1. Monthly archive
  2. May 2008

May 2008

FCC Fines Four Stations

The Federal Communications Commission hit four stations with a total of $64,500 in proposed fines for violating its limits on ads in kids’ shows, as well as for incomplete public records in two of the cases. The biggest proposed fines were $20,000 apiece for two low-power stations owned by Sage Broadcasting, KIDZ-LP Abilene and KIDT-LP Stamford, both Texas, for five violations apiece of the limits on ads in kids’ shows -- 10.5 minutes on weekdays, 12 minutes on weekends -- as well as not putting all of the paperwork in its public files. The other fines were for $16,500 against WLFL TV Raleigh, N.C., and WATE Knoxville, Tenn., both for a collection of kids’ ad overages including between them program-length commercials, host-selling and additional 15-second, 30-second and 60-second spots.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6563094.html?rssid=193

Open Networks Would Benefit Rural Consumers

[Commentary] Apple’s iPhone, being sold as it is through exclusive deals with wireless carriers, is currently only available in the US, UK, France, Germany and Austria. While plenty of folks outside of those countries would love to buy an iPhone, they can't -- at least, not without modifying the device’s firmware and violating Apple’s end user license agreement. Fortunately, it looks like the iPhone is set to become a truly global phenomenon next month. According to carrier announcements, rumors and speculation, the second-generation iPhone may launch simultaneously in as many as 42 countries worldwide. That means that the device will finally be available in Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America, Canada and previously unserved markets in Europe. Will there be any corner of the globe left untouched by the iPhone? Sure—just try the faraway locales known as Alaska, Vermont and Arizona.
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1586

DOJ Opposes 'Internet Freedom' Bill

Justice Department wrote to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman earlier this week opposing a bill introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) aimed at promoting global Internet freedom. The letter argues the proposal could compromise the agency's ability to work with foreign law enforcement and said certain provisions raise constitutional red flags. The Foreign Affairs Committee approved Smith's bill when the late Tom Lantos (D-CA) chaired the committee. He died earlier this year and Berman has recently been studying the bill to fully understand its ramifications. An aide said he is "in the process of holding meetings with human rights groups and with business and technology groups." Meanwhile, DOJ thinks the measure could thrust U.S. firms "into an environment of conflict of laws and to create significant difficulties for the department in the administration of the bill's requirements." As written, the bill "may have the unintended effect of prompting foreign countries to preclude United States businesses from operating in their territories, thus having the exact opposite effect of its intended goal," the letter said.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2008/05/doj_opposes_internet_fr...

States Race to Woo TV and Film

An arms race has broken out among states hoping to lure big-budget movie and television productions with financial incentives. In the past month and a half, at least four states -- Georgia, New York, Mississippi and Michigan -- have increased the scope of tax credits, cash rebates and other incentives to encourage spending money in the state and hiring local workers. They are competing with nearly 40 other states and U.S. territories that have incentive programs on the books, some with established film- and TV-production infrastructure, including New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania. California, Hollywood's home state, offers no incentives to producers despite several efforts in the state legislature. Concerns about "runaway production" cropped up again this spring when the producers of ABC's TV hit "Ugly Betty" decided to move production to New York from Los Angeles. New York recently sweetened incentives so that producers can receive back up to 30% of their production expenses via a tax credit, or 35% of expenses in New York City.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121141287312512425.html?mod=todays_us_pa...
(requires subscription)

The Telehealth Promise: Better Health Care and Cost Savings for the 21st Century

A new report released by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) finds that telehealth could save the U.S. health care system $4.28 billion by reducing patient transfers and visits to physician offices. The paper highlights telehealth’s role in controlling health costs, improving access to rural patients, and simplifying communication paperwork while also providing high quality care.

Benton's Communications-related Headlines For Thursday May 22, 2008

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Bush to Let Americans Send Cellphones to Cuban Relatives
DOJ Opposes 'Internet Freedom' Bill
Interior Allowed To Reconnect To Internet

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
Obama and McCain: Two Very Different Tech Presidents

INTERNET/BROADBAND
The Sad State of U.S. Broadband
FTC Wants to Know What Big Brother Knows About You
Lawmaker questions Google over privacy practices
What Microsoft's block of 'American Gladiators' teaches us

BROADCASTING/CABLE
Sens. to GAO: Study Access to Independent Programming
Leased Access: How Much?
FCC Fines Four Stations

