December 2007 | Page 12 | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

December 2007

What Next for Policy Reporting with Tech Daily Demise?

WHAT NEXT FOR POLICY REPORTING WITH TECH DAILY DEMISE?
[SOURCE: DrewClark.com]

Comcast, NFL Knock Helmets Over ‘Thursday Night Football’

COMCAST, NFL KNOCK HELMETS OVER 'THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL'
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Reynolds]

Benton's Communications-related Headlines For Monday December 17, 2007

THE event of the week, of course, is tomorrow's=20
FCC meeting; see http://www.benton.org/node/8244

POLICYMAKERS
FTC chair: No ethical conflict in Google review
What Is Hillary Clinton's Relationship to Telecom Lobbyists?
The Consistency of Kevin Martin and the Faith Based FCC

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Flawed Media Plan
Big media to FCC: Martin plan is not enough
Kerry, Obama Continue Push vs. Dec. 18 Vote

BROADCASTING
FCC Chair Wants More Local Programming
Sinclair contesting proposed fine by FCC
Telco resists DTV notifications on phone bills
PTC Up In Arms Over 'Las Vegas' Episode
Fleeting Profanities Bill Unlikely to See Senate Floor Vote
TV Networks Consider Using Strike To Cancel Costly Production Deals

ELECTIONS AND MEDIA
Campaigns Spend $1 Million on TV Ads in One Day
To Win Big '08 Races, Just Follow the Rules
The 2008 Vote: Why MySpace Matters

INTERNET/BROADBAND
FCC: Nebraska Ranks Second in DSL Internet Deployment
On Facebook, Scholars Link Up With Data
BBC backs better broadband to prevent digital divide

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATION
Bush Nears a Victory Over Spying Powers
Case Lays Bare the Media=92s Reliance on Iraqi Journalists
Iran shuts down 24 cafes in Internet crackdown

QUICKLY -- Telecoms taps into Silicon Valley=20
expertise; USF Contribution Factor; What Next for=20
Policy Reporting with Tech Daily Demise?;=20
Comcast, NFL Knock Helmets Over =91Thursday Night Football=92

POLICYMAKERS

FTC CHAIR: NO ETHICAL CONFLICT IN GOOGLE REVIEW
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt=20
Majoras said Friday she won't remove herself from=20
an antitrust review of Google Inc.'s purchase of=20
online advertising company DoubleClick, rebuffing=20
requests from privacy groups opposed to the=20
transaction. After reviewing a petition from the=20
groups with the FTC's ethics official and other=20
staff, she determined that "the relevant laws and=20
rules ... neither require nor support recusal."=20
Chairman Majoras said her husband's firm, Jones=20
Day, hasn't appeared before the FTC on the=20
transaction, and is only representing DoubleClick=20
before the European Commission, which is also=20
scrutinizing the deal. John Majoras said=20
Wednesday that he has not been involved in any=20
aspect of the transaction. Federal officials are=20
barred from participating in decisions that could=20
affect their financial interests, Majoras said.=20
But her husband is no longer an equity partner at=20
Jones Day, which means his compensation doesn't=20
change if the firm's income changes, she said.=20
"Hence, I do not have a financial conflict in=20
this matter," she said in a statement. Blair=20
Levin, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, wrote=20
Thursday in a note to clients that he believed=20
Majoras supports approving the deal, and her=20
recusal could have led to a 2-2 tie among the=20
remaining four commissioners. But that would=20
still allow the deal to go forward, because a=20
majority of commissioners is required for the FTC=20
to try to block a deal in court. Commissioner=20
William E. Kovacic, whose wife, Kathryn Fenton,=20
is also a partner at Jones Day, said he would=20
also not remove himself. Kovacic was not=20
mentioned in the privacy groups' petitions. The=20
FTC's three other commissioners, Pamela Jones=20
Harbour, Jon Leibowitz and J. Thomas Rosch,=20
issued a joint statement, saying that they agreed=20
with the decisions of Platt Majoras and Kovacic=20
not to recuse themselves."It is evident that=20
these commissioners have at all times taken=20
affirmative steps to conduct themselves in=20
complete conformity with the ethical standards=20
that apply to their positions," the three said.
http://money.cnn.com/rssclick/2007/12/14/technology/ftc_google.ap/index....
?section=3Dmoney_technology
* FTC chairman won't recuse herself in Google deal
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/redirect?source=3Drss&url=3Dhttp://www....
oworld.com/article/07/12/14/FTC-chairman-wont-recuse-herself-in-Google-deal=
_1.html
* A Higher Standard is required by the Agency
[Commentary] This case illustrates something we=20
all know. That the big money and special interest=20
nature of Washington politics is at odds with the=20
concerns and needs of the average American. As I=20
said, a higher standard is required=ADfor public=20
service, disclosure and intellectual rigor=20
(something we believe the FTC has failed to do in=20
this case and related privacy matters). It=92s a=20
story that not going away. That=92s why we are=20
writing about it=ADand keeping a watch as well!
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=3D424

