July 31, 2009 (Connected Nation's Other Shoe Drops On NTIA)
"At the end of the day, somebody is going to be in control of [broadband] mapping. It will either be the public, and the public interest, as represented by NTIA, or the industry."
-- Art Brodsky, PublicKnowledge
BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for FRIDAY JULY 31, 2009
Next month's busy agenda begins with The Stimulus Bill and the Minority Contractor and The Performance Rights Act and Parity among Music Delivery Platforms -- see http://www.benton.org/calendar/2009-08 for more.
HEALTH AND MEDIA
Senate Dems blame media for August health deadline
Health Care Front-And-Center on Public's News Agenda
Health News Coverage in the US Media, Early 2009
INTERNET/BROADBAND
Connected Nation's Other Shoe Drops On NTIA
Washington State Issues Broadband Mapping RFP
Massachusetts Broadband Institute and State Transportation Office to Build Fiber Across State
Wireline Competition Bureau Releases State-Specific List of Broadband data Filers
Analyzing in the Dark: The Internet Research Data Acquisition Crisis
FCC Announces Topics to Focus Discussion at Workshops for National Broadband Plan
Ads Follow Web Users, and Get Much More Personal
AGENDA
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to Meet
FCC Eyes Rural Impact of Cellphone Tie-Ups
Genachowski: FCC Still Justified in Regulating Broadcast Content
Comcast's Cohen: Telecom Likely Low On Legislative Agenda
BROADCASTING/CABLE
Free Political Ads On U.S. TV? They Do It In Mexico
ACA Asks FCC to Investigate Retrans Payment Inequities
Big Radio's Attacks Aren't Surprising
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Microsoft and Yahoo on defensive
Ofcom proposes relaxing local media ownership rules
JOURNALISM
Judge rules for Fed in Fox News Network request
Bloggers Seize on Obama's Slipping Poll Numbers
HEALTH AND MEDIA
SENATE DEMS BLAME MEDIA FOR AUGUST HEALTH DEADLINE
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: J. Taylor Rushing]
Senate Democratic leaders on Thursday blamed Capitol Hill media for setting an August deadline for health reform and Republicans for blocking the bill's progress. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said reporters created a fictitious deadline of a successful vote by the August recess, and downplayed the fact that the chamber won't meet that mark. "That is a deadline that you created," Reid told a group of about 75 reporters. "It's not like we don't have a product. Significant progress has been made ... The mere fact that this wasn't done by last Friday or by five o'clock doesn't mean we're not going to get a quality product."
http://benton.org/node/26780
Recommend this Headline
back to top
HEALTH CARE FRONT-AND-CENTER ON PUBLIC'S NEWS AGENDA
[SOURCE: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, AUTHOR: Andrew Kohut et al]
The public sharpened its focus on health care reform last week, following news about the debate in Washington more closely than any other story. Interest in health care reform has steadily increased in recent weeks as coverage including a prime-time presidential news conference has intensified. Nearly a third (31%) name the debate in Washington over health care reform as their top story, more than the share who cite the economy (19%) or the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. (17%). In addition, the latest weekly News Interest Index survey, conducted July 24-27 among 1,018 adults by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, finds that more than four-in-ten (44%) say they followed health care news very closely, up from 33% in the previous week and 24% two weeks prior.
http://benton.org/node/26779
Recommend this Headline
back to top
HEALTH NEWS COVERAGE IN THE US MEDIA, EARLY 2009
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
As the Obama Administration begins in earnest its plans to take up health care reform, how the media covers the debate at the outset will influence the public view of the issue and what happens next. To what extent did health issues get covered in the national press during the first six months of the new Obama Administration? What were the topics and stories driving the coverage? How does the extent and focus of the coverage broadly compare with health news coverage in 2007 and the first half of 2008? Overall, health news coverage is on the rise. And while attention in the early months of the year was more tied to public health issues like the swine flu and salmonella-tainted peanut butter, media attention to health policy increased sharply in June. This report covers a six-month time period, from January through June 2009, and updates an earlier 18-month analysis of January 2007 through June 2008. Both reports were joint projects of the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ). The findings are based on an analysis of coverage of health in 55 different news outlets that were originally sampled as part of PEJ's ongoing News Coverage Index. The study includes the front pages of small, medium and large market newspapers; network TV morning and evening news programs; cable television news; news and talk radio and online news. A total of 1,568 health stories were analyzed for this report.
