December 2007

MORE FROM FCC MEETING
Beyond Media Ownership, FCC Passes Package of Items
Localism Proposals to Ensure Programming is=20
Responsive to Needs of Local Communities
MMTC Applauds FCC's Minority ownership Decision
Martin's Double Vision
Martin insists he's not leaving FCC

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
FCC's 'media sharecropping' initiative
Tribune facing an 11th-hour grilling
Privacy groups: FTC has obligation in Google deal
Legislators propose new royalties for Big Radio

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
Outlook for Campaign Ad Revenue 2008
Clinton Vows to Continue Monitoring Media as President

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Who's watching government?
Feinstein offers compromise: secret court review of wiretap cases
Congress Votes To Broaden Openness Law

QUICKLY -- Wireless auction bidders revealed;=20
Year End: Congress slow on tech issues in '07; No=20
need for government Net controls, say U.S. tech workers

MORE FROM FCC MEETING

BEYOND MEDIA OWNERSHIP, FCC PASSES PACKAGE OF ITEMS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission Tuesday=20
passed a package of items that could be labeled=20
the corollaries of the vote earlier in the day to=20
loosen newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rules.=20
One was a package of initiatives to make it=20
easier for small businesses and, by extension,=20
women and minorities to own broadcast outlets.=20
The other was a series of proposals addressing=20
broadcast localism, including tentatively=20
requiring broadcasters to demonstrate that they=20
are carrying a minimum amount of local=20
programming. Those, combined with the=20
cross-ownership decision, effectively closed the=20
FCC=92s media-ownership-rule review, although court=20
challenges and congressional pushback loom large in the picture.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513849.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC Reshapes Rules Limiting Media Industry
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/business/media/19fcc.html?ref=3Dtodays...
er
* FCC Votes to Ease Media-Ownership Rules
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119798975329736873.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
* Divided FCC Enacts Rules On Media Ownership
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR200712...
0198.html
* FCC eases rule on media ownership
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20071219/1b_fcc19.art.htm
* FCC relaxes media ownership rule
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fcc19dec19,1,715406.s...
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
* FCC votes to open media markets
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/59e8a170-adc0-11dc-9386-0000779fd2ac.html
* New Media Ownership Rules
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/n/a/2007/12/17/national/w...
939S41.DTL
* FCC Opts for More Media Concentration, Reformers Protest
http://www.newsdissector.com/blog/2007/12/19/fcc-opts-for-more-media-con...
tration-reformers-protest/
** See more at http://www.benton.org/node/8499 **

