October 2007

* Headline Highlights -- Media and=20
Telecommunications Policy Developments September=20
2007 now available at http://www.benton.org/node/7349 *

DTV TRANSITION
NTIA=92s Kneuer: No Single Entity Meant to Be in Charge of DTV Education
Gag rule at the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee?
Univision hypes digital TV change
Elderly face challenges as nation goes digital

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
FCC's Copps airs opposition to Tribune deal
Free Press and consumer groups win extension on=20
media ownership study proceeding
San Francisco News Blues
NHL unfairly controls teams' Web sites: lawsuit

BROADCASTING/CABLE
FCC=92s VNR Fine: More to Come?
'Diversity=92 Not Diverse Enough
Council Against Moving Channels
The Best TV News, All About Us

KIDS & MEDIA
Toddler TV-viewing should be curbed by age 5
Technology has teenagers and parents talking
Two More TV Stations Fined for Violations of Children's-TV Ad Limits
PTC Seeks In-Flight-Video Guidelines
Senators OK triple fines for ignoring Net child porn

TELECOM
Telecoms send investors nice message on wireless profits
Delegates urge FCC to review sale of Verizon land lines

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Internet Tax Revolt

HISTORY LESSONS
One Giant Leap
High-tech culture of Silicon Valley originally formed around radio

QUICKLY -- Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Announces=20
Technology Council; Responsive Radio; Congress=20
takes on MoveOn; Pacifica radio's second chance;=20
Backpacker turns Myanmar activist via Facebook;=20
Monasteries enter the Internet Age; Duran Duran's take on the FCC

DTV TRANSITION

NTIA'S KNEUER: NO SINGLE ENTITY MEANT TO BE IN CHARGE OF DTV EDUCATION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
John Kneuer, head of the National=20
Telecommunications & Information Administration,=20
said that by statute, nobody has been assigned to=20
take charge of the education campaign for the=20
transition from analog to digital transmission,=20
and that may be a good thing. That came in=20
response to a criticism from the Government=20
Accountability Office, leveled at a Hill hearing=20
earlier in the week, that no one was in charge.=20
Kneuer said government and industry were working=20
collaboratively through the DTV Transition=20
Coalition to educate viewers, but there are=20
benefits to not having a "command and control"=20
policy were a regulator "dictates to an industry=20
participant: 'This is the explicit public=20
communication message you need to do; this is how=20
you have to do it.=92" He pointed to the cable=20
industry's announced $200 million DTV-education=20
campaign, saying, "If every communication that=20
they were going to be making had to be approved=20
or dictated by a regulator, maybe they don't make=20
that voluntary commitment." He also pointed out=20
that different industries will have different=20
messages. "Consumers have multiple choices to=20
make," he said, adding that he was not "remotely"=20
surprised that the cable industry would tout the=20
fact that its subscribers would have a "seamless"=20
transition, or for broadcasters to counter: "The=20
best digital experience is over the air. Cut the=20
cord to cable. Why are you subscribing to those=20
guys? the digital future is over the air and we=20
want to reconnect with our customers=20
directly.=94 Responding to Federal Communications=20
Commission Commissioner Michael Copps' call for=20
the FCC to take more of a lead in that=20
coordination, Kneuer said the FCC "has an=20
important role," but he wasn't sure the=20
commission was "best-positioned to engage in a public-education campaign."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6485462.html
* NTIA Meeting and Expo Showcases Consumer=20
Education Efforts for Digital TV Transition and Converter Box Coupon Program
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/DTVexpo_092507.html

GAG RULE AT THE FCC'S CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE?
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
A source close to the working committee of groups=20
that advises the Federal Communications=20
Commission on consumer matters has told LLFCC=20
that the FCC instructed its participants "not to=20
have contact with the press" about their latest=20
vote on the digital or "DTV" transition. On=20
September 27th, the FCC's Consumer Advisory=20
Committee CAC approved recommending a variety of=20
broadcaster requirements to educate consumers on=20
the impending switch from analog to digital=20
broadcasting. Congress has set February 17th,=20
2009 as the last day for analog transmission.=20
Starting on January 1st, the government will=20
offer $40 coupons to consumers to defray the cost=20
of buying a set top box that can convert older=20
analog TVs into digital ready receivers. Millions=20
of Americans still own analog TV sets and know=20
little if anything about the transition. But=20
industry and advocacy groups on the CAC are at=20
odds over whether the FCC should require=20
broadcasters to run public service announcements=20
(PSAs) on the program. The National Association=20
of Broadcasters (NAB) opposes the requirement.=20
Most public interest groups favor it. The 28=20
member CAC voted to recommend setting=20
requirements on Thursday. According to the=20
source, industry members such as the NAB as well=20
as the representative of the American Association=20
of Retired Persons (AARP) abstained. LLFCC's=20
source says that following the vote, CAC members=20
were told that all media contact should go=20
through a staff member of the FCC's Consumer and=20
Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB). LLFCC called=20
the staffer, whose answering machine response=20
said that she would be out of the office until=20
Tuesday. Thomas Wyatt of the CGB later told us=20
that the request was about helping the public=20
with the logistics of filing comments with the=20
FCC. "It wasn't in the context of having no=20
discussions with the press," Wyatt said.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/475