WHAT IS HILLARY CLINTON'S RELATIONSHIP TO TELECOM LOBBYISTS?
[SOURCE: OpenLeft, AUTHOR: Matt Stoller]
[Commentary] In contrast to both Sens John=20
Edwards and Barack Obama, who have=20
well-constructed models for expanding access of=20
an open Internet, Sen Hillary Clinton's plan is=20
simply a rehash of something called Connect=20
Kentucky, a public-private partnership in=20
Kentucky whose purpose is entirely unclear (data=20
on Connect Kentucky is reported by telecom=20
companies). Notorious telecom shill Scott Cleland=20
writes, "Understandably, the glaring exclusion of=20
net neutrality from the Senator's Innovation=20
agenda -- after the radical left's rhetoric=20
claimed net neutrality was essential to=20
"innovation" -- signals to me that the Senator=20
and her campaign have a pretty solid, practical=20
and intuitive understanding of sound broadband policy."
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3D2776

THE CONSISTENCY OF KEVIN MARTIN AND THE FAITH BASED FCC
[SOURCE: Tales from the Sausage Factory, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] Kevin Martin is actually extremely=20
consistent in his decisions and his management=20
style. I say this neither as a criticism or as=20
praise. But pivotal to understanding the actions=20
of the FCC and therefore to exercising my stock=20
in trade of effective advocacy is trying to make=20
some guess on what actually drives the current=20
FCC Chairman in making decisions. Feld's Second=20
Law of Public Policy states: =93Public policy is=20
made by human beings.=94 (OK, I know Clausewitz=20
said it first about war, but the principle still=20
holds.) So understanding the human beings making=20
policy is a critical step in influencing policy =97=20
even if we understand them poorly. Kevin Martin=20
is all about the deregulated free market. But=20
unlike many Republicans (who, lets face it,=20
really don't understand jack about this except=20
for what the get from bumper stickers they pick=20
up at CATO events and reading the back cover of=20
the Penguin Edition of Wealth of Nations) Martin=20
recognizes that (a) empirical data matters, and=20
(b) there are things that won't happen that=20
should happen, even if a market is =93competitive=94=20
for most other purposes. The First Church of the=20
Market Reformed (FCOTMR) looks at the real world=20
marketplace and considers a broader array of=20
factors and takes a more macro-economic view: the=20
players in this market are all uniform and with=20
common interests, they can control all customers=20
so the market is not contestable, the critical=20
asset is under government control, and the=20
broader marketplace would benefit by moving the=20
ability to compete down the value chain.=20
Therefore, says Martin's Church of the Market=20
Place =97 Reformed, some modest government intervention is necessary.
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/960

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

FLAWED MEDIA PLAN
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] It is hard to understand the logic=20
behind the way Kevin Martin, the chairman of the=20
Federal Communications Commission, wants to relax=20
the 32-year-old ban on newspaper-broadcast=20
cross-ownership. You don't get one healthy media=20
company by combining two sick ones. The strategic=20
challenge for newspapers is not cutting costs,=20
but how to attract a larger share of online=20
advertising and make money off the millions of=20
people who read them free online. Martin=92s plan,=20
moreover, could dangerously reduce media=20
diversity. Not only would the mergers allowed=20
under the rule change eliminate independent=20
voices, but they also might crowd rivals out of=20
the news business. A study of FCC data by=20
consumer groups indicated that less news is=20
broadcast in cities where companies have been=20
granted waivers to the rules to allow them to own=20
both newspapers and broadcasters. While these=20
concerns might not loom so large if the proposals=20
were truly limited to the biggest cities, Mr.=20
Martin=92s proposal includes loopholes that could=20
open the door to consolidation on a much broader=20
scale: depending on the concentration of the=20
media market, it could allow both mergers in=20
smaller cities and mergers involving top-four TV=20
stations if the companies were in financial=20
distress, promised to increase investment and the=20
amount of local news, and vowed to keep their=20
editorial lines independent. For all the=20
technological advances that have shaken American=20
media over the last 30 years, remarkably little=20
has changed about who produces the local news.=20
Internet outlets repurpose and comment on the=20
news. A few cable channels provide national news.=20
But in many small and even medium-sized cities=20
there are only two entities that put money into=20
local news-gathering: the local newspapers and the TV stations.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/opinion/17mon2.html
(requires registration)

