April 2008

SENATE COMMERCE MEDIA, DTV VOTES
Senate Commerce Committee Rejects FCC Media Ownership Changes
Obama Urges Swift Passage of FCC-Blocking Bill
Low-Power TV Stations Get Boost from Senate Commerce Committee
No Border War at Senate Commerce Committee

CHAIRMAN MARTIN'S PRESS CONFERENCE
Public to be Given Three Weeks Notice of FCC Meeting Votes
Emergency network plan revived
FCC's Martin backs AT&T bid to waive cost data
Martin: No Stay Of Leased Access Rules
Martin: Denial of Fox Indecency Appeal Was Reasonable
FCC Vote On Sirius-XM Merger Not On May 14 Agenda: Analysts

MORE ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP
The Big Question: Is there no limit to the=20
expansion of Rupert Murdoch's media empire?
News Corp. Bid for Newsday May Face Political Snags
Murdoch too powerful for government regulators

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
North Carolina Republicans pull anti-Obama ad -- Or Did They?
A Willie Horton Hit on Obama?
Obama to Appear on Fox News Sunday
Political Season Can't Save Local-TV Sales
The Self-Loathing "Liberal" Media

BROADCASTING
Consumers Having Problems with Digital TV Converter Coupons
NTIA to Waive Coupon Requirements for Group Homes, P.O. Boxes
Holidays, Falling Prices Spur HDTV Purchases: Study

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Teens do not consider a lot of their electronic texts as writing
Are wired kids well served by schools?
DOJ nets two more guilty pleas in E-Rate fraud charges

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
GOP wants to tack FISA bill onto war supplemental

QUICKLY -- Apple coming to terms with iPhone=20
'unlocking,' says analyst; Only 11 Top Newspaper=20
Web Sites Report Increase in Time Spent; Has NAB=20
Found Scapegoat for Robbins Speech?

SENATE COMMERCE MEDIA, DTV VOTES

SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE REJECTS FCC MEDIA OWNERSHIP CHANGES
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation]
On Thursday, the Senate Commerce Committee=20
unanimously approved S.J. 28, a Joint Resolution=20
disapproving a Federal Communications Commission=20
rule allowing for increased media consolidation.=20
The resolution, introduced by Senator Byron=20
Dorgan (D-ND), would overturn the FCC ruling=20
(Report and Order FCC 07-216), which allowed for=20
cross ownership of newspapers and broadcast=20
stations in the top 20 markets in the United=20
States. Sen Dorgan said the resolution was meant=20
to combat "galloping concentration" in the media.=20
Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye=20
(D-Hawaii) said, "It is clear to me that the=20
Commission rushed its process. The agency rolled=20
back its rules preventing media concentration,=20
despite getting a cautionary light from the=20
Congress that more public comment and more=20
attention to localism and minority ownership was=20
needed before barreling ahead.=94 The House is also=20
considering a nullification of the ownership=20
rule, but even if supporters are successful,=20
President Bush seems likely to veto it. The=20
Senate resolution has 25 co-sponsors including=20
both Democratic candidates for president, Sens.=20
Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack=20
Obama of Illinois. After the vote, FCC Chairman=20
Kevin Martin said, "It's important that we try to=20
reform our media ownership rules to reflect the=20
changes in the marketplace that have occurred,=20
and particularly the challenges that the newspaper industry faces."
http://benton.org/node/10652

OBAMA URGES SWIFT PASSAGE OF FCC-BLOCKING BILL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) said Thursday that the=20
recent newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership-rule=20
change approved by the Federal Communications=20
Commission was the kind of=20
special-interest-engineered change he opposes,=20
and he sought a quick vote on the bill in the=20
full Senate. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who is=20
heading the effort, said Tuesday that the bill=20
was on a fast track. =93We must ensure that we=20
have an open media market that represents diverse=20
voices throughout the country," Sen Obama said.=20
"The rules promoting the public interest and=20
diversity in media ownership are too important=20
for the FCC to accept an agenda supported by the=20
Washington special interests that I have fought against for more than a yea=
r.=94
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6554700.html?rssid=3D193