UNIVISION HYPES DIGITAL TV CHANGE
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
The TV industry's effort to prepare everyone for=20
the Feb. 17, 2009, switch to digital-only TV=20
broadcasting takes a big step forward today:=20
Univision, the No. 1 Spanish-language=20
broadcaster, will be the first major network=20
owner to launch a public service ad campaign=20
about the change. "Hispanics could be uniquely=20
affected," says Univision CEO Joe Uva. "We want=20
to make sure that they're the best-educated=20
segment of the population about what it means and=20
what they can do." Univision is concerned because=20
nearly 28% of Hispanic households =97 and 43% of=20
homes where Spanish is the primary language =97=20
watch TV only via over-the-air transmissions,=20
according to a 2005 National Association of=20
Broadcasters report to the FCC. By contrast,=20
about 16% of non-Hispanic white households and=20
23% of African-Americans depend solely on=20
broadcast signals. Without a big consumer=20
education effort, the digital TV transition will=20
be a "consumer disaster," the National Hispanic=20
Media Coalition, a non-profit advocacy group, said in an FCC filing last mo=
nth.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071001/1a_bottomstrip01.art.htm
* It's all about Feb. 17, 2009
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071001/1a_bottombox01_dom.ar...
tm

ELDERLY FACE CHALLENGES AS NATION GOES DIGITAL
[SOURCE: Gannett News Service, AUTHOR: Ellyn Ferguson]
In a little more than 17 months, people with=20
nondigital television sets could find themselves=20
with blank screens when TV stations stop=20
broadcasting over-the-air analog signals. The=20
change could leave millions of senior citizens=20
without TV service that provides a prime source=20
of news, entertainment and in some cases,=20
companionship. Older people account for 40=20
percent of the 20 million U.S. households with=20
TVs that only receive free over-the-air analog=20
signals using rooftop or interior antennas.=20
Households with digital-ready TVs and digital=20
converter boxes should be fine with the Feb. 17,=20
2009, change. Those who have nondigital sets tied=20
into cable or satellite systems will continue to=20
receive service. However, any nondigital sets=20
they have that are not connected will go dark.=20
Nelda Barnett, an AARP director, worries that=20
government officials and business executives will=20
fail to consider older people's "mobility issues,=20
infirmity, isolation from other family members=20
and distance from retail centers in rural=20
communities" in the transition to digital=20
broadcasting. "They will need assistance in=20
searching for an available converter box,=20
understanding confusing and or inconsistent=20
messages and addressing potential difficulties=20
attaching the converter box to their sets," Barnett said.
http://mansfieldnewsjournal.gns.gannettonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?...
=3D/20070927/TECH03/703080697/1001/tech

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

FCC'S COPPS AIRS OPPOSITION TO TRIBUNE DEAL
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune 9/28, AUTHOR: Phil Rosenthal]
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps indicated Thursday=20
he hopes to be a roadblock to Tribune Co.'s plan=20
to go private by year's end, or at the very least=20
will be a speed bump to the transaction.=20
Commissioner Copps' shot across Tribune Co.'s bow=20
came a week after FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, a=20
Republican, told the Chicago Tribune's editorial=20
board that he saw "many positive aspects" of=20
Tribune's cross-ownership in this city. Later=20
that same day, however, the FCC staged a public=20
hearing in Chicago on media ownership rules,=20
where opposition to media consolidation and calls=20
for greater minority representation were heard.=20
Whether Copps, vocal as he is, can be persuasive=20
enough to advance his views is far from certain.=20
But he may just want to slow things enough so the=20
new media rules expected next year are delayed=20
past the 2008 elections. When FCC rule revisions=20
were overturned four years ago, the court upheld=20
the commission's move to get rid of its absolute=20
ban on media cross-ownership. That gives Shaun=20
Sheehan, Tribune's vice president for Washington=20
Affairs, confidence. "When it came to my issue,=20
the court said the commission pretty much got it=20
right," he said. "Given those things, I remain=20
optimistic. ... If Tribune is required to spin=20
off its pieces, a lot of superior broadcast=20
stations would be sold and I don't see how that=20
would serve the public interest."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri_phil0928sep28,0,5560212.c...
mn?track=3Drss
* FCC's Copps: I'd Block Tribune TV License Renewals
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003648649