LOCALISM PROPOSALS TO ENSURE PROGRAMMING IS RESPONSIVE TO NEEDS OF COMMUNIT=
IES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission took=20
measures to help ensure that broadcast stations=20
offer programming responsive to the needs and=20
interests of the communities that they are=20
licensed to serve. The Report on Broadcast=20
Localism and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking sets=20
forth proposals to increase local programming=20
content and diversity in communities across=20
America. The Report makes tentative conclusions=20
regarding the following proposals, for which it=20
seeks comment: 1) Qualified LPTV stations should=20
be granted Class A status, which requires them to=20
provide 3 hours per week of locally-produced=20
programming; 2) Licensees should establish=20
permanent advisory boards (including=20
representatives of underserved community=20
segments) in each station community of license=20
with which to consult periodically on community=20
needs and issues; and 3) Commission adoption of=20
renewal application processing guidelines that=20
will ensure that all broadcasters provide some=20
locally-oriented programming. The Report also=20
states that the Commission will: A) Better=20
educate members of the public as to the=20
obligations of broadcasters and the Commission's=20
procedures so that viewers and listeners can=20
become more actively involved in ensuring that=20
stations offer locally oriented programming; and=20
B) Investigate other ways to assist prospective=20
radio licensees to identify suitable available=20
commercial FM spectrum in the communities in=20
which they wish to broadcast, including=20
authorizing the development of software to do so.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-279043A1.doc
* FCC Pushes to reinstate Localism mandates
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/18/daily.15/
* Chairman Martin: "Establishing and maintaining=20
a system of local broadcasting that is responsive=20
to the unique interests and needs of individual=20
communities is an extremely important policy goal=20
for the Commission. Indeed, a strong commitment=20
to serving their local communities is at the=20
heart of broadcasters' requirement to serve the public interest."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-279043A2.doc
* Commissioner Copps: "At the same time that we=20
have shamefully ignored the need to encourage=20
media ownership by women and minorities, we have=20
also witnessed a dramatic deterioration of the=20
public interest performance of all our=20
licensees. We have witnessed the number of=20
statehouse and city hall reporters declining=20
decade after decade, despite an explosion in=20
state and local lobbying. The number of channels=20
have indeed multiplied, but there is far less=20
local programming and reporting being produced."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-279043A3.doc
* Commissioner Adelstein: "After four and a half=20
years, during three of which the Commission did=20
nothing on this proceeding, today we finally=20
adopt this Report and Notice of Proposed=20
Rulemaking. Regrettably, it merely recites the=20
issues of public concern, repackages previous=20
Commission actions, and proffers yet another set=20
of proposals. There are no final rules - nothing=20
concrete to foster a better relationship between=20
broadcast licensees and the public they are licensed to serve."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-279043A4.doc
* Commissioner Tate: "This concept of "localism"=20
has come to mean many things to many people.=20
Historically, the FCC sought to preserve what we=20
believe is true "localism," by imposing public=20
interest obligations on broadcasters, making=20
license renewals contingent on fulfilling these=20
obligations, and protecting the rights of local=20
stations to air "programming that is responsive=20
to the needs and interests of their local=20
communities of license." .... The FCC should=20
encourage local broadcasters to continue these=20
practices and require those that do not, to=20
start. However, I also think it is important for=20
local news outlets to establish processes that=20
work best in their own communities, rather than=20
being forced to implement an edict from Washington, DC."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-279043A5.doc
* Commissioner McDowell: "I have concerns ...=20
about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. There,=20
we tentatively conclude that broadcast licensees=20
should convene permanent advisory boards made up=20
of community officials and leaders to help the=20
licensees ascertain the programming needs of the=20
community. We also tentatively conclude that the=20
Commission should adopt processing guidelines,=20
such as minimum percentages to ensure that=20
stations produce a certain amount of locally-oriented programming."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-279043A6.doc
* FCC Chairman Martin Proposes Local Boards of =91Good and Great=92
[SOURCE: Media-Space-Place-Network, AUTHOR: Fred Johnson]
[Commentary] FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is=20
indulging in one of the FCC=92s oldest, time=20
honored traditions: making a lot of noise about=20
=93localism=94 and local programming, while creating=20
policies that are destined to have the opposite=20
effect. Martin proposes some tired old worn out=20
concept like toothless community advisory boards=20
of the =91Good and the Great=92! If you are having=20
trouble imagining what that might look like then=20
take a look at the boards that run the your local=20
public television stations =AD you do know there=20
are such boards don't you? Well, the kind of=20
advisory boards Martin is proposing would be even=20
more conservative and enamored with the status=20
quo and elitism, and they would be powerful=20
allies of the entrenched incumbents holding media=20
power in our communities. Rather than thinking of=20
Martin=92s proposal in terms of incremental=20
regulatory change, we should see this as a=20
panicky move to stave off the coming wave of=20
media change, particularly at the community level.
http://fredjohnson.mwg.org/?p=3D64

MMTC APPLAUDS FCC'S MINORITY OWNERSHIP DECISION
[SOURCE: Minority Media & Telecommunications Council press release]
By adopting 12 minority ownership proposals and=20
putting 13 more proposals out for comment, the=20
FCC marked December 18, 2007 =96 coincidentally=20
MMTC=92s 21st birthday -- as one of the best days=20
in the history of minority media ownership. The=20
day was marred only by the FCC=92s use of a poorly=20
defined =93small business=94 eligibility criterion=20
for three of the proposals it adopted. Apparently=20
only about 8.5% of small business-owned=20
commercial radio stations are minority owned =96=20
barely more than the 7.8% of all commercial radio=20
stations that are minority owned. MMTC will act=20
promptly to secure a correction of the FCC=92s=20
unfortunate mistake. Although the broadcasting=20
industry is 98 years old and uses billions of=20
dollars worth of publicly owned spectrum,=20
minorities own only 8% of the nation=92s full power=20
commercial radio stations and 3% of the full=20
power commercial television stations. All of the=20
FCC=92s remedial initiatives have been repealed or fallen into disuse.
http://www.mmtconline.org/
See more at http://www.benton.org/node/8499