LOW-POWER TV STATIONS GET BOOST FROM SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Senate Commerce Committee Thursday gave a=20
shot in the arm to low-power TV stations. Without=20
debate, the committee agreed to make a technical=20
correction to the Deficit Reduction Act that will=20
allow the government to give out $65 million to=20
help low-power TV stations and translators make=20
the switch to digital. The way the bill had been=20
written, low-powers would not get the money until=20
October 2010, a year-and-a-half after full-powers=20
make the DTV switch. The National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration=20
requested that the money be freed up early so=20
that more stations could go digital sooner. The=20
NTIA hopes to alleviate some of the concerns=20
raised by the fact that its DTV-to-analog=20
converter boxes are not permitted to have analog=20
tuners in them and are not required to pass through analog signals.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6554656.html?rssid=3D193

NO BORDER WAR AT SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
With only minor modifications, a bill to allow=20
full-power TV stations along the border with=20
Mexico to continue to broadcast in analog after=20
the switch to digital passed the Senate Commerce=20
Committee Thursday. That fix would allow=20
public-safety organizations to apply for waivers=20
of the law even before it becomes a law. The DTV=20
Border Fix Act, which was co-sponsored by Sens.=20
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Barbara Boxer=20
(D-Calif.), would allow qualified TV stations=20
within 50 miles of the border to broadcast in analog until 2014.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6554695.html?rssid=3D193

CHAIRMAN MARTIN'S PRESS CONFERENCE

PUBLIC TO BE GIVEN THREE WEEKS NOTICE OF OPEN MEETING AGENDA TOPICS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin announced that topics selected for open=20
meeting agendas will now formally be made public=20
and posted on the Commission's website three=20
weeks prior to the upcoming monthly=20
meeting. This step enhances the openness and=20
transparency of the Commission's processes and=20
deliberations. The Communications Act of 1934 ,=20
requires the Commission to formally meet at least=20
monthly. The Commission's practice has been to=20
issue a public notice of the "Commission Meeting=20
Agenda" one week beforehand and announces the=20
items that are scheduled for the agenda. With=20
the Chairman's action, items the Chairman has=20
scheduled for consideration by the Commissioners=20
at the next agenda meeting will be issued and=20
made available to the public through the=20
Commission's web site at: www.fcc.gov . In=20
addition, the Commission will continue to issue=20
the Commission Meeting Agenda at least one week=20
beforehand as a standard practice. The Chairman=20
has circulated the following items for=20
consideration by the Commissioners at the public=20
agenda meeting scheduled for May 14, 2008: 1) A=20
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that=20
would revisit the Commissions decisions=20
concerning the mandatory 700 MHz Public/Private=20
Partnership between the D Block licensee and the=20
Public Safety Broadband Licensee; and 2) A Fourth=20
Memorandum Opinion and Order on narrowbanding=20
that would address a petition for reconsideration=20
and a request for clarification of the Third Report and Order.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-281771A1.doc

EMERGENCY NETWORK PLAN REVIVED
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
The Federal Communications Commission will craft=20
a new plan for the creation of a nationwide=20
emergency communications network after the first=20
one failed to attract any support. "I think it's=20
critical that the Commission and all of the=20
government continue to find ways to solve public=20
safety's interoperability problems," FCC Chairman=20
Kevin Martin told reporters Thursday. Under the=20
first plan, approved last summer, the agency set=20
aside a swath of airwaves for auction to a=20
commercial bidder that would be combined with a=20
roughly equal portion of spectrum controlled by a=20
public safety trust to create a shared emergency=20
communications network. The winning bidder, in=20
exchange for use of the public safety spectrum,=20
would build the network and make a profit by=20
selling access to wireless service providers. The=20
block was part of a broader auction that raised a=20
record $19.1 billion. But the public safety=20
spectrum failed to attract the minimum bid of=20
$1.3 billion required to award the license. Among=20
the options the commission will consider is the=20
reduction or elimination of the minimum bid=20
requirement. They agency will also seek comment=20
about whether all restrictions should be removed=20
and the spectrum sold to the highest bidder.
http://www.miamiherald.com/692/story/508398.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR200804...
3462.html

