May 2008

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Senate Votes to Block FCC's Media Ownership Rule Change
Senators must oppose media consolidation
OMB: President Should Veto FCC Override
CBS to Buy CNET for $1.8 Billion
Public Knowledge, Media Access Project clarify letter from Georgetown Part=
ners
Icahn's bid may force Yahoo back into Microsoft's arms

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Can the Feds enforce Network Neutrality? Maybe not
Cox Blocking P2P, Too
One in Five U.S. Households Has Never Used E-mail
NCTA Hails Farm Bill's RUS Loan Reforms
Canadian Internet Regulation

BROADCASTING/CABLE
NAB Wants Eyes On Wilmington DTV Switch
Study: Moderate Growth for Cable Through 2012
It's No Gossip, Ratings Slip Threatens CW Network
FCC OKs Sale of Bankrupt Philly Station

QUICKLY -- Universal Service Deadline Changed;=20
Straight talk; Governments must intervene to end=20
IP address shortage, says OECD; Microsoft Joins=20
Effort for Laptops for Children ; DNS trouble=20
knocks NSA off Internet; Florida seeks to fine Verizon for bad service

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

SENATE VOTES TO BLOCK FCC'S MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULE CHANGE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
On Thursday night, the US Senate voted, without=20
debate, to invalidate the Federal Communications=20
Commission's Dec. 18 decision to loosen the=20
newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule. The=20
measure passed on a voice vote. "The Senate spoke=20
for a huge majority of Americans tonight by=20
voting to overturn the flawed FCC decision=20
gutting our long-standing ban on=20
newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership," said=20
Federal Communications Commission Commissioner=20
Michael Copps, an opponent of the relaxation.=20
"With courageous leaders like Sen. Byron Dorgan,=20
the Senate has struck a blow for localism and=20
diversity in a media environment crying out for=20
more of both." FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told=20
reporters recently that he was sensitive to the=20
input of Congress on the issue, but he thought it=20
was "important to update our rules to reflect a=20
changing media marketplace, and particularly the=20
fact that the newspaper rule had not been changed=20
since it was put in place in 1978 and the=20
newspaper industry was in significant financial=20
distress. But, obviously, the Commission will=20
follow the law as it is ultimately enacted," he=20
added. The resolution now must be voted on by the=20
House. The Bush administration reiterated=20
Thursday that it supported the FCC's move,=20
opposed the resolution, and would likely veto it.=20
Late Thursday, it had been looking like bills and=20
debate on other matters would push the=20
media-ownership debate into Friday or Monday, but=20
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stepped=20
in to clear the way for the resolution's passage=20
Thursday night. Josh Silver, executive director=20
of Free Press, which coordinates the=20
StopBigMedia.com Coalition, said: "Today's=20
historic Senate vote is a resounding victory for=20
the vast majority of Americans who oppose media=20
consolidation. We applaud the bipartisan=20
leadership of Senators Dorgan and Snowe for=20
acting in the public interest. But to stop Big=20
Media from polluting our local airwaves with more=20
junk journalism and propaganda, we need the House=20
to move this legislation forward quickly. At this=20
watershed moment, public outrage against Big=20
Media has reached a breaking point. The Bush=20
administration's threats to undercut this=20
bipartisan effort in Congress show how out of=20
touch this president is with the will of the=20
American people. But we=92re not going to stand=20
idly by and let the White House green light Big=20
Media's expansion. The great pendulum of=20
political change is swinging away from corrosive=20
consolidation and toward better media."
http://benton.org/node/11046
* SJ 28
http://www.benton.org/node/10069
* Digg this article
http://digg.com/politics/Senate_Votes_to_Block_FCC_s_Media_Ownership_Rul...
hange

SENATORS MUST OPPOSE MEDIA CONSOLIDATION
[SOURCE: Capitol Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] Congress is considering a resolution=20
expressing formal disapproval of the Federal=20
Communications Commission's new media ownership=20
rule. Rolling back the FCC's heavy-handed rule=20
change is good for journalism, which is=20
threatened by the moves of big-media companies to=20
consolidate newsrooms. It's good for urban and=20
rural communities, which are best covered and=20
best served by diverse and competitive media.=20
Most importantly, it's good for democracy, which=20
thrives only when there is a vibrant debate=20
fostered by newspapers, radio stations and=20
television stations that are independent enough=20
to consider events and issues from different=20
perspectives. Sens Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Russ=20
Feingold (D-WI) should cast enthusiastic votes in favor of this necessary m=
ove.
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/editorial/286530
* Senate Likely to Debate FCC-Blocking Bill Thursday
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6561412.html

