Dec 3, 2009 (The most important media merger since Lucy married Desi)
"This is the most important media merger since Lucy married Desi."
-- Andrew Schwartzman, Media Access Project on Comcast-NBC
BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009
Another busy day in policyland... see http://bit.ly/6ZWgJ4 for today's agenda.
NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN & THE STIMULUS
FCC Seeks Data on Uses of Spectrum
NAB Says Broadband Does Not Have To Be At Expense of Broadcasting
FCC plans to turn over private data to aid broadband stimulus
The FCC Sees the Future — and It's VoIP
Related story:Congress Asked To Preempt State VoIP Regulation
Public Interest Propose Significant Changes to Broadband Stimulus Programs
WiMax operators ask for $1.6B in broadband stimulus
HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Plans to Establish Health IT "Beacon Communities"
Broadband stimulus moves at dial-up speeds
NTIA Wants To Recover Role As Prime Mover On Nation's Internet Policies
CEA, CTIA Ask FCC to Reallocate Spectrum to Wireless Broadband
JOURNALISM
Waxman: Future of Journalism is a Policy Issue
FTC Should Consider Policy Reform to Support Public Media 2.0
In NBC Interview, a Failure to Note Network Ties
OWNERSHIP
Comcast strikes deal to buy NBC Universal from GE
How the FCC might stop the Comcast-NBC merger
Center For Digital Democracy Asks That Consumer Privacy Be Addressed in Any Comcast/NBCU Review
Comcast May Test New 'Windows' for Movies on Cable
Stakes rising for cable TV firms and content providers
NETWORK NEUTRALITY
FCC gets Technical Assistance for Network Neutrality Proceeding<
ED TECH
Cator Previews National Ed Tech Plan
Gates Foundation Announces New Support for Public Libraries to Help Provide Broadband Access for More Americans
FCC Updates Eligible E-Rate Services Including VoIP
ADVERTISING
Access and Technology: House Hearing on Arbitron
AT&T gives up on Verizon ad lawsuit
MORE ONLINE ...
Judge rejects Amazon bid to scrap Google Books pact
Closing Date for Public Telecommunications Facilities Program
How Robber Barons hijacked the "Victorian Internet"
New Networks Foster Invention and Innovation
From the "Be Careful What You Wish For" File: Ubiquitous Connectivity
Randy Michaels Appointed Tribune CEO
If I Still Worked at Fox News...
Predictions 2010: Media
NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN & THE STIMULUS
FCC SEEKS DATA ON USES OF SPECTRUM
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
Some have expressed concern that the United States will not have spectrum sufficient to meet the demand for wireless broadband services in the near future and have urged the Federal Communications Commission to make available more spectrum for commercial uses. In response, the FCC is reviewing various spectrum bands to understand if all or a portion of the spectrum within these bands could be repurposed for wireless broadband services. After a review of the responses to the Spectrum for Broadband Public Notice, the FCC now seeks more specific data on the use of spectrum currently licensed to broadcast television stations. This inquiry takes into account the value that the United States puts on free, over-the-air television, while also exploring market-based mechanisms for television broadcasters to contribute to the broadband effort any spectrum in excess of that which they need to meet their public interest obligations and remain financially viable. This inquiry also seeks to understand what processes and incentives could ensure continuing spectral efficiency gains for broadcasters going forward. Comments are due December 21. [more at the URL below]
benton.org/node/30209 | Federal Communications Commission | Broadcasting&Cable | TVNewsCheck | Reuters | WashPost | Chris Albrecht | Public Knowledge
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FCC PLANS TO TURN OVER PRIVATE DATA TO AID BROADBAND STIMULUS
[SOURCE: TelephonyOnline, AUTHOR: Ed Gubbins]
The public has until December 7 to comment on plans the Federal Communications Commission announced the day before Thanksgiving to release its vast database of private telecom services to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for it to use in evaluating whether broadband stimulus proposals refer to so-called "unserved" and "underserved" areas. The FCC is considering handing over to the NTIA information in its 477 forms, which facilities-based service providers are required to submit twice a year. The forms detail each provider's voice and broadband service subscribers and availability along with the maximum speeds of each service and other information. The FCC has historically allowed companies to request the information to be kept confidential but includes that information, aggregated anonymously, in published reports. NTIA, in its request for the data, said it would keep confidential information private, adhering if necessary to the same process the FCC uses in response to public requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
benton.org/node/30205 | TelephonyOnline
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THE FCC SEES THE FUTURE -- VOIP
[SOURCE: GigaOm, AUTHOR: Stacey Higginbotham]
The Federal Communications Commission is prepping for a future without the circuit-switched network that currently handles most of the landline and wireless calls in this country, and late yesterday released a public notice seeking comments on how to lay the regulatory groundwork for an all-IP communications network. The notice likens the transition to that of moving from analog cell phone service to digital or from analog TV to digital, but it has the potential to be much more disruptive.
