October 2010

Obama's Post-Election Social Media Lapse

Finally, candidates have caught the social media bug, and are ubiquitously using Twitter and Facebook to connect with voters. It's the only story that gov 2.0 news outlets seem to be covering, lauding politicos for their tech savvy. But after next week's election, pay close attention to how many elected officials end their web use. It's a trend some are noticing among politicians, who may take to the Internet during campaigns, yet once in office, tone down the tweets and Facebook posts.

For President Obama, social media has become just another platform for press releases, rather than a way for followers (and potential voters) to gain direct access. "The small-business jobs bill passed today will provide loans and cut taxes for millions of small businesses without adding to our deficit," @BarackObama tweeted recently. "Making a personnel announcement this morning. Watch live at 11:05am ET," another post read. These types of regurgitated messages lose the authenticity that might've driven voters to Obama in the first place. "It's really unfortunate," says Mindy Finn, partner at e-strategy firm EngageDC and a top campaign official for GOP heavyweights such as Mitt Romney. "When politicians are candidates, they have this incentive to be engaging online, to be very active through social media communicating with voters to win them over. And then, when they get elected, you see that their outreach through social media becomes stilted--it reads much more like a press release. That's unfortunate, particularly when you think from our own selfish perspective that we're kind of always running for re-election, even as elected officials."

Google Intensity Map Tracks Political Prognostications

Google has created a tool that, while hardly failsafe, will certainly make political armchair prognosticating more fun. The 2010 Elections Ratings map pulls in data from various political trackers and displays it on a map of the United States. View the Rothenberg Political Report's latest predictions about the U.S. Senate races, for example, and the map paints each state in shades from dark red to dark blue, depending on whether Rothenberg's information indicates that the Republican or the Democratic candidate is likely to win. You can also view the map by House and gubernatorial races, as well as by individual state.

FCC Should Assess the Design of the E-rate Program's Internal Control Structure

In a September 29 report, GAO found that the design of E-rate's internal control structure may not appropriately consider program risks.

GAO found, for example, that the Universal Service Administrative Company's application review process incorporates a number of different types and levels of reviews, but that it was not clear whether this design was effectively and efficiently targeting resources to risks. Similarly, GAO found no controls in place to periodically check the accuracy of USAC's automated invoice review process, again making it unclear whether resources are appropriately aligned with risks. While USAC has expanded and adjusted its internal control procedures, it has never conducted a robust risk assessment of the E-rate program's core processes, although it has conducted risk assessments for other purposes, such as financial reporting. A risk assessment involving a critical examination of the entire E-rate program could help determine whether modifications to business practices and the internal control structure are needed to appropriately address the risks identified and better align program resources to risks. The internal control structure--once assessed and possibly adjusted on the basis of the results of a robust risk assessment--should then be periodically monitored to ensure that the control structure does not evolve in a way that fails to appropriately align resources to risks. The results of beneficiary audits are used to identify and report on E-rate compliance issues, but GAO found that the information gathered from the audits has not been effectively used to assess and modify the E-rate program's internal controls. As a result, the same rule violations have been repeated each year for which beneficiary audits have been completed. For example, of 64 beneficiaries that had been audited more than once over a 3-year period, GAO found that 36 had repeat audit findings of the same rule violation.

GAO found that the current beneficiary audit process lacks documented and approved policies and procedures. Without such policies and procedures, management may not have the assurance that control activities are appropriate and properly applied. Documented and approved policies and procedures could contribute positively to a systematic process for considering beneficiary audit findings when assessing the E-rate program's internal controls and in identifying opportunities to modify existing controls.

GAO recommends that FCC conduct a robust risk assessment of the E-rate program, conduct a thorough examination of the overall design of E-rate's internal control structure, implement a systematic process to assess internal controls that appropriately considers beneficiary audit findings, and establish procedures to periodically monitor controls.

The Federal Communications Commission agreed with GAO's recommendations.