OMB: PRESIDENT SHOULD VETO FCC OVERRIDE
[SOURCE: White House, AUTHOR: Office of Management and Budget]
The Administration strongly opposes Senate=20
passage of S. J. Res. 28, a resolution=20
disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal=20
Communications Commission (FCC) with respect to=20
broadcast media ownership. The FCC rule, which is=20
the product of years of study and extensive=20
public comment and consultation, modestly and=20
judiciously modernizes decades-old media=20
ownership regulations that highly restrict=20
cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcast=20
stations. As a result of technological advances=20
that have led to a dramatic and permanent=20
transformation of the media marketplace in which=20
citizens now have access to a multitude of=20
additional sources of information, these outdated=20
restrictions are not necessary. The new rule more=20
accurately reflects this changing media landscape=20
by taking into account the abundance of news and=20
information outlets that exist today, and=20
furthers the public interest by providing greater=20
financial flexibility to newspaper and broadcast=20
outlets struggling to survive in today's=20
intensely competitive media environment. In=20
addition to reducing the prior rule's excessive=20
regulation of well-functioning markets, the new=20
FCC rule includes substantial constraints to=20
guard against excessive concentration. The=20
Administration supported this FCC action and=20
strongly opposes any attempt to overturn this=20
rule by legislative means. To disapprove this=20
rule and require the Federal government to=20
reassert regulatory constraints on business=20
decisions in a competitive media marketplace=20
would exacerbate financial challenges facing=20
newspapers and broadcast stations and thus not be=20
in the public interest. Accordingly, if S.J. Res.=20
28 were presented to the President, his senior=20
advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/110-2/sapsjr28-s.pdf
* White House Vows Veto Of Measure Overturning FCC Media Rule (Dow Jones)
http://www.lloyds.com/CmsPhoenix/DowJonesArticle.aspx?id=3D391564
* Learn more about S.J.RES.28
http://www.benton.org/node/10069
* Digg this post
http://digg.com/politics/OMB_President_Should_Veto_FCC_Override_Benton_F...
dation

CBS TO BUY CNET FOR $1.8 BILLION
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Mike Barris]
Mass media company CBS will acquire new media,=20
technology-focused, online news company CNet=20
Networks for $1.8 billion. CNET owns such=20
Internet entertainment, news and information=20
sites as CNET, ZDNet and GameSpot.com. CNET's=20
sites will be combined with CBS's news and sports=20
sites as well as CBS Radio and CBS Television=20
Stations digital media platforms, and the=20
distribution network of the CBS Audience Network,=20
which is made up of more than 300 partner Web=20
sites and reaches 82% of all U.S. online users.=20
CNET shareholders will get $11.50 a share, a 45%=20
premium to Wednesday's closing price and above=20
any price at which the stock has traded in about=20
two years. Shares of CNET soared 44% to $11.44 in=20
recent trading, while CBS's stock fell 3.7% to=20
$23.91. CNET is facing increased competition for=20
users and online advertising dollars. The=20
company's revenue rose 10% in 2007, to $405.9=20
million, but its reported profit was helped by a=20
big tax benefit. CNET reported a loss of $6.1=20
million in the first quarter, as revenue rose=20
slightly. Saul Hansell thinks CNet -- well=20
respected, with some good technology and brands,=20
but growing slowly -- makes CBS -- a company=20
with well-known brands and sluggish growth -- "look sexier."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121085061416295095.html?mod=3Dhps_us_wha...
news
(requires subscription)
http://benton.org/node/11031