BIG MEDIA TO FCC: MARTIN PLAN IS NOT ENOUGH
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
While members of Congress are protesting the=20
Federal Communications Commission's likely=20
approval of a newspaper/television station=20
cross-ownership rule this Tuesday, December 18,=20
five big media companies say the proposal does=20
not go far enough. The Sinclair Broadcast Group,=20
Gannett Inc., Media General, Morris=20
Communications, and Clear Channel all say they=20
want even more FCC lenience in buying up media=20
properties. Over the last two weeks these five=20
corporations have lobbied the Commission for=20
further relaxation of its media ownership rules.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/527

KERRY, OBAMA CONTINUE PUSH VS DEC 18 VOTE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a letter to Federal Communications Commission=20
Chairman Kevin Martin, Sens Barack Obama (D-IL)=20
and John Kerry (D-MA) said that if Martin does=20
not delay the planned vote on media ownership=20
rules on Tuesday, they will ask that the=20
Appropriations Committee deny any funding to implement that decision.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513123.html?rssid=3D193

BROADCASTING

FCC CHAIR WANTS MORE LOCAL PROGRAMMING
[SOURCE: MediaDailyNews, AUTHOR: Wayne Friedman]
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants to establish a=20
rule requiring local stations to offer more local=20
programming. In speaking with the Senate Commerce=20
Committee on Thursday, Martin also said he wants=20
to set up permanent local boards to advise=20
stations on what to air. These rules are expected=20
to be under discussion at the FCC's open meeting=20
on Dec.18. Local programming should not be=20
limited to what TV stations offer in terms of=20
news programming--which is already extensive. It=20
should be other programming, said Martin.=20
However, he didn't offer specifics. Chairman=20
Martin says the Internet makes it easy for public=20
and government officials to discuss the kind of=20
programming they believe is necessary for local=20
stations to air. He says stations should offer "a=20
significant amount of locally oriented programming."
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=3DArticles.san&s=...
2728&Nid=3D37408&p=3D368626
* FCC May Issue Tougher Standards
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513152.html
* Media Institute =91Deeply Concerned=92 About Martin Proposals
The Media Institute, a First Amendment think-tank=20
backed by major media companies, is "deeply=20
concerned" about the proposals that it said are=20
"antithetical" to First Amendment protections.=20
=93Establishing amounts or percentages of=20
particular types of programming that broadcasters=20
need to carry to ensure the renewal of their=20
licenses would coerce stations into selecting and=20
airing content in these government-preferred=20
categories," said the Media Institute. "It is=20
disheartening to think that in this age of=20
unprecedented media abundance, the commission is=20
contemplating an unnecessary regulatory regimen=20
that not only hearkens back to the last century,=20
but will most likely be found unconstitutional by=20
the courts," the group added.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513114.html?rssid=3D193
* Martin Turns His Sights on Broadcasting
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry Jessell]
[Commentary]
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/14/daily.7/

SINCLAIR CONTESTING PROPOSED FINE BY FCC
[SOURCE: Baltimore Sun]
Sinclair Broadcast Group said yesterday it is=20
contesting Federal Communications Commission=20
claims that some of its TV stations failed to=20
comply with disclosure rules regarding political=20
announcements. The FCC proposed fining the=20
Sinclair $36,000, saying nine of the company's TV=20
stations aired America's Black Forum in 2004=20
without saying that columnist Armstrong Williams=20
was featured in the program sponsored by the U.S.=20
Department of Education. Sinclair disputed that,=20
saying his only role was as a paid political=20
commentator. At the time, Williams had a $240,000=20
contract with the department to promote its initiatives.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-sinclair1212,0,4659872.story?tr...
=3Drss

