December 2007

** As is our tradition here (really, you can look=20
it up), we're off to serve as back-up elves at=20
Macy's for the remainder of the year and,=20
therefore, will be unable to provide you, our=20
dedicated readers, with our Headline service from=20
December 24 to January 1. (OK, OK, if something=20
really important happens -- if, say, the FCC=20
finds a way for AT&T to buy Verizon -- we'll be=20
sure to let you know.) We'll be back on January=20
2. We wish everyone communications-filled holidays! **

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Federal Trade Commission Closes Google/DoubleClick Investigation
Zell closes on Tribune deal, becomes CEO
FCC Cross-Ownership Decision Could Boost Newspapers
A Consumer View on the FCC's New Consolidation Rule
NABJ to Hill: Reverse Crossownership Move

BROADCASTING/CABLE
Eshoo Introduces Legislation Strengthening=20
Public Interest Obligations on Broadcasters
Fox Gets Extension From Supremes On Profane Response
Members of Senate & House Urge FCC to End Big Cable Stalemate
Televisa wins ruling against Univision
Political Dollars Come With Strings Attached

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Getting to Universal, Affordable Broadband
FTC Staff Proposes Online Behavioral Advertising Privacy Principles

POLICYMAKERS
McDowell: FCC Process Doesn't Need Major Surgery
One-Man Gridlock: Meet Tom Coburn, Senate's 'Dr. No'

QUICKLY -- Ten Worst Telco Moments of 2007; FCC=20
declares Fukudome offensive, not suitable for broadcast

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION CLOSES GOOGLE/DOUBLECLICK INVESTIGATION
[SOURCE: Federal Trade Commission press release]
The Federal Trade Commission announced that it=20
will not seek to block Google=92s proposed $3.1=20
billion acquisition of Internet advertising=20
server DoubleClick Inc. In a 4-1 vote to close=20
its eight-month investigation of the transaction,=20
the Commission wrote in its majority statement=20
that =93after carefully reviewing the evidence, we=20
have concluded that Google=92s proposed acquisition=20
of DoubleClick is unlikely to substantially=20
lessen competition.=94 Although interested parties=20
have raised concerns about the proposed=20
acquisition=92s impact on consumer privacy, the=20
Commission observed that such issues are =93not=20
unique to Google and DoubleClick,=94 and =93extend to=20
the entire online advertising marketplace.=94 The=20
Commissioners further wrote that =93as the sole=20
purpose of federal antitrust review of mergers=20
and acquisitions is to identify and remedy=20
transactions that harm competition,=94 the FTC=20
lacks the legal authority to block the=20
transaction on grounds, or require conditions to=20
this transaction, that do not relate to=20
antitrust. Adding, however, that it takes=20
consumer privacy issues very seriously, the=20
Commission cross-referenced its release of a set=20
of proposed behavioral marketing principles that were also announced.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/12/googledc.shtm
* Google wins U.S. antitrust OK to buy DoubleClick
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSWBT00810620071220
* Regulators greenlight Google-DoubleClick (Associated Press)
http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/20/news/companies/google_doubleclick.ap/ind...
htm?section=3Dmoney_technology
* FTC: We won't block Google-DoubleClick merger
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9836456-7.html
* FTC approves Google/DoubleClick deal
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/12/20/FTC-approves-Google-DoubleClic...
eal_1.html
* FTC Clears Google to Buy DoubleClick
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119816037782142427.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
* FTC approves Google deal despite privacy concerns
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-google21dec21,1,13949...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
* Google gets OK on $3.1B purchase
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20071221/1b_google21.art.htm
* Google's Ad Reach May Be Unrivaled
Google may create an advertising powerhouse of=20
unrivaled reach and knowledge of Internet users'=20
lives, desires and interests. The acquisition of=20
DoubleClick combined with Google's search=20
function and the data it collects from people as=20
they use the Internet could result in Web surfers=20
seeing more advertising that corresponds to their=20
online activities. The trade-off, some say, is=20
that users would lose control over more of their=20
private information to Google.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/20/AR200712...
1218.html
(requires registration)
* F.T.C. Approves DoubleClick Deal
In tandem with the announcement, the agency=20
released voluntary privacy guidelines for=20
companies like Google that are in the business of=20
aiming ads at people based on their actions on=20
the Web. The gist of the guidelines was that the=20
entire advertising industry should work together=20
to give consumers more choice about whether they=20
want to be tracked. [see FTC press release below]
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/business/21adco.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
* Center for Digital Democracy: "The Federal=20
Trade Commission (FTC) sidestepped its=20
responsibility today when it approved the merger=20
of two companies whose new, extended=20
data-collection reach will give it unprecedented=20
access to track our every move throughout the=20
digital landscape. By permitting Google to=20
combine the personal details, gleaned from our=20
searches online and YouTube downloads, with the=20
vast repository of information collected by=20
DoubleClick, the FTC has sanctioned the creation=20
of a new digital data colossus. The FTC is=20
supposed to protect the privacy of Americans in=20
the digital age. The excuse offered by the=20
majority of the commission=ADthat consumer privacy=20
can't be addressed by current antitrust=20
law=ADreveals a lack of leadership and=20
determination to protect U.S. consumers. It=92s=20
clear that this merger=97and the ones that follow=20
-- will be about companies creating the=20
twenty-first-century=92s equivalent of railroad,=20
steel, and oil monopolies in the past.=20
Monopolistic control over consumer data is both=20
anti-competitive and a threat to privacy."
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=3D432
* EU group says Google-DoubleClick deal will harm privacy
European consumer groups warned the European=20
Commission Thursday that Google's plan to take=20
over the online advertising company DoubleClick,=20
currently under investigation, would erode=20
consumers' privacy and would push up prices for=20
online goods and services. In a letter to=20
competition commissioner Neelie Kroes, BEUC, the=20
pan-European Union consumer group, together with=20
three national associations, urged the Commission=20
to use its powers to block the deal in its current form.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/12/20/EU-says-Google-DoubleClick-dea...
ill-harm-privacy_1.html