FCC'S MARTIN BACKS AT&T BID TO WAIVE COST DATA
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin said Thursday he supports AT&T's bid to=20
waive rules requiring the company to provide=20
information on its costs to regulators. Chairman=20
Martin wants to approve a petition sought by=20
AT&T that would waive the rules, which he called=20
"decades-old regulations that don't make as much=20
sense anymore." Chairman Martin said AT&T has=20
estimated it costs $10 million a year for the=20
company to adhere to the rule. AT&T says the=20
regulations reflect a time when the company was a=20
monopoly and the rates it charged were based on=20
costs, but it now operates in a competitive=20
marketplace. "I think it's important for us to=20
try to respond to deregulatory efforts that would=20
save the companies a significant amount of=20
revenue, and particularly for rules and=20
regulations that are no longer required...," Chairman Martin said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN24331018200804...
feedType=3DRSS&feedName=3DgovernmentFilingsNews&rpc=3D408

MARTIN: NO STAY OF LEASED ACCESS RULES
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin said Thursday he won't support suspension=20
of the cable leased access rules while the cable=20
industry is fighting them in court. =93I supported=20
those rules and I think we should let them take=20
effect,=94 Chairman Martin told a group of=20
reporters at FCC headquarters. The new leased=20
access rates go into effect on May 31. =93I think=20
our leased access rules provided an easier=20
opportunity for people with diverse programming=20
to get that content on the cable platform,=94=20
Martin said. The National Cable &=20
Telecommunications Association last month asked=20
the FCC to suspend the rules after it filed suit=20
in federal court to block them.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6554845.html?nid=3D4262

MARTIN: DENIAL OF FOX INDECENCY APPEAL WAS REASONABLE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin said Thursday that he thought it was=20
reasonable that the FCC Enforcement Bureau=20
rejected Fox's appeal of its Married by America=20
indecency fine without considering the merits.=20
The FCC's reason for dismissing it? Fox exceeded=20
the page limit of the filing by 12 pages and did=20
not file a request to exceed that limit the=20
requisite 10 days before the filing. At a press=20
conference, Martin said he thought it was=20
"reasonable" for the bureau "to consider the way=20
that our rules, including the rules about filing pleadings, work. Sure."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6554850.html?rssid=3D193

FCC VOTE ON SIRIUS-XM MERGER NOT ON MAY 14 AGENDA: ANALYSTS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Larry Barrett]
The FCC=92s expected approval of the much-delayed=20
merger between XM Satellite Radio and Sirius=20
Satellite Radio likely won't happen until late=20
May or June after chairman Kevin Martin failed to=20
distribute a draft ruling of the regulatory=20
agency's conditional approval to other=20
commissioners Wednesday night, according to=20
equity research firm Stanford Group Company.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6554859.html?nid=3D4262

MORE ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP

THE BIG QUESTION: IS THERE NO LIMIT TO THE=20
EXPANSION OF RUPERT MURDOCH'S MEDIA EMPIRE?
[SOURCE: The Independent, AUTHOR: Stephen Foley]
Why do people fear this concentration of power?=20
One need only look at Mr Murdoch's papers in the=20
UK to see the influence they have on the=20
political process, and how the news that readers=20
are fed can be skewed to his own political and=20
business desires. Thanks to a freedom of=20
information request by The Independent, we learnt=20
last year how Mr Murdoch had a hotline to Tony=20
Blair at crucial moments during his premiership,=20
and that the pair spoke three times in nine days=20
in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. On two=20
occasions, the day after a call with Blair, The=20
Sun launched vitriolic attacks on the anti-war=20
French President, Jacques Chirac. In the US, his=20
right-wing New York Post called the anti-war=20
leaders "The Axis of Weasel". In fact, the Post=20
has been Mr Murdoch's unapologetic bloodhound in=20
the US for decades, waging feuds with politicians=20
such as Teddy Kennedy ("Fat Boy", the Post calls=20
him) who have opposed liberalized media laws, and=20
with Mr Murdoch's business rivals. New York's=20
elite fears nothing more than a savaging in the=20
paper's delightfully vicious gossip column Page=20
Six, and the Democrats are fearful of what it=20
would do to Barack Obama if Mr Murdoch decides=20
the Senator is too inexperienced and too liberal=20
to be president. Merging Newsday with the Post=20
immediately turns it profitable, giving it immense new firepower.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-big-question-is-there-no-lim...
to-the-expansion-of-rupert-murdochs-media-empire-814691.html?r=3DRSS

