October 2007

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Phone Companies Seeking Immunity Donate to Rockefeller
NSA cooperation: OK for e-mail, IM companies?

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Wildfires Test Overhaul of Crisis Response
Local TV dials into fire news

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Congress to FCC's Martin: Slow Down, Get Media Rules Right
At stake: diverse media and open government
Groups Weigh In On Ownership Studies
Zell on Tribune Deal
EU extends Google/DoubleClick inquiry

REGULATION REFORM
Dingell, Markey Introduce Legislation to Improve FCC Forbearance L=
aws

BROADCASTING/CABLE
Free-Market Groups Fight Multicast Must Carry
Retailers to Push High-Def Players
CBS Defends Inaction on Without a Trace
Nationwide Outage of AT&T's TV Service

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Comcast's less-than-free flow
Comcast says not blocking Internet downloads

SPECTRUM POLICY
Countries mull making room for digital television
Wireless hopeful faults FCC inaction on spectrum request

QUICKLY -- Privacy Lost: These Phones Can Find=20
You; Microsoft Is Yielding in European Antitrust=20
Fight; Obesity Ads Too Soft on Fat, Critics Say ;=20
San Francisco's Wi-Fi dream lives on

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

PHONE COMPANIES SEEKING IMMUNITY DONATE TO ROCKEFELLER
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Lichtblau & Scott Shane]
AT&T and Verizon executives contributed more than=20
$42,000 in political donations to Sen John D.=20
Rockefeller IV (D-WV) this year while seeking his=20
support for legal immunity for businesses=20
participating in National Security Agency=20
eavesdropping. The money came primarily from a=20
fund-raiser that Verizon held for Sen Rockefeller=20
in March in New York and another that AT&T=20
sponsored for him in May in San Antonio. Sen=20
Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Intelligence=20
Committee, emerged last week as the most=20
important supporter of immunity in devising a=20
compromise plan with Senate Republicans and the=20
Bush administration. A measure approved by the=20
intelligence panel on Thursday would add=20
restrictions on the eavesdropping and extend=20
retroactive immunity to carriers that=20
participated in it. President Bush secretly=20
approved the program after the Sept. 11 attacks.=20
Mr. Rockefeller=92s office said Monday that the=20
sharp increases in contributions from the=20
telecommunications executives had no influence on=20
his support for the immunity provision.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/washington/23nsa.html
(requires registration)
* Senators Say White House Cut Deal With Panel on FISA
Senate Judiciary Committee members yesterday=20
angrily accused the White House of allowing the=20
Senate Intelligence Committee to review documents=20
on its warrantless surveillance program in return=20
for agreeing that telecommunications companies=20
should get immunity from lawsuits.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/22/AR200710...
2268.html
* The Price of Admission
[Commentary] The White House will share details=20
on telecommunications firms' immunity, but only with those who agree with i=
t.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/22/AR200710...
1673.html

NSA COOPERATION: OK FOR E-MAIL, IM COMPANIES?
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh and Anne Broache]
A new Senate bill would protect not only=20
telephone companies from lawsuits claiming=20
illegal cooperation with the National Security=20
Agency. It would retroactively immunize e-mail=20
providers, search engines, Internet service=20
providers and instant-messaging services too.
http://www.news.com/NSA-cooperation-OK-for-e-mail,-IM-companies/2100-734...
-6214609.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

WILDFIRES TEST OVERHAUL OF CRISIS RESPONSE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jonathan=20
Karp jonathan.karp( at )wsj.com and Rhonda L. Rundle ]
Wildfires raging across Southern California are=20
testing whether emergency-response systems have=20
improved in the years after the Sept. 11, 2001,=20
attacks and Hurricane Katrina. Emergency=20
responders nationwide have invested a lot of time=20
and money in recent years to plan improvements to=20
systems that didn't function well in recent=20
disasters such as 2005's Hurricane Katrina.=20
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who=20
declared a state of emergency yesterday in the=20
seven affected counties, said progress has been=20
made in coordinating efforts to contain the=20
fires, which are being driven by the gale-force=20
desert gusts known as the Santa Ana winds. Arthur=20
Ellis, a Los Angeles County fire battalion chief,=20
said that better communication with other county,=20
state and federal agencies, such as the U.S.=20
Forest Service, had enabled him to speed as many=20
as 1,000 firefighters to battle blazes near the=20
upscale coastal town of Malibu and in the northern part of the county.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119310424756367957.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