FREE PRESS AND CONSUMER GROUPS WIN EXTENSION ON=20
MEDIA OWNERSHIP STUDY PROCEEDING
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
The Federal Communications Commission has=20
extended to October 22nd the window for public=20
comments on its ten new media ownership studies.=20
That's three weeks more for the public to respond=20
to the surveys, which media reform groups charge=20
have not received adequate peer review. The=20
proposal for an extension received strong=20
opposition from the Media General company, which=20
owns newspapers, radio, and TV stations in the=20
southwest, and often calls for the relaxation of=20
the FCC's media ownership rules. "While we agree=20
with Media General that undue delays in this=20
proceeding should be avoided when possible, here=20
we find that a brief extension of the filing=20
deadlines is warranted," the FCC ruled. "We=20
believe that the public interest and our goal of=20
assembling a full record in this proceeding would=20
be best served by granting an extension of the=20
comment and reply comment filing deadlines so=20
that parties will have additional time to review=20
the studies and underlying data." For weeks, Free=20
Press, the Consumers Union, and the Consumer=20
Federation of America have argued that the=20
studies, which survey media ownership patterns in=20
the United States, run afoul of the Data Quality=20
Act, because not enough of the information they=20
used has been disclosed so that other scholars=20
can duplicate the various reports' conclusions.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/476
* FCC public notice
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-4097A1.doc
* FCC Grants Short Extension of Ownership Study Comment Deadline
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6485568.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC Extends Deadline for Comments on Media Ownership Studies
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/09/fcc_extends_deadline_for_comme.php
(requires free registration)

SAN FRANCISCO NEWS BLUES
[SOURCE: American Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Paul Farhi, Washington Post]
The San Jose Mercury News used to have more than=20
a dozen reporters in its San Francisco peninsula=20
bureau located about 15 miles from San Jose. Now=20
there's just one. The Merc gets most of its=20
peninsula news from the short-handed San Mateo=20
Times and the Palo Alto Daily News, a free=20
tabloid MediaNews acquired in the Knight Ridder=20
deal last year. Some parts of the paper's=20
newsroom have simply just disappeared, among them=20
a five-member projects team that included 40-year=20
Merc veteran Pete Carey, who was part of a group=20
that won a Pulitzer for foreign reporting in=20
1986. Carey is now a business reporter. Some 40=20
miles north of the Mercury in San Francisco,=20
another newspaper is undergoing its own wrenching=20
contraction. In mid-May, the San Francisco=20
Chronicle, the Bay Area's largest paper (daily=20
circulation: 386,564), announced it would reduce=20
its editorial staff. When the numbers were=20
finalized a few weeks later, 90 journalists (23=20
percent of the Chron's newsroom) had either=20
simply resigned or agreed to take buyouts offered=20
by the paper's owner, Hearst. Among those who've=20
recently left the paper are Managing Editor=20
Robert J. Rosenthal, two deputy managing editors=20
and the editors of the paper's opinion, business and Style sections.
http://ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3D4404

NHL UNFAIRLY CONTROLS TEAMS' WEB SITES: LAWSUIT
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The National Hockey League is violating antitrust=20
laws by seeking to control the Web sites that=20
promote its teams, Madison Square Garden, home of=20
the New York Rangers, charged in a lawsuit filed=20
on Friday. The lawsuit seeks to block the league=20
from imposing a $100,000-per-day fine on the=20
Garden, which along with the Rangers, is owned by=20
Cablevision Systems Corp. The league promised to=20
impose the fine, starting on Friday, if the=20
Rangers did not hand over "virtually complete=20
control" of the Web site nyrangers.com, the suit=20
said. The suit said the league had violated state=20
and federal antitrust laws by planning to create=20
30 "cookie-cutter club Web sites" that it will=20
link to its main site, nhl.com, according to the=20
lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New York.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2818060220070929