NEWS CORP BID FOR NEWSDAY MAY FACE POLITICAL SNAGS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amy Schatz]
News Corp's bid to buy Newsday will face=20
regulatory hurdles, but political attacks on the=20
deal could be more of a long-term problem as News=20
Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch tries to seal the=20
deal. News Corp has struck only an informal=20
agreement to acquire Newsday, based in Long=20
Island (NY) for $580 million from Tribune Co.=20
Public-interest groups and lawmakers are=20
signaling they are ready to fight the deal on=20
grounds that it gives News Corp. too much media=20
power. "This can't happen," said Josh Silver,=20
executive director of Free Press, a=20
public-interest group that focuses on media and=20
telecommunications issues. "He uses his media=20
properties to advance his own business=20
interests." Susan Lerner, executive director of=20
Common Cause in New York, called the potential=20
acquisition ''a step back that will hurt our=20
democracy,'' and Consumers Union, publisher of=20
Consumer Reports, has also come out against it.=20
Newsday's acquisition by News Corp. wouldn't=20
automatically trigger a review by the Federal=20
Communications Commission. But it would come up=20
during the continuing dispute about license=20
renewals for the company's two New York City-area=20
television stations. The FCC can't block the=20
Newsday purchase, but could prompt News Corp. to=20
sell one or both of the stations if the license=20
renewals aren't granted. The property in greater=20
jeopardy is New Jersey station WWOR-TV, since=20
News Corp. only holds a temporary waiver to own=20
the station. The company received a permanent=20
waiver to own New York station WNYW-TV and the=20
New York Post because the paper was unprofitable.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120906000626542135.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)
* Groups Oppose Murdoch's Newsday Bid (Associated Press)
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/04/25/daily.2/

MURDOCH TOO POWERFUL FOR GOVERNMENT REGULATORS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Brooks Boliek -- Hollywood Reporter]
The dirty little secret about Rupert Murdoch's=20
plan to add Newsday to his stable of New York=20
media properties is that there's little anybody=20
can do to stop him. In the topsy-turvy world of=20
media regulation, Murdoch or any other media=20
baron can own a TV station and then buy a=20
newspaper in the same market, and there's not=20
much federal regulators can do about it directly.=20
The Federal Communications Commission doesn't=20
have the power to review Murdoch's bid to=20
purchase the Long Island-based newspaper in=20
advance. But when Murdoch's TV stations in the=20
area come up for license renewal, the panel will=20
be able to consider whether his purchase of=20
Newsday is in the public interest. The forces=20
that oppose Murdoch -- because he's Murdoch or=20
because they fear an increasingly consolidated=20
media market -- are in luck. News Corp. last year=20
asked the FCC to renew its licenses to operate TV=20
outlets WNEW and WWOR. News Corp. likely would=20
need a waiver or may have to sell something to=20
purchase Newsday since the new rule specifically=20
said it allows the ownership of one station and=20
one newspaper, not two stations. Then again,=20
maybe not. The way the rule is written, a=20
broadcast baron can buy a newspaper. There's also=20
a question about just what market is served by=20
the different media properties. The purchase=20
would get challenged during the license renewal.=20
Let's just say the FCC determines that it's bad=20
for the public. Murdoch can then ask for a=20
hearing before an administrative law judge. If=20
News Corp. asks for an administrative hearing --=20
which it would -- and loses, the deal then would=20
get a review by the full commission. If News=20
Corp. loses at the commission and the FCC says it=20
has to sell some property, then the company would=20
go straight to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals,=20
which has been hankering for a media-ownership=20
case. Whoever loses there would take the case to the Supreme Court.
http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN2445137620080425

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS PULL ANTI-OBAMA AD -- OR DID THEY?
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Steve Holland]
After gaining enough free media exposure to make=20
paid media unnecessary, North Carolina's=20
Republican Party on Thursday withdrew an=20
advertisement critical of Democrat Barack Obama's=20
links to a controversial preacher, Republican=20
John McCain's campaign said. McCain senior=20
adviser Charlie Black said he had been informed=20
by the Republican National Committee's=20
representative in North Carolina, that the state=20
party had agreed to withdraw the ad. Sen McCain,=20
the Republicans' presidential nominee, had=20
appealed to the state party to withdraw the ad,=20
saying he wanted to run a respectful campaign.=20
The 30-second ad in question attacked Democratic=20
North Carolina gubernatorial candidates Beverly=20
Perdue and Richard Moore for their endorsements=20
of Sen Obama, referring to the Illinois senator's=20
"judgment" in supporting Wright and calling him=20
"too extreme for North Carolina." [North=20
Carolina, of course, prefers moderates like=20
five-term Senator Jesse Helms.] The New York=20
Times reports that the chairwoman of the North=20
Carolina Republican Party vowed to broadcast the "Extreme" ad.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2429689820080424
* North Carolina G.O.P. Says an Ad Will Go On
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/nc-republicans-say-the-ad-...
l-go-on/
* More GOP ads target Obama
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-campaign25apr25,1,7...
718.story