TELCO RESISTS DTV NOTIFICATIONS ON PHONE BILLS
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
A major phone company threw the book at a=20
proposal to require incumbent telcos to provide=20
consumers with information about the upcoming DTV=20
transition in their telephone and cable bills.=20
Qwest's December 12th filing with the Federal=20
Communications Commission claims the idea will=20
cause "customer confusion" and violate the First=20
Amendment. "Any notice about changes in broadcast=20
television signals should come from sources that=20
have a reasonable, logical connection to the=20
issue," a rep from Qwest explained to an advisor=20
to Commissioner Robert McDowell that day. "In=20
this instance, that could include, e.g.,=20
broadcasters, cable and satellite television=20
providers, and manufacturers of television sets."=20
The FCC's Consumer Advisory Council wants=20
telephone companies include information about the=20
transition on their customer bills, but at an=20
August 10th CAC meeting, a representative from=20
Verizon strongly resisted this suggestion. Now Qwest is fighting it as well.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/526

PTC UP IN ARMS OVER 'LAS VEGAS' EPISODE
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
The Parents Television Council is calling on its=20
members to file complaints with the Federal=20
Communications Commission about what it calls an=20
indecent episode of NBC=92s Las Vegas that aired=20
on Nov. 30 at 9 p.m. in the Central and Mountain=20
time zones and at 10 p.m. in the Eastern and=20
Pacific Time zones. The watchdog group says the=20
episode =93that was viewed by hundreds of thousands=20
of children included a side camera shot of a=20
stripper exposing her breasts. As if that were=20
not offensive enough, the men watching her=20
wagered money about the color of her nipples.=94=20
=93NBC brazenly thumbed its nose at the broadcast=20
decency law with the Nov. 30 episode of Las=20
Vegas. It=92s been nearly two years since the FCC=20
handed out fines against a television station for=20
violating federal broadcast decency laws=97a fact=20
that has not escaped the notice of broadcasters.=20
This season all of the broadcast networks have=20
upped the ante by introducing increasingly=20
outrageous, explicit and indecent sexual=20
content,=94 said Tim Winter, president of the PTC.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/14/daily.4/

FLEETING PROFANITIES BILL UNLIKELY TO SEE SENATE FLOOR VOTE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Protecting Children from Indecency=20
Programming Act (S. 1780) is not on the Senate=20
calendar and, therefore, is unlikely to get a=20
floor vote before legislators head off for their=20
holiday break. The bill, introduced by Sen Jay=20
Rockefeller (D-WV) and approved by the Senate=20
Commerce Committee, is a response to a Federal=20
Appeals Court decision that the Federal=20
Communications Commission had not justified its=20
decision to crack down on fleeting profanities.=20
The FCC appealed that decision to the Supreme=20
Court, arguing that it did justify it.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513036.html

TV NETWORKS CONSIDER USING STRIKE TO CANCEL COSTLY PRODUCTION DEALS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Rebecca=20
Dana at rebecca.dana( at )wsj.com and Sam Schechner]
In moves that are likely to complicate the=20
writers' strike as it enters its seventh week,=20
most late-night shows are plotting to return to=20
the airwaves and television companies are=20
considering whether to cancel some of their=20
costly production deals. The Writers Guild of=20
America also announced over the weekend it will=20
seek individual deals with media companies, after=20
negotiations broke down a week ago. That gambit=20
-- along with the late-night shows' potential=20
return and television networks' moves toward=20
cost-cutting -- are signs that both sides are=20
preparing for the strike to drag on. During the=20
weekend, David Letterman's production company=20
Worldwide Pants said it plans to seek an interim=20
deal with the guild, a settlement people in the=20
industry would watch closely to see how it=20
reflects the guild's most recent offer to the=20
Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119785198066332667.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)
* Striking writers in talks to launch Web start-ups
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Joseph Menn]
Dozens of striking film and TV writers are=20
negotiating with venture capitalists to set up=20
companies that would bypass the Hollywood studio=20
system and reach consumers with video entertainment on the Web.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-webwriters17dec17,1...
3757.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)