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, MEDIA ACCESS PROJECT CLARIFY LETTER FROM GEORGETOWN PARTN=
ERS
[SOURCE: OrbitCast, AUTHOR: ]
Public interest groups Public Knowledge and Media=20
Access Project want to make sure the FCC=20
understands their position on the Sirius-XM=20
merger in light of a recent letter from Chester=20
Davenport the Managing Director of Georgetown=20
Partners. While they confirmed that they did=20
indeed meet with Georgetown Partners, the groups=20
reiterated that they "take no position with=20
respect to [Georgetown Partners'] specific=20
proposal that 20% of the merged XM/Sirius=20
company's spectrum capacity be leased on an=20
arms-length basis to an independent=20
entity." "This approach could be a useful=20
supplement to, but not a substitute for, the 5%=20
non-commercial, educational set aside," they=20
state in their letter to the FCC. Should the=20
Federal Communications Commission determine that=20
Georgetown's proposal is in the public interest,=20
both Public Knowledge and Media Access Project=20
support the minority-owned group's proposal to=20
assist non-commercial, educational programmers.
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/public-knowledge-media-access-project-...
rify-letter-from-georgetown-partners.html
* See filing
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=3Dpdf&id_d...
ment=3D6520009789
* Georgetown Partners, MAP Tag Team On Sirius Set-Asides
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6561472.html

ICAHN'S BID MAY FORCE YAHOO BACK INTO MICROSOFT'S ARMS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Jon Swartz, Adam Shell]
Carl Icahn's audacious bid to overthrow Yahoo's=20
board could bring Microsoft back to the=20
bargaining table and revive the tech megamerger.=20
On Thursday, the billionaire investor instigated=20
a plan to expel Yahoo's board of directors for=20
"irresponsible" and "unconscionable" acts that=20
prompted Microsoft to drop a $47.5 billion bid to=20
buy Yahoo. In a letter to Yahoo Chairman Roy=20
Bostock, Icahn says outraged Yahoo shareholders=20
urged him to lead a campaign to replace Yahoo's=20
10 directors at the company's July 3 shareholders=20
meeting. He has plenty of supporters. Paulson &=20
Co., the $30 billion hedge fund that has built up=20
a stake of about 50 million shares in Yahoo in=20
recent months, says it intends to support Icahn's=20
slate but hopes Yahoo hammers out a deal with=20
Microsoft first. Longtime Yahoo shareholder Ryan=20
Jacob, manager of Jacob Internet fund, also backs=20
the Icahn bid. The best-case scenario, he says,=20
is if Icahn succeeds in ousting Yahoo's current=20
board with a new board more "amenable" to doing a=20
deal with Microsoft. Icahn's move, in essence,=20
pressures Yahoo to either strike an advertising=20
partnership with Google or merge with Microsoft, tech analysts say.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080516/1b_yahoo16.art.htm

INTERNET/BROADBAND

CAN THE FEDS ENFORCE NET NEUTRALITY? MAYBE NOT
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
Federal regulators may be probing Comcast's=20
throttling of BitTorrent filesharing traffic, but=20
can they actually take action, if they choose,=20
against the company or any other broadband=20
provider on Net neutrality grounds? The answer=20
may not be simple. And if the Federal=20
Communications Commission and other regulators=20
are really powerless -- in other words, if they=20
need Congress to enact new laws -- it means that=20
any threats to take action against Comcast, based=20
on alleged violations of the law today, are=20
merely empty ones. That's the issue that former=20
staffers and officials from the FCC and Federal=20
Trade Commission took up at an event on Thursday.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9945418-7.html?part=3Drss&subj=3Dnews&tag=
=3D2547-1_3-0-5

COX BLOCKING P2P, TOO
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Todd Spangler]
Cox Communications appears to be impeding=20
peer-to-peer file-sharing traffic in the same way=20
Comcast has, according to a study released=20
Thursday by a German research group. Germany=92s=20
Max Planck Institute, a science and technology=20
research organization, analyzed a test of 8,175=20
Internet volunteers around the world and found=20
that both Comcast and Cox are blocking=20
peer-to-peer traffic over their networks during=20
all hours of the day. In a statement sent to the=20
Associated Press, Cox said: "To ensure the best=20
possible online experience for our customers, Cox=20
actively manages network traffic through a=20
variety of methods including traffic=20
prioritization and protocol filtering." Cox also=20
noted that its subscriber agreement has indicated=20
since at least 2006 that it uses protocol=20
filtering to manage network resources, and denied=20
that the techniques it uses to manage bandwidth=20
amounts to =93blocking=94 any Internet service. The=20
Max Planck study found that 82 of the 151 Cox=20
broadband subscribers (54%) that voluntarily=20
tested their connections through the research=20
group=92s site had their P2P connections blocked.=20
Of the 788 Comcast subscribers participating, 491=20
(62%) were blocked. Gigi Sohn of Public Knowledge=20
said, "These results lead us to three=20
conclusions. First, the largest cable companies=20
were doing more blocking than they have admitted=20
to Congress or to the FCC. Second, other cable=20
companies, and all telephone companies, can=20
manage their networks without the need for=20
blocking the traffic of customers. Finally, the=20
fact that the blocking goes on all the time=20
should tell the Commission that it needs to act soon to prevent the practic=
e."
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6561294.html?nid=3D4262
* Public Knowledge Says New Study Shows FCC Needs To Act on Comcast Blocking
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1570
* Results from tests for BitTorrent traffic blocking
http://broadband.mpi-sws.mpg.de/transparency/results/
* Some file-sharing uploads hindered: study
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN1531769920080515