A WILLIE HORTON HIT ON OBAMA?
[SOURCE: Time, AUTHOR: Michael Scherer]
Starting Tuesday, a group of conservative=20
activists led by Floyd Brown, author of the=20
famous Willie Horton ad used so effectively=20
against Michael Dukakis in 1988, will begin a=20
campaign to tar Obama as weak on crime and=20
terrorism, a strategy that aims to upend Obama's=20
relatively strong reputation among Republican=20
voters. "The campaign by Hillary Clinton has not=20
been able to raise Obama's negatives," said Brown=20
on Monday. "It is absolutely critical that=20
Obama's negatives go up with Republicans." Brown=20
says the initial effort, a 60-second spot called=20
"Victims" will be aired later this month in North=20
Carolina and e-mailed to between 3 and 7 million=20
conservatives this week, with a plea for more=20
funding to further spread the message. "All of=20
the efforts I have ever done in my life have been=20
significantly funded," Brown claimed, though he=20
declined to describe the size of the purchase.=20
"This is going to be the most Internet-intensive effort for an ad debut eve=
r."
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1733873,00.html

OBAMA TO APPEAR ON FOX NEWS SUNDAY
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Michele Greppi]
So we need to accept that we live in a world=20
where _what_ a candidate says is not as=20
important as _where_ the candidate says it.=20
Presidential candidate Sen Barack Obama (D-IL)=20
will make his first appearance on =93Fox News=20
Sunday=94 this weekend and take questions from=20
moderator Chris Wallace. Marty Ryan, executive=20
producer of political programming for Fox News,=20
said the show has been trying to book Sen. Obama,=20
who burst onto the national scene with the=20
keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National=20
Convention, ever since Illinois elected him to=20
the Senate. Sen. Clinton (D-IL) has appeared on=20
the Fox show twice since announcing her candidacy for the White House.
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/04/obama_finally_stops_fox_news_s.php
(requires free registration)
* Obama to Appear on Fox News Channel (Broadcasting&Cable)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6554760.html?rssid=3D193
* Fox News=92 =91Obama Watch=92 About To Stop (MultichannelNews)
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6554810.html?nid=3D4262
* Obama to Appear on =91Fox News Sunday=92 (NYTimes)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/obama-to-appear-on-fox-new...
unday/
* Fox News holdout Obama to appear on Sunday show
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2534172420080425

POLITICAL SEASON CAN'T SAVE LOCAL-TV SALES
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sam Schechner]
Local television stations across the country are=20
suffering a decline in advertising revenue in the=20
tough economy, despite a blockbuster political=20
season. Buffeted by the faltering real-estate=20
market and shrinking auto sales, total ad revenue=20
for local stations nationwide fell 2.3% in the=20
first quarter compared with the year-earlier=20
period, according to the Television Bureau of=20
Advertising, a trade group for local stations.=20
And the second quarter is on pace for a 3% to 5%=20
decline, according to Chris Rohrs, the group's=20
president. While TV networks' ad-revenue growth=20
has stagnated amid a flurry of technological=20
changes and newspapers have watched advertisers=20
flee to the Internet, local TV stations have=20
until recently been a relatively stable feature=20
of the tumultuous media landscape. But now=20
nonpolitical advertising at local stations is=20
down in the mid-to-high single digits, by some=20
estimates. And that poses a problem for a host of=20
media companies that had grown accustomed to=20
their stations' steady, if not always growing,=20
profits. The downturn could accelerate stations'=20
chase for new revenue streams, such as online=20
classifieds and streaming video, predicts Gordon=20
Borrell, chief executive of media-research firm=20
Borrell Associates. He also says it could speed a=20
shakeout in the business: "We don't think local=20
markets will be able to support four or five=20
local broadcast-TV stations, and we think some of=20
the weaker ones may fail" in a few years. The TV=20
industry has long relied on political advertising=20
in election years. Local "spot" TV ad revenue --=20
defined as spending in local markets by national=20
or local advertisers -- typically grows at least=20
10% in election years and falls in off years,=20
according to data from TNS Media Intelligence,=20
which tracks spending in the top 100 U.S. media=20
markets. This year, political advertising pumped=20
about $216.1 million into the local TV ad market=20
in the first quarter, more than double the $99.7=20
million in the first quarter of 2004, the last=20
presidential election year, according to Evan=20
Tracey, chief operating officer of the Campaign=20
Media Analysis Group at TNS. Even so, overall=20
revenues are down, in comparison to the 8.7% rise=20
in local ad revenue the industry saw in the first quarter of 2004.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120907863898543151.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