ZELL CLOSES ON TRIBUNE DEAL, BECOMES CEO
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Real estate magnate Sam Zell took control of=20
newly private Tribune Co. on Thursday and began=20
shaking up the newspaper and TV company the=20
moment the $8.2 billion buyout he led closed,=20
reshuffling the board, naming two top executives=20
and promising more action ahead. Taking on the=20
CEO's role as well as chairman, Zell made clear=20
he won't hesitate to make sweeping changes at the=20
media conglomerate even though he has no previous=20
experience in the industry. He signaled he has no=20
immediate asset sales in mind at the company that=20
owns 23 television stations and nine daily=20
newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and=20
the Chicago Tribune, although the Chicago Cubs=20
baseball team and Wrigley Field are to be=20
auctioned off by July. However, he made clear=20
that other changes are coming. Randy Michaels,=20
who helped him turn around radio company Jacor=20
Communications with the help of significant cost=20
cuts, will head the broadcast and Internet=20
operations, and Gerry Spector, who has been chief=20
operating officer at Zell's Equity Residential=20
Properties, will be Tribune's chief=20
administrative officer. The closing came after=20
Tribune received the final cash installment from=20
the four banks financing the deal -- JP Morgan=20
Chase & Co., Merrill Lynch & Co., Citigroup Inc.=20
and Bank of America Corp. He plans to add the=20
following executives to the Tribune board:=20
Jeffrey S. Berg, 60, chairman and CEO of=20
International Creative Management Inc. Brian L.=20
Greenspun, 61, chairman and CEO of the Greenspun=20
Corp., and president and editor of the Las Vegas=20
Sun. Tribune said in a release: "The Greenspun=20
family has made a significant investment in=20
Tribune Co.=94 William C. Pate, 44, chief=20
investment officer of Equity Group Investments=20
LLC. Maggie Wilderotter, 52, chairman and chief=20
executive officer of Citizens Communications.=20
Frank E. Wood, 65, chief executive officer of=20
Secret Communications LLC, a venture capital=20
company in Cincinnati. Wood is a former lawyer=20
who spent 33 years in the radio broadcasting business.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=3D27529
* Zell Becomes Tribune Chairman, CEO; Names Managers
Local TV and Tribune announced late Thursday the=20
two companies have signed a letter of intent to=20
create a third-party broadcast management=20
company, headed by Michaels, to provide shared=20
services to the 23 TV stations of Tribune and the=20
nine stations owned by Local TV. The company will=20
function as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tribune=20
and provide back-office services, administration=20
and a number of other functions to the stations.=20
=93Tribune and Local TV expect to realize=20
significant savings in management, technology,=20
and other overhead costs,=94 said Michaels. =93Things=20
like research and development and automation=20
technology are more efficient on a large=20
platform. All of the stations get to share the=20
benefits. We are going to find new ways to=20
operate smarter, cheaper and more efficiently."
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
7716
* Zell at Press Conference Declares Newspapers 'Ain't Ended'
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003687869
* New Guard Arrives at Tribune, a Developer Who Speaks His Mind
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/business/media/21tribune.html?ref=3Dto...
spaper
* Zell closes deal for The Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-zell21dec21,1,39830...
story

