digital=20
antennas can be tilted downward to the core of a=20
TV market =97 to be sure that they don=92t all of a=20
sudden lose viewers who can=92t receive a digital signal.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6478737.html
* Long Live the Analog TV Set
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Tom Steinert-Threlkeld]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6478730.html
* McDowell: DTV Worries Valid
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6478733.html
* McSlarrow: Time To Cut DTV Cat Fighting
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In the wake of a compromise FCC decision on cable=20
carriage of broadcaster's DTV signals after the=20
transition to digital, National Cable &=20
Telecommunications Association Chairman Kyle=20
McSlarrow says it's time for broadcasting and=20
cable to cut the cat fighting and focus on=20
educating consumers. "While there may be these=20
back-and-forth public statements," said McSlarrow=20
in an interview with C-SPAN for its Communicators=20
series. "The truth is we, and the broadcasters,=20
satellite industry, the consumer electronics=20
industry, and the FCC and other government=20
agencies, have to work together to get out of=20
this sort of cat fighting and focus on making=20
sure that consumers know about the digital=20
transition in 2009 and know what tools are available to them."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478691.html?rssid=3D193
* The Deciders
[Editorial] Oddly though, this seemed like a time=20
that all of [the trade groups] have had the rare=20
ability to declare an act of deliberate=20
cooperation, not that that stopped all the name=20
calling. In the nation's capital, more divided=20
than ever, maybe no one remembers that arriving=20
at a common sense agreement is really the way government is supposed to wor=
k.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478759.html

QUINCY GETS JUMP ON EQUIPPING VIEWERS FOR DTV
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Arthur Greenwald]
Quincy Newspapers owns 13 television stations.=20
The TV station group isn't waiting for the=20
National Telecommunications and Information=20
Administration's converter box program next year.=20
It's teaming with Winegard to make boxes=97and=20
antennas=97available to its "over the air" viewers next month.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/09/17/daily.1/

CABLE

EVEN AMONG A SEA OF CABLE CHANNELS, PUBLIC ACCESS REMAINS VITAL
[SOURCE: Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Kate Torgovnick]
In the late '60s, NYU film professor George=20
Stoney had the idea to use the burgeoning cable=20
system to get his films seen. Other people around=20
the country were thinking the same thing. Stoney=20
began the first official public access in New=20
York in 1971. By 1972, it became FCC law that=20
cable providers fund public access channels in=20
major television markets. Public access still=20
works this way -- cable providers like Time=20
Warner and RCN pay "rent" to the community by=20
providing them with channels for public use.=20
Manhattan Neighborhood Network yearly budget is=20
3.7 million, 90 percent of it coming from the=20
cable companies. The programming is a trippy=20
hodgepodge, running the gamut from talk shows to=20
cooking, music videos to soft-core porn, church=20
services to sketch comedy, plus a heavy chunk of=20
local news. The only rule (besides, of course,=20
those outlined in the First Amendment) is that=20
you can't sell anything -- it's completely=20
non-commercial television. Which means no muting commercials required.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-torgovnick/even-among-a-sea-of-cable_...
4341.html

FCC CREATES A CLIMATE OF CHAOS OVER VIDEO FRANCHISING
[SOURCE: Alliance for Community Media press release]
In another blow to consumers and cities, the=20
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is=20
expected soon to decree that any company now=20
under contract with a local government to provide=20
video services may have the right to renegotiate=20
better terms for itself, putting at risk=20
America=92s public access channels, first-responder=20
communications capability, and millions of=20
dollars in franchise fees used by cities and=20
towns for public safety and infrastructure.=20
NATOA, the National League of Cities, and several=20
organizations representing consumers, cities,=20
towns, counties and non-profits are already suing=20
the FCC over its initial order of last March,=20
which in their view improperly strips local=20
governments of their authority to protect the=20
public health, education, welfare and safety of=20
local residents, in violation of the Cable Act.=20
The latest effort by the FCC, far from=20
simplifying or streamlining matters, would only=20
multiply the potential problems and disputes that=20
cities have with cable operators.
http://www.ourchannels.org/?p=3D105

CALIFORNIA PUC ISSUES STATE FRANCHISE TO WAVE BROADBAND
[SOURCE: Eldo Telecom, AUTHOR: Fred Pilot]
[Commentary] The California Public Utilities=20
Commission has issued a state broadband franchise=20
to Seattle-based cable provider Wave Broadband.=20
Wave Broadband joins Cox Communications as one of=20
just two cable providers that have applied for=20
and received a state franchise, issued under=20
California's Digital Infrastructure and Video=20
Competition Act of 2006. Wave joins telcos AT&T=20
and Verizon having received franchises from the=20
California PUC. MIA is the state's biggest cable=20
player, Comcast. The cable provider likely isn't=20
all that interested in a state franchise with its=20
limited build out requirements when local=20
jurisdictions like El Dorado County already allow=20
it to bypass large parts of the county, leaving consumers without access.
http://eldotelecom.blogspot.com/2007/09/california-puc-issues-state-fran...
se.html