That disruption will come from three factors, and the most obvious one will be familiar to us since we just went through the digital TV transition — how do we make sure everyone has access to an IP network as the old circuit-switched network fades away? Cutting off someone's copper landline isn't going to fly in many homes. Although the FCC is not proposing any sort of cut-off date, the writing is on the wall for the fate of copper landlines, and laggards will have to be transitioned off those lines as the costs of maintaining the circuit-switched network become too much for carriers to bear.
benton.org/node/30204 | GigaOm
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PROPOSED CHANGES TO BROADBAND STIMULUS RULES
[SOURCE: New America Foundation, AUTHOR: Joshua Breitbart, James Losey, Benjamin Lennett, Chiehyu Li, Sascha Meinrath]
New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative, together with a diverse consortium of 38 groups (including the Benton Foundation) responded to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) Request for Information regarding changes to the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) grant programs. The groups, representing urban and rural regions, applicants and potential applicants, and policy advocates and community organizers, proposed over two-dozen recommendations to encourage comprehensive, collaborative projects, scalable middle mile deployments, and smaller, innovative projects. Among the key recommendations: 1) Make all submissions public and available online in their entirety. 2) Prioritize Middle Mile ''Comprehensive Community" projects. 3) Create a comprehensive understanding of "anchor institution" and support a diverse range of public computer centers. 4) Target workshops to specific disadvantaged populations and proactively create avenues for collaboration among applicants. 5) Establish a Tribal Priority for Tribal Entities seeking to serve their own Tribal lands. 6) Set aside $50 million for a small grants program consistent with the goals of BTOP.
benton.org/node/30207 | New America Foundation
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WIMAX OPERATORS ASK FOR BROADBAND STIMULUS
[SOURCE: TelephonyOnline, AUTHOR: Kevin Fitchard]
Of the 1130 applications submitted to the federal government for last-mile broadband stimulus funds, more than a quarter were filed by WiMax operators looking to capitalize on the program to expand wireless access and mobile broadband services to underserved areas, according to an analysis by the WiMax Forum. While many of those applications were for rural projects, several of them came from familiar names looking to expand access in the big cities. Though the number of applications from wireless providers was large, the amounts each requested on average was relatively small. Of the $14.212 billion in last-mile funds requested, the 300 WiMax applications totaled $1.6 billion, according to the Forum. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the US Department of Agriculture's RUS fund have set aside a total of $4 billion in grant funds with an additional $3.2 billion available for loans. In total the government has received applications for $28 billion in funding for all broadband stimulus projects.
benton.org/node/30206 | TelephonyOnline
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HEALTH IT BEACON COMMUNITIES
[SOURCE: Department of Health and Human Services, AUTHOR: Press release]
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Dr. David Blumenthal, HHS' National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, announced plans to make available $235 million to support an innovative Beacon Community Program. The program will work to accelerate and demonstrate the ability of health information technology to transform local health care systems, and improve the lives of Americans and the performance of the health care providers who serve them. The Beacon Community Program will include $220 million in grants to build and strengthen health IT infrastructure and health information exchange capabilities, including strong privacy and security measures for data exchange, within 15 communities. An additional $15 million will be provided for technical assistance to the communities and to evaluate the success of the program. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Beacon Community Program will take communities at the cutting edge of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and health information exchange and push them to a new level of health care quality and efficiency. The program will establish cooperative agreements with communities to build and strengthen their health IT infrastructure and health information exchange capabilities to achieve measurable improvements in health care quality, safety, efficiency, and population health. The resulting experience will inform efforts throughout the United States to support the meaningful use of EHRs, the primary goal of the federal government's new health IT initiative.