MARTIN'S DOUBLE VISION
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] FCC Chairman Kevin Martin braved=20
left-wing outrage yesterday by lifting the=20
three-decade-old cap on media cross-ownership. So=20
why, on the very same day, did Mr. Martin turn=20
around and vote with the Democratic commissioners=20
to impose caps on the size of cable companies?=20
Perhaps we're mistaken to look at the substance=20
of Mr. Martin's two-step, however. Maybe this is=20
about politics. Martin's animus toward the cable=20
business is by now a matter of public record, and=20
yesterday's action can only be understood as part=20
of his personal campaign to make the industry's=20
life as hard as possible. The D.C. Circuit is=20
almost certain to strike down this rule, as it=20
did the last time. But by then there may be a=20
fresh face as FCC Chairman, and the only winners=20
will be the lawyers who billed the hours.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119802537086938157.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)

MARTIN INSISTS HE'S NOT LEAVING FCC
[SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Brooks Boliek]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
martin denied rumors that he was going to leave=20
the Commission since it finished the=20
media-ownership rulemaking. "I plan on staying=20
through President Bush's term," he said.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i5...
3c633b3a47602f6ced2b847c2ab0

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

FCC'S 'MEDIA SHARECROPPING' INITIATIVE
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.]
[Commentary] Whether or not one agrees with the=20
usefulness of "must-carry" rules in the modern=20
era, nearly everyone agrees that these rights=20
should not be extended to the detriment of new=20
television channels. Yet the FCC now wants to=20
give each local broadcaster as many as six=20
channels that cable carriers will be required to=20
carry, potentially locking many minority cable=20
programmers out of the game. To be sure, the FCC=20
knows that it has an awaiting public relations=20
disaster on its hands with this kind of proposal.=20
Cleverly, FCC spokesmen have come up with a=20
public relations effort intended to allay fears=20
by offering up what is now widely seen as a=20
"consolation prize." This so-called consolation=20
prize - which was dropped from the last FCC=20
meeting due to overwhelming opposition from the=20
civil rights community, but will likely reappear=20
at the upcoming meeting - is the right of=20
minority programmers and others to be categorized=20
as a "qualified" entity that can lease a portion=20
of these multicast must-carry channels from the=20
large, mostly non-minority broadcasters. One=20
leading FCC commissioner derided the idea as a=20
kind of media "sharecropping." The reality is=20
that most programmers want the opportunity for=20
ownership and not the "crumbs from the table"=20
subordinate opportunity of renting space from=20
well-heeled incumbent broadcasters. While=20
innovative, new networks would die in this=20
stifling environment, it is channels like home=20
shopping networks and infomercials that would=20
benefit most from this kind of squatters=20
approach. At a time of such uncertainty in the=20
communications landscape, the FCC must focus on=20
meaningful policies to promote real minority=20
ownership opportunities in broadcasting. One=20
place to start would be to listen to those on the front lines.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2007/12/18/EDDDU02...
DTL