BROADCASTING

AMONG NETWORKS, SPANISH-LANGUAGE UNIVISION IS NOW A TOP CONTENDER
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Ben Arnoldy]
Univision has surpassed the networks in young=20
adult viewership, according to recent Nielsen=20
ratings. The rising prominence of=20
Spanish-language media is prompting concerns =96=20
including from California Gov. Arnold=20
Schwarzenegger =96 about a slowing of the=20
acculturation of immigrants. While the Hispanic=20
media offer a different lens on American culture,=20
many experts argue they often help educate recent=20
immigrants about the US while preserving Spanish=20
among their English-speaking children. "The=20
difference with Spanish-language broadcast is=20
it's really community-oriented news and it's news=20
you can use," says Veronica Villafa=F1e, former=20
head of the National Association of Hispanic=20
Journalists. "They actually encourage=20
assimilation: This is where you go to get=20
services; these are your rights. It's really an=20
education channel." In heavily Hispanic regions=20
of the US, Univision has dominated for some time=20
in local news ratings, says Alan Albarran,=20
director of the Center for Spanish Language Media=20
at the University of North Texas. He concurs that=20
Spanish-language news is more focused on=20
community issues, spending much less time "chasing sirens."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0917/p01s03-ussc.html

CBS GETS FOURTH EXTENSION ON TRACE COMPLAINT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
CBS has gotten yet another extension, this one 30=20
days, on its response to the FCC on the challenge=20
to KUTV Salt Lake City's license for airing an=20
episode of drama Without a Trace. It had been due=20
Sept. 14, which itself had been a move from the=20
previous due date of Aug. 31. The Parents=20
Television Council challenged KUTV's license=20
after CBS' December 2004 airing of the Trace=20
episode, which contained a teen orgy scene. It=20
was a repeat of a show PTC had complained about=20
earlier, one of many that were sponged away when=20
CBS=92 then-parent Viacom settled all but the Janet=20
Jackson Super Bowl complaint in a consent decree.=20
The episode aired only weeks after the consent=20
decree had been signed, angering the PTC all the=20
more. As part of the consent decree, CBS agreed=20
to take certain, specific remedial actions if the=20
FCC issued a proposed indecency fine. The FCC did=20
so, a record $3.6 million, in response to PTC=92s=20
complaint. As part of its investigation into the=20
license challenge, the FCC wants to know if CBS=20
took those remedial actions, including launching=20
an investigation and suspending the person=20
responsible for the show's airing, per the=20
consent degree agreement. CBS's letter in=20
response to that FCC inquiry is what has been=20
extended from July until October at least. CBS=20
has said it didn=92t violate the terms of the November 2004 agreement.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478700.html?rssid=3D193

FCC HAMMERS POKEMON, BUZZ LIGHTYEAR
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC proposed fining three TV stations a total=20
of $26,000 dollars and admonished two others for=20
violations of the FCC's kids TV rules. Drawing=20
the biggest fine was drawn by Tribune's WPHL-TV,=20
$15,000, for four airings of the now-infamous=20
GameBoy E-Reader ad, featuring a fleeting glimpse=20
of a Pokemon character, which aired during the=20
Pokemon TV show on the old WB Network. One of the=20
presents left behind by WB was a bunch of fines=20
and admonitions for affiliates who ran the ad.=20
The FCC considers that any appearance of a=20
character from a TV show, fleeting or not, in an=20
ad in that show, turns the character into a host=20
seller, and the whole show into an ad. WPHL also=20
said it had exceeded the FCC's limits on=20
children's advertising----10.5 minutes on=20
weekends, 12 minutes on weekdays--by a minute and=20
a half on one additional occasion.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478465.html?rssid=3D193