TELECOM
Plan to trim cell phone cancellation fees draws criticism
Open Networks Would Benefit Rural Consumers
Mobile subscribers really do want more choice
Bell Canada Takeover Is Blocked

QUICKLY -- States Race to Woo TV and Film; The=20
Telehealth Promise: Better Health Care and Cost Savings for the 21st Century

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

BUSH TO LET AMERICANS SEND CELLPHONES TO CUBAN RELATIVES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Sheryl Gay Stolberg]
President Bush announced Wednesday that Americans=20
would soon be allowed to send cellphones to=20
relatives in Cuba, a policy shift he said was=20
intended to force the country=92s new leader, Ra=FAl=20
Castro, to make good on promised reforms by=20
giving his people the freedom to communicate. =93If=20
the Cuban regime is serious about improving life=20
for the Cuban people, it will take steps=20
necessary to make these changes meaningful,=94=20
President Bush said during a White House ceremony=20
attended by dozens of Cuban-Americans, including=20
the families of imprisoned dissidents. =93If the=20
Cuban people can be trusted with mobile phones=20
they should be trusted to speak freely in=20
public.=94 The White House said the announcement=20
did not represent a softening of the American=20
embargo on trade with Cuba, enacted in the 1960s=20
in an attempt to force a change of government by choking the Cuban economy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/washington/22prexy.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)
* Bush Will Let Cellphones Be Sent to Cuba (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121138020277110707.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
* U.S. to allow Americans to send cell phones to Cuba (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWBT00901920080522

DOJ OPPOSES 'INTERNET FREEDOM' BILL
[SOURCE: Tech Daily Dose, AUTHOR: ]
Justice Department wrote to House Foreign Affairs=20
Committee Chairman Howard Berman earlier this=20
week opposing a bill introduced by Rep.=20
Christopher Smith (R-NJ) aimed at promoting=20
global Internet freedom. The letter argues the=20
proposal could compromise the agency's ability to=20
work with foreign law enforcement and said=20
certain provisions raise constitutional red=20
flags. The Foreign Affairs Committee approved=20
Smith's bill when the late Tom Lantos (D-CA)=20
chaired the committee. He died earlier this year=20
and Berman has recently been studying the bill to=20
fully understand its ramifications. An aide said=20
he is "in the process of holding meetings with=20
human rights groups and with business and=20
technology groups." Meanwhile, DOJ thinks the=20
measure could thrust U.S. firms "into an=20
environment of conflict of laws and to create=20
significant difficulties for the department in=20
the administration of the bill's requirements."=20
As written, the bill "may have the unintended=20
effect of prompting foreign countries to preclude=20
United States businesses from operating in their=20
territories, thus having the exact opposite=20
effect of its intended goal," the letter said.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2008/05/doj_opposes_internet_fr...
om_b.php

INTERIOR ALLOWED TO RECONNECT TO INTERNET
[SOURCE: tech Daily Dose, AUTHOR: ]
In December 2001, U.S. District Court Judge Royce=20
Lamberth ordered the Interior Department to=20
disconnect from the Internet all information=20
technology systems that had access to Indian=20
trust data managed by Interior's Bureau of Indian=20
Affairs. The ruling was part of a class action=20
lawsuit accusing the government of mismanaging=20
thousands of Indian trust accounts. But now U.S.=20
District Judge James Robertson granted on motions=20
filed by Interior requesting that the Bureau of=20
Indian Affairs, the Office of Hearings and=20
Appeals, the Office of the Special Trustee, and=20
the Office of Historical Trust Accounting be=20
allowed to reconnect their networks to the Internet.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2008/05/interior_allowed_to_rec...
ect.php

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

OBAMA AND MCCAIN: TWO VERY DIFFERENT TECH PRESIDENTS
[SOURCE: TechPresident, AUTHOR: Nancy Scola]
At the annual 18th annual Computers, Freedom, and=20
Privacy conference, representatives from the=20
Obama and McCain campaigns spoke on a panel=20
called "Presidential Technology Policy:=20
Priorities for the Next Executive." The Obama=20
camp sent the professor Danny Weitzer,=20
co-director of MIT's decentralized information=20
group. The McCain camp sent Chuck Fish, the=20
former chief patent lawyer for Time Warner. The=20
two seemed almost hand-picked as embodiments of=20
the two very different ways a President Obama and=20
a President McCain would handled tech policy.
http://www.techpresident.com/blog/entry/25651/obama_and_mccain_surrogate...
escribe_two_very_different_tech_presidents