FCC CROSS-OWNERSHIP DECISION COULD BOOST NEWSPAPERS
[SOURCE: MediaDailyNews, AUTHOR: Erik Sass]
It may take a year or two to iron out the details=20
[that is, litigate] of the Federal Communications=20
Commission's crossownership decision, but the=20
decision could be a boon to newspaper owners. By=20
making it easier for newspapers to merge their=20
operations with TV stations, the rule changes=20
will "allow them to produce both story content,=20
video content and audio content, out of a single=20
enterprise with a single management, single=20
newsrooms and a single sales staff," says Ken=20
Doctor, a newspaper analyst with Outsell. If they=20
can pull that off, Doctor says newspapers can=20
reduce overhead and produce a substantial cost=20
savings. Publishers could further benefit from=20
combining their Internet presence with=20
broadcasters. In the best-case scenario, this=20
will in turn "give a boost to papers like The=20
Washington Post, which has a long tradition of=20
public service and real commitment to producing=20
good journalism." Doctor added that a number of=20
big newspaper publishers could also benefit from=20
capital infusions if purchased by another media=20
company. But Doctor questioned whether this=20
generation of media leaders "has the vision and=20
the drive to pull off such a transition." The=20
alternative would not benefit the consumer. He=20
predicts the industry would endure if "outsiders=20
with no real interest in journalism come in, buy=20
up, and roll up newspaper publishers with TV=20
broadcasters, with no concern except maximizing profits."
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=3DArticles.san&s=...
3084&Nid=3D37613&p=3D368626

A CONSUMER VIEW ON THE FCC'S NEW CONSOLIDATION RULE
[SOURCE: Columbia Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Clint Hendler]
CJR asked Mark Cooper, director of research at=20
the Consumer Federation of America, to explain=20
what the Federal Communications Commission ruling=20
allowing certain newspapers and television=20
stations to share the same ownership means,=20
whether it will help or hurt journalism, how it=20
came to be, and what his organization -- which=20
opposed the move -- might do to stop it.
http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/mark_cooper_on_crossownership.php
* FCC Targets Big Media
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Alexandra Marks]
The potential for more diverse, democratic voices=20
in local news has either just gotten better=20
thanks to the Federal Communications Commission,=20
or been set back in an FCC corporate Christmas=20
giveaway. So go the differing interpretations of=20
this week's votes to change the rules that govern=20
the complex and fast-changing US media landscape.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1221/p02s02-usgn.html

NABJ TO HILL: REVERSE CROSSOWNERSHIP MOVE
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
The National Association of Black Journalists=20
(NABJ) is calling on Congress to reverse this=20
week's decision by the FCC to allowing corporate=20
ownership of both newspaper and broadcast media=20
in the same city. NABJ said it strongly believes=20
that media ownership should reflect the racial=20
and ethnic make up of society and such a decision=20
prohibits such diversity. "Is the fourth estate=20
to be sold to the highest bidder?" asked NABJ=20
President Barbara Ciara. "Congress cannot allow=20
the FCC to limit diverse voices and further=20
prevent ownership opportunities to minorities."
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/20/daily.7/

BROADCASTING/CABLE

ESHOO INTRODUCES LEGISLATION STRENGTHENING PUBLIC=20
INTEREST OBLIGATIONS ON BROADCASTERS
[SOURCE: Rep Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)]
Rep Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) introduced the Broadcast=20
Licensing in the Public Interest Act. The bill=20
would strengthen public interest obligations on=20
broadcasters. Television stations devote less=20
than one half of one percent of total programming=20
time to local public affairs. Four out of ten=20
commercial TV stations surveyed in 2003 aired no=20
local public affairs programs. 92% of the=20
election coverage aired by the national networks=20
in the two weeks before Election Day 2004 was=20
devoted to the presidential contest leaving only=20
8% for local elections and referendums. The=20
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, requires=20
broadcasters to serve the "public interest,=20
convenience, and necessity." However the Act=20
does not specify how the "public interest" is=20
best served. The Broadcast Licensing in the=20
Public Interest Act requires broadcasters to=20
demonstrate a dedication to specified public=20
interest obligations. The bill requires=20
broadcast licensees seeking a renewal to=20
demonstrate that they have made a dedication to=20
civic affairs of its community and to local news=20
gathering. The bill also mandates that=20
broadcasters air locally produced programming and=20
make a commitment to provide a public=20
presentation of the views of candidates and=20
issues related to local, statewide or national=20
elections. Finally, the bill mandates that=20
broadcasters provide quality educational=20
programming for children and reduces a broadcast=20
license term from eight years to three. The=20
three-year term will bring greater oversight and scrutiny to license renewa=
ls.
http://eshoo.house.gov/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&task=3Dview&id=3D3...
Itemid=3D206
* Eshoo introduces bill on broadcaster obligations
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=3D6677
** Track the bill's progress at http://www.benton.org/node/8541