INTERNET/BROADBAND

WIRING RURAL AMERICA
[SOURCE: The Economist]
Largely rural, Kentucky is best known for its=20
bourbon and horse racing; it rarely ranks in the=20
top tier of states on any measure of 21st-century=20
success. According to Brian Mefford, president of=20
ConnectKentucky, a public-private partnership, a=20
few years ago the state had among the lowest=20
rates of broadband availability in the country.=20
Internet service providers could not be sure that=20
there were enough potential customers in the=20
Kentucky countryside to justify new investment in=20
cabling or wireless transmitters. But by the end=20
of this year, Mr Mefford boasts, 98% of residents=20
will have access to inexpensive broadband=20
services. This is primarily because of=20
ConnectKentucky's effort to map broadband demand=20
in communities that didn't have access, he says,=20
which indicated that enough people in Kentucky=20
farm country would sign up if providers entered=20
the market. At the same time, the organization=20
also talked up high-speed Internet services to=20
skeptical residents, creating demand where it was=20
slack. Once isolated Kentuckians can now consult=20
with doctors in faraway cities or telecommute.=20
ConnectKentucky is just one effort among many=20
programmes in different states and within the=20
federal government to wire up the American=20
countryside. Backers compare them to Franklin=20
Roosevelt's New Deal push to bring electricity to=20
the hinterland. Supporters also hope expanded=20
rural broadband access will stop the steady loss=20
of population to cities and suburbs. But not all=20
have been as successful as Kentucky's.
http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=3D9803963

NEW NET TAXES COULD ARRIVE IN NOVEMBER
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
Americans might pay more for DSL and cable modem=20
bills starting November 1, thanks to politicians=20
in the U.S. Congress who have yet to extend a=20
federal moratorium limiting taxes on those=20
services. At the moment, a handful of bills in=20
both chambers of Congress propose competing=20
approaches, ranging from making the moratorium=20
permanent to extending it for another four years.=20
Earlier this summer, supporters and opponents of=20
a permanent ban indicated they had reached a=20
compromise that would involve extending the ban=20
for another finite period of time and redefining=20
the concept of Internet access to close perceived=20
loopholes. But no votes have happened, and the=20
proposals are still stuck in the quagmire of=20
congressional subcommittees. The process is being=20
held up because "there are some issues that=20
probably don't belong in this bill that have sort=20
of arisen," Michone Johnson, counsel to the U.S.=20
House of Representatives Judiciary subcommittee,=20
said on Friday. The subcommittee has control over=20
when a preliminary vote would occur on bills in=20
that chamber. Johnson, who spoke at an event here=20
sponsored by the Federal Communications Bar=20
Association, said subcommittee chairwoman Rep.=20
Linda Sanchez (D-CA) was still "reviewing" a=20
compromise draft. Admitting surprise that action=20
hadn't occurred before now, she said she hoped a=20
new bill would emerge "weeks before the deadline."
http://www.news.com/New+Net+taxes+could+arrive+in+November/2100-1028_3-6...
126.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed

QWEST PETITION COMMENTS SOUGHT
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC invites comments on Qwest=92s September 12,=20
2007 petition, which seeks forbearance from Title=20
II and the Computer Inquiry rules for any=20
broadband services Qwest does or may offer that=20
are not part of an Internet access service.=20
Contact: Heather Hendrickson at (202) 418-1580, email:
Heather.Hendrickson( at )fcc.gov or William Kehoe at (202) 418-1580, email:
William.Kehoe( at )fcc.gov
Comments Due: September 20, 2007 (WC 06-125, DA 07-3923)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3923A1.doc

WHY METERED BROADBAND SLOWS INTERNET INNOVATION
[SOURCE: techdirt]
[Commentary] If you look at history of innovative=20
services, you'll see they tend to move more and=20
more towards flat rate offerings, as it=20
encourages usage and encourages innovation. Phone=20
service and mobile phone service have both=20
trended in exactly this direction -- and in both=20
cases it's because it's opened up a much larger=20
overall market, even if it means less per=20
customer. So, why are we suddenly trying to go the other way with broadband?
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070911/194749.shtml

JOURNALISM

NAA STUDY FINDS NEWSPAPER READERS DRIVE 'CIVIC'
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Jennifer Saba]
Adults who read newspapers in their youth are=20
more active in civic matters, such as voting or=20
even calling talk radio stations to comment,=20
according to a new study from the Newspaper Association of America Foundati=
on.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003641236

ON WIKIPEDIA, DEBATING 2008 HOPEFULS' EVERY FACT
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jose Antonio Vargas]
On Wikipedia.org, the write-it-yourself=20
encyclopedia, everyone can be an editor, and=20
every day thousands of them are engaging in=20
fierce battles over the life stories of the 2008=20
presidential candidates. Many of those battles,=20
so far, are over relatively small biographical=20
details, but the stakes are high: Wikipedia is=20
one of the 10 most visited Web sites, drawing 6=20
billion page views a month, according to the Web=20
rating service Alexa. Type a candidate's name=20
into Google, and among the first results is a=20
Wikipedia page, making those entries arguably as=20
important as any ad in defining a candidate.=20
Already, the presidential entries are being=20
edited, dissected and debated countless times each day.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/16/AR200709...
1699.html
(requires registration)