ONE IN FIVE US HOUSEHOLDS HAS NEVER USED E-MAIL
[SOURCE: Parks Associates, AUTHOR: Press release]
Roughly one-fifth of all U.S. heads-of-household=20
have never used e-mail, according to National=20
Technology Scan, a forthcoming study from Parks=20
Associates. This annual phone survey of U.S.=20
households found 20 million households are=20
without Internet access, approximately 18% of all=20
U.S. households. =93Nearly one out of three=20
household heads has never used a computer to=20
create a document,=94 said John Barrett, director,=20
research, Parks Associates. =93These data=20
underscore the significant digital divide between=20
the connected majority and the homes in the=20
unconnected minority that rarely, if ever, use a=20
computer.=94 Age and education are factors in this=20
divide. One-half of those who have never used=20
e-mail are over 65, and 56 percent had no=20
schooling beyond high school. National Technology=20
Scan found just seven percent of the 20 million=20
=93disconnected=94 homes plan to subscribe to an=20
Internet service within the next 12 months.=20
Still, the study reports a steady decline in the=20
number of disconnected households when comparing=20
findings with previous years. National Technology=20
Scan reported at year-end 2006 that 29 percent of=20
all U.S. households (31 million homes) did not=20
have Internet access, citing low perceived value of the Internet.
http://newsroom.parksassociates.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=3D5067

NCTA HAILS FARM BILL'S RUS LOAN REFORMS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
The cable industry's main trade association=20
hailed congressional passage Thursday of a=20
massive farm bill that would reduce the flow of=20
broadband subsidies into rural markets where the=20
technology already exists. In recent years, the=20
cable industry has complained that the U.S.=20
Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities=20
Service has been subsidizing broadband network=20
construction in markets already served by cable=20
incumbents, ignoring the intent of Congress to=20
assist broadband deployment in unserved areas.=20
"This legislation sharpens the focus of the RUS's=20
Broadband Loan Program by limiting loans in areas=20
where competition already exists, and targeting=20
loans to areas without widespread access to=20
broadband service," said Kyle McSlarrow,=20
president of the National Cable &=20
Telecommunications Association. In general, the=20
bill would tighten the definition of a rural area=20
and tie loan eligibility to the percentage of=20
homes with access to just a single broadband provider.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6561428.html?nid=3D4262

CANADIAN INTERNET REGULATION
[SOURCE: The Toronto Star, AUTHOR: Chris Sorensen]
The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications=20
Commission, Canada's broadcast watchdog, will=20
hold public hearings next year into the thorny=20
question of extending its purview to the=20
Internet, a medium that it deemed a=20
regulatory-free zone nearly a decade ago. The=20
CRTC released a final, 75-page report that=20
summarizes research and stakeholder opinion on a=20
wide range of issues, including Canadian content=20
that's broadcast online or mobile devices, and=20
the recent debate over Internet Service Providers=20
who deliberately slow certain types of Internet=20
traffic. The report, a draft version of which was=20
first revealed in March, was created amid=20
pressure from some Canadian content creators who=20
are concerned their work is increasingly being=20
broadcast on the Internet, where it is free from=20
regulatory oversight. Among the more=20
controversial proposals are raising a levy on=20
Internet Service Providers to pay for the=20
creation of new media content. The public is also=20
invited to comment on the issues at=20
http://crtc.newmedia.econsultation.ca until June=20
15. Also, a group of Internet service providers=20
that resell bandwidth on Bell Canada's network=20
has lost a temporary bid to shelter their=20
subscribers from the phone company's practice of=20
slowing down certain types of Internet traffic.=20
The CRTC turned down the Canadian Association of=20
Internet Providers' request for an injunction,=20
saying the group failed to demonstrate its=20
members are being harmed by Bell's efforts to=20
"shape" the Internet traffic of its wholesale=20
clients. CRTC mailed out a set of questions to=20
Bell Canada asking the company to explain exactly=20
how and why it decided to slow down certain=20
file-sharing traffic on wholesale networks it=20
leases to smaller independent Internet service=20
providers. Traffic shaping generally refers to=20
the use of special software to sniff out and slow=20
down data packets associated with=20
bandwidth-intensive services such as file sharing.
http://www.benton.org/node/11042