benton.org/node/30185 | Department of Health and Human Services | How to Apply | Dr. Blumenthal | nextgov | TechDailyDose
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BROADBAND STIMULUS MOVING SLOWLY
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Chris O'Brien]
[Commentary] Here's the reality: Most of that stimulus money hasn't been spent. According to figures from the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, a government agency that monitors stimulus spending, only $234.2 billion had been allocated as of Nov. 20. And when you consider that almost one-third of the stimulus money is tax credits, the amount of cash actually being injected into the economy is even lower. As for the remaining money, well, spending such a large sum is a lot harder — and slower — than it looks. To understand why, and just how hard it is for the government to stimulate the economy, there's no better illustration than the repeatedly delayed attempts to get broadband stimulus funding to waiting Internet service providers.
benton.org/node/30213 | San Jose Mercury News
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NTIA WANTS TO RECOVER PRIME ROLE
[SOURCE: BroadbandBreakfast, AUTHOR: Sarah Lai Stirland]
National Telecommunications and Information Administration head Larry Strickling on Tuesday said the NTIA is re-asserting itself as the prime voice for the Obama administration's Internet policies. Former MIT Professor Daniel J. Weitzner is heading the NTIA policy shop charged with wide portfolio of issues. When asked how he thought Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski might react to his statement, Strickling said: "I think he supports it. The NTIA speaks for the Obama administration. The FCC does not."
benton.org/node/30212 | BroadbandBreakfast
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CEA, CTIA ASK FCC TO REALLOCATE SPECTRUM
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Looking to strike while the iron was hot, the Consumer Electronics Association and CTIA: The Wireless Association -- backed by a host of computer companies and others -- sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission Wednesday asking it to reallocate spectrum to wireless broadband. The letter was timed to the announcement by the FCC that it was requesting comment on what broadcasters were using their spectrum for currently and how they might give some of it back. But the letter was general, talking only about getting more spectrum, not where it would come from. The support by the two groups was hardly surprising. Both have backed reclaiming broadcast spectrum. And they are preaching to the choir as well. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and broadband advisor Blair Levin have both been banging the drum hard for more spectrum, including targeting broadcasters for their beachfront property--witness Wednesday's comment request, which suggests broadcasters could give up some real estate without harming viewers, a point broadcasters dispute.
benton.org/node/30211 | Broadcasting&Cable
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JOURNALISM
WAXMAN: FUTURE OF JOURNALISM IS A POLICY ISSUE
[SOURCE: House of Representatives Commerce Committee, AUTHOR: Chairman Henry Waxman]
Speaking at the Federal Trade Commission's conference on the future of journalism, House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) noted that many thoughtful and concerned people have expressed concern that a significant and troubling trend is occurring in the media sector -- developments that threaten the very existence of something very precious to our democracy: the continued existence of a critical mass of quality journalism in this country. He said, "The Internet is replacing the public square as the place where people in cities and towns across America go every day to absorb news and information and to reflect on issues and their meaning for our lives. The atomization of content has resulted in the fragmentation of audiences, so that the commercial basis to support a critical mass of authoritative and informed news and information is melting away. And this is creating a public policy issue of profound import for our future." On the prospect of public funding for quality journalism as a means to preserve a critical mass of resources and assets devoted to public media, Chairman Waxman offered criteria for evaluating any proposal: 1) First, there needs to be a consensus within the media industry and the larger community it serves that the proposal is in the public interest. Congress can't impose a solution to this issue. It needs to emerge from a consensus-building process involving the industry and the larger public. 2) These initiatives require bipartisan support - vigorous endorsement from both sides of the aisle. 3) Those advocating for public funding need to address additional questions. They need to articulate the scope of such support, in terms of the activities to be supported and the dollars required. They need to respond to the concern that government support of journalism would lead to government control of content. And they need to explain the source of revenues.