LOCAL TV DIALS INTO FIRE NEWS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Martin Miller and Greg Braxton]
Local television news devoted nearly continuous=20
live coverage throughout much of Monday to the=20
fires raging across seven Southern California=20
counties as the crisis led to the cancellation of=20
most regular daytime programming, cut into=20
advertising revenues and pushed newsrooms to=20
their limits. In a massive news effort not seen=20
since a similarly devastating series of blazes=20
four years ago, local TV stations broadcast a=20
grimly familiar roll call of scenes and vowed to=20
continue to do so as long as events dictated it.=20
Beginning midmorning Sunday, most TV screens were=20
filled with images of homes burning, hillside=20
infernos, scrambling evacuees, Super Scooper=20
airplane water drops and impromptu news=20
conferences with officials including local fire=20
personnel and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. With=20
such widespread attention from the local=20
channels, much of the challenge for news stations=20
was making their coverage distinctive. News=20
anchors provided the most obvious separation, but=20
some stations tried to emphasize certain elements=20
more than their competitors. Even more than the=20
2003 fires, the Internet has taken on a greater=20
role in this blaze, with the stations offering=20
live streaming video of their newscasts online.=20
The Internet's ability to deliver specific=20
information quickly about road or school closures=20
has greatly enhanced the efficiency of their=20
coverage, news directors say. The fire coverage=20
demands that advertising be shelved. Stations did=20
not comment on how great their losses might be.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-et-tvfire23oct23,1,...
209.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)
* California fires disrupt TV shoots
The raging wildfires that forced the evacuations=20
of a quarter-million people in southern=20
California are disrupting the production of=20
several TV shows and prompting local TV stations=20
to pre-empt network programming for continuous coverage of the disaster.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=3DentertainmentNews&...
ryID=3D2007-10-23T061934Z_01_N23222439_RTRUKOC_0_US-FIRES.xml

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

CONGRESS TO FCC'S MARTIN: SLOW DOWN, GET MEDIA RULES RIGHT
Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama (D-IL) and Joe=20
Biden (D-DE) and Reps John Dingell (D-MI) and=20
Bobby Rush (D-IL) have expressed concerns about=20
the FCC's recently announced schedule to complete=20
its media ownership proceeding. In a letter to=20
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin, Sen Obama wrote, "I believe both the=20
proposed timeline and process are irresponsible."=20
"It is unclear what your intent is on the rest of=20
the media ownership regulations," he wrote.=20
"Repealing the cross ownership rules and=20
retaining the rest of our existing regulations is=20
not a proposal that has been put out for public=20
comment; the proper process for vetting it is not=20
in closed door meetings with lobbyists or in=20
selective leaks to the New York Times." "The=20
Federal Communications Commission's plan to lift=20
its anti-monopoly regulations could have=20
dangerous consequences,=94 said Sen. Biden. =93If=20
this plan goes forward, two or three media=20
conglomerates could end up controlling every=20
broadcast medium in the country. From a safety=20
perspective, what happens if one company controls=20
the television, radio and Internet services in a=20
region and its servers go down during a natural=20
disaster or terrorist attack? From a=20
constitutional perspective, what happens when one=20
company owns all of the airwaves in an area and=20
it refuses to broadcast certain content? These=20
are important security and constitutional issues=20
best addressed by keeping the current rules in=20
place.=94 House Commerce Committee Chairman=20
Dingell said, "I urge the Commission not to rush=20
to judgment in its media ownership proceeding.=20
Issues of this magnitude and importance deserve=20
nothing less than the full and measured=20
consideration of the Chairman and Commissioners.=20
The Commission=92s last attempt to craft ownership=20
rules was largely invalidated by an appellate=20
court, and the Commission should avoid that=20
outcome in this instance." House Consumer=20
Protection Subcommittee Chairman Rush (D-IL) said=20
he=92s concerned by the lack of minority and female=20
ownership of telecommunications properties and=20
that the lack of such ownership is =93particularly=20
disturbing=94 given that spectrum is a public asset.
* Obama calls FCC "irresponsible" on media ownership rule plans
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/490
* Obama Calls On Martin to Slow Down on Ownership Review
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493172.html?rssid=3D193
* Obama: FCC Policies Must Encourage Media Ownership Diversity
http://obama.senate.gov/press/071022-obama_fcc_polic/
* FCC Plan Could Have Dangerous Consequences
http://biden.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=3D285720&
* Dingell Asks Martin to Go Slow on Ownership, Too
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493289.html?rssid=3D193
* Dingell to FCC: Go Slow on Ownership
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/10/22/daily.14/
* Chairman Dingell's statement
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110st103.shtml
* Rush says FCC doesn't care about minority media ownership
http://broadcastengineering.com/news/congressmen-fcc-minority-media-owne...
ip-1022/

