September 2007

NEWS FROM THE FCC MEETING
FCC Meeting Delayed as Leaders Work on Compromise
FCC OKs digital cable transition rules
Competition in Video Distribution Market
800 MHz Rebanding Process
Enhanced 911 Location Accuracy
FCC to Look at Termination Fees Charged by Cellular Operators
FCC Launches Disaster Information Reporting System
Crawford named FCC Chief Economist

OWNERSHIP
Consumer Groups Lodge Complaint About FCC Studies
Apple network doesn't make much sense
Who Will Control Your Broadband?

DIGITAL DIVIDE
Despite Demand, Libraries Won't Add PCs

JOURNALISM
User sites diverge from mainstream agenda
Black and White and Re(a)d All Over
The Long Reach of India's TV News

CHILDREN & MEDIA
Harnessing the Internet to reinvent democracy
CBS warns of censorship if bare breast edict stays
Inouye Planning More TV Violence Hearings
'Mancow' files suit against WKQX

QUICKLY -- Emergency communication system to link=20
Bay Area cities; Your loss of privacy is a=20
package deal; NY Broadcasters Still Seeking DTV=20
Solution; NAB's Sander Praises TV's First=20
Responders; The Graying of the Web ; House draft=20
would overhaul ed-tech funding ; NPR, WGBH=20
Acquire national sales organization ; China says=20
suffers "massive" Internet spy damage

NEWS FROM THE FCC MEETING

FCC MEETING DELAYED AS LEADERS WORK ON COMPROMISE
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Tuesday's Federal Communications Commission=20
leaders were stuck in negotiations all day=20
Tuesday in an effort to reach a compromise on a=20
plan related to cable carriage of digital TV=20
signals in early 2009. The FCC=92s monthly public=20
meeting did not start as scheduled at 9:30 a.m.=20
as the five FCC commissioners remained mostly=20
backstage with their aides in back-and-forth=20
discussions. By 4 p.m., agency leaders still had=20
not emerged with a deal. The meeting ended up=20
starting 11 hours after the scheduled start.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6477671.html?nid=3D3413

FCC OKs DIGITAL CABLE TRANSITION RULES
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
The Federal Communications Commission approved=20
rules Tuesday night that it says will ensure that=20
millions of cable subscribers will still be able=20
to watch broadcast programming after the digital=20
television transition in 2009. The FCC says=20
approximately 40 million households are=20
analog-only cable subscribers. Tuesday's ruling=20
will require cable operators to guarantee analog=20
cable customers will receive broadcast channels=20
until February 2012. Cable operators must either=20
convert the digital signal to analog at the point=20
where the cable signal originates or supply=20
customers with a "down converter" device that=20
will change digital signals to analog at the TV=20
set. The cable industry pledged to do this=20
voluntarily and launched a $200 million=20
advertising campaign last week to reassure=20
subscribers. The new FCC rules make compliance=20
mandatory. The FCC will also allow for certain=20
smaller cable systems to request a waiver.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_go_ot/digital_cable
Analog, digital a must for cable
The FCC approved a regulation forcing cable=20
operators to carry both analog and digital TV=20
channels transmitted by some local TV stations.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i2...
be660e366703b453cae00fb75dc7
* Martin Forced To Dump His Dual Carriage Plan
The cable industry scored a decisive political=20
victory Tuesday night when Federal Communications=20
Commission chairman Kevin Martin had to dump a=20
draconian digital TV plan that cable vowed to=20
contest in court, perhaps rupturing the harmony=20
needed by the industry-government effort to shift=20
the nation to all-digital broadcast TV in early=20
2009 without a massive consumer rebellion.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6477713.html?nid=3D3413
* FCC Adopts 'Dual' Carriage, Program-Access Items
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6477710.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC News Release
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A1.doc
* Commissioner Adelstein:
"The useful attention we are providing to=20
protecting the vitality of our over-the-air=20
system stands in stark contrast to the outright=20
dereliction of our duty in fulfilling the=20
obligation to protect other interests of American=20
viewers during this DTV transition. Since 1999,=20
the Commission has failed to act on defining the=20
public interest obligations of digital TV=20
broadcasters. Today, I again implore my=20
colleagues to act on this critical issue."
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276576A4.doc