FOX GETS EXTENSION FROM SUPREMES ON PROFANE RESPONSE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Fox and various supporters have gotten another=20
month to file their response to the FCC's=20
petition to the Supreme Court to review a lower=20
court smackdown of the FCC's indecency finding=20
against swearing on Fox Billboard awards shows.=20
According to Andrew J. Schwartzman, president of=20
Media Access Project, which represents the Center=20
for Creative Voices in Media, they sought the=20
extension because they knew they would be busy=20
with the media ownership issue at the FCC, with=20
some holiday plans adding impetus to the request.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6514716.html?rssid=3D193

MEMBERS OF SENATE & HOUSE URGE FCC TO END CABLE STALEMATE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Fourteen more members of the House of=20
Representatives (all Democrats except one) have=20
asked FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to consider=20
adopting a "dispute-resolution mechanism" for=20
ending the "stalemate" between Comcast and Time=20
Warner and the NFL over carriage of the NFL=20
Network. In a letter to the chairman, they=20
complain that "vertically integrated multichannel=20
video program distributors (MVPDs) are refusing=20
to carry the NFL Network and other popular=20
independently owned programming on a broadly distributed tier of service."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6514699.html?rssid=3D193
* NFL Pitches Baseball-Style Arbitration
Even as a group of legislators was asking FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin to impose some kind of=20
arbitration mechanism on cable program carriage=20
disputes--citing The NFL Network and cable=20
operators Comcast and Time Warner=20
specifically--NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was=20
proposing the same thing to Time Warner Chairman=20
Glenn Britt. Britt responded that the company=20
wasn't interested, though he had some suggestions of his own.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6514726.html?rssid=3D193

TELEVISA WINS RULING AGAINST UNIVISION
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Meg James]
Grupo Televisa has won a court ruling that could=20
allow the Mexican broadcasting giant to move=20
closer to ending its tumultuous relationship with=20
Univision Communications Inc., the largest=20
Spanish-language media company in the United=20
States. U.S. District Court Judge Philip S.=20
Gutierrez in Los Angeles on Monday denied=20
Univision's request to dismiss several claims=20
made by Televisa in a 2-year-old lawsuit. The=20
judge said there was enough evidence for a jury=20
to decide whether Univision acted in "bad faith"=20
when dealing with its partner from Mexico. The=20
lawsuit is a high-stakes gambit by Televisa to=20
break a 1992 programming agreement that gives=20
Univision exclusive use of Televisa's popular=20
shows in the U.S. through 2017. Over the years,=20
Univision has become a juggernaut in=20
Spanish-language television in large part because=20
of the enormous ratings produced by Televisa's=20
telenovelas. The shows generate about 40% of=20
Univision's revenue. Televisa has long felt that=20
the agreement is unfair and doesn't pay the=20
Mexican company for the full value of its=20
programming. If it prevails in the upcoming=20
trial, Televisa could end the contract 10 years=20
early and then sell its shows for a much higher=20
price to Univision or a competitor such as NBC=20
Universal's Telemundo, which has struggled in the=20
shadows of Univision. Or, Televisa could use the=20
lawsuit and the trial, scheduled to start March=20
18, as leverage to negotiate a sizable equity=20
stake in Univision, which was acquired this year=20
for $13.7 billion by a consortium that includes=20
Los Angeles billionaire Haim Saban and four private equity firms.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-univision21dec21,1,29...
08.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