FOX ONLY BROADCAST NETWORK THAT DID NOT AIR DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO BUSH SPE=
ECH
[SOURCE: Media Matters for America]
Following President Bush's address to the nation=20
on Iraq, Fox was the only broadcast network not=20
to air the Democratic response. Instead, Shepard=20
Smith gave a short description of the response=20
and stated: "Our coverage continues on the Fox=20
News Channel on cable and satellite with the=20
Democratic response and more. Right now, back to=20
your local Fox programming." ABC, NBC, and CBS=20
all aired the Democratic response.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709140002

WHY DOES COMMERCIAL NEWS SUCK
[SOURCE: The Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Daniel Brooks]
[Commentary] In the US, for lack of information=20
and context, we don't debate the real issues. Why=20
not? 1) People love fake news and 2) Self-interested corporate media.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-brook/why-does-commercial-news-_b_6...
8.html

THE LUKEWARM TRUTH
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
[Commentary] Iraq, David Vitter, Larry Craig,=20
Alberto Gonzales... Why can't news organizations=20
resolve disputes on what the truth is? Are they=20
afraid to take a stand? Or is there no realistic=20
way to do what the critics demand without=20
becoming partisans? The media's passive=20
regurgitation of administration spin during the=20
run-up to the war underscores the weakness of=20
simply quoting dueling spokesmen. But aggressive=20
reporting doesn't mean convicting people or=20
taking sides in wartime, however much that might please the partisans.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/16/AR200709...
1411.html
(requires registration)

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

INTELLIGENCE CHIEF PUSHES NEW SPY LAW
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Richard Willing]
Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell=20
heads to Capitol Hill this week seeking to extend=20
the government's power to read e-mails, listen to=20
telephone calls and carry out other surveillance=20
within the USA in national security cases.=20
Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,=20
are criticizing McConnell's proposals. They say=20
judges should oversee such surveillance. Some=20
Democrats also object to a second item on the spy=20
chief's wish list: immunity from lawsuits for=20
telecom companies that helped the federal=20
government intercept calls between U.S. and=20
foreign intelligence targets without warrants=20
from late 2001 until last January. McConnell is=20
scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary=20
Committee on Tuesday and before the House=20
Intelligence Committee on Thursday. Complicating=20
his task: a view among moderate Democrats that=20
the self-described "apolitical" director has=20
become an advocate for the Bush administration's=20
expansive views on the government's power to spy.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070917/a_intel17.art.htm
* Eavesdropping law: Old, new, proposed
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070917/a_intelgraf17.art.htm

ANTITRUST

MICROSOFT SUFFERS STUNNING EU ANTITRUST DEFEAT
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: David Lawsky and Michele Sinner]
Microsoft suffered a stunning defeat on Monday=20
when a European Union court backed a European=20
Commission ruling that the U.S. software giant=20
illegally abused its market power to crush=20
competitors. The European Union's second-highest=20
court dismissed the company's appeal on all=20
substantive points of the 2004 antitrust ruling.=20
The court said Microsoft, the world's largest=20
software maker, was unjustified in tying new=20
applications to its Windows operating system in a=20
way that harmed consumer choice. The verdict,=20
which may be appealed only on points of law and=20
not of fact, could force Microsoft to change its=20
business practices. It also gives EU Competition=20
Commissioner Neelie Kroes a green light to pursue=20
other antitrust cases and complaints involving=20
Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm and Rambus, and to=20
issue draft new antitrust guidelines that were put on ice pending the rulin=
g.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL1039839820070917
* Microsoft loses EU antitrust appeal
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/997c6f9c-64f5-11dc-bf89-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

DIVERSITY FOR THE FUN OF IT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Paige Albiniak]
NBC Universal's hunt for diverse new talent is=20
meant to get a broad range of people in front of=20
and behind the camera, but it's a key way for NBC=20
to discover original content for its many networks and online portals.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478754.html
* Follow Diversity's Best Ideas
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6478758.html

NONPROFIT GROUP HIKES PRICE OF "$100 LAPTOP"
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jim Finkle]
The One Laptop per Child Foundation's XO laptop=20
will sell for about $188, up from the $176 the=20
group announced in May. That's almost double the=20
original goal of the foundation's founder,=20
Nicholas Negroponte, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1427617320070915
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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