BROADCASTING/CABLE

NAB WANTS EYES ON WILMINGTON DTV SWITCH
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The National Association of Broadcasters wants to=20
make sure that the government is paying=20
sufficient attention to the potential problems=20
with its Wilmington (NC) test of the switch to=20
digital TV. Concerned that the National=20
Telecommunications & Information Administration=20
is bogged down with DTV-to-analog converter box=20
coupon requests, the National Association of=20
Broadcasters President David Rehr has asked NTIA=20
acting head Meredith Baker to make requests from Wilmington a priority.
Rehr urged NTIA and the FCC to get together to=20
make sure that converter boxes that pass through=20
an analog signal be made available as soon as=20
possible. He pointed out that the CBS station in=20
the market is a low-power station that is not=20
currently broadcasting in digital -- low powers=20
don't have any deadline for their conversion, in=20
contrast to full-power stations who must already=20
be broadcasting a digital signal and pull the=20
plug on analog Feb. 17, 2009. NAB also asked for=20
a weekly update from NTIA on coupon applications=20
and redemptions in the Wilmington DMA. Last week,=20
Baker said 5% of the Wilmington market have requested more than 23,000 coup=
ons.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6561427.html?rssid=3D193

STUDY: MODERATE GROWTH FOR CABLE THROUGH 2012
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
A new SNL Kagan survey predicts annual=20
multichannel-subscription growth of 2.1%, or=20
108.5 million by 2012, with the total=20
multichannel market accounting for about 89% of=20
TV households. Kagan did not predict that the=20
digital-TV switch will drive very many=20
over-the-air viewers to multichannel providers,=20
saying that about 10% of over-the-air households=20
will opt to move to multichannel, with most of=20
those going to cable. Even so, Kagan=92s study=20
predicted that cable's market share will drop=20
from 64% to 59% by 2012, with telcos' market=20
share jumping to 9%. It sees satellite's share=20
dropping due to the lack of a bundled=20
video/voice/data option. The study said migrating=20
customers to digital will be key to stemming that cable-market-share erosio=
n.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6561349.html?rssid=3D193

IT'S NO GOSSIP, RATINGS SLIP THREATENS CW NETWORK
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Rebecca Dana]
Time may be running out for the CW network. Two=20
years after CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc.=20
combined their second-tier networks UPN and WB=20
into the youth-oriented CW to pool young viewers=20
prized by advertisers, the network's hopes of=20
surviving are looking increasingly bleak. Despite=20
the buzz about "Gossip Girl," a prime-time soap=20
opera about a group of rich kids on the Upper=20
East Side of Manhattan, the network has lost=20
about 28% of its target audience of 18 to 34 year=20
olds so far this season. Its ratings during this=20
month's "sweeps" period -- the all-important=20
measure upon which future advertising rates are=20
set -- are down about 22%. Advertisers eager to=20
reach a young demographic initially clamored to=20
sign on to the CW, but have since cooled to the=20
network. Steven Kalb, director of broadcast media=20
for media-buying firm MediaHub, owned by=20
Interpublic Group, says there were high hopes for=20
the network when last year's lineup was unveiled.=20
Now, he says, "It has collapsed." Part of the=20
problem is that the CW's young audience is most=20
prone to spend leisure time on the Internet. Last=20
winter's Hollywood writers' strike, which forced=20
scripted shows off the air for three months,=20
hastened the defection of viewers to the Web.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121089546043097065.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

FCC OKs SALE OF BANKRUPT PHILLY STATION
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: ]
The Federal Communications Commission has=20
approved the sale of bankrupt WTVE Philadelphia=20
to WRNN-TV Associates for $13.5 million. WRNN-TV=20
currently operates WRNN New York, an independent=20
TV station serving the Hudson Valley north of=20
Manhattan. It enjoys cable carriage throughout=20
the tri-state market. Billed as the Regional News=20
Network, WRNN offers a mix of news and paid=20
programming. Richard French, a principal in the=20
station and an on-air political commentator,=20
declined to comment on the deal or his plans for the WTVE prior to the clos=
ing.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/15/daily.15/