INTERNET/BROADBAND

THE SAD STATE OF US BROADBAND
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Catherine Holahan]
For the second year running, the U.S. ranked 15th=20
among the 30 members of the Organization for=20
Economic Cooperation & Development in terms of=20
broadband availability. Denmark ranked first=20
again in the annual OECD survey, followed by a=20
host of European and Asian nations. Indeed, while=20
the number of Americans with access to broadband=20
service rose 20% last year, to nearly 70 million=20
people, the most in the OECD, that amounted to=20
just 23 of every 100 residents. By contrast, the=20
top five countries in the OECD ranking all sport=20
per-capita penetration rates of better than 30%.=20
Why isn't the U.S. up to speed online? The=20
Federal Communications Commission is quick to=20
point out differences in population and geography=20
that have made it more difficult for the nation=20
to catch up with smaller countries. But=20
challenges of wiring remote communities don't=20
tell the whole story. The OECD also found that=20
U.S. broadband providers charge more than those=20
in many developed nations. Broken down by megabit=20
per second of download speed, U.S. rates ranged=20
from $2.83 to $38.41 in late 2007. Consumer=20
advocacy groups blame what they see as a market=20
with little competition. They say the ability of=20
major telephone and cable operators, such as=20
Verizon Communications, AT&T, Time Warner Cable,=20
and Comcast, to dominate their markets without=20
sharing their lines with rivals has kept out new=20
competition, enabling the companies to keep=20
prices high and investments in faster technologies low.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080522_340989...
m?campaign_id=3Drss_tech

FTC WANTS TO KNOW WHAT BIG BROTHER KNOWS ABOUT YOU
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Peter Whoriskey]
The growing practice of "behavioral targeting,"=20
or sending ads to online users based on their=20
Internet habits, is now under scrutiny by the=20
Federal Trade Commission, whose review could=20
shape not only Web advertising rules but the=20
character of the Web itself. For while public=20
interest groups argue that compiling profiles of=20
largely unsuspecting Internet users ought to be=20
illegal, online advertisers and publishers=20
respond that their ad targeting tactics protect=20
privacy and may be essential to support the free=20
content on the Web. Behavioral targeting allows=20
many Web sites to raise ad prices, because=20
advertisers will pay more when they can isolate a=20
particular audience. Limiting behavioral=20
targeting could "jeopardize the consumer's=20
ability to get free content on the Internet,"=20
said Paul Boyle of the Newspaper Association of=20
America, a trade group that represents the=20
business interests of most U.S. dailies,=20
including The Washington Post. The FTC is=20
considering guidelines, for now voluntary, that=20
would make it harder to target behavior. The=20
principles were issued in December after town=20
hall meetings, and the public comment period=20
ended last month. As the commission's=20
deliberations begin, some federal and state=20
lawmakers are weighing measures that would be=20
mandatory. New York lawmakers, for example, are=20
considering a law similar to the FTC guidelines.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR200805...
2989.html
(requires registration)

LAWMAKER QUESTIONS GOOGLE OVER PRIVACY PRACTICES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Diane Bartz]
Rep Joe Barton (R-TX), the top Republican on the=20
House of Representatives Commerce Committee,=20
asked Google chief executive Eric Schmidt on=20
Wednesday to detail the search engine's privacy=20
practices since it acquired rival DoubleClick.=20
"It is critical that Google's and DoubleClick's=20
policies and procedures for handling this=20
information be transparent, and that every effort=20
is made to protect consumers' data," Rep Barton=20
wrote in a letter to the company dated May 21. In=20
the letter, Rep Barton asked if and how data=20
collected by Google and DoubleClick about=20
computer users would be merged and how the data=20
would be used, and if Google planned to continue=20
allowing users to opt out of ad-serving cookies.=20
Privacy advocates have expressed concern that a=20
wave of consolidation in online advertising would=20
lead to a concentration of personal information=20
in the hands of a few powerful companies.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2142539620080521

WHAT MICROSOFT'S BLOCK OF 'AMERICAN GLADIATORS' TEACHES US
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Greg Sandoval]
Users of Windows Media Centers who were blocked=20
from recording two NBC shows last week are eager=20
to learn why Microsoft is taking marching orders=20
from broadcasters. Microsoft is soon expected to=20
explain why it inserted technology into Vista=20
that blocked digital TV viewers from recording=20
their favorite shows. Their current excuse--that=20
Microsoft adheres to regulations proposed by the=20
Federal Communications Commission--makes little=20
sense, as the only rules on controlling recording=20
from broadcast TV were struck down by the courts in 2005.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950082-7.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede

BROADCASTING/CABLE

SENS TO GAO: STUDY ACCESS TO INDEPENDENT PROGRAMMING
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Sens Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Patrick Leahy (D-VT)=20
and Herb Kohl (D-WI) have asked the Government=20
Accountability Office to investigate the state of=20
independent programming, prompted by their=20
concerns that media consolidation has squeezed=20
out independent programmers. The Senators in=20
their letter cited figures showing that while 50%=20
of primetime programming was independently=20
produced in 1989, only 18% of such programming is=20
independently produced today. They argued in the=20
letter that subscription video has not "come to=20
fruition" as a competitive alternative for=20
independents. Among the questions they want the=20
study to address are: The sources of programming=20
on television; Factors contributing to the=20
current distribution of programming; The impact=20
of consolidation, on independent programming and=20
diversity; The degree to which the Internet has=20
become an outlet for such programming and how=20
much the major media companies "dominate" the=20
most widely viewed sites; and What changes may=20
need to be made to programming carriage laws and regulations.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6563030.html?rssid=3D193
* Senators Ask GAO To Study Content Control
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6563226.html?nid=3D4262

LEASED ACCESS: HOW MUCH?
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The head of the Leased Access Programmers=20
Association, Charlie Stogner, has been trying to=20
find out how much he should be paying to lease=20
space from cable operators, so far to no avail,=20
he said. The Federal Communications Commission=20
earlier this year voted to lower the rate cable=20
operators can charge, arguing that it would spur=20
competition and diversity in multichannel-video=20
programming. The rules were set to kick in May=20
28, but the Office of Management and Budget=20
reviews drafts of many new regulations --=20
including the leased-access order -- per the 1980=20
Paperwork Reduction Act to make sure they don't=20
unnecessarily lead to more paperwork. The Bush=20
administration has been trying to better enforce=20
the 90-day limit on that OMB review, so Stogner=20
wants to find out when the draft was submitted so=20
he can try to figure out when cable operators=20
will be required to quote him a new rate. "The=20
delays in new rules, especially the rates,=20
becoming effective are really hurting those of us=20
that struggle to have cable cooperate," he said=20
in an e-mail to FCC deputy general counsel Joseph Palmore.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6562924.html?rssid=3D193

FCC FINES FOUR STATIONS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission hit four=20
stations with a total of $64,500 in proposed=20
fines for violating its limits on ads in kids=92=20
shows, as well as for incomplete public records=20
in two of the cases. The biggest proposed fines=20
were $20,000 apiece for two low-power stations=20
owned by Sage Broadcasting, KIDZ-LP Abilene and=20
KIDT-LP Stamford, both Texas, for five violations=20
apiece of the limits on ads in kids=92 shows --=20
10.5 minutes on weekdays, 12 minutes on weekends=20
-- as well as not putting all of the paperwork in=20
its public files. The other fines were for=20
$16,500 against WLFL TV Raleigh, N.C., and WATE=20
Knoxville, Tenn., both for a collection of kids=92=20
ad overages including between them program-length=20
commercials, host-selling and additional=20
15-second, 30-second and 60-second spots.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6563094.html?rssid=3D193

TELECOM

PLAN TO TRIM CELL PHONE CANCELATION FEES DRAWS CRITICISM
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
A wireless industry proposal under consideration=20
by the government that would make it easier for=20
cell phone customers to break up with their=20
service providers was met with withering=20
criticism by consumer advocates on Wednesday. The=20
plan would give consumers a break on fees charged=20
when they quit their service early, but would=20
also let cell phone companies off the hook in=20
state courts where they are being sued for=20
hundreds of millions of dollars by angry=20
customers. "If this plan goes through, the=20
nation's largest cell phone carriers get a=20
get-out-of-court-free card," said Chris Murray,=20
senior counsel for Consumers Union. "We have long=20
opposed limiting consumers' rights to sue, and=20
that seems to be what we're doing here." Patrick=20
Pearlman, a lawyer with the consumer advocate=20
division of West Virginia's Public Service=20
Commission, said, "The consumer protections are=20
an inadequate fig leaf to justify federal=20
pre-emption." The nation's No. 2 wireless=20
company, Verizon Wireless, offered the proposal=20
to the FCC for its review after high-level=20
meetings with senior FCC officials. It did so in=20
consultation with other leading wireless=20
companies, whose executives indicated they would not oppose its provisions.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/21/america/Cell-Phone-Fees.php