ELECTIONS AND MEDIA

CAMPAIGNS SPEND $1 MILLION ON TV ADS IN ONE DAY
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Evan Tracey, TNS Media Intelligence]
On Dec. 10, the 2008 presidential campaign hit a=20
significant milestone: the first $1 million=20
dollar day in TV spending. What makes this day so=20
extraordinary is the majority of this spending is=20
not from groups, but from the candidates. The=20
spending is largely aimed at voters in just two=20
states and the ads are, for the most part,=20
positive. Further, this amount takes into account=20
only broadcast TV. Sen Clinton led the way on the=20
D side: she spent $2275,000. On the R side, Mitt Romney also spent $250K.
http://adage.com/campaigntrail/article?article_id=3D122626
* Political Ads Pinch Holiday Spots
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513216.html?rssid=3D193

TO WIN BIG IN '08 RACES, JUST FOLLOW THE RULES
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Michael D. Berg mberg( at )michaelberglaw.com]
[Commentary] TV stations can fully enjoy the=20
windfall from political advertising next=20
year=97perhaps $2.6 billion in all=97if they avoid=20
becoming entangled in the web of political=20
regulations. Berg addresses six areas that have=20
been generating questions to the FCC and station=20
lawyers: 1. The effect of Internet ad sale sites=20
on lowest unit charge. 2. The anticipated=20
increase in corporate and union requests for=20
non-candidate, =93issue ad=94 time. 3. Employees who=20
become candidates. 4. Non-employee candidates=20
who appear in non-news TV programs. 5. Ads on TV=20
station Web sites. 6. State and local candidates.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/14/daily.3/

THE 2008 VOTE: WHY MYSPACE MATTERS
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Paula Lehman]
The MySpace generation is politically engaged,=20
gets a lot of political information online, and=20
is concerned about the war on terror. Users of=20
the popular Web site for socialization will be=20
out in force in the 2008 Presidential elections.=20
Those are among the findings in a survey of users=20
of News Corp.'s MySpace, the world's largest=20
social network. So what is important to MySpace=20
users? For starters, they're concerned about the=20
war on terror and the economy, in that order.=20
Among respondents, 36% of Democrats, 38% of=20
Republicans, and 30% of Independents said the war=20
is the most important issue; 29% of Democrats and=20
28% of Republicans listed the economy as top of=20
mind. Democrats are more concerned about the=20
environment, while more Republicans name=20
immigration as important. MySpace users are=20
highly likely to get informed on politics via the=20
Web. Compared with the general population of=20
online adults, MySpace users are 139% more likely=20
to visit an online chat room with public=20
officials or political candidates and 50% more=20
likely to watch a political or public=20
affairs-related video online. They're also 29%=20
more likely to have looked up political or=20
campaign information on the Internet. Among=20
respondents, 86% say they are "extremely likely"=20
or "likely" to vote in the 2008 Presidential=20
election. The findings validate efforts by=20
candidates to use social networks to rally supporters.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2007/tc20071213_093878...
m?chan=3Dtechnology_technology+index+page_top+stories
-- See also --
* Obama Wants to Be Your Friend (6.17.07)
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2007/tc20070615_431902...

INTERNET/BROADBAND

FCC: NEBRASKA RANKS SECOND IN DSL INTERNET DEPLOYMENT
[SOURCE: SWNEBR.Net]
Nebraska=92s availability of digital subscriber=20
line (DSL) high speed Internet service through=20
local incumbent telephone companies ranks second=20
in the nation according to a recently released=20
Federal Communications Commission report. In its=20
findings on high speed services for Internet=20
access, the FCC found that Nebraska had a DSL=20
saturation of 89 percent availability where=20
incumbent local telephone companies operate. Only=20
Georgia, with 90 percent, had a higher rating.
http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?162645

ON FACEBOOK, SCHOLARS LINK UP WITH DATA
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stephanie Rosenbloom]
To study how personal tastes, habits and values=20
affect the formation of social relationships (and=20
how social relationships affect tastes, habits=20
and values), a team of researchers from Harvard=20
and the University of California, Los Angeles,=20
are monitoring the Facebook profiles of an entire=20
class of students at one college, which they=20
declined to name because it could compromise the=20
integrity of their research. =93One of the holy=20
grails of social science is the degree to which=20
taste determines friendship, or to which=20
friendship determines taste,=94 said Jason Kaufman,=20
an associate professor of sociology at Harvard=20
and a member of the research team. =93Do birds of a=20
feather flock together, or do you become more=20
like your friends?=94 In other words, Facebook =97=20
where users rate one another as =93hot or not,=94=20
play games like =93Pirates vs. Ninjas=94 and throw=20
virtual sheep at one another =97 is helping=20
scholars explore fundamental social science questions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/style/17facebook.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