BROADCASTING/CABLE

FCC'S VNR FINE: MORE TO COME?
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John=20
Eggerton john.eggerton( at )reedbusiness.com]
The FCC=92s proposed $4,000 fine last week against=20
Comcast for airing an unidentified video news=20
release on one of its local cable news=97a hardly=20
noticed item=97could be the tip of an iceberg=20
waiting ahead for nearly 100 TV stations and a=20
handful of cable outlets. The fine was being=20
billed by at least one commissioner as the first=20
ever for violating the FCC=92s sponsorship=20
identification rules, though Comcast, for one,=20
was still disputing that the FCC had any=20
jurisdiction over the cable news channel=92s=20
programming. Comcast was among a handful of cable=20
outlets and TV stations totaling 111 identified=20
by anti-media-consolidation activist Free Press=20
and the Center for Media and Democracy. The two=20
filed two separate complaints against the=20
stations, including one against 77 of them back=20
in April 2007, and a second in November after the=20
center had done a follow-up study that identified=20
even more. Did Craig Aaron, communications=20
director for Free Press, see something materially=20
different in the Comcast VNR usage versus that of=20
the other stations Free Press complained about?=20
=93I certainly don't think there is,=94 he said,=20
pointing out that the same VNR ran on a station=20
in Portland, Ore. =93We are eager to see the FCC=20
respond to all of the complaints,=94 said Aaron.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6485605.html
* Rex Smith: Watch out, FCC is on the march
http://blogs.timesunion.com/editors/?p=3D720

DIVERSITY' NOT ENOUGH
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Steve=20
Villano, Cable Positive the industry=92s anti-AIDS organization]
[Commentary] Last week was Diversity Week in the=20
cable industry. If one statement crystallized how=20
much more work needs to be done in that area, it=20
was MTV president Christina Norman=92s bold=20
assertion that even MTV =97 long considered an=20
industry leader in creating a more diverse=20
workplace=97was still =93only rounding second base.=94=20
For people with a disability =97 like HIV =97 and for=20
gays and lesbians, sitting on second base would=20
be a pretty lofty perch. Just getting on the=20
playing field is frequently an issue. Throughout=20
the two days of the NAMIC Conference, the terms=20
=93the disabled,=94 or =93GLBT=94 (gay, lesbian,=20
bisexual, transgender) were rarely mentioned, if=20
at all, as qualifications for the definition of=20
=93diversity.=94 Of all the major speakers throughout=20
the week, only ESPN/ABC Sports=92 George=20
Bodenheimer, who received the Kaitz Foundation=92s=20
corporate diversity award on behalf of his=20
network, expressed an inclusive vision of=20
diversity when he said that his network would=20
continue to be sensitive to issues of =93race,=20
gender, orientation and disability.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6485555.html

COUNCIL AGAINST MOVING CHANNELS
[SOURCE: Tampa Tribune, AUTHOR: Ellen Gedalius]
Tampa city council members told a representative=20
of Bright House Networks that they don't care for=20
a plan to move government access TV stations=20
higher on the dial. The word "litigation" came up=20
from council members on more than one occasion,=20
and by the end of the meeting, Councilman John=20
Dingfelder asked the city's legal department to=20
look into filing a motion for injunctive relief=20
to keep the government access channels where they=20
are. "To me, those are extremely important=20
channels the public should have ready access to,"=20
Dingfelder said. "I urge this community to write=20
to you and urge you to leave it alone." At issue=20
is Bright House's plan to rearrange its cable TV=20
lineup so that a viewer in Hernando County, for=20
example, will have the same lineup as a viewer in=20
Hillsborough County. As part of the plan, public,=20
educational and governmental, or PEG, channels will move.
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBMPPX447F.html

THE BEST TV NEWS, ALL ABOUT US
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Brian Stelter]
When does a television show become an event worth=20
covering on the evening news? Lately, the answer=20
seems to be every week =97 at least when the show=20
has high ratings expectations and runs on the=20
same network as the newscast. On WPIX, the New=20
York affiliate of the CW network, the last two=20
Wednesday nights have been full of heavily=20
promoted segments about =93Gossip Girl,=94 the=20
network=92s drama about privileged Upper East Side=20
teenagers. Since =93CW11 News at Ten=94 is broadcast=20
minutes after =93Gossip Girl=94 ends, viewers who=20
wanted to continue savoring the soap opera need=20
to wait only a few minutes. By tying its newscast=20
to a prime-time program, CW11 is taking a page=20
from local Fox affiliates, which are notorious=20
for following episodes of =93American Idol=94 and=20
=9324=94 with what the network deems to be news=20
segments about the shows. Other New York news=20
stations are getting into the act: on Sept. 18=20
WNYW promoted the new Fox show =93Kitchen=20
Nightmares=94 on the evening of its debut, and on=20
Sept. 19 WCBS interviewed experts and children to=20
preview the CBS reality series =93Kid Nation.=94
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/business/media/01cw.html
(requires registration)