AT STAKE: DIVERSE MEDIA AND OPEN GOVERNMENT
[SOURCE: Seattle Times, AUTHOR: Michael R. Fancher]
[Commentary] Wake up, people! This is a call to=20
pay close attention to what's happening in the=20
nexus of government and media. Important=20
developments are afoot at the federal, state and=20
local levels. Nationally, the hot news last week=20
was the head of the Federal Communications=20
Commission again trying to fast-track new rules=20
allowing greater concentration of media=20
ownership. This is a big deal, with potential local ramifications.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003964947_fancher20.html

GROUPS WEIGH IN ON OWNERSHIP STUDIES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC is getting an earful on its media=20
ownership studies and ownership rules in general.=20
A group of women's and minority organizations=20
told the FCC Monday that its recently released=20
media ownership studies failed to target and=20
provide solutions for promoting women's ownership=20
of the media, but that the results they did=20
produce showed that women are underrepresented=20
and that the FCC's data collection is "woefully=20
substandard." The FCC needs to "adopt proposals=20
for increasing women's ownership," then "improve=20
its data collection and analysis," to make sure=20
those changes are working, the groups said.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493298.html?rssid=3D193

ZELL ON TRIBUNE DEAL
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Mark=20
Fitzgerald mfitzgerald( at )editorandpublisher.com]
Speaking in Chicago Monday, Sam Zell was asked=20
why he would want to buy Tribune Company, "a=20
10-times leveraged newspaper company?" Zell, who=20
is leading the $8.2 billion deal to take Tribune=20
private, said, "Because I don't view it as a=20
10-leveraged company. I view it as 61 different=20
entities -- each with a wonderful opportunity to=20
get lucky." He pledged to change the corporate=20
culture at Tribune, just as he has with his many=20
acquisitions in other industries. "Just by being=20
private, the culture will change," he said. "We=20
won't be forced to make decisions that are 90=20
days in relevance." And he suggested he was=20
investing in Tribune for the long term. "If=20
Tribune proves to be as successful an investment=20
as I think it will be -- I mean, I'm not a=20
private equity investor or have a five-year=20
window; there's no exit strategy. This is a good=20
investment. We want to succeed." The way the deal=20
is structured, Zell added, he had a financial=20
incentive to stay invested for at least 10 years.=20
"When all is said and done, what must be=20
remembered is a newspaper is a business. It used=20
to be a fabulous business that made extraordinary=20
margins. It's now a very good business with appropriate margins."
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003661509

EU EXTENDS GOOGLE/DOUBLECLICK INQUIRY
[SOURCE: Reuters]
European Union regulators on Monday extended the=20
deadline for their inquiry into Google's proposed=20
purchase of rival DoubleClick to November 13 from=20
October 26. The time limit for a decision on the=20
$3.1 billion deal was moved back so proposed=20
remedies to possible competition problems could=20
be tested. Google has proposed changes to the=20
deal, which will be vetted with customers and=20
competitors. Google competition counsel Julia=20
Holtz said that in response to third-party=20
concerns, Google had committed to the Commission=20
that it would keep certain DoubleClick business practices unchanged.
http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSL2213784720071022
-- See also --
* GoogleClick: =93access to the bulk of the world=92s online behavior=94
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=3D390