BBC BACKS BETTER BROADBAND TO PREVENT DIGITAL DIVIDE
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Maija Palmer]
The BBC is throwing its weight behind Ofcom, the=20
communications watchdog, in pushing for a faster=20
broadband network to be built across Britain.=20
Ashley Highfield, the BBC=92s director for future=20
media and technology, said he was concerned that=20
without a next-generation network, Britain would=20
face a =93digital divide=94 between people with fast=20
access to the Internet and those without. =93I=20
don't want a two-tier Britain where urban wealthy=20
people can access high-quality Internet content=20
at 50 megabits per second and there is a rural,=20
disenfranchised poor,=94 he said. =93Anything that=20
can be done to advance the next-generation=20
broadband build-out will be good for Britain.=94=20
Earlier this year, Ofcom called for the=20
telecommunications industry to invest in a new=20
Internet network =96 replacing old copper cables =96=20
which would allow much faster connection speeds=20
and more complex services to be offered. Telecoms=20
operators have been reluctant to begin such a=20
project, however, as the cost is expected to be more than =A315bn.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/85ab6626-aa78-11dc-a779-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATION

BUSH NEARS A VICTORY OVER SPYING POWERS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Siobhan=20
Gorman siobhan.gorman( at )wsj.com and Evan Perez]
The Senate appears poised to hand the White House=20
another victory with a measure that would make=20
permanent an expansion of government spy powers=20
and shield phone companies from liability for=20
assisting government eavesdropping. With floor=20
consideration scheduled to start today, Democrats=20
are split on how to cut back on the=20
administration's surveillance powers. The only=20
option that appears to have sufficient backing is=20
a bipartisan measure the White House has blessed.=20
Opponents of the White House-backed bill are=20
increasingly predicting a White House win. If the=20
White House prevails this week, it will be the=20
latest example of President Bush's ability to=20
outmaneuver his opponents in Congress, especially=20
on controversial matters of national security,=20
despite his weakened public support. Such a=20
result will give Republicans the upper hand in=20
fashioning a final compromise with the House in=20
January, when Democrats may be more willing to=20
compromise for fear of appearing weak on national=20
security as election season heats up. The House=20
has passed a version of the bill that doesn't=20
include telecom immunity. The Senate version is=20
likely to prevail because it has Republican=20
support, according to lawmakers and Congressional staffers.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119785656615232921.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

CASE LAYS BARE THE MEDIA'S RELIANCE ON IRAQI JOURNALISTS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Tim Arango]
Bilal Hussein, an Iraqi photographer who had a=20
hand in The Associated Press=92s 2005 Pulitzer=20
Prize for photography before being jailed without=20
charges by the United States military, finally=20
had a day in court last week. But his story,=20
which highlights the unprecedented role that=20
Iraqis are playing in news coverage of the war,=20
is really just beginning. He was held for around=20
20 months by the military =97 in Abu Ghraib prison=20
and elsewhere, with no right to contest his=20
detention =97 before being turned over to an Iraqi=20
magistrate, who will act as a one-man grand jury=20
and decide if there is enough evidence to link=20
him to the insurgency. He has not been formally=20
charged with a crime. The Associated Press has=20
staunchly defended Mr. Hussein, pointing out that=20
his role as a journalist involved getting close=20
to the insurgency. Over the last three years, the=20
American military has held at least eight other=20
Iraqi journalists for periods of weeks or month=20
without charges and released them all, apparently=20
unable to find ties to the insurgency.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/business/media/17apee.html?ref=3Dtoday...
per
(requires registration)

IRAN SHUTS DOWN 24 CAFES IN INTERNET CRACKDOWN
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: ]
Iranian police have closed down 24 Internet cafes=20
and other coffee shops in as many hours,=20
detaining 23 people, as part of a broad crackdown=20
on immoral behavior in the Islamic state. "Using=20
immoral computer games, storing obscene photos=20
... and the presence of women wearing improper=20
hijab were among the reasons why they have been=20
closed down," Colonel Nader Sarkari, a provincial police commander, said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSDAH64551120071216