KIDS & MEDIA

EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH TV CAN BE UNDONE
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Anita Manning]
Parents who fear television is rotting their=20
toddlers' minds may find it's not too late to=20
head off potential problems by turning off the=20
tube and taking it out of their children's rooms,=20
a report suggests. Researchers at Johns Hopkins=20
Bloomberg School of Public Health report that=20
it's not only how many hours children spend in=20
front of the TV, but at what age they watch that=20
matters. Among the findings: Children who watched=20
two or more hours of TV a day at 30-33 months old=20
but had reduced TV watching by the time they were=20
5=BD had no significant social or behavioral=20
problems. Those who didn't watch much TV as=20
toddlers but were heavy (two hours or more daily)=20
viewers by age 5=BD were having problems with=20
social skills. Those who had been sustained,=20
heavy TV watchers from age 2=BD to 5=BD had deficits=20
in social skills as well as behavior, including=20
problems with attention and showing aggression.=20
Parents reported that 40% of children at age 5=BD=20
have televisions in their bedrooms, a factor that=20
was linked to sleep problems and may also "dampen=20
the intensity with which children react to=20
stimulation (or) changes in their environment,"=20
says Kamila Mistry, lead author of the report,=20
which is in the October issue of the journal Pediatrics.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20071001/d_kidstv01.art.htm
* Toddler TV-viewing should be curbed by age 5: study
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=3DtelevisionNews&sto...
D=3D2007-10-01T064004Z_01_N28225381_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-CHILDREN-DC.XML

TECHNOLOGY HAS TEENAGERS AND PARENTS TALKING
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Families may not sit around a table together for=20
a meal as much anymore, but High-Tech" parents=20
are now communicating much better with their=20
teenagers and giving them more freedom, says=20
child psychologist Richard Woolfson. "Now we have=20
today's high-tech family where family=20
communication takes place by email, internet,=20
webcam and mobile phone as well as face-to-face=20
of course," he said. That has another beneficial=20
side-effect, Woolfson said in his survey for the=20
T-Mobile phone company. Parents are now able to=20
contact their kids much more easily and children=20
have become more confident and communicative.=20
"This means that parents are less worried about=20
their children's safety because they feel=20
reassured," Woolfson said. And the generation gap=20
is not suffering. "Even grandma and grandpa have=20
entered the world of cyber space to keep close=20
contact with their children and grandchildren,=20
all of which can only be good news for everyone," Woolfson concluded.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL2883732020070929

TWO MORE STATIONS FINED FOR VIOLATIONS OF CHILDREN'S-TV AD LIMITS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Buzz Lightyear struck again, costing one station=20
a proposed $15,000, while another station faces a=20
$13,000 fine for 25 separate violations. Both=20
stations ran afoul of the Federal Communications=20
Commission's children's-TV ad limits. Drawing the=20
biggest fine was WZTV Nashville, Tenn., which was=20
cited for four airings of a commercial that=20
featured the Buzz Lightyear character in a Buzz=20
Lightyear TV show. The FCC considers such "host=20
selling," however fleeting the association,=20
converting a show into a program-length=20
commercial. Buzz has been the bane of a number of=20
stations. Nexstar Broadcasting Group's WTVW (TV)=20
Evansville, Ind., admitted to 25 instances where=20
it exceeded the limits on commercials in=20
children's-TV shows -- 12 minutes on weekdays,=20
10.5 minutes on weekends. The violations ranged=20
from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6484412.html

PTC SEEKS IN-FLIGHT VIDEO GUIDELINES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Parents Television Council Friday asked the=20
airline industry to adopt a family-friendly code=20
for in-flight entertainment. The PTC wants the=20
airlines to cut the R and PG-13 fare, with PTC=20
president Tim Winter complaining about flights he=20
had taken over the past several months featuring=20
"programming with sexual situations and coarse=20
language," which he identified as NBC's Las Vegas=20
and ABC=92s Desperate Housewives. Other members, he=20
said, have complained about HBO's Rome. A bill,=20
the Family Friendly Flights Act of 2007, was=20
introduced this week by former Washington Redskin=20
and current Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC). The PTC=20
wants the airlines to take voluntary action to=20
cut back on the violent and sexual in-flight fare=20
so that legislation isn't necessary, he said. But=20
if the airlines don't tone it down, the PTC could=20
adopt a strategy it uses with TV advertisers --=20
buying a share of stock, then registering its=20
complaints at shareholders=92 meetings.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6485560.html