THE SELF-LOATHING "LIBERAL" MEDIA
[SOURCE: Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Arianna Huffington]
[Commentary] Huffington has been thinking some=20
more about CNN hiring Tony Snow as a commentator.=20
Coming in the wake of Newsweek's hiring of Karl=20
Rove, and the New York Times' hiring of Bill=20
Kristol, the mainstream media's embrace of these=20
unabashed propagandists has revealed a=20
self-loathing streak a mile wide. Have they been=20
so cowed by the Right's relentless branding of=20
them as "liberal" that they feel compelled to=20
show they're not sleeping with the enemy? And=20
make no mistake, Rove, Kristol, and Snow are the=20
enemies -- of honesty, truth, facts, reality, and=20
the public's right to know. The fanatical right=20
has put a modern media twist on Lenin:=20
"Self-loathing liberals will hand us the=20
microphone with which we will bludgeon them."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/the-self-loathing-liber...
b_98419.html

BROADCASTING

CONSUMERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DIGITAL TV CONVERTER COUPONS
[SOURCE: ConsumerAffairs.com, AUTHOR: Martin H. Bosworth]
Consumers Union is calling on the National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration=20
(NTIA) and Congress to address the problem of the=20
90-day expiration date on the government-issued=20
coupons that help consumers buy digital converter=20
boxes. Currently, the $40 government coupons=20
expire 90 days after issue, with no option of=20
replacement or reissue. It's just the latest of a=20
string of problems and missteps in the=20
decade-long attempt to move television=20
broadcasters to a different frequency band. A=20
report earlier this month warned that television=20
viewers in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and=20
other major metro areas may find reliable=20
television reception to be a thing of the past when the transition occurs.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/04/dtv_coupons.html

NTIA TO WAIVE COUPON REQUIREMENT FOR GROUP HOMES, PO BOXES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
As expected, the National Telecommunications and=20
Information Administration proposed waiving its=20
digital-TV-to-analog converter-box-coupon=20
requirements to allow nursing-home residents and=20
those with Post Office boxes to apply for the=20
coupons. That came in a notice of proposed=20
rulemaking that was published Thursday in the=20
Federal Register. The NTIA used a definition of=20
qualifying household that did not include either=20
nursing homes or those with P.O. boxes, which=20
raised questions on Capitol Hill about how some=20
seniors and rural viewers -- two of the=20
populations most affected by the DTV switch --=20
were going to get boxes. The NTIA used the Census=20
Bureau definition for qualified households, but=20
that excluded P.O. boxes and group homes. The=20
proposed change was supplied to senators Tuesday,=20
many of whom, like ranking Republican Ted Stevens=20
(Alaska), are from states with hefty rural populations that use P.O. boxes.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6554550.html?rssid=3D193
* Federal Register notice
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2008/DTV_NPRM_080424.pdf

HOLIDAYS, FALLING PRICES SPUR HDTV PURCHASES: STUDY
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Larry Barrett]
More than 5.5 million households purchased an=20
HDTV set for the first time during the 2007-2008=20
holiday and Super Bowl season, according to=20
findings released Thursday from a survey=20
conducted by market researcher Frank N. Magid=20
Associates. The online survey, which gathered=20
HDTV buying and ownership information from 1,235=20
U.S. consumers age 21 and older, found that=20
25%=97or roughly 28 million total households=97of=20
Americans now own at least one HDTV set and will=20
be able to receive HD programming when the DTV=20
transition deadline arrives on Feb. 17, 2009. In=20
addition, more than 3 million homes added a=20
second HDTV ahead of Super Bowl XLII in February,=20
meaning that almost 10 million American households now have two or more HDT=
Vs.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6554727.html?nid=3D4262