TRIBUNE FACING 11TH HOUR GRILLING
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: Michael Oneal mdoneal( at )tribune.com]
Tribune Co. executives were sweating out=20
aggressive last-minute questioning Tuesday from=20
bankers reluctant to fund the final portion of a=20
debt-laden $8.2 billion deal to take the company=20
private with Chicago billionaire Sam Zell,=20
sources close to the company said. The=20
Chicago-based media giant was still hoping to=20
finalize its transaction by Thursday, but sources=20
said the banks, worried about losing money on the=20
deal in skittish credit markets, were scouring=20
company records before committing to fund the=20
transaction. It was unclear what information the=20
bankers were seeking. But the dilemma they face=20
is that with the credit markets in turmoil and=20
Tribune Co.'s revenue in decline, they likely=20
will be unable to sell the remaining $4.2 billion=20
in loans and bonds to investors. Even six months=20
ago, Tribune and its banks had to entice debt=20
investors with higher interest rates than=20
anticipated to get the first part of the deal=20
done. Since that time Tribune's revenue picture=20
has deteriorated. The company, which owns the=20
Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and WGN-Ch. 9=20
among its many media properties, has suffered=20
from competition brought on by the Internet and=20
other digital media. But it is also heavily=20
exposed in markets such as Florida and=20
California, states that have been hardest hit by=20
the housing crisis. Now, the Tribune loan is=20
trading on the open market at a steeper discount,=20
meaning that if the Tribune's banks were to seek=20
buyers for the remaining portion, the terms would=20
be unworkable. Consequently, the banks will have=20
to hold undesirable credit on their own balance sheets.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-071218fitzsimons,0,6979039.st...
?track=3Drss
* Tribune CEO is expected to resign
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Thomas S.=20
Mulligan and Michael A. Hiltzik]
Tribune Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Dennis=20
J. FitzSimons is expected to announce his=20
resignation as early as today. The resignation=20
would be the first departure of a top Tribune=20
executive as the company prepares to go private=20
under the leadership of Chicago businessman Sam=20
Zell. FitzSimons, 57, a 25-year veteran of=20
Tribune, is in line to walk away with as much as=20
$40 million, depending on the date on which he chooses to depart.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-tribune19dec19,1,4475...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

PRIVACY GROUPS: FTC HAS OBLIGATION IN GOOGLE DEAL
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Grant Gross]
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)=20
and the Center for Digital Democracy are stepping=20
up the pressure on the U.S. Federal Trade=20
Commission (FTC), saying the agency has an=20
obligation to consider privacy concerns as it=20
prepares to rule on the antitrust implications of=20
Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick. It=20
appears that an FTC decision on the $3.1 billion=20
acquisition is "imminent," said Jeffrey Chester,=20
CDD's executive director. FTC Commissioner Jon=20
Leibowitz in October suggested the FTC's review=20
of the deal had to be about competition=20
questions, not privacy, but Chester disagreed=20
during a press conference on Tuesday. One of the=20
FTC's main duties is to protect consumer privacy,=20
and the merger of the number one search provider=20
with the number one ad server raises serious=20
privacy questions, he said. Google's contention=20
that there are no major privacy concerns is=20
"absurd on the face of it," Chester said.=20
DoubleClick says it serves 8 billion online ads=20
and processes 964GB of Web server log files each=20
day, he said. "It would be a violation of trust,=20
in effect abuse of their own role, in not=20
addressing an issue of such concern as the=20
data-collection apparatus within the ever-growing=20
behemoth," Chester said. "If they're really the=20
agency to protect consumer privacy, they will act=20
to protect privacy. If they fail to act to=20
protect privacy, they have basically put up a=20
flag to American consumers saying, 'We surrender your data.'"
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/12/18/Privacy-groups-say-FTC-has-obl...
tion-in-Google-deal_1.html

LEGISLATORS PROPOSE NEW ROYALTIES FOR BIG RADIO
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Sue Zeidler]
Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT)=20
and Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) Darrell Issa=20
(R-CA) introduced legislation to undo a=20
50-year-old exemption that lets big radio=20
companies like Clear Channel Communications Inc=20
and CBS Corp air songs without paying record=20
labels or performers any royalties. For decades,=20
the $20 billion radio broadcasting industry has=20
paid royalties to songwriters and music=20
publishers for the underlying rights to the songs=20
played on the air, but have been excused from=20
paying royalties to artists or labels for when=20
their sound recordings were used. It was a=20
long-held view within the music industry that=20
radio airplay was a critical and necessary=20
marketing expense. But with music sales in a=20
protracted decline and with new types of=20
broadcasters, like satellite and Web radio=20
operators, being forced to pay performance=20
royalties, the music industry has begun pushing=20
for compensation from terrestrial radio.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN1852883320071219