QUICKLY

TELECOMS TAPS INTO SILICON VALLEY EXPERTISE
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Chris Nuttall]
Silicon Valley, birthplace of the semiconductor=20
industry and then of Google, Yahoo and eBay, is=20
experiencing a fresh wave of growth as a=20
telecommunications innovator. =93Smartphone Valley=94=20
companies are tapping computing and Internet=20
networking expertise as handsets become more like=20
computers and telephony shifts to Internet=20
protocol (IP) communications. Nokia, the world=92s=20
biggest handset maker, named its first non-Finn=20
chief technology officer last week =96 Bob Iannucci=20
=96 and said he would be based in Silicon Valley,=20
emphasising the importance of the technology hub to the telecoms group.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/c21d3dd2-ac03-11dc-82f0-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)

USF CONTRIBUTION FACTOR
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission announced=20
the proposed first quarter 2008 Universal Service=20
Contribution Factor will be 10.2%. The=20
contribution factor is based on total projected=20
collected interstate and international end-user=20
telecommunications revenue for first quarter 2008 of $19.193841 billion.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-5007A1.doc

WHAT NEXT FOR POLICY REPORTING WITH TECH DAILY DEMISE?
[SOURCE: DrewClark.com]
[Commentary] Sadly, the National Journal=92s=20
Technology Daily, which covered the tech and=20
information policy on the inside for nearly nine=20
years, is closing down in January. The president=20
of the National Journal Group says that the=20
company =93will be expanding our technology=20
coverage across our publications in 2008, in=20
recognition that technology issues infuse nearly=20
every area we cover: health care, energy and the=20
environment, national security, education, and=20
even campaigns and elections.... Technology=20
issues and coverage have come a long way in ten=20
years; it is time to recognize the need to=20
incorporate technology into all that we do. We=20
plan to make some of TechDaily=92s most popular=20
features available in CongressDaily."
http://www.drewclark.com/what-next-for-policy-reporting-with-tech-daily-...
ise/=20

COMCAST, NFL KNOCK HELMETS OVER 'THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL'
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Reynolds]
The legal action at the scrimmage line just keeps=20
getting more intense between Comcast and the=20
National Football League. Comcast filed a breach=20
of contract lawsuit against the NFL Thursday over=20
a multimillion dollar marketing campaign to drive=20
the operator=92s subscribers to its competitors=20
even though the distributor has a carriage=20
agreement with the NFL Network. Now, the league=20
is evidently pursuing another legal pass=20
following Comcast=92s airing of NFL Network=92s Dec.=20
13 Thursday Night Football game between the=20
Denver Broncos-Houston Texans, outside of the Mile High City.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6513170.html?desc=3Dtopstory
* NFL to Huddle with Kerry
The National Football League told Sen. John Kerry=20
(D-MA) it is ready to meet with him next week=20
about carriage of NFL Network on Time Warner Cable and Comcast.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513117.html?rssid=3D193
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Today's Quote 12.14.07 (Media Ownership)

"If you move ahead, you are a braver man than I am."
-- Sen Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) to FCC Chairman Martin

Today's Quote 12.14.07 (Newspapers)

"Tell the chaplain to save his eulogy, erase the 'Dust In The Wind' lyrics from your short-term memory, and pull the obituary from tomorrow's edition, because newspapers are not dead."
-- John Klim, Credit Suisse

Martin Stands Firm on Date of Media Vote at Senate Hearing

SENATE HEARING RECAP
FCC Stands Firm on Date of Media Vote
Inouye Vows to Overhaul FCC
FCC Wants to Mandate Local Programming
Martin Pushes for More NJ News on WWOR-TV
Links to Statements/Testimony

FCC STANDS FIRM ON DATE OF MEDIA VOTE
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]

"Newspapers are not dead."

FINDING VALUE IN NEWSPAPER STOCKS
[SOURCE: Forbes.com, AUTHOR: Louis Hau]

Dow Jones shareholders approve News Corp buyout

DOW JONES SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE NEWS CORP BUYOUT
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Kenneth Li]
Dow Jones & Co Inc shareholders voted to approve a $5.6 billion buyout by News Corp on Thursday, giving Rupert Murdoch control of one of the world's most influential newspapers, the Wall Street Journal. The purchase cements his position as gatekeeper of media outlets spanning from his hometown in Australia to London to New York.

Justice seen likely to OK Sirius' XM buyout

JUSTICE SEEN LIKELY TO OK SIRIUS' XM BUYOUT
[SOURCE: Associated Press]

Why Web Campaign Spending Trails TV

WHY WEB CAMPAIGN SPENDING TRAILS TV
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Emily Steel emily.steel@wsj.com]