benton.org/node/30202 | House of Representatives Commerce Committee | B&C | SaveTheNews.org
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FTC SHOULD CONSIDER POLICY REFORM FOR PUBMEDIA 2.0
[SOURCE: MediaShift, AUTHOR: Jessica Clark]
[Commentary] As we've been arguing at the Center for Social Media, successful Public Media 2.0 projects must directly convene publics to learn about and tackle shared problems. This means more than just handing out yet another serving of information to a surfeited audience; it's about engaging users at every phase -- planning, funding, production, distribution, conversation, curation, and mobilization -- to make sure that all stakeholders' voices are included. This ensures different perspectives are aired, and that content is interesting, relevant and accurate. Listening to audiences is good; partnering with them to solve problems would be even better. But what other policy strategies might support a media system that makes this possible? Here are a few suggestions: 1) Amend the Public Broadcasting Act, 2) Set-up a Presidential Commission, and 3) Beware the Turbulence ahead.
benton.org/node/30201 | MediaShift
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FAILURE TO NOTE NETWORK TIES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Brian Stelter]
To the untrained eye, it might appear that NBC Universal has given a lesson in corporate synergy. When two television cast members sneaked into a White House state dinner last week, Bravo cameras were filming them all the way to the east gate. Days of publicity followed. When they finally decided to explain themselves, they gave their first — and so far only — interview to Bravo's corporate sibling, NBC. NBC News says the appearance of the party-crashers, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, was merely the result of hard journalism and old-fashioned hustle. But NBC's "Today Show" faced sharp criticism on Tuesday and Wednesday when it did not disclose that the couple was being filmed for "The Real Housewives of D.C.," the latest extension of Bravo's glamorous and lucrative franchise. NBC and Bravo are both units of NBC Universal, and are both based at Rockefeller Center. By neglecting to acknowledge the corporate relationship, "NBC is expanding the field of quicksand they're standing in," said Bob Steele, a journalism ethics professor at DePauw University.
benton.org/node/30215 | New York Times
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OWNERSHIP
COMCAST STRIKES DEAL TO BUY NBC UNIVERSAL FROM GE
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Meg James and Joe Flint]
In a momentous shift in the balance of power of the entertainment industry, cable television giant Comcast Corp. announced this morning that it was acquiring control of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. The proposed $30-billion transaction is the fruition of a longtime ambition by Comcast's 50-year-old chief executive, Brian Roberts, to recast his family-controlled Philadelphia company into a leading producer of movies and television shows and a purveyor of prominent cable and broadcast networks, including the venerable NBC. Under terms of the deal, Comcast will contribute its entertainment channels, including E and Versus; nine regional sports networks; and about $6.5 billion in cash in exchange for 51% of the new venture, which will continue to be called NBC Universal for the immediate future. The deal underscores how cable television -- not a broadcast network or a Hollywood movie studio -- has become the new profit center for media conglomerates. GE, which has owned the NBC network for 23 years, will reduce its ownership in the company to 49%. The deal sets up GE for a gradual exit from the entertainment business, granting Comcast the right to buy out GE's interest within eight years. GE placed a value of $30 billion on its NBC Universal businesses. Comcast said the entertainment assets that it was contributing to the joint venture were worth $7.25 billion.
benton.org/node/30217 | Los Angeles Times | WSJ | USAToday | FT | FT: "Move is no joke" | FT: "Gain little from merging" | AP: Antitrust review | Reuters | AP | New York Times | LATimes: Steve Burke
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HOW THE FCC MIGHT STOP COMCAST-NBC
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
Teeth are gnashing and swords are being drawn in response to the news that Comcast is poised to snarf down 51 percent of NBC Universal—the other 49 percent owned by General Electric. The deal would give Comcast, already the nation's biggest cable company and ISP, control over a huge swath of video content. "This is the most important media merger since Lucy married Desi," declared Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Access Project. "The merger clearly threatens to transform video markets nationwide. Although the details of the deal have not yet been announced, I am strongly concerned about the market power enjoyed by a Comcast/NBC combination. No one entity should have control over such a large audience." The ensuing debate will push net neutrality questions "to the forefront," warned Art Brodsky of Public Knowledge. "Those who want to argue that AT&T, Verizon and, yes, Comcast, should be able to play favorites and have control over the content on the Internet will have an even larger barrier to surmount as the breadth, depth and economic might of the new media giant becomes apparent." They will also have to contend with noisy public opposition to the proposed merger. "Free Press will be rallying people across the country who are tired of mega-mergers being rubber stamped," the organization promised on Tuesday. "We will make sure that this time their voices can't be ignored." If there's a ring of confidence in these declarations, it's because the Comcast/NBC deal faces a very different regulatory environment than any recent mergers, notably the Sirius/XM or AT&T/BellSouth approvals. One wonders whether either of these marriages would have gotten past a Federal Communications Commission with Democratic rather than Republican majorities—not to mention the scrutiny of the Justice Department, which will be weighing in on this latest question, too.