(GAO-10-908)

"Early Innovator" Grants for States that Lead the Race to Develop Health IT Systems for State Exchanges

The Department of Health and Human Services announced competitive funding opportunities for States to design and implement the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure needed to operate Health Insurance Exchanges.

The Exchanges represent new competitive insurance marketplaces that will help Americans and small businesses purchase affordable private health insurance starting in 2014 and a strong IT infrastructure will be critical to their success. For the first time, funding will be directed to States that are willing and able to lead the race to develop IT systems. These systems can then be used as models by all States in their efforts to establish Exchanges.

Starting in 2014, Exchanges will help individuals and small employers shop for, select, and enroll in high-quality, affordable private health plans that fit their individual needs at competitive prices. By providing a place for one-stop shopping, Exchanges will make purchasing health insurance easier and more understandable. Similar to any consumer-based industry such as the airline or banking industries, sophisticated, consumer-friendly IT infrastructure will be critical to the success of the Exchanges. Although Exchanges are not scheduled to launch until 2014, work is already underway to design and implement them across the country. As States prepare, they have requested early funding assistance to develop the right IT, particularly with respect to eligibility and enrollment systems. The new competitive "Early Innovators" grants being announced today will reward States that demonstrate leadership in developing cutting-edge and cost effective consumer-based technologies and models for insurance eligibility and enrollment for Exchanges. This will help to create a simpler, consumer-oriented system for individuals, families and businesses to sign up for the health insurance plan that they choose. Additionally, all States, including recipients of this award, will be eligible to apply for a future funding opportunity that will support ongoing Exchange implementation. Expect this funding opportunity to be announced in February 2011.

Two-year grants will be awarded by February 15, 2011, to up to five States or coalitions of States that have ambitious yet achievable proposals that can yield IT models and best practices that will benefit all States. These States will lead the way in developing consumer-friendly, cost-effective IT systems that can be used and adopted by other States and help all States and the Federal government save money as they work to develop these new competitive market places. Funding, which will vary based on States' proposals, will provide necessary resources to develop and establish the most innovative systems possible that meet consumer and employer needs in a cost effective manner.

When giants collide: New networks, old laws

[Commentary] Some argue that the public sector should leave communications and information businesses alone -- eliminate regulation, weaken consumer protection agencies or stop those with oversight authority from doing their job. Nothing could be more shortsighted.

Not only would it be bad for consumers and competition, but, in the end, it would also likely to be bad for innovation and democratic participation -- and, ultimately, for the next generation of businesses. In fact, we should modernize rather than eliminate our laws and agencies. We need to ensure that they protect consumers, encourage competition and spur innovation -- just as the old laws created a playing field where all these businesses could succeed. The old rules are outdated for the new landscape. Good public policymaking and oversight mean it's our job to leave alone the systems that are working and act when the law doesn't work. And by "working," I mean:

1) the market actors do not know what their legal obligations to each other or consumers are, and
2) a conflict between private actors leads to a destructive stalemate or behavior that threatens either consumers, competition or innovation.

Civil Rights, Privacy, and Consumer Organizations Call on the FCC to Adopt Key Goals of National Broadband Plan

A coalition of national civil rights, privacy, and consumer organizations is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to move expeditiously to achieve several key goals of the National Broadband Plan.

In a letter to FCC Commissioners, the coalition urged the FCC to focus on the importance of achieving four key objectives:

Expansion of the Universal Service Fund to broadband;
Assurance of transparency and truth in billing;
Protection of consumers' privacy online; and
Internet accessibility for those with disabilities.

In light of questions raised in the context of net neutrality and the FCC's authority over broadband, the coalition said the FCC should "adopt a legally justifiable regulatory framework to enact the broadband plan." "Regardless of how organizations view net neutrality, the Commission's authority to achieve many objectives critical to the civil rights community must be affirmed," the coalition said.