REGULATION REFORM

DINGELL, MARKEY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE FCC FORBEARANCE LAWS
[SOURCE: House of Representatives Commerce Committee]
Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the=20
Committee on Commerce, and Rep. Edward Markey=20
(D-MA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on=20
Telecommunications and the Internet, introduced=20
legislation to correct a procedural failure in=20
the forbearance process at the Federal=20
Communications Commission. The proposed bill,=20
entitled the Proper Forbearance Procedures Act of=20
2007, would remove the =93deemed granted=94 language=20
from the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.=20
This legislation aims to correct a significant=20
procedural problem caused by the two small words=20
=91deemed granted=92 in the Communications Act,=94 said=20
Chairman Dingell. =93Carriers are still free to=20
seek forbearance, and the FCC may still grant=20
forbearance where appropriate. But the =91deemed=20
granted=92 language must be removed to safeguard=20
the ability of Congress and the courts to conduct=20
appropriate oversight, to protect consumers, and=20
to restore transparency to the decision-making=20
process.=94 The Communications Act permits a=20
telecommunications carrier to request the FCC to=20
grant forbearance, or exempt the company from=20
certain statutory or regulatory requirements. The=20
FCC may grant forbearance if it finds that doing=20
so is in the public interest. If the FCC does not=20
act within a set time frame, the petition seeking=20
forbearance is =93deemed granted=94 as a matter of=20
law. As a result, many of the FCC=92s forbearance=20
decisions are inconsistent or do not include=20
explanations for the Commission=92s action.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr109.shtml
* Dingell, Markey Want to Block Dereg by Default
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493297.html?rssid=3D193

BROADCASTING/CABLE

FREE-MARKET GROUPS FIGHT MULTICAST MUST CARRY
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Americans For Tax Reform, the American=20
Conservative Union, Competitive Enterprise=20
Institute, the Property Rights Alliance,=20
Americans for Prosperity, the National Taxpayers=20
Union and seven other groups don't want the=20
federal government to expand the number of local=20
broadcast TV signals that cable operators are=20
forced to carry. =93To give broadcasters a free=20
ride on cable operators=92 private infrastructure=20
would represent the worst sort of government=20
mandate, and would fly in the face of the=20
property rights protections found in the=20
Constitution,=94 the groups said in an Oct. 19=20
letter to Martin and others in the FCC=92s leadership.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6493120.html?rssid=3D196

RETAILERS TO PUSH HIGH-DEF PLAYERS
[SOURCE: TVPredictions.com, AUTHOR: Phil Swann]
Retailers are increasingly pushing=20
High-Definition TV buyers to also purchase=20
related accessories, such as Blu-ray and HD DVD=20
players. Video Business reports that retailer=20
Ultimate Electronics hopes next year to persuade=20
at least 25 percent of HDTV buyers to also get a=20
Blu-ray or HD DVD player. Rick Souder, executive=20
vice president of merchandise for Crutchfield,=20
says the industry has little choice but to get=20
more creative. =93It=92s absolutely important for=20
retailers to try to make sales more profitable as=20
TV prices come down,=94 said Souder. =93You=92re also=20
doing it in good conscience because the accessory=20
product can be mandatory for the total enjoyment of the main product.=94
http://www.tvpredictions.com/retailers102107.htm

CBS DEFENDS INACTION ON "WITHOUT A TRACE"
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
CBS said it didn't take any remedial action after=20
the Federal Communications Commission found an=20
episode of "Without a Trace" indecent back in=20
2006, saying it didn't think it had to. The=20
Parents Television Council said CBS violated the=20
terms of a Nov. 23, 2004 consent decree, in which=20
CBS parent Viacom paid $3.6 million to wipe out=20
all the indecency complaints and proposed fines=20
against CBS except the Super Bowl Janet=20
Jackson/Justin Timberlake incident, which CBS=20
appealed in federal court. One of those indecency=20
complaints had been against "Trace" orgy scene.=20
CBS said it did not think it had to take various=20
steps -- suspend employees, investigate the=20
incident -- spelled out in the agreement because=20
the NAL was against a scripted drama, rather than=20
a live, unscripted show like a morning radio=20
program or awards show that an employee would=20
need to bleep or edit. CBS also said that if the=20
FCC disagreed with that interpretation, CBS'=20
failure to do so had been at most an "unintended=20
omission" in an otherwise extensive, good-faith=20
effort to comply with the agreement. That effort,=20
the network added, included installing editing=20
systems at radio stations, audio and video delays=20
at TV stations and training staffers about compliance with indecency laws.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493178.html?rssid=3D193