benton.org/node/30197 | Ars Technica
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PRIVACY SHOULD BE PART OF COMCAST-NBC REVIEW
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
While a combined NBCU and Comcast are expected to offer up some conditions to regulators to make the deal more palatable, Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center For Digital Democracy, isn't waiting around to see what they will be. Chester wants to make sure consumer privacy issues are addressed in any regulatory review of a deal. "As the nation's biggest 'video provider' and 'largest residential Internet service provider,' Comcast has access to detailed financial information on its TV and broadband subscribers. It also has a treasure trove of consumer data on viewing behaviors online and with TV," says Chester. "Comcast can also use its dominate position as the leading high-speed ISP and cable TV provider to extract additional consumer information from its programming partners. Regulators will need to ensure effective safeguards on network neutrality, programming access and competition, and consumer privacy-especially for "advanced advertising."
benton.org/node/30196 | Broadcasting&Cable
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COMCAST MAY TEST NEW 'WINDOWS'
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Lauren Schuker]
As Comcast prepares to take control of NBC Universal from General Electric, the cable company's executives are looking to explore new ways of "windowing." Windowing -- the time periods during which movies can be watched at the theater, on DVD or on TV -- has been a bedrock of the Hollywood business model for years. But according to people close to the matter, Comcast wants to use Universal's vast film library to expand its own video-on-demand opportunities. Further in the future, Comcast could break what has been a taboo in the movie business: allowing consumers to watch a film at home while it is still being shown in theaters. In that case, Comcast would bet that its cable customers would pay a premium to see a just-released film. But it remains unclear if Comcast favors shifting that particular window. But innovations in those areas may take longer than Comcast and others expect because of key relationships with chains such as Wal-Mart Stores, the biggest DVD retailer in the US.
benton.org/node/30216 | Wall Street Journal | WashPost
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NETWORK NEUTRALITY
FCC GETS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
The Federal Communications Commission announced that the Chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering & Technology (OET) has established a Technical Advisory Process to ensure that decisions in the Commission's proceeding on the open Internet reflect a thorough understanding of current technology and future technology trends. The process will provide an inclusive, open, and transparent forum for obtaining the best technical data and insights from a broad range of stakeholders. The Technical Advisory Process was called for in the FCC's October 22, 2009 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. OET has now established a technical working group comprised of engineers and technologists from across the FCC's bureaus and offices to receive information from stakeholders on the technical issues in the open Internet proceeding. The working group will hold ex parte meetings with engineers and other interested parties to understand the range of views in the technical community on the issues presented by the open Internet rulemaking, identify any areas of common ground between stakeholders, and clarify the scope of key differences. In addition, FCC engineers from the working group will be integrated into other teams within the Commission considering the various issues raised in the open Internet proceeding. The Technical Advisory Process will include a workshop on December 8, 2009 starting at 10 a.m. in the Commission meeting room, which will be open to the public and live streamed via the Internet. The workshop will consist of tutorial presentations by experts on network management practices for various Internet access service delivery platforms, followed by questions from the Commission's technical working group and members of the public.
benton.org/node/30195 | Federal Communications Commission
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ED TECH
PREVIEW OF ED TECH PLAN
[SOURCE: eSchool News, AUTHOR: Gregg Downey]
As America's brand-new director of education technology, career educator Karen Cator underscores the determination of President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan to develop "a transformative agenda" for the nation's schools and colleges. She said the Department of Education will unveil the first draft of the administration's National Education Technology Plan next month. The plan will seek to bring to fruition the President's vow to make the United States first in the world in the number of college graduates by 2020 and to give every willing student at least one year of postsecondary education. The plan will address the imperatives of global competition, Cator said, but also will stress the importance of global interdependence. It will focus on ensuring effective teachers are present "in every zip code," on seamlessly bridging the gap between the wide array of technology students use outside of school and the more limited technology available to them in the classroom. She said America's ed-tech plan will promote careers in science, technology, engineering, and math--but now will add an emphasis on the arts, because, as Cator explained, creativity is essential to lifelong success in the age of technology.