COMPETITION IN VIDEO DISTRIBUTION MARKET
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took=20
steps to promote competition in the marketplace=20
for video programming by adopting a Report and=20
Order ("Order") which ensures competitive=20
multichannel video programming distributors=20
("MVPDs") continue to have access to essential=20
programming. The Report & Order extends the ban=20
of exclusive contracts between vertically=20
integrated programmers and cable operators to=20
October 5, 2012. A vertically integrated=20
programmer is one that is affiliated with a cable=20
operator or other covered MVPD's. This ban had=20
already been in place and was set to expire October 5, 2007.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276575A1.doc

800 MHz REBANDING PROCESS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission=20
(Commission) adopted a Memorandum Opinion and=20
Order and a companion Public Notice to expedite=20
the 800 MHz rebanding process. Today's actions=20
reaffirm the Commission's commitment to providing=20
the public safety community with the=20
communications tools they need to respond=20
appropriately to emergencies and save lives. In=20
the Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission=20
determined that Sprint did not meet the interim=20
18-month rebanding benchmark established by prior=20
orders, and established additional benchmarks to=20
ensure that the rebanding process proceeds=20
expeditiously. The Order also requires Sprint to=20
complete clearing of all Channel 1-120 incumbents=20
in non-border areas, other than Sprint and=20
SouthernLINC, by December 26, 2007. In addition,=20
Sprint must clear its own Channel 1-120=20
facilities, and those of SouthernLINC, within 90=20
days of a request by a public safety licensee to=20
use those channels. For any public safety=20
request made on or after January 1, 2008, Sprint=20
will be required to clear the necessary spectrum=20
within 60 days of the request. The Commission=20
also affirmed that at the end of the 36-month=20
transition period on June 26, 2008, Sprint must=20
vacate its remaining spectrum in Channels 1-120,=20
as well as other portions of the 800 MHz band=20
that are to be made available to public safety in=20
accordance with prior Commission orders.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276578A1.doc
* FCC Tells Sprint to Speed Rerouting From Public-Safety Airwaves
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR200709...
2545.html
(requires registration)

ENHANCED 911 LOCATION ACCURACY
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission=20
(Commission) adopted a Report and Order (Order)=20
which clarifies that wireless carriers must meet=20
the Enhanced 911 (E911), Phase II location=20
accuracy requirements at the Public Safety=20
Answering Point (PSAP) service-area level. To=20
accomplish this, the Order requires carriers to=20
meet interim, annual benchmarks over the next=20
five years in order to ensure that they achieve=20
PSAP-level compliance no later than September 11,=20
2012. The Commission's adoption of this Order=20
seeks to ensure that E911 service meets the needs=20
of public safety and the American people. The=20
primary objective of the Order is to advance=20
policies, rules and initiatives that support the=20
efficient and reliable transmission of meaningful=20
automatic location information from wireless 911=20
callers to PSAPs to better ensure rapid emergency response and save lives.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276577A1.doc

FCC TO LOOK AT TERMINATION FEES CHARGED BY CELLULAR OPERATORS
[SOURCE: Dow Jones, AUTHOR: Corey Boles corey.boles( at )dowjones.com]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin said Tuesday the agency will look at the=20
early termination fees charged by cellular,=20
telephone and cable companies to customers who=20
want to break their contracts. Speaking to=20
reporters before the FCC's monthly public=20
meeting, Chairman Martin said there is a need to=20
look at the fees charged not just by wireless=20
companies, which are often focused on, but on all=20
industries the agency regulates. He said this=20
would include cable and telephone companies that=20
levy the fees as part of their so-called=20
triple-play offerings of cable, Internet and=20
phone service. The chairman stopped short of=20
saying the FCC would take action to prevent these=20
types of fees from being charged, but the fact=20
that he has committed the agency to looking at=20
the situation indicates it is on his radar screen.
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/25979.php?source=3Drss
* FCC may limit cable cancellation fees
[SOURCE: Bloomberg News, AUTHOR: Molly Peterson]
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/business/story/274355.html

FCC LAUNCHES DISASTER INFORMATION REPORTING SYSTEM
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of=20
the Federal Communications Commission launched a=20
newly designed and automated Disaster Information=20
Reporting System (DIRS). DIRS is a voluntary,=20
efficient, web-based system that communications=20
companies, including wireless, wireline,=20
broadcast, and cable providers, can use to report=20
communications infrastructure status and=20
situational awareness information during times of=20
crisis. This will better streamline the=20
reporting process and enable communications=20
providers to share network status information=20
with the Commission quickly and efficiently.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-3871A1.doc
* FCC Creates Online Disaster Information Clearinghouse
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6477688.html?rssid=3D193