NATIONWIDE OUTAGE OF AT&T'S TV SERVICE
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Customers of AT&T Inc.'s premium television=20
service, U-verse, were hit with outages=20
nationwide on Sunday. The problems started=20
everywhere early Sunday morning and, while AT&T=20
was able to restore some local channels and=20
popular cable news and sports networks within a=20
few hours, full service wasn't restored until=20
Sunday night. Some customers had to reboot their=20
cable box to get service restored. The cause of=20
the disruption remains under investigation and=20
the company is reviewing its customer service=20
policies after some users complained on Internet=20
forums that they were unable to get customer=20
service help when they needed it Sunday.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/10/22/daily.10/
* AT&T U-verse TV Hit by Nationwide Outages
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6493175.html?rssid=3D196

INTERNET/BROADBAND

COMCAST'S LESS-THAN-FREE FLOW
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] Internet users take for granted the=20
free flow of information that has made the Net=20
such a vibrant and innovative communications=20
medium. But Comcast cable-modem users have=20
discovered that certain types of information=20
don't flow so well, and the company has been less=20
than forthcoming as to why. It's not surprising=20
that Comcast, the largest supplier of Internet=20
service to U.S. homes, would try to manage the=20
load that bandwidth-intensive programs place on=20
its network. The problem is that Comcast has done=20
that management secretly and unpredictably. To=20
avoid the appearance of surveilling its users, it=20
has applied its management tools=20
indiscriminately, which means that legitimate=20
BitTorrent downloads are affected as much as=20
bootlegged ones. And while it insists that it=20
doesn't block anything, it's easy to see how=20
Comcast's interference could prove problematic=20
for businesses using BitTorrent as a distribution=20
platform. The revelations about Comcast are the=20
latest sign that stronger rules are needed to bar=20
improper meddling by broadband providers, at=20
least until consumers have more alternatives.=20
Network operators shouldn't be able to dictate=20
how companies distribute their wares online.=20
Comcast's cable-TV arm, after all, competes with=20
companies that use BitTorrent for online TV=20
services, and consumers should be able to judge=20
them without Comcast's influence. Nor should=20
network operators surreptitiously impede data,=20
leaving customers unaware of the extent or source=20
of the interference. If customers are using a=20
disproportionate amount of bandwidth, let them pay for extra for it.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-comcast23oct23,1,...
3731.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

COMCAST SAYS NOT BLOCKING INTERNET DOWNLOADS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Yinka Adegoke]
Bloc? Non. Retardez? Bien, s=FBr, peut-=EAtre.=20
Comcast Corp said on Monday that file transfers=20
on peer-to-peer networks such as BitTorrent may=20
be delayed by bandwidth management technology,=20
but it denied blocking access to any applications=20
or content. As the second-largest high-speed=20
Internet provider in the United States with 11=20
million customers, any move by Comcast to favor=20
or block certain types of content moving over its=20
network would be extremely controversial as it=20
would be seen as flouting 'Network Neutrality.'=20
Net Neutrality is the principle of allowing all=20
content that flows over an Internet service=20
provider's (ISP) network to be treated equally=20
without any preference. Although it is not law,=20
it is supported by a wide range of pressure=20
groups and businesses concerned that ISPs will=20
start charging to prioritize the delivery of users content.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2244631420071022

SPECTRUM POLICY

COUNTRIES MULL MAKING ROOM FOR DIGITAL TELEVISION
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The United States led calls on Monday to allocate=20
a prime tranche of the radio frequency spectrum=20
for use by digital television, in a move that=20
would create a multi billion-dollar market for=20
that technology. On the opening day of a=20
month-long conference at the International=20
Telecommunication Union (ITU), U.S. delegation=20
leader Richard Russell said it was important that=20
countries identify sections or "bands" of=20
wavelengths to be used exclusively for advanced=20
wireless services. The ITU is empowered to=20
allocate frequencies for commercial use among its=20
member countries. Washington is particularly=20
interested in getting the 700 megahertz (MHz)=20
band allocated for such technology in advance of=20
the replacement of analog television with digital=20
services in the United States in 2009, and other countries later.
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSL2234213020071022