QUICKLY

UNIVERSAL SERVICE DEADLINE CHANGED
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission just=20
improved a lot of people's weekend. The FCC=20
decided to change the deadline for Reply Comments=20
three Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking=20
comment regarding the high-cost universal service=20
support program. Comments were due Monday May 19,=20
2008 -- they are now due Monday June 2, 2008.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-1168A1.doc

STRAIGHT TALK
[SOURCE: The Phoenix, AUTHOR: Adam Reilly]
With the two main contestants for the=20
presidential general election all but decided,=20
it=92s time to start covering Sen John McCain=20
(R-AZ) again =97 not by trotting out the usual=20
war-hero-turned-blunt-maverick narrative, but by=20
taking a hard look at the strengths and=20
weaknesses he'd bring to the presidency. Of=20
course, Sen McCain has a well-documented knack=20
for charming the press into submission. So here,=20
for the men and women who'll be spending long=20
hours on the Straight Talk Express, is a handy=20
list of 10 McCain stories worth pursuing over the next few months
http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid61555.aspx
* McCain campaign threatened to cut off Newsweek=92s access (Think Progress)
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/15/mccain-campaign-threatened-to-cut-of...
ewsweeks-access/

GOVERNMENTS MUST INTERVENE TO END IP ADDRESS SHORTAGE, SAYS OECD
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Peter Sayer]
Businesses alone are not doing enough to avert an=20
impending shortage of Internet Protocol=20
addresses, and governments must work with them to=20
secure the future of the Internet economy,=20
according to a report published Thursday by the=20
Organization for Economic Cooperation and=20
Development (OECD). The number of IP addresses,=20
needed for Web sites, servers, and PCs to=20
communicate with one another over the Internet,=20
is limited, and almost 85 percent of addresses=20
are now in use. At the current rate of growth,=20
the pool of available addresses will be exhausted=20
by 2011. Fortunately, a solution to this problem=20
has already been developed: a new version of the=20
Internet Protocol, IPv6, which provides a far=20
greater number of addresses. Adopting IPv6 means=20
making extensive changes to networking hardware and software.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/05/15/Govts-must-intervene-to-end-IP...
dress-shortage_1.html

MICROSOFT JOINS EFFORT FOR LAPTOPS FOR CHILDREN
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Steve Lohr]
After a years-long dispute, Microsoft and the=20
computing and education project One Laptop Per=20
Child said Thursday that they had reached an=20
agreement to offer Windows on the organization=92s=20
computers. Microsoft long resisted joining the=20
ambitious project because its laptops used the=20
Linux operating system, a freely distributed=20
alternative to Windows. The group=92s small, sturdy=20
laptops, designed for use by children in=20
developing nations, have been hailed for their=20
innovative design. But they are sold mainly to=20
governments and education ministries, and initial=20
sales were slow, partly because countries were=20
reluctant to buy machines that did not run=20
Windows, the dominant operating system. Education=20
ministries want low-cost computers to help=20
further education, but many see familiarity with=20
Windows-based computing as a marketable skill that can improve job prospect=
s.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/technology/16laptop.html?ref=3Dtodaysp...
(requires registration)
* Laptop Program for Kids In Poor Countries Teams Up With Microsoft's Windo=
ws
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121090009765197433.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
* Windows to run on One Laptop Per Child computer
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1536776320080516

DNS TROUBLE KNOCKS NSA OFF INTERNET
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Robert McMillan]
A server problem at the U.S. National Security=20
Agency has knocked the secretive intelligence agency off the Internet.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/05/15/DNS-trouble-knocks-NSA-off-Int...
et_1.html

FLORIDA SEEKS TO FINE VERIZON FOR BAD SERVICE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Ritsuko Ando]
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, along=20
with the state's public counsel and an attorney=20
for the AARP retiree group, asked the Florida=20
Public Service Commission to levy a $6.5 million=20
penalty against Verizon for willful violation of=20
rules on service repairs. The No. 2 U.S.=20
telephone company said its service is fine.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1530943620080515
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...and we're outta here. Have a great weekend, first place Cubs fans!
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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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