POLITICAL DOLLARS COME WITH STRINGS ATTACHED
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Mary Collins,=20
Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association]
[Commentary] TV broadcasters are entering 2008=20
expecting to reap billions of dollars in=20
political advertising and to begin growing their=20
top lines once again. But an article that appears=20
in the November/December issue of BCFM=92s=20
bimonthly magazine, The Financial Manager,=20
reminds the author that dealing with candidates=20
involves federal regulations that affect=20
stations=92 credit and collections policies.=20
According to the article, there are good reasons=20
for requiring advance payments from campaign=20
committees and making them adhere to the same=20
credit policies broadcasters apply to similar advertisers.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/21/daily.4/

INTERNET/BROADBAND

GETTING TO UNIVERSAL, AFFORDABLE BROADBAND
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation]
On the eve of a missed national broadband goal,=20
today the Benton Foundation releases Universal=20
Affordable Broadband for All Americans, a report=20
and roadmap for making broadband access as=20
universal as telephones are today. The report=20
calls for an aggressive new approach, a national=20
broadband strategy, and efforts to modernize=20
federal universal telephone service policies to=20
help meet the challenges of connecting all=20
Americans to broadband. It=92s now becoming=20
abundantly clear that President Bush has yet to=20
achieve his 2004 campaign promise for universal,=20
affordable high-speed Internet connections by the=20
year 2007. Nonetheless, as 2007 comes to a close,=20
acting National Telecommunications and=20
Information Administration (NTIA) head Meredith=20
Baker has indicated the White House will soon=20
release a report claiming broadband deployment is=20
on track thanks to Bush administration policies.

FTC STAFF PROPOSES ONLINE BEHAVIORAL ADVERTISING PRIVACY PRINCIPLES
[SOURCE: Federal Trade Commission press release]
To address important consumer privacy concerns=20
associated with online behavioral advertising,=20
the staff of the Federal Trade Commission today=20
released a set of proposed principles to guide=20
the development of self-regulation in this=20
evolving area. Behavioral advertising is the=20
tracking of a consumer=92s activities online =AD=20
including the searches the consumer has=20
conducted, the Web pages visited, and the content=20
viewed =AD in order to deliver advertising targeted=20
to the individual consumer=92s interests. To=20
address the need for greater transparency and=20
consumer control regarding privacy issues raised=20
by behavioral advertising, the FTC staff=20
proposes: Every Web site where data is collected=20
for behavioral advertising should provide a=20
clear, consumer-friendly, and prominent statement=20
that data is being collected to provide ads=20
targeted to the consumer and give consumers the=20
ability to choose whether or not to have their=20
information collected for such purpose.
To address the concern that data collected for=20
behavioral advertising may find its way into the=20
hands of criminals or other wrongdoers, and=20
concerns about the length of time companies are=20
retaining consumer data, the FTC staff proposes:
Any company that collects or stores consumer data=20
for behavioral advertising should provide=20
reasonable security for that data and should=20
retain data only as long as is necessary to=20
fulfill a legitimate business or law enforcement need.
To address the concern that companies may not=20
keep their privacy promises when they change=20
their privacy policies, FTC staff proposes:
Companies should obtain affirmative express=20
consent from affected consumers before using data=20
in a manner materially different from promises=20
the company made when it collected the data.
To address the concern that sensitive data =AD=20
medical information or children=92s activities=20
online, for example =AD may be used in behavioral=20
advertising, FTC staff proposes:
Companies should only collect sensitive data for=20
behavioral advertising if they obtain affirmative=20
express consent from the consumer to receive such advertising.
FTC staff also seeks comment on what constitutes=20
=93sensitive data=94 and whether the use of sensitive=20
data should be prohibited, rather than subject to consumer choice.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/12/principles.shtm
* FTC offers guidelines for tracking online users, targeting ads
http://www.siliconvalley.com/latestheadlines/ci_7771115

POLICYMAKERS

MCDOWELL: FCC PROCESS DOESN'T NEED MAJOR SURGERY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Although he's never played a doctor on TV,=20
Federal Communications Commission member Robert=20
McDowell says he doesn't think Congress needs to=20
do any "major reconstructive surgery" on the FCC,=20
but he also said he wasn't opposed to the=20
Commission or Congress looking into improving the=20
process. Commissioner McDowell said he thought=20
the building blocks were in place for a "healthy=20
independent administrative agency." As to=20
suggestions there was plenty of friction on the=20
FCC's Eighth Floor (where the commissioners=20
dwell), he said that given the number of=20
contentious issues, "that can create a more tense=20
atmosphere at times." But he said that since he=20
has only been there 18 months, "this is the only=20
FCC I have ever worked for, so for me this is the=20
status quo." He did say that process complaints=20
stemming from those contentious issues "should be=20
examined thoroughly by my fellow commissioners=20
and Congress," but added that the "vast majority=20
of the time, things work pretty smoothly."=20
[Especially when things come out his way.]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6514635.html?rssid=3D193