benton.org/node/30188 | eSchool News
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MORE LIBRARY SUPPORT FROM GATES
[SOURCE: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AUTHOR: Press release]
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed nearly $3.4 million in grants to bolster Internet connections for libraries in five states. It also announced partnerships with 14 additional states to help public libraries compete for federal broadband stimulus funds. Nationally, libraries report that patron demand for high-speed Internet access is growing faster than their ability to provide increased bandwidth. A recent American Library Association study reports that 60 percent of all libraries say their current Internet speed is insufficient. State libraries in Arkansas ($735,207), Kansas ($363,099), Massachusetts ($367,789), New York ($947,517), and Virginia ($977,468) received foundation funds to execute statewide plans to improve and maintain Internet connections in local libraries. Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, and Washington will participate in the foundation's new Opportunity Online broadband grant program, which will help libraries develop proposals for federal broadband stimulus funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program established through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The five states receiving Gates Foundation grants to implement local broadband improvement plans have partnered with the foundation since early 2009 to develop strategies for upgrading and sustaining Internet connections in libraries, as well as raising federal E-rate participation rates among libraries. Arkansas, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia were selected to receive foundation grants because they had a high number of libraries without high-speed Internet access that were struggling to increase their bandwidth for patrons. The state libraries of California and Texas also participated in the program and will be eligible for grants in early 2010.
benton.org/node/30186 | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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FCC ADDS VOIP TO E-RATE
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
In this report and order and further notice of proposed rulemaking, the Federal Communications Commission addresses and seeks comment on issues regarding the services eligible for funding under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism, also known as the E-rate program. First, the FCC modifies its rules to expressly include interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and text messaging as eligible services under the E-rate program. Second, the FCC releases the list of services that will be eligible for discounts for E-rate funding year 2010. Finally, the FCC seeks further comment on the eligibility of certain services in future funding years, as well as on proposed changes to the process for determining the services that will be eligible for support under the E-rate program
benton.org/node/30194 | Federal Communications Commission | List of eligible services
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ADVERTISING
HOUSE HEARING ON ARBITRON
[SOURCE: nextgov, AUTHOR: Gautham Nagesh]
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on Wednesday on a topic that doesn't usually reach our radar: the manner in which local radio stations receive the ratings that determine their audience size and advertising rates. The debate that took place highlighted the difficulty of creating a balance between using technology for outreach while preserving access for all groups. House Oversight Chairman Ed Towns (D-NY) suggested that flaws in Arbitron's methodology may be costing minority communities one of their most crucial organizing tools. "What's at stake is life and death of one of the most viable industries for people of color," said Rep Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). Arbitron Chief Executive Officer Michael Skarzynski argued that much of the decline in audience is due to the general economic situation, as well as the particular difficulties facing the radio industry such as the rise of the Internet. He said the rating declines facing minority and urban radio stations have also emerged in other formats, including talk and Christian radio. But according to Univision's Ceril Shagrin, the disproportionate impact of the new methodology on specific audiences would suggest that at very least Arbitron is facing issues with its sample size. Federal Communications Commission member Mignon Clyburn was in the audience but admitted the FCC probably doesn't have jurisdiction over Arbitron.
benton.org/node/30190 | nextgov | CongressDaily | MediaWeek
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AT&T GIVES UP ON VERIZON AD LAWSUIT
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
AT&T has dismissed its lawsuit against Verizon Wireless for using an advertisement that AT&T complained confused customers about its 3G wireless coverage. On Wednesday, AT&T formally dismissed the lawsuit. Last month, the wireless operator suffered a major legal setback when a judge rejected the company's request to force Verizon to pull its "There's A Map For That" advertising campaign.
benton.org/node/30191 | C-Net|News.com
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