http://benton.org/node/26778
Recommend this Headline
back to top
INTERNET/BROADBAND
CONNECTED NATION'S OTHER SHOE DROPS ON NTIA
[SOURCE: PublicKnowledge, AUTHOR: Art Brodsky]
[Commentary] Connected Nation, the front group for the big telecom companies, has made it a practice to sign very restrictive non-disclosure agreements to protect its masters. In fact, confidentiality is one of CN's selling points, along with its network of telecom lobbyists. CN tells states that it works successfully with carriers because it protects the carriers' information. That may help the private interest; the public interest, not so much. Now, the companies represented by CN were bringing the message to the government up close and personally. The industry doesn't like the information NTIA wants to collect. At the end of the day, somebody is going to be in control of the mapping. It will either be the public, and the public interest, as represented by NTIA, or the industry.
http://benton.org/node/26777
Recommend this Headline
back to top
WASHINGTON STATE ISSUES BROADBAND MAPPING RFP
[SOURCE: BroadbandCensus.com, AUTHOR: Ryan Womack]
Broadband advisors to Washington state's governor have issued a request for proposals on the state's broadband mapping project. The Broadband Advisory Council said applicants should have an experienced track record, proven technology and a business model that addresses proven demand. Under rules overseen by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, each state can choose only one grantee to construct its broadband coverage map. The council says it is hoping that Gov. Christine Gregoire will sign into effect policy enabling the Washington State Department of Information Services to proceed with mapping efforts immediately, in oversight of the statewide project. Washington State has issued five recommendations for data applicants: Encourage public-private partnering in the development of grant applications; support proposals increasing funding for anchor institutions; support proposals that target unserved and underserved areas; leverage advances in science, healthcare, smart grid and energy efficiency, innovation in education and improved transportation infrastructure; and encourage proposals increasing access and adoption.
http://benton.org/node/26787
Recommend this Headline
back to top
MA BROADBAND INSTITUTE AND TRAN OFFICE TO BUILD FIBER ACROSS STATE
[SOURCE: BroadbandCensus.com, AUTHOR: Douglas Streeks]
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Tuesday a partnership between the Massachusetts Broadband Institute and the Executive Office of Transportation to bring broadband to unserved and underserved communities in western parts of the state. The partnership is expected to build on the existing MassHighway project, extending six 1.25-inch fiber-optic conduits from Connecticut to Vermont and enabling "collaboration across state borders in a variety of areas, including public safety, education, e-health and access to Internet2," according to a statement by the state. MassHighway will use two of the conduits for its intelligent traffic system, a system designed to improve the flow of traffic throughout the state. The other conduits will be reserved for economic development and expanding broadband networks in Western Massachusetts. The institute will own the fiber in one of the conduits with plans to lease the other three for future development.
http://benton.org/node/26786
Recommend this Headline
back to top
WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU RELEASES STATE-SPECIFIC LIST BROADBAND DATA FILERS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau has published a state-specific list of the entities that filed broadband data in the Form 477 data collection conducted in March 2009, which collected information as of December 31, 2008. The current list identifies providers who made or updated filings through July 9, 2009, and this list may be updated from time to time.
http://benton.org/node/26776
Recommend this Headline
back to top
ANALYZING IN THE DARK: THE INTERNET RESEARCH DATA ACQUISITION CRISIS
[SOURCE: New America Foundation, AUTHOR: ]
New America Foundation met with Blair Levin and John Leibovitz to discuss areas where current scientific research on broadband aligns with the FCC's research goals. New America says it strongly supports the Commission's efforts to improve data collection as well as the use of empirical research to inform policymaking. The Foundation attached a policy brief entitled "Analyzing in the Dark: The Internet Research Data Acquisition Crisis." GN Docket No. 09-51
http://benton.org/node/26775
Recommend this Headline
back to top
FCC ANNOUNCES TOPICS TO FOCUS DISCUSSION AT WORKSHOPS FOR NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
First announced earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission's staff workshops for the development of a National Broadband Plan will provide a way to promote an open dialogue between the FCC and key constituents on matters important to the National Broadband Plan. The workshops are open to the public at the Commission's headquarters building and online. In preparation for the workshops, a detailed list of topics has been posted at broadband.gov The public is invited to use the web site to suggest additional topics or revisions to those now slated for discussion at the workshops, which begin on August 6 and run through Sept. 3. The public is also invited to suggest questions for the workshops. "Broadband is our generation's major infrastructure challenge. It's critical that all stakeholders provide the Commission with the information it needs to develop a National Broadband Plan that will spur innovation, promote competition, create jobs, and bring the powerful benefits of broadband to all Americans," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. "The effort to focus dialogue on specific topics in an open, participatory format is one of the many ways the Commission is trying to develop a comprehensive and meaningful record for the development of the Plan."