GREGORY CRAWFORD NAMED FCC CHIEF ECONOMIST
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Gregory Crawford has been named Chief Economist=20
of the FCC. His predecessor, Michelle Connolly,=20
has returned to North Carolina, where she is a=20
member of the Economics faculty at Duke=20
University. Dr. Crawford is an expert in the=20
fields of Industrial Organization, Econometrics,=20
and Media Economics. Dr. Crawford currently=20
serves as an Assistant Professor of Economics in=20
the Eller College of Management at the University=20
of Arizona. Prior to joining Eller, he was an=20
Assistant Professor of Economics at Duke=20
University. Dr. Crawford received his B.A. in=20
Economics with Honors from the University of=20
Pennsylvania. He received his Ph.D. in Economics=20
from Stanford University. He is currently an=20
Associate Editor at the International Journal of Industrial Organization.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-276574A1.doc

OWNERSHIP

CONSUMER GROUP LODGE COMPLAINT ABOUT FCC STUDIES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a filing with the commission Tuesday, Free=20
Press, Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of=20
America say that the Federal Communications=20
Commission's peer reviews of ten media ownership=20
studies that are part of its ongoing review of=20
ownership rules were insufficient and tardy. They=20
have asked for additional peer reviews and=20
additional time to study the studies. The groups=20
argue that the studies violate the Data Quality=20
Act because they cannot be reproduced and the=20
peer review does not pass muster, and that they=20
violate OMB guidelines because the peer review=20
was not released prior to the studies'=20
publication. The FCC has set an Oct. 1 deadline=20
for comment and an Oct. 16 deadline for reply=20
comments on the studies, which were released July=20
31. The consumer groups want 90 days beginning=20
after the FCC provides full access to the=20
underlying data, which they say the FCC has yet to do.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6477691.html?rssid=3D193

APPLE NETWORK DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Nancy Gohring]
Apple's entry into the carrier business, while=20
interesting to speculate, is difficult to imagine=20
since the company already has a "sweetheart deal"=20
with AT&T, said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst=20
with Jupiter Research. In an unusual arrangement=20
for the mobile industry, Apple is thought to=20
receive a portion of the monthly service revenue=20
that AT&T earns from iPhone customers. AT&T is=20
the iPhone's exclusive carrier. Gartner analyst=20
Van Baker finds it "highly unlikely" that Apple=20
would be interested in buying the spectrum. "It's=20
a very different business than they're in, and=20
it's not something they have a whole lot of=20
expertise in," he noted. Apple could decide to=20
partner with another company that has more=20
experience in the mobile operator business, which=20
could make more sense, Baker said. Still, the=20
arrangement between Apple and AT&T looks=20
beneficial to both companies, so there probably=20
isn't a significant incentive for Apple to want=20
to change that setup, especially because the=20
operator business comes with "lousy margins," he=20
said. However, Apple might have at least one good=20
reason for wanting to operate a network, said Avi=20
Greengart, an analyst with Current Analysis.=20
"They do like to control the end-to-end=20
experience," he said. While becoming a mobile=20
operator would be a "tremendous stretch" for=20
Apple, it wouldn't surprise Greengart if Apple=20
was considering it. An Apple network would likely=20
be very tightly integrated with Apple products=20
and come with very simple pricing, he said. Such=20
a strategy could have a ripple effect across the=20
industry. Operators tend to watch what=20
competitors are doing and make adjustments to=20
their own strategies accordingly, he said.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/09/11/Apple-network-doesnt-make-sens...
.html

WHO WILL CONTROL YOUR BROADBAND?
[SOURCE: The Motley Fool, AUTHOR: David Lee Smith]
Do you live in an apartment or condominium? If=20
so, and if the Federal Communications Commission=20
has its way, you may suddenly have as much choice=20
in your broadband provider as the folks down the=20
street in single-family homes. It's all part of=20
the intensifying competition with telephone=20
companies Verizon and AT&T on the one hand, and=20
the cable operators, including Comcast, Time=20
Warner Cable, and Charter, on the other. It's a=20
battle that's being waged on more and more=20
fronts, and now it's moved to residential real=20
estate. The FCC has proposed -- somewhat at the=20
telecoms' urging -- that the owners of apartment=20
buildings and condos be prohibited from entering=20
into exclusive deals with cable operators. Under=20
the current arrangements, residents of individual=20
units are not allowed to select their own cable=20
company or the still newly available packages=20
provided by the telephone operators. The=20
Commission's newest proposal, which would do away=20
with multi-unit deals, could be voted on by the=20
full five-member FCC within a few weeks. If=20
passed, it would give apartment and condo=20
dwellers a second choice in their broadband services.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/11/who-will-control-your-b...
dband.aspx