WIRELESS HOPEFUL FAULTS FCC INACTION ON SPECTRUM REQUEST
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: Jon Van]
Even though Chicago backed away from building a=20
citywide wireless broadband service, as have=20
several other cities, some people still hope to=20
offer free wireless Internet, not just here but=20
nationwide. John Muleta, chief of M2Z Networks=20
Inc., visited Chicago recently to attend a WiMax=20
wireless trade show and talk about his dream. He=20
wants to build a national network that would=20
offer free low-speed, G-rated Internet access,=20
supported by advertisements targeted by=20
geography. The system also would offer a faster,=20
ad-free, unrestricted-access Internet service for=20
a fee and would sell wholesale service. Muleta, a=20
20-year telecom veteran who has held executive=20
positions with the Federal Communications=20
Commission as well as private companies, has=20
financial backing from Silicon Valley, but he has=20
been unable to launch the service because the FCC=20
has declined to act on his petition to use 20=20
megahertz of radio spectrum that has been lying fallow for eight years.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon_notebook_1022oct22,0,537432=
5,print.storyhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon_notebook_1022o=
ct22,0,5374325,print.story=20

QUICKLY

PRIVACY LOST: THESE PHONES CAN FIND YOU
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Laura Holson]
Two new questions arise, courtesy of the latest=20
advancement in cellphone technology: Do you want=20
your friends, family, or colleagues to know where=20
you are at any given time? And do you want to=20
know where they are? But such services point to a=20
new truth of modern life: If G.P.S. made it=20
harder to get lost, new cellphone services are now making it harder to hide.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/technology/23mobile.html?ref=3Dtodaysp...
(requires registration)
* Privacy? That's old-school
Internet generation views openness in a different way
Reared on reality TV, paparazzi, cellphone=20
cameras and the insatiable maw of the World Wide=20
Web, it's no wonder teens and adults in their 20s=20
think a little differently when it comes to privacy.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20071023/d_cover23_privacy.art...

MICROSOFT IS YIELDING IN EUROPEAN ANTITRUST FIGHT
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Steve lohr and Kevin O'Brien]
Microsoft has given up its nine-year fight=20
against antitrust regulators in Europe, saying=20
yesterday that it would not challenge a court=20
judgment from last month and would share=20
technical information with rivals on terms the=20
software giant had long resisted. European=20
regulators and some software groups in Europe=20
hailed the deal as a breakthrough that should=20
open the door to freer competition, especially in=20
the market for the server software that powers=20
corporate data centers and the Internet. The=20
agreement was struck in Europe, but it will have=20
consequences worldwide because the terms for=20
licensing Microsoft=92s intellectual property will=20
be extended to competitors in the United States=20
and in other markets. If the new terms enhance=20
competition, as the regulators say, consumers=20
could benefit from lower prices and faster innovation in software.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/technology/23soft.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

OBESITY ADS TOO SOFT ON FAT, CRITICS SAY
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Drunks swimming in gin, smokers in body bags and=20
dopers living with their parents deep into=20
adulthood. Those are among the public service ads=20
shown in the past. But the government's new batch=20
of obesity spots declines even to show a fat=20
person, let alone wag a finger for gluttony or=20
sloth. No one is advocating public service=20
announcements that ridicule fat people; experts=20
say such spots would do more harm than good. But=20
critics complain that the three new spots=20
premiering this month are a wimpy attack on the=20
costly and deadly explosion of obesity in America.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Diet-Obesity-Ads.html?ex=3D1193716...
&en=3D0fd5961d83089267&ei=3D5070&emc=3Deta1

SAN FRANCISCO'S WI-FI DREAM LIVES ON
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
Citywide Wi-Fi is not dead in San Francisco. At=20
least that's what the city's chief information=20
officer Chris Vein said Monday at a panel at the=20
MuniWireless conference in Santa Clara, Calif.=20
Vein told attendees at the conference that the=20
city is simply "taking a deep breath" while it=20
figures out its next step. "Nothing has changed=20
in terms of our strategy," he said. "A lot has=20
happened in the last three years, so we are at=20
the stage now where we're listening and learning=20
to figure out what our next move should be." That=20
said, Vein added that he fully expects the=20
initiative to move forward and take shape in the=20
Mayor Gavin Newsom's next term. Newsom, who in=20
2004 put forth the idea of offering free Wi-Fi=20
access to all citizens, is expected to easily win=20
his re-election campaign in November. And Vein=20
said that the mayor expects to have an even more=20
"audacious" term this time around.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9802296-7.html
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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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