http://benton.org/node/26774
Recommend this Headline
back to top
ADS FOLLOW WEB USERS, AND GET MUCH MORE PERSONAL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stephanie Clifford]
For all the concern and uproar over online privacy, marketers and data companies have always known much more about consumers' offline lives, like income, credit score, home ownership, even what car they drive and whether they have a hunting license. Recently, some of these companies have started connecting this mountain of information to consumers' browsers. The result is a sea change in the way consumers encounter the Web. Not only will people see customized advertising, they will see different versions of Web sites from other consumers and even receive different discount offers while shopping — all based on information from their offline history. The technology that makes the connection is nothing new — it is a tiny piece of code called a cookie that is placed on a hard drive. But the information it holds is. And it is all done invisibly.
http://benton.org/node/26791
Recommend this Headline
back to top
AGENDA
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL OF ADVISORS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO MEET
[SOURCE: CongressDaily, AUTHOR: Andrew Noyes]
The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a federal advisory group of the nation's leading scientists and engineers, will meet for the first time under the Obama Administration Thursday and Friday to set priorities for the year and hear from some Administration science and tech all-stars.
http://benton.org/node/26773
Recommend this Headline
back to top
FCC EYES RURAL IMPACT OF CELLPHONE TIE-UPS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Fawn Johnson]
The Federal Communications Commission's inquiry into exclusive carrier deals on popular cell phones will focus on customers in rural areas who can't buy Apple's iPhone or Palm's Pre smart phone because the carriers don't serve their markets, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Thursday. The FCC is asking whether exclusive handset deals are "promoting or hindering innovation" in the wireless sector, Chairman Genachowski said. How the FCC determines what spurs innovation in the handset market will be closely watched in the industry.
http://benton.org/node/26790
Recommend this Headline
back to top
GENACHOWSKI: FCC STILL JUSTIFIED IN REGULATING BROADBAND CONTENT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
A Q&A with new Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on kids and media, indecency regulation, journalism, broadband, low-power television, the Fairness Doctrine, and cable.
http://benton.org/node/26785
Recommend this Headline
back to top
COMCAST'S COHEN: TELECOM LIKELY LOW ON LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Comcast executive vice president David Cohen, Comcast's top Washington executive, said he has "high hopes" for the commission under new chairman Julius Genachowski, including an Internet openness policy that recognizes the need for reasonable network management. Cohen also expects telecom issues to be relatively low on Congress' agenda. In an interview for C-SPAN's Communicators series, Cohen said Congress will have a lot on its plate before it gets around to FCC reform issues that have long been on the radar screen of one of those legislators, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). Cohen noted that if you were to poll every member of Congress, he would be hard-pressed to find telecommunications issues on a list of the top 100 issues they felt they needed to deal with in the next couple of years.
http://benton.org/node/26784
Recommend this Headline
back to top
BROADCASTING/CABLE
FREE POLITICAL ADS ON US TV? THEY DO IT IN MEXICO
[SOURCE: MediaPost, AUTHOR: Wayne Friedman]
This country has got it all wrong when it comes to TV political advertising. In Mexico, TV broadcasters have to run political ads free of charge -- all to level the playing field. In this country, political messaging only has to be priced at the lowest commercial unit rate. At least U.S. TV stations get some form of payment. And, in big political years -- like in 2008 -- they can get plenty more. Last year's total TV political revenue was upwards of $3 billion, all of which was key to somewhat offset the crumbling of the TV advertising market, pulled down by the severely depressed automotive industry.