SENATORS OK TRIPLE FINES FOR IGNORING NET CHILD PORN
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
A bill unanimously approved by the Senate=20
Commerce Committee would slap steeper fines on=20
Internet service providers that fail to alert=20
authorities when they obtain knowledge of child=20
pornography on their servers. Federal law already=20
requires ISPs to file such reports "as soon as=20
reasonably possible" to the National Center for=20
Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber=20
Tipline--although they're not required to=20
proactively search for the illegal images. The=20
Protecting Children in the 21st Century=20
Act would triple the fines for failure to comply=20
with the current law--rising to up to $150,000=20
for the first offense and up to $300,000 for each subsequent violation.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9787515-7.html

TELECOM

TELECOMS SEND INVESTORS NICE MESSAGE ON WIRELESS PROFITS
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: Andrew Leckey]
Investors who bought into the telecommunications=20
explosion are smiling: The sector continues to=20
provide volatile yet superior stock results.=20
Wireless technology continues to envelop the=20
world, as consumers in mature and developing=20
markets alike are becoming hooked on mobile data=20
and entertainment at their fingertips.=20
Consolidation has further helped to drive up=20
telecommunications stock prices. The pending $27=20
billion buyout of Alltel Corp. by TPG Capital and=20
Goldman Sachs Capital Partners is a prominent=20
example. There's also the proposed $2.8 billion=20
acquisition of rural wireless firm Dobson=20
Communications Corp. by AT&T Inc. and the=20
announced $557 million purchase of McLeodUSA by=20
Paetec Holding. Other companies, such as Sprint=20
Nextel Corp., U.S. Cellular Corp. and Telus=20
Corp., have enjoyed stock gains based on takeover potential.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/cs-ym-telecom-0930-cpse...
,0,4187630.story?track=3Drss
* New Front In Cable-Telco War: B2B
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Jon Hemingway]
Cable operators are opening a new front in the=20
war with telephone companies by selling services=20
to businesses, and telephone is a big part of the strategy.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6485600.html

DELEGATES URGE FCC TO REVIEW SALE OF VERIZON LAND LINES
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Members of the U.S. House from Maine, New=20
Hampshire and Vermont are asking the Federal=20
Communications Commission to carefully review the=20
proposed sale of Verizon's land telephone lines=20
in the three states. The five House members also=20
asked in a letter that the FCC hold off on making=20
any decision on the sale to FairPoint=20
Communications until after regulators in all=20
three states have ruled on the plan. The FCC also=20
must approve before the sale can go through. The=20
letter was signed by Maine Reps. Thomas Allen and=20
Michael Michaud, New Hampshire's Paul Hodes and=20
Carol Shea-Porter and Vermont's Peter Welch. The=20
group wrote that by delaying its decision, the=20
FCC would be better able to rule after issues=20
raised by the proposal are aired, in detail, in=20
state regulatory hearings this fall. Critics,=20
including the union representing Verizon=20
employees, say FairPoint is too small to take=20
over existing service and expand Internet access.
http://nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D/20070929/BUSINES...
09290016/-1/BUSINESS01

INTERNET/BROADBAND

INTERNET TAX REVOLT
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] It turns out there may be an=20
exception to Congress's otherwise unbridled=20
passion for higher taxes. A rebellion late last=20
week in the Senate means that a permanent ban on=20
Internet taxes could still make it to President=20
Bush's desk this year. A four-year extension=20
authored by Democrat Tom Carper of Delaware and=20
Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee was=20
scheduled for markup last week. The duo want a=20
bill that would allow states and localities to=20
tax the component parts of Internet access=20
service, even while claiming that the assembled=20
product was tax-free. Moments before this=20
consumer-unfriendly bill was to be considered=20
last Thursday, however, Chairman Daniel Inouye=20
abruptly cancelled the markup. Pro-Internet=20
lawmakers, led by Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden and=20
New Hampshire Republican John Sununu, had=20
assembled the votes to replace Mr. Carper's=20
pseudo-moratorium with their strong, permanent=20
tax ban. If Mr. Inouye keeps trying to push the=20
phony moratorium, Mr. Wyden tells us that he now=20
believes he can move the real deal through the=20
Finance Committee, which also enjoys=20
jurisdiction. The Wyden-Sununu permanent ban=20
would give investors a strong incentive to fund=20
broadband investment that will empower consumers=20
with a faster Internet. America now has 213=20
million Internet users, and letting state and=20
local politicians impose multiple taxes will only=20
slow its growth. The antitax forces deserve=20
support from Senate leaders, as well as from the White House.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119120181406044346.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)