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

TEENS DO NOT CONSIDER A LOT OF THEIR ELECTRONIC TEXTS AS WRITING
[SOURCE: Pew Internet & American Life Project, AUTHOR: Amanda Lenhart]
The state of writing among teens today is marked=20
by an interesting paradox: While teens are=20
heavily embedded in a tech-rich world and craft a=20
significant amount of electronic text, they see a=20
fundamental distinction between their electronic=20
social communications and the more formal writing=20
they do for school or for personal reasons. 85%=20
of youth ages 12-17 engage at least occasionally=20
in some form of electronic personal=20
communication, which includes text messaging,=20
sending email or instant messages, or posting=20
comments on social networking sites. 60% of teens=20
do not think of these electronic texts as "writing."
http://www.pewinternet.org/press_release.asp?r=3D301
* Writing, Technology and Teens
http://www.pewinternet.org/report_display.asp?r=3D247
* Study: Teens say e-text isn't writing (C|Net)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9927251-7.html?part=3Drss&subj=3Dnews&tag=
=3D2547-1_3-0-5
* Informal Style of Electronic Messages Is=20
Showing Up in Schoolwork, Study Finds (NYTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/education/25writing.html?ref=3Dtodaysp...

ARE WIRED KIDS WELL SERVED BY SCHOOLS?
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Stefanie Olsen]
Researchers from the University of Southern=20
California and University of California at=20
Berkeley presented their first findings from one=20
of the largest ethnographic studies on kids in=20
digital environments. Kids have long been=20
attracted to extracurricular activities like=20
dance or sports, but researchers say digital=20
media is bringing up a new generation who are=20
creators of media rather than just passive=20
consumers of it. Within these digital=20
environments among peers, kids who create and=20
evaluate media are deriving a sense of=20
competence, autonomy, self-determination and=20
connectedness, researchers say. "Kids associate=20
one word with school -- 'boring,'" said Deborah=20
Stipek, dean and professor of education at=20
Stanford. But kids' levels of engagement with the=20
Internet and games could give educators new ideas=20
for upping school's status. "The question becomes=20
what is the role of school in this larger=20
environment," Stipek said. Are schools=20
disconnected from real-world tech skills? Dale=20
Dougherty, founding editor and publisher of Make=20
and Craft magazines, said during the panel that=20
his team asked an audience of programmers where=20
they learned to write code. Only 15 percent said=20
that they learned programming at school. The full=20
research will be published later this year as=20
part of a MacArthur Foundation grant.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9928174-7.html?tag=3Dnefd.top

DOJ NETS MORE GUILTY PLEAS IN E-RATE FRAUD CHARGES
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Grant Gross]
Former co-owners of DeltaNet, a New Jersey=20
computer service provider, have agreed to plead=20
guilty to charges related to defrauding a=20
government program designed to help schools and=20
libraries in poor areas connect to the Internet,=20
the U.S. Department of Justice announced. The DOJ=20
filed conspiracy charges Wednesday in U.S.=20
District Court for the District of Kansas in=20
Kansas City against Benjamin Rowner and Jay H.=20
Soled, former owners of DeltaNet, for their role=20
in defrauding the E-Rate program, the DOJ said.=20
The pair conspired to defraud the E-Rate program=20
by submitting false statements and keeping=20
important information from the Universal Service=20
Administrative Co., which administers the E-Rate=20
Program for the U.S. Federal Communications=20
Commission, the DOJ said. Rowner and Soled=20
participated in the conspiracy between 1999 and=20
2003, and the fraud affected schools from=20
California to New York, the DOJ said. With their=20
plea agreement, pending a judge's approval, the=20
men agreed to cooperate with the DOJ's ongoing=20
investigation into E-Rate fraud.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/04/24/DOJ-nets-two-more-guilty-pleas...
-E-Rate-fraud_1.html