http://benton.org/node/26769
Recommend this Headline
back to top
ACA ASKS FCC TO INVESTIGATE RETRANS PAYMENT INEQUITIES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Small and mid-sized cable operators want the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the retransmission consent regime. That came in comments by the American Cable Association in the FCC's video competition report request for information. ACA has recently ramped up its attacks on what it sees as the ongoing inequities in retrans payments. Saying that broadcasters "routinely exploit their market power" by overcharging small operators, ACA said that was a "clear example" of a market failure that needed the FCC's attention. ACA has long argued that broadcasters were using undue leverage to make smaller operators pay more than larger ones for programming. "If the market is functioning as flawlessly as the National Association of Broadcasters claims," said ACA President Matt Polka in those comments, "then the NAB should have no reason to oppose ACA's request for an FCC investigation."
http://benton.org/node/26771
Recommend this Headline
back to top
BIG RADIO'S ATTACKS AREN'T SURPRISING
[SOURCE: The Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Dionne Warwick]
[Commentary] Every time we buy a CD or download a song, the artist is paid for their work. You might not know that this isn't the case when a musician's work is played on the radio. That's because corporate radio stations are exploiting a legal loophole that allows them to play these artists songs without paying them for their work.
http://benton.org/node/26768
Recommend this Headline
back to top
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
MICROSOFT AND YAHOO ON DEFENSIVE
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Richard Waters, Joseph Menn]
Microsoft and Yahoo were forced to mount a renewed defence of their search alliance on Thursday as Wall Street continued to punish Yahoo's price over the deal. Investors continued to express concerns about the financial and strategic implications of the deal. Investors have been concerned that Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz has not laid out a clear strategy for the company after it hands over control of its search technology to Microsoft, or explained how she will use the extra cashflow Yahoo expects in the future from the deal.
http://benton.org/node/26789
Recommend this Headline
back to top
OFCOM PROPOSES RELAXING LOCAL MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Kate Holton]
Britain's media regulator Ofcom has proposed relaxing the rules around ownership of local media to support small groups hit by the advertising downturn and competition from the Internet. All media groups have suffered during the economic downturn but Ofcom said the pressures were most acute in the local media sector. Under the new proposals, all local commercial radio stations could be owned by one operator in a local area, alongside the local radio service from the BBC. Ofcom is also looking at changes to allow some regional stations to share programming in return for making the services available on digital radio.
http://benton.org/node/26788
Recommend this Headline
back to top
JOURNALISM
Judge rules for Fed in Fox News Network request
Bloggers Seize on Obama's Slipping Poll Numbers
JUDGE RULES FOR FED IN FOX NEWS NETWORK REQUEST
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Grant McCool]
US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied a bid by Fox News Network seeking details from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve about the central bank's loans to companies affected by the financial crisis. The owner of the Fox Business cable network made an initial request for documents in November last year under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) about the companies and funds they received between August 2007 and November 2008. Both parties had filed motions in Manhattan federal court to rule in their favor after Fox filed its request to the court in January. "I rule that one document, which the Board determined is not a record, is indeed, a record. The Board shall identify this document and either produce it or claim an exemption," Judge Hellerstein said in a written order. "In all other respects, I grant the Board's motion and deny Fox's motion, finding that the Board performed an adequate search and that Exemption 4 permits the Board not to disclose the documents that Fox seeks."
http://benton.org/node/26772
Recommend this Headline
back to top
BLOGGERS SEIZE ON OBAMA'S SLIPPING POLL NUMBERS
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
At the six-month point of Barack Obama's term last week, bloggers considered how he was doing. That discussion was driven largely by conservatives who relished in what they saw as Obama struggling politically, perhaps for the first time in his presidency. From July 20-24, more than a third of the links in blogs (36%) were to stories about Obama's administration, according to the New Media Index by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. The majority of those links focused on new survey results from the Washington Post/ABC News and USA Today/Gallup that showed Obama's approval ratings slipping in recent weeks. Many conservatives argued these were the sign of a failing President.
http://benton.org/node/26770
Recommend this Headline
back to top
...and we're outta here. Have a great weekend. Go Cubs!