DIGITAL DIVIDE

DESPITE DEMAND, LIBRARIES WON'T ADD PCs
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Anick Jesdanun]
YouTube, online job applications and homework=20
help sites have boosted demand and contributed to=20
lines for Internet access at the nation's public=20
libraries, yet a new survey finds the majority=20
have no immediate plans to add computers. For=20
many library systems, the buildings simply do not=20
have enough room, and their electrical wiring=20
couldn't deliver the required power. Others are=20
already struggling to stay open, buy books and=20
encourage youths to read. new study from the=20
American Library Association, scheduled for=20
release Wednesday, finds the average number of=20
public Internet terminals largely unchanged since=20
2002, yet only 1 in 5 libraries say they have=20
enough computers to meet demand at all times.=20
Besides cost, limitations in space, electrical=20
outlets and cabling are cited as the chief=20
factors preventing libraries from buying more=20
computers. Las Vegas officials, for instance, say=20
they reached capacity a few years ago. Meanwhile,=20
three-quarters of the libraries say they are the=20
only source of free Internet access in their=20
communities, increasing pressure on them to meet demand.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LIBRARIES_INTERNET?SITE=3DVAHAR&S...
ION=3DTECHNOLOGY&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT

JOURNALISM

USER SITES DIVERGE FROM MAINSTREAM AGENDA
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Aline van Duyn]
The news agendas of traditional media websites=20
have very little overlap with news sites based on=20
stories selected by web users themselves,=20
according to a new study comparing the content of=20
mainstream sites in the US with popular user=20
sites such as Digg. The findings come at a time=20
when news organizations around the world are=20
investing heavily in their web operations in an=20
attempt to engage readers and viewers online. The=20
report, published on Wednesday by the Project for=20
Excellence in Journalism, a research organization=20
that specializes in analyzing the performance of=20
the press. It compared news coverage from the=20
week of June 24 to June 29 on 48 mainstream news=20
outlets to that on user sites Digg, Del.icio.us=20
and Reddit. All three of these operate without=20
news editors and instead let users decide what is=20
most important or interesting. Few of the top=20
stories selected by editors on mainstream sites=20
appeared on the user-generated sites.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/effb994a-60ce-11dc-8ec0-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)
* The Latest News Headlines=97Your Vote Counts
http://www.journalism.org/node/7493

BLACK AND WHITE AND RE(A)D ALL OVER
[SOURCE: Media Matters for America]
A comprehensive and unprecedented analysis of=20
syndicated columnists from 96 percent of=20
English-language daily U.S. newspapers. Because=20
of the time, labor, and difficulty involved in=20
gathering such a wide scope of information about=20
these newspapers, no one has ever before=20
determined exactly where these columnists run.=20
The report shows that conservatives are carried=20
in far more newspapers, with much greater reach=20
than their progressive counterparts, giving conservatives a distinct advant=
age.
http://mediamatters.org/reports/oped/?f=3Dh_top
* Study Finds Conservatives Rule Op-Ed pages -- With George Will as King
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003638361

THE LONG REACH OF INDIA'S TV NEWS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Rama Lakshmi]
A look at the emerging power of TV news in India,=20
where there has been an explosion in the growth=20
of 24-hour news channels in the past two years.=20
For the first time, much of the growth has been=20
in Hindi-language channels. Meanwhile, many of=20
the channels are challenging traditional elitist=20
notions of what deserves to be on the air and=20
bringing legitimacy to local stories that=20
previously would not have been covered.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR200709...
2293.html
(requires registration)

CHILDREN & MEDIA

HARNESSING THE INTERNET TO REINVENT DEMOCRACY
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Georgina Prodhan]
Don Tapscott -- an evangelist for Web 2.0, the=20
second-generation Internet based on participation=20
through social communities such as Facebook and=20
MySpace, participatory sites like free=20
encyclopedia Wikipedia, and blogs -- wants to=20
teach governments to harness the power of the=20
Internet to reinvent democracy. He believes young=20
people want to take part in politics but don't=20
like being preached to by politicians. "My=20
generation grew up watching TV so a broadcast=20
model was OK," he says. But hearing: "I'm a=20
politician, so listen to this 30-second ad where=20
I slag off my competition," is meaningless to=20
what he dubs the "N-Gen" or Net generation,=20
Tapscott argues. His ideas are based on the=20
premise that the new generation of "digital=20
natives" who grew up with the Internet is=20
fundamentally different from previous generations -- in a way that matters.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSGOR15628620070911