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

OUTLOOK FOR CAMPAIGN AD REVENUE 2008
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Mark Fitzgerald and Jennifer Saba]
Will 2008 be a winning campaign year for ...=20
newspapers? For the first time since John Kennedy=20
beat Richard Nixon in a presidential race that,=20
by a landslide, anointed television as the medium=20
of choice for political advertising, newspapers=20
are daring to believe they and their Web sites=20
will get more than their usual minuscule share of=20
candidates' media buys. Depending on who's=20
counting, total political ad spending =97 including=20
everything from local and state races to the=20
presidential election -- is expected to come in=20
at anywhere from $3 to $5 billion by the time=20
polls close on Nov. 4. TV will likely capture=20
nearly three-quarters of that spending, with the=20
other 25% divided among other media, estimates=20
Evan Tracey, COO of TNS Media Intelligence/ CMAG.=20
But newspapers shouldn't get their hopes up too=20
much, Tracey cautions. "You know the weapon of=20
choice is always broadcast TV, cable after that,=20
and radio after that," he says. "It's a gift and=20
curse of geography. Not to throw cold water on=20
print. We have seen success in public affairs and=20
on the issue advocacy-side. The New York Times,=20
the Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post=20
are very well-positioned." As are some state and=20
local papers that have congressional races, he=20
adds. On the other hand, the Newspaper=20
Association of America (NAA) believes that the=20
industry will carve out a bigger piece of that=20
pie than outsiders think -- and do much better=20
than the medium has done in the past four or five=20
decades. "I bet our industry can capture between=20
12 to 15%" of the total campaign spend, says Jack=20
Brady, the NAA's director of marketing and=20
advertising. "I think in the last cycle we=20
captured maybe 5%." In the '08 campaign, NAA=20
thinks print alone will capture a 5% share of candidates' spend.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003686688

CLINTON VOWS TO CONTINUE MONITORING MEDIA AS PRESIDENT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton=20
(D-NY) said she and her husband monitored their=20
daughter Chelsea's TV watching as a child and=20
even as a teen-ager, and she plans to continue=20
monitoring the media if she becomes president.=20
Answering a series of questions from Common Sense=20
Media about the media and children, Sen Clinton=20
said she remains concerned about the influence of=20
media on kids, adding that research shows "that=20
violent and sexually explicit media contribute to=20
aggressive behavior, early sexual=20
experimentation, obesity and depression." She=20
also said she would like to see all of the=20
food-industry players commit to voluntary=20
marketing guidelines and broadcasters air more=20
media-literacy primetime public-service announcements.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6513718.html?rssid=3D193
* For Clinton, A Matter of Fair Media
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
[Commentary] Sen Hillary Clinton's senior=20
advisers have grown convinced that the media deck=20
is stacked against them, that their candidate is=20
drawing far harsher scrutiny than Sen Barack=20
Obama. And at least some journalists agree. For=20
nearly a year, the New York senator was widely=20
depicted as the inevitable nominee. But now many=20
media accounts are casting her recent dip in the=20
Iowa and New Hampshire polls as a disaster in the making.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR200712...
2184.html
(requires registration)

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

WHO'S WATCHING GOVERNMENT?
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] Even before the latest revelations,=20
there was plenty of reason to be concerned about=20
the U.S. government's collaboration with=20
telecommunications companies to tap phone and=20
computer lines within the United States. But=20
Sunday's New York Times report should shred any=20
remaining doubt about Americans' need to know=20
more about whether their government was=20
stretching - or even openly defying -=20
constitutional boundaries on domestic=20
surveillance. The story suggested that the=20
partnership of the National Security Agency and=20
telecom companies is "broader and deeper than=20
ever before." It isn't limited to terrorism or=20
international transmissions - and it didn't begin=20
with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the=20
Times reported. For example, the government has=20
been "collecting the phone records of thousands=20
of Americans and others inside the United States=20
who call people in Latin America," the Times disclosed.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2007/12/18/EDDDU02...
DTL
* Wider Spying Fuels Aid Plan for Telecom Industry (NYT 12/16)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/washington/16nsa.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper

FEINSTEIN OFFERS COMPROMISE: SECRET COURT REVIEW OF WIRETAP CASES
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Bob Egelko]
With the Senate at an impasse over protecting=20
telecommunications companies from lawsuits for=20
sharing phone calls and e-mails with the=20
government, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) says she=20
has a possible compromise - allowing a secret=20
court to decide whether the firms believed they=20
were acting legally. "This does not simply grant=20
immunity. It forces the telecommunications=20
companies to justify their actions before a=20
federal court," Sen Feinstein said after=20
introducing an amendment Monday to legislation=20
that would extend President Bush's clandestine=20
program of monitoring communications between=20
Americans and alleged foreign terrorists. A=20
lawyer for AT&T customers who have sued over the=20
company's alleged participation in the program=20
said the amendment was an improvement over=20
Feinstein's previous support of across-the-board=20
immunity for telecommunications firms. But he=20
said it still didn't go far enough to hold=20
companies accountable. The White House said the=20
proposal would create unnecessary obstacles to immunity.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=3D/c/a/2007/12/18/BAR4U0OSN.DTL

CONGRESS VOTES TO BROADEN OPENNESS LAW
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Elizabeth Williamson]
Taking aim at Bush administration secrecy,=20
Congress yesterday overwhelmingly approved a bill=20
that would toughen the Freedom of Information Act=20
and penalize government agencies that fail to=20
surrender public documents on time. The bill=20
would speed the process of releasing government=20
documents to the public under the FOIA, as the=20
act is known, and broaden the information=20
available to the public by including, for=20
example, additional government contracting=20
information. The measure passed the House by=20
voice vote yesterday, less than a week after it=20
was similarly approved by the Senate. The White=20
House has objected to some of the bill's=20
provisions, but proponents expect it to clear the=20
final hurdle during the congressional recess next=20
week, when bills left unsigned for 10 days can=20
pass without the president's signature.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR200712...
0918.html
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

PAUL ALLEN APPLIES TO BID IN US WIRELESS AUCTION
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
A venture led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen=20
has applied to bid in an upcoming U.S. auction of=20
coveted wireless airwaves, according to auction=20
documents released late on Tuesday. Allen was=20
listed with an entity called Vulcan Spectrum LLC=20
among the applicants who filed to bid in the=20
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction=20
of 700-megahertz spectrum, which is scheduled to=20
begin on January 24. Allen heads an investment=20
company called Vulcan Capital and is also a=20
majority shareholder in U.S. cable operator=20
Charter Communications. The auction applicants=20
also included, as expected, Internet leader=20
Google and U.S. wireless providers AT&T Inc and=20
Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon=20
Communications and Vodafone. Also listed was=20
Qualcomm. A Reuters search of the documents did=20
not turn up any application by EchoStar. There=20
was speculation earlier this month that the=20
satellite television operator might apply to=20
enter the auction. Representatives of EchoStar=20
could not be reached for comment.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1854781120071219
* See applicant list at=20
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=3Dauctions_home

YEAR END: CONGRESS SLOW ON TECH ISSUES IN '07
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Grant Gross]
No one is calling 2007 a banner year for the=20
technology industry in the U.S. Congress.=20
Congress passed a handful of bills on many tech=20
vendor and trade group wish lists, but in several=20
cases, they represented partial victories. It's=20
too early to judge this session of Congress,=20
which continues through 2008, said Kevin=20
Richards, federal government relations manager at=20
cybersecurity vendor Symantec. "I think we have a=20
lot of interest [from lawmakers], and this has=20
the potential to be a tech-friendly Congress," Richards said.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/12/18/Year-end-Congress-slow-on-tech...
sues-in-2007_1.html

NO NEED FOR GOVERNMENT NET CONTROLS, SAY US TECH WORKERS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
The Computing Technology Industry Association has=20
released a poll of its members finding that=20
America's high-tech workforce would generally=20
prefer that government keep its hands off the=20
Internet, privacy matters included. 82 percent=20
said the government should not "regulate the=20
Internet like telephone and TV." Just 12 percent=20
of the IT workers surveyed said the government=20
should play a role in protecting consumer privacy on the Internet.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9835347-7.html?part=3Drss&subj=3Dnews&tag=
=3D2547-1_3-0-5
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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