ONE-MAN GRIDLOCK: MEET TOM COBURN, SENATE'S 'DR NO'
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sarah Lueck sarah.lueck( at )wsj.com]
The specialty of Sen Tom Coburn (R-OK) is=20
stopping stuff. In a Congress that has had=20
trouble passing even the simplest legislation,=20
Sen. Coburn, who proudly wears the nickname "Dr.=20
No,'' is a one-man gridlock machine. This year,=20
the senator, who indeed is a medical doctor,=20
single-handedly blocked or slowed more than 90=20
bills, driving lawmakers on both sides of the=20
aisle to distraction. His kill list includes a=20
bill that would require more data collection on=20
the availability and quality of broadband=20
service. Sometimes, Dr. Coburn, an obstetrician=20
who sees patients one morning a week, disagrees=20
with the proposals. As a fiscal conservative, he=20
usually objects to what he sees as excess=20
spending. Sometimes, he just wants to force a=20
debate or improve on items that would otherwise=20
fly through the Senate. In a crowded legislative=20
calendar, not everything gets the scrutiny voters=20
might imagine. Dr. Coburn's weapon of choice is=20
the "hold," a procedural maneuver that allows a=20
single senator to prevent a bill from being=20
passed quickly without a roll-call vote or floor=20
debate. Until a rule change this year, senators=20
could keep their holds secret, and they usually=20
did. Dr. Coburn notifies colleagues about his=20
intentions. To keep track, Dr. Coburn has four=20
manila cards in the pocket of his suit coat. He=20
pulls out the list, printed in tiny type on both=20
sides, whenever colleagues approach to discuss=20
their bills. In his office's intranet, which=20
staffers jokingly call the "Write-Wing Portal,"=20
there's a section for aides to look at bills that=20
have incurred their boss's displeasure.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119820693514244309.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

TEN WORST TELCO MOMENTS OF 2007
[SOURCE: The Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Tim Karr]
[Commentary] A review of the 10 Worst Telco=20
Moments of 2007 (in no particular order): 1.=20
White House Declares 'Mission Accomplished' on=20
Broadband. 2. Telcos Spy on Millions of=20
Americans. 3. Comcast is Busted for Blocking=20
BitTorrent. 4. AT&T and Verizon Censor Free=20
Speech. 5. Caught Red-Handed, Telcos Change Their=20
Tune. 6. Media Insiders Suffer Telco-Vision. 7.=20
The iPhone Gets Shackled. 8. Bush's Justice Dept.=20
Files Against Net Neutrality. 9. FCC's Rosy=20
Broadband Report Wilts Under Scrutiny. 10. More=20
Astroturf Sprouts Up, Speads Lies.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/ten-worst-telco-moments-o_b_7...
8.html

FCC DECLARES FUKUDOME OFFENSIVE, NOT SUITABLE FOR BROADCAST
[SOURCE: Sports Network News]
The Chicago Cubs signed prized Japanese free=20
agent Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year, $48 million=20
offer to play for everyone=92s favorite lovable=20
losers. All excitement, however, ceased when the=20
Federal Communications Commission declared the=20
name Fukudome indecent material and prohibited=20
the name from appearing on any future WGN=20
television or radio broadcasts. This FCC=20
declaration, released only minutes after the=20
press conference introducing Fukudome to Cub=20
fans, is a crushing blow to a team expecting a=20
revenue boost from the sale of Fukudome=20
merchandise and to a massive fan base that now=20
includes Japan. The FCC reached the decision to=20
ban Fukudome after receiving three hand-written=20
letters voicing concern for the kind of effect=20
the name could have on children. New Tribune=20
Company owner Sam Zell was quick to respond, and=20
an online vote will offer fans three choices to=20
select from to help decide on a replacement name.=20
Although not finalized, the preliminary choices=20
are Hee-Seop Choi, Kosuke Sandberg and World's Greatest Newplayer.
http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2007/12/fcc-declares-fukudome-of...
sive-not-suitable-for-television.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
...and we are so outta here. Have a safe,=20
relaxing, happy break -- you deserve it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------