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

GOP WANTS TO TACK FISA BILL ONTO WAR SUPPLEMENTAL
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Klaus Marre]
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) announced Thursday=20
that he will try to attach a measure updating the=20
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as=20
an amendment to the war supplemental bill. Rep=20
Lewis, the ranking Republican on the House=20
Appropriations Committee, said he would make the=20
move if the war funding bill is taken up by the=20
panel. =93It=92s time for the Democratic leaders to=20
put our national security ahead of the desires of=20
trial lawyers and pass the FISA bill that was=20
passed by the Senate,=94 the lawmaker said. =93This=20
Congress should make this legislation one of its=20
top priorities until the intelligence gap is=20
closed.=94 Caroline Fredrickson, director of the=20
American Civil Liberties Union Washington=20
Legislative Office said, "Contrary to the=20
administration=92s persistent fear mongering, the=20
expiration of the Protect America Act has not=20
caused the collapse of our intelligence=20
capabilities. All that has happened is that an=20
unnecessary law has not been renewed. In fact,=20
while testifying before Congress yesterday, FBI=20
Director Mueller claimed he was unaware of any=20
wiretaps being imperiled or denied since the PAA=20
lapsed. As all sides continue to negotiate on=20
FISA reform, we strongly urge the House to remain=20
steadfast. The House stood strong last month and=20
we expect it to do so again. The bottom line here=20
is that we are nine months away from a new=20
president. There is no reason for this Congress=20
to hand this administration a going away present=20
of unfettered and warrantless wiretapping."
http://thehill.com/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&task=3Dview&id=3D72871...
emid=3D70
* ACLU Urges House to Remain Firm as FISA Stalemate Continues
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/35012prs20080424.html

QUICKLY -- Apple coming to terms with iPhone=20
'unlocking,' says analyst; Only 11 Top Newspaper=20
Web Sites Report Increase in Time Spent; Has NAB=20
Found Scapegoat for Robbins Speech?

APPLE COMING TO TERMS WITH iPHONE 'UNLOCKING,' SAYS ANALYST
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Gregg Keizer -- Computerworld]
Apple's attitude about unlocked iPhones hints=20
that the company will abandon its business model=20
of grabbing a piece of mobile carriers' revenues=20
in order to make its goal of selling 10 million=20
smart phones this year, an analyst said Thursday.=20
"They seemed absolutely blithe about making the=20
10-million number," said Ezra Gottheil, an=20
analyst with Technology Business Research,=20
referring to comments by Apple executives during=20
Wednesday's earnings conference call. "And I get=20
the funny sense that ultimately the whole idea of=20
locked iPhones and the revenue almost doesn't=20
interest them." Several times during the call,=20
Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's COO, and Tim Cook, the=20
company's CFO, stood by the 10-million iPhone=20
goal. "We are confident on hitting the 10 million=20
for the year," Cook said. According to the sales=20
figures Apple released yesterday for the first=20
three months of 2008 -- its second fiscal quarter=20
-- the company sold 1.7 million iPhones=20
worldwide, leaving 8.3 million more to go if it's=20
to reach its iPhone sales goal.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/04/24/Apple-coming-to-terms-with-iPh...
-unlocking-says-analyst_1.html

ONLY 11 TOP NEWSPAPER WEB SITES REPORT INCREASE IN TIME SPENT
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Jennifer Saba]
A little more than one third of the top 30=20
newspaper Web sites reported an increase in the=20
time spent per person in March, according to new=20
data from Nielsen Online. The average time spent=20
per person for Politico soared about 200% in=20
March, up an average of 15 minutes from 5 minutes=20
the same month a year ago. Village Voice Media=20
doubled its average to almost 7 minutes in March=20
2008 from about 4 minutes in March 2007. The=20
Seattle Post-Intelligencer jumped more than 80%=20
to 11 minutes from 6 minutes in March 2007. Web=20
sites that experienced drops included The Atlanta=20
Journal-Constitution from 28 minutes in March=20
2007 to about 11 minutes in March 2008;=20
Philly.com down from an average of 21 minutes in=20
March 2007 to about 7 minutes in March 2008. In=20
the case of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution,=20
monthly unique traffic was up 28% in March year-over-year.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003794092

HAS NAB FOUND SCAPEGOAT FOR ROBBINS SPEECH?
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
Sources says the sudden departure this week of=20
Pam Magnani, one of the association's senior vice=20
presidents, was due at least in part to her role=20
in scheduling actor Tim Robbins as a keynote=20
speaker at the NAB convention last week. Robbins=20
upset some broadcasters with his profanity-laced speech critical of media.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/04/24/daily.9/
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------