CBS WARNS OF CENSORSHIP IF BARE BREAST EDIT STAYS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jon Hurdle]
The penalty on CBS for televising singer Janet=20
Jackson's breast during the 2004 Super Bowl=20
halftime show will effectively censor U.S.=20
broadcasting if it is upheld, the network argued=20
on Tuesday. CBS lawyer Robert Corn-Revere urged=20
the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to=20
overturn a $550,000 fine imposed by the Federal=20
Communications Commission for indecency after=20
Jackson's right breast was exposed to almost 90=20
million TV viewers for a fraction of a second.=20
The network called the incident "unscripted,=20
unauthorized and unintended," and Corn-Revere=20
said the ruling has had a "profoundly censorious=20
effect" on U.S. broadcasting by deterring=20
stations from showing material that could=20
possibly be judged indecent. Eric Miller, an=20
attorney for the FCC, defended the conclusion=20
that the Super Bowl show was indecent because it=20
was a "highly sexualized performance" even before=20
the exposure. Miller argued CBS had been=20
"willful" in its broadcast because it failed to=20
guard against indecency. He said the National=20
Football League had expressed concern beforehand=20
about the song's sexual lyrics and that Jackson's=20
choreographer said in advance the show would=20
contain "some shocking moments." The court is=20
expected to rule in the coming months.
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=3DentertainmentNews&...
ryID=3D2007-09-11T173450Z_01_N11424865_RTRUKOC_0_US-JACKSON-BREAST.xml
* CBS rallies against FCC fine
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971772.html?categoryid=3D14&cs=3D1&...
=3D2563
* CBS Tells Court It Took Precautions to Prevent=20
Super Bowl 'Wardrobe Malfunction'
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/09/cbs_tells_court_it_took_precau.php
* CBS Appeals Punishment for Super Bowl Incident
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/business/media/12indecency.html?ref=3D...
ayspaper
* CBS asks court to overturn FCC fine for 'wardrobe malfunction' incident
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-breast12sep12,1,76864...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

INOUYE PLANNING MORE TV VIOLENCE HEARINGS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 9/6, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Senate Commerce Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)=20
plans to hold additional hearings this year on=20
television violence. But despite Chairman=20
Inouye's interest in the subject, Sen. John (Jay)=20
Rockefeller (D-WV) said that his planned=20
legislation to pave the way for the FCC to=20
regulate excessively violent TV scenes has been=20
sidetracked by a recent court decision.=20
Rockefeller spokesman Steven Broderick said two=20
additional hearings may be held, with at least=20
one focusing on the impact of violent media on children.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/09/inouye_planning_more_tv_violen.html

'MANCOW' FILES SUIT AGAINST WKQX
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: Michael Higgins]
Former WKQX-FM 101.1 radio host Erich "Mancow"=20
Muller filed a lawsuit Tuesday against his former=20
employer, saying radio officials disparaged his=20
show and blocked him from getting other work.=20
Muller filed suit against Emmis Communication=20
Corp., based in Indianapolis, and various WKQX=20
radio officials and personalities. In the=20
lawsuit, Muller said his "Mancow's Morning=20
Madhouse" was highly profitable for the station.=20
He alleges that in July 2006, when Emmis=20
officials decided not to renew his contract, WKQX=20
personalities mocked him on the air and managers=20
made false, disparaging remarks about his show.
http://feeds.chicagotribune.com/~r/chicagotribune/business/~3/155291112/...
-wed_mancowsep12,0,477242.story

QUICKLY

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO LINK BAY AREA CITIES
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Christopher Heredia]
Dozens of Bay Area police, fire and transit=20
agencies will be able to talk to each other on a=20
single frequency during a disaster, making the=20
region the first in the nation to coordinate all=20
its emergency communications systems, officials=20
promised Tuesday on the sixth anniversary of the=20
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Working through a=20
joint powers agency, the authorities will spend=20
two years on a plan to replace the patchwork of=20
radio frequencies or spectrum whose flaws were=20
apparent during the 1991 East Bay hills fire and=20
after the 1989 earthquake. During those=20
disasters, as in the response to Sept. 11 and=20
Hurricane Katrina, technology hindered so-called=20
first responders from communicating with each other.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/c/a/2007/09/11/BAM7S3KVN.DTL