HISTORY LESSONS

ONE GIANT LEAP
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Peter Zimmerman, King's College Londo=
n]
[Commentary] Fifty years ago this week Sputnik 1=20
entered space, and the history books, as the=20
first man-made satellite of Earth. It was a=20
Soviet, and not an American, achievement. In all=20
probability the Eisenhower administration was=20
actually glad to have been beaten into space. In=20
deepest secrecy, the U.S. was working on another=20
satellite program -- a system intended to take=20
close-up photos of Russia and replace the U-2=20
airplane. The U.S. worried that the Soviets would=20
object to any satellite flying over their=20
territory, and would claim that Soviet=20
sovereignty reached to the stars. Since Sputnik 1=20
orbited over the U.S. without objection, the=20
right of satellites to pass peacefully was firmly=20
established before the first military spacecraft=20
was launched. The humiliation caused by being=20
beaten into space had other consequences.=20
President John F. Kennedy, attempting to seize=20
back the initiative, declared on May 25, 1961,=20
that the U.S. would "[land a] man on the moon and=20
bring him safely back to the Earth" within the=20
decade. Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20,=20
1969, and returned safely on July 24. But the=20
importance of the space race for the country was=20
far greater. In the wake of Sputnik, Congress=20
quickly passed the National Defense Education Act=20
(the first federal law aiding education=20
generally), contributing large sums to the=20
education of scientists and engineers -- and even=20
linguists. Students were encouraged to choose=20
scientific careers. Many, including me, did. The=20
young men and women who studied science during=20
the post-Sputnik boom created our world. Two=20
fields of science, high-energy particle physics=20
and space research itself, pushed forward=20
technology by asking for ever-smaller=20
electronics, ever-faster computing and=20
ever-faster transfers of data. If your calling=20
plan lets you telephone Europe for two cents a=20
minute, instead of the $12.95 for three minutes=20
it cost me in 1965, thank Sputnik and the=20
geostationary communications satellites that=20
followed in its wake. If your calling plan lets=20
you telephone Europe for two cents a minute,=20
instead of the $12.95 for three minutes it cost=20
me in 1965, thank Sputnik and the geostationary=20
communications satellites that followed in its=20
wake. If your weather forecasts are generally=20
accurate, that's because of the huge amount of=20
data gathered by weather satellites, and the=20
electronics originally built so that more=20
functions could be crammed onto a single=20
satellite. And if you didn't get lost on last=20
weekend's trip, nor have to ask directions,=20
because your SatNav plotted your route, the GPS=20
system is just one more in the constellation of Sputnik's descendants.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119120328700544377.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)

HIGH-TECH CULTURE OF SILICON VALLEY ORIGINALLY FORMED AROUND RADIO
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Tom Abate]
Silicon Valley's technological awakening began=20
almost a century ago when, not long after the=20
great quake of 1906, the Bay Area - and=20
particularly the Peninsula - began innovating=20
with the then-hot technology of radio. "The San=20
Francisco Bay Area was a natural place for=20
interest in radio because it was a seagoing=20
region," said Timothy Sturgeon, an industrial=20
researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of=20
Technology who described this radio period in a=20
paper, "How Silicon Valley Came to Be." L=E9cuyer=20
and Sturgeon argue that, roughly 30 years before=20
Hewlett and Packard started work in their garage,=20
and almost 50 years before the Traitorous Eight=20
created Fairchild, the basic culture of Silicon=20
Valley was forming around radio: engineers who=20
hung out in hobby clubs, brainstormed and=20
borrowed equipment, spun new companies out of old=20
ones, and established a meritocracy ruled by=20
those who made electronic products cheaper, faster and better.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2007/09/30/MNDTSEM...
DTL&type=3Dtech