THE CASE OF THE MISSING iPHONE: WHY OPEN NETWORKS WOULD BENEFIT RURAL CONSU=
MERS
[SOURCE: Public Knowledge, AUTHOR: Mehan Jayasuriya]
[Commentary] Apple=92s iPhone, being sold as it is=20
through exclusive deals with wireless carriers,=20
is currently only available in the US, UK,=20
France, Germany and Austria. While plenty of=20
folks outside of those countries would love to=20
buy an iPhone, they can't -- at least, not=20
without modifying the device=92s firmware and=20
violating Apple=92s end user license agreement.=20
Fortunately, it looks like the iPhone is set to=20
become a truly global phenomenon next month.=20
According to carrier announcements, rumors and=20
speculation, the second-generation iPhone may=20
launch simultaneously in as many as 42 countries=20
worldwide. That means that the device will=20
finally be available in Asia, Australia, Africa,=20
Latin America, Canada and previously unserved=20
markets in Europe. Will there be any corner of=20
the globe left untouched by the iPhone? Sure=97just=20
try the faraway locales known as Alaska, Vermont and Arizona.
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1586

MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS REALLY DO WANT CHOICE
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
Consumers want more choice when it comes to=20
mobile phone service. At least that's the big=20
conclusion from a consumer survey published=20
Wednesday by IBM's Institute for Business Value.=20
According to the report, 80 percent of consumers=20
said they'd prefer a service provider that gave=20
them more choice in the applications and services=20
available on their mobile device. The results of=20
this survey shouldn't come as a shock to anyone=20
in the industry. As more people use the mobile=20
Internet, they expect to have the same freedom to=20
access applications that they can get on their=20
PCs at home. Imagine the outrage if Internet=20
service providers like AT&T or Comcast told a=20
broadband customer that they couldn't access=20
Facebook or download a Skype client? They'd be outraged.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950016-7.html?part=3Drss&subj=3Dnews&...
=3D2547-1_3-0-5

BELL CANADA TAKEOVER IS BLOCKED
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Ian Austen]
An appeals court quashed approval for the $51.8=20
billion leveraged buyout of Bell Canada on=20
Wednesday after siding with angry bondholders in=20
a ruling. While the unanticipated decision may=20
not be the final ruling on the buyout, the=20
largest leveraged deal in history, it puts its=20
future in legal jeopardy. A five-judge panel of=20
the Quebec Court of Appeal found that Canada=92s=20
largest telecommunications company =93never=20
attempted to justify the fairness and=20
reasonableness of an arrangement that results in=20
a significant adverse economic impact on the=20
debenture holders while at the same time it=20
accords a substantial premium to the=20
shareholders.=94 Because the buyout is structured=20
under Canadian law as a =93plan of arrangement=94 it=20
requires court as well as shareholder approval.=20
The new ruling sets aside court approval that was granted in early March.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/business/worldbusiness/22bce.html?ref=...
odayspaper
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

STATES RACE TO WOO TV AND FILM
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Peter Sanders]
An arms race has broken out among states hoping=20
to lure big-budget movie and television=20
productions with financial incentives. In the=20
past month and a half, at least four states --=20
Georgia, New York, Mississippi and Michigan --=20
have increased the scope of tax credits, cash=20
rebates and other incentives to encourage=20
spending money in the state and hiring local=20
workers. They are competing with nearly 40 other=20
states and U.S. territories that have incentive=20
programs on the books, some with established=20
film- and TV-production infrastructure, including=20
New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.=20
California, Hollywood's home state, offers no=20
incentives to producers despite several efforts=20
in the state legislature. Concerns about "runaway=20
production" cropped up again this spring when the=20
producers of ABC's TV hit "Ugly Betty" decided to=20
move production to New York from Los Angeles. New=20
York recently sweetened incentives so that=20
producers can receive back up to 30% of their=20
production expenses via a tax credit, or 35% of expenses in New York City.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121141287312512425.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