The letter was sent by the American Association of People with Disabilities, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Asian American Justice Center, the Benton Foundation, Communications Workers of America, Consumer Action, Consumer Watchdog, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP, the National Consumers League, the National Organization for Women, the National Urban League, Privacy International, Privacy Lives, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Privacy Times, and the United Church of Christ, Office of Communication

Immigrant Rights Groups Ask the FCC to Protect Civic Engagement Over Cell Phones

In a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nearly thirty non-profit organizations representing people of color and/or working towards comprehensive immigration reform requested that the FCC swiftly exert authority over cell phone text messages.

"Text messaging is a necessary tool for many members of our organizations and for countless public interest and civil rights groups because, while many of our constituents do not have Internet access, nearly all of them have wireless cell phones," said Alex Nogales, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC). "Wireless service providers should not be permitted to discriminate against certain types of text messages at the expense of the general public."

Communities of color have been using text messaging to encourage democratic participation and galvanize support for important causes. One example is our "Text JUSTICE" campaign, which relies on text messages to mobilize communities across the nation whenever action is needed to support immigration reform. With over 100,000 subscribers, some estimate that "Text JUSTICE" is the largest text message action list in the country. This has given voice to many who, traditionally, have not been heard in this important debate. And it has been used to great effect. In May of this year, the "Text JUSTICE" campaign was implemented to assemble over 500,000 people throughout 30 states in support of just and humane immigration reform. This is only one of the many examples of how text messaging plays a vital role in activism in our communities.

Organizations signing onto the letter include: National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC); America's Voice; Arkansas Community Council; Casa de Maryland, Inc.; CAUSA Oregon; Center for Community Change; Center for New Community; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA); Citizen Orange; Gamaliel Foundation; Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU); Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR); Latino Print Network; League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition; National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP); National Immigration Forum; National Institute of Latino Policy (NiLP); National Immigration Law Center (NILC); National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC); Northwest Federation of Community Organizations and Community Organizations in Action; OneAmerica, Washington State; Reform Immigration FOR America; Rights for All People / Derechos Para Todos; SOMOS, New Mexico; Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC); Sunflower Community Action, Kansas; Voces de la Frontera, and WCAN!, Washington State.

New journalism ecosystem thrives

As news consumption in America began to decline decades ago, as advertising revenue and commercial newsgathering began to contract, the bean counters increasing their brutal, cost-cutting efficiencies, the out-of-town owners harvesting their mature (i.e. no longer growing) investments, newsrooms becoming quieter and less enterprising, many serious reporters and editors necessarily went elsewhere. They were desperately seeking a different, more hospitable milieu in which to work, a non-commercial, nonprofit environment more conducive to investigative and other public-service journalism. And over time a new journalism ecosystem has begun to emerge, which we have attempted to define and describe here.

Sick of Campaign Ads? TV Stations Aren't

For television stations, this year's election is a stimulus package.

The Campaign Media Analysis Group, a unit of the consulting firm Kantar Media, expects TV political spending to hit a record $3 billion, and the windfall may continue well past Election Day because regular advertisers are getting squeezed out of the schedule and could spend their ad budgets later. Coming out of a recession that put some broadcasters in or near bankruptcy protection, political spending is emerging as a critical , but temporary , source of revenue. Several factors created the upsurge: tea party enthusiasm, self-financed millionaire candidates, an unusually high number of toss-up races and a Supreme Court ruling in January that eased rules on corporate campaign donations. Ad rates are going up overall because political campaigns are taking up much of the commercial time. Station managers say many regular advertisers aren't able to buy ads now. That frees up money to spend later.

TV Stations in 2 States Yank American Action Network Ads

At least two television stations in Connecticut and Colorado have yanked misleading attack ads in the last 24 hours financed by the conservative group American Action Network. Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) was the target of an ad taken off the air by Hartford's Fox affiliate. Among other accusations, the ad noted that the new health-care overhaul would force "jail time for anyone without coverage." Rep Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), another American Action Network target, reports that a Denver-based NBC affiliate has pulled a second ad off the air because it alleged Rep Perlmutter voted for a provision of the healthcare law that would provide federal funding to give rapists Viagra. While at least two stations have had problems with the ads, other stations, sometimes in the same markets, are running the same, or very similar commercials.

Benton

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