QUICKLY

COMMERCE SECRETARY GUTIERREZ ANNOUNCES TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
[SOURCE: Department of Commerce]
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez=20
announced the creation of the Department of=20
Commerce Technology Council, a department-wide=20
council led by the Office of the Secretary to=20
coordinate technology policy and provide a forum=20
for information-sharing, analysis and=20
deliberation of technology policy issues that cut=20
across the diverse range of agencies within the=20
Commerce Department. The technology policy issues=20
affecting American competitiveness are broad and=20
are represented across the entire Department of=20
Commerce. A comprehensive technology policy must,=20
for example, consider communication and=20
information issues such as spectrum, foster=20
international trade while considering national=20
security, support research and development,=20
protect intellectual property rights, and measure=20
the impact of policy changes.
Through its diverse range of agencies, the=20
Commerce Department is at the forefront of=20
critical technology-related issues including=20
management of our nation=92s airwaves for first=20
responder communications, ensuring a successful=20
transition to digital television, leading the way=20
in nanotechnology research, maintaining our=20
nation=92s weather satellites, combating piracy and=20
enforcing intellectual property rights, and=20
monitoring high technology trade and technology=20
transfers. The council will consist of the heads=20
of Commerce agencies, including the National=20
Institute of Standards and Technology, the=20
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,=20
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the=20
International Trade Administration, the Bureau of=20
Industry and Security and the National=20
Telecommunications and Information=20
Administration. The council will be chaired by=20
the Senior Advisor for Technology and Privacy and=20
Director of the Department's Office of Policy and=20
Strategic Planning, Joel Harris. The America=20
Competes Act, recently passed by Congress and=20
signed by the President, eliminated the=20
Department=92s Technology Administration. In place=20
of a single technology agency, the Technology=20
Council will be led by the Office of the=20
Secretary and will leverage and coordinate=20
technology policy across the Department.
http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_004107

RESPONSIVE RADIO
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Alfred C. Liggins III, Radio One]
[Commentay] The House subcommittee on consumer=20
protection held a hearing last week on=20
stereotypes and degrading images in the mass=20
media. Alfred C. Liggins III, chief executive of=20
Radio One, the nation's largest African=20
American-owned radio broadcaster, told members of=20
Congress about his company's efforts to protect=20
its listeners from potentially offensive content.=20
Here are excerpts of his prepared testimony.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/30/AR200709...
1230.html
(requires registration)

CONGRESS TAKES ON MOVEON
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] MoveOn.org's juvenile attack on Gen.=20
David H. Petraeus in a full-page ad in the New=20
York Times on Sept. 10 might have merited a trip=20
to the principal's office, or at least a stern=20
rebuke from some of the liberal activist group's=20
more grown-up multimillionaire donors. But an=20
official condemnation from both houses of=20
Congress? Instead of wasting time on this kind of=20
meaningless political theater, how about solving=20
the nation's healthcare crisis or doing something to fight global warming?
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-moveon1oct01,1,34...
78.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

PACIFICA RADIO'S SECOND CHANCE
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
The Pacifica National Board has hired Nicole=20
Sawaya as Executive Director of the Pacifica=20
Foundation. The move signifies that a critical=20
mass of people at Pacifica have grown weary of=20
chaos and drift. Pacifica owns the licenses for=20
five listener-supported radio stations in=20
Berkeley, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Houston.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/477

BACKPACKER TURNS MYANMAR ACTIVIST VIA FACEBOOK
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: David Fox]
A chance encounter in a Myanmar coffee shop=20
turned teenage backpacker Alex Bookbinder into a=20
political activist at the forefront of an=20
Internet campaign that has attracted tens of=20
thousands of supporters. Bookbinder, 19, is the=20
creator of the "Support the monks protest in=20
Burma" campaign on the Internet social networking phenomenon "Facebook."
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSSP28941720070929
* Internet access restored briefly in Myanmar
Internet access was restored briefly in=20
military-ruled Myanmar on Saturday, a day after a=20
Web blackout believed to have been imposed to=20
stop reports and pictures of a major crackdown reaching the outside world.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSBKK28455820070929

MONASTERIES ENTER INTERNET AGE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Sue Zeidler]
A monk's life is still a simple one of prayer and=20
austerity, yet many monasteries have moved online=20
for business, communication and even headhunting=20
purposes. Indeed, many monasteries have jumped on=20
the Internet bandwagon to sell a broad range of=20
wares such as books, music, incense, edibles and=20
wearables. A simple Google search using the=20
words, "monastery" and "online store" yields 1,060,000 results.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0923261120070928

DURAN DURAN'S TAKE ON THE FCC
[SOURCE: WCNC, AUTHOR: Mario Roldan]
Please, please tell me now... Is there something=20
I should know? Hundreds of top executives and=20
on-air radio personalities were in Charlotte=20
Thursday for the National Association of=20
Broadcasters Convention. FCC Chairman Kevin=20
Martin addressed issues about federal=20
regulations. At another convention event, Duran=20
Duran was promoting their upcoming album, =93Red=20
Carpet Massacre.=94 A debate sparked when Duran=20
Duran co-founders John Taylor and Simon Le Bon=20
were asked about their take on government=20
regulations. =93This is government by the people=20
for the people in America?=94 asked Taylor. Le Bon=20
answered, =93Is that what you call it, what you=20
have right now?=94 Duran Duran fans responded =93Not really, no.=94
http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-09277-duran_fcc.115f1f461.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------