THE TELEHEALTH PROMISE BETTER HEALTH CARE AND COST SAVINGS FOR THE 21ST CEN=
TURY
[SOURCE: AT&T Center for Telehealth Research and Policy, AUTHOR: Alexander =
Vo]
A new report released by the University of Texas=20
Medical Branch (UTMB) finds that telehealth could=20
save the U.S. health care system $4.28 billion by=20
reducing patient transfers and visits to=20
physician offices. The paper highlights=20
telehealth=92s role in controlling health costs,=20
improving access to rural patients, and=20
simplifying communication paperwork while also providing high quality care.
http://attcenter.utmb.edu/presentations/The%20Telehealth%20Promise-Bette...
0Health%20Care%20and%20Cost%20Savings%20for%20the%2021st%20Century.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, El Paso!
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------

McCain and his lobbyists: The Cablevision connection

Perhaps overshadowed by other developments on the campaign trail is the story about top John McCain advisors who have made a living lobbying for some rather dubious foreign regimes. The controversy has led McCain to issue a conflict of interest policy, and has led to the departure of five lobbyists from his campaign. McCain campaign manager Rick Davis was a part-time president of the Reform Institute, a Washington group Sen McCain (R-AZ) helped found to champion ideals like reducing 'the influence of special interests' in politics and government." McCain's lobbyist-led "Reform Institute" was soliciting money from telecommunications companies subject to the jurisdiction of the Senate Commerce Committee, which he headed. And Cablevision gave two $100,000 donations to the "Reform Institute" at the same time it was getting McCain's help pushing a cable-pricing plan before the FCC that critics said would hurt consumers. Help from McCain, who argues for ridding politics of big money, included giving the chief executive of Cablevision the opportunity to testify before his Senate committee, writing a letter of support to the Federal Communications Commission, and asking other cable companies to support so-called a la carte pricing.
http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/blog/2008/05/m...

The Press Corps' Unshakeable Crush on McCain

If you pay even passing attention to national politics, you know that presumptive GOP presidential candidate John McCain is a maverick who bucks his own party's line and never wavers in his political beliefs. At least, that's what the corporate media say—reality tells a very different story. A candidate could only get away with such an elaborate and long-running con with the media as willing accomplices. "The press loves McCain," explained NBC host Chris Matthews (9/10/06). "We're his base." For much of the press, the early stages of the 2008 presidential campaign were a chance to fall in love all over again. "Those of us on the Straight Talk Express eight years ago got a breathtaking journalistic opportunity: to be inside the lively mind and heart of a leading contender for president," Newsweek's Howard Fineman recalled (3/3/08). "McCain was as joyously combative as Popeye and as earnestly confessional as Oprah." Fineman was actually restrained when compared to some of the coverage from eight years prior. "I know it shouldn't be happening, but it is," wrote Charles Lane in the New Republic (10/18/99). "I'm falling for John McCain." Lane's confession was in turn surpassed in awkwardness by another writer in the same magazine: Michael Lewis (9/30/96) declared that his feelings for McCain were like "the war that must occur inside a 14-year-old boy who discovers he is more sexually attracted to boys than to girls."
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3369

TV's Low-Cal Campaign Coverage

Coverage in the early phase of a presidential campaign is critical, since many voters are still weighing their choices and making decisions at this point. To see how this year's coverage was shaping up, FAIR studied primary election coverage on the nightly broadcast network newscasts (ABC World News, CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News) in the six weeks leading up to February 5, when 24 states held primaries or caucuses. From December 26, 2007, until February 5, 2008, the three nightly newscasts aired a total of 385 news stories about the election. This averages out to more than nine news stories on the election per night on network TV. With that kind of saturation, you'd think that the coverage would not only touch on the horse race and polling, but would shed light on policy platforms, economic plans, foreign policy goals and other substantive differences among what was then a wide-open field of candidates. You'd think that, after viewing or reading 385 news stories, you'd come away well-informed and ready to participate in a democracy. But, unfortunately, you'd be wrong.
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3368

A Discomfiting Threat to Free Speech

[Commentary] The Supreme Court upheld a law on Monday that sweeps too broadly in its attempt to ban child pornography, which is repellent and illegal. Those who traffic in it must be punished, but this law is drawn in a way that also criminalizes speech that should be protected by the First Amendment. The dissenters are right that the court should have made Congress go back and pass a more carefully written law. They are also right that the court’s analysis undermines protections for political speech.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/opinion/21wed2.html?ref=todayspaper
(requires registration)

© 1994-2024 Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. All Rights Reserved.