YOUR LOSS OF PRIVACY IS A PACKAGE DEAL
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: David Lazarus]
The all-you-can-eat packages of voice, video and=20
Internet services offered by phone and cable=20
companies may be convenient, but they represent a=20
potentially significant threat to people's=20
privacy. All leading telecom companies are=20
aggressively pushing these bundled service plans=20
after investing billions of dollars in high-speed=20
digital networks. For consumers, the upside is=20
often a hefty savings compared with acquiring the=20
same services from multiple providers. The=20
downside is that you're making intimate details=20
of virtually all your network activities=20
available to a single company -- and possibly government officials.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-lazarus12sep12,1,13...
89.column?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)

N.Y. BROADCASTERS STILL SEEKING DTV SOLUTION
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
Six years after they lost their broadcast tower=20
to the terrorist attacks, TV stations in the=20
largest US media market have managed to restore=20
adequate analog service, but they still don't=20
know if they will be able to deliver digital=20
signals to all their viewers after the February=20
2009 analog cut off. A Q&A with Paul Bissonette,=20
the former GM of Tribune=92s WPIX New York, who now=20
serves as president of the Metropolitan=20
Television Alliance, the consortium of=20
broadcasters formed to tackle their common tower and antenna problems.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/09/11/daily.5/

NAB'S SANDER PRAISES TV'S FIRST RESPONDERS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
National Association of Broadcasters chairman=20
Jack Sander planned to use his Sept. 11 speech to=20
the Media Institute in Washington, D.C., to=20
remind his audience of the importance of=20
broadcasting during the 9/11 attacks and the=20
Hurricane Katrina disaster, the second=20
anniversary of which just passed in late August.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6477600.html?rssid=3D193

THE GREYING OF THE WEB
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtell]
Technology investors and entrepreneurs, long=20
obsessed with connecting to teenagers and=20
20-somethings, are starting a host of new social=20
networking sites aimed at baby boomers and=20
graying computer users. The sites have names like=20
Eons, Rezoom, Multiply, Maya=92s Mom, Boomj, and=20
Boomertown. They look like Facebook. And they are=20
seeking to capitalize on what investors say may=20
be a profitable characteristic of older Internet=20
users: they are less likely than youngsters to=20
flit from one trendy site to the next.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/technology/12social.html?ref=3Dtodaysp...
(requires registration)

HOUSE DRAFT WOULD OVERHAUL ED-TECH FUNDING
[SOURCE: eSchool News, AUTHOR: Meris Stansbury]
Ed tech leaders are commending changes proposed=20
in a House committee discussion draft on the=20
future of No Child Left Behind, saying such=20
changes would be a big step in realizing that the=20
use of technology in the classroom is essential=20
to improving schools and learning in the 21st century.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=3D7359

NPR, WGBH ACQUIRE NATIONAL SALES ORGANIZATION
[SOURCE: National Public Radio]
Public media companies National Public Radio=20
(NPR) and WGBH Boston announced they have made an=20
offer -- which has been agreed to in principle --=20
to acquire National Public Broadcasting, LLC=20
(NPB), the leading multi-market sponsorship=20
representative for public television and radio=20
stations. Combining NPB with NPR Corporate=20
Sponsorship, NPR and WGBH will form a new=20
independent non-profit company to represent=20
sponsorship across all media for public=20
broadcasting. This new entity will become the=20
largest and most comprehensive representative for=20
national and local public radio, television and multimedia.
http://www.npr.org/about/press/2007/091107.npb.html
* NPR, WGBH Buying Noncom Rep Firm
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6477685.html?rssid=3D193

CHINA SAYS SUFFERS "MASSIVE" INTERNET SPY DAMAGE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Chris Buckley]
China has suffered "massive" losses of state=20
secrets through the Internet, a senior official=20
said, as China faces reports that it has raided=20
the computer networks of Western powers. Vice=20
Minister of Information Industry Lou Qinjian said=20
his country was the target of a campaign of=20
computer infiltration and subversion and proposed=20
a raft of counter-measures including toughened=20
censorship, new security bodies and commercial controls.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSPEK8648420070912
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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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