July 27, 2011 (AT&T's 'Do-Over')
BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2011
Spectrum and AT&T/T-Mobile on today's agenda http://benton.org/calendar/2011-07-27/
AT&T/T-MOBILE
Sprint hatchets AT&T's new T-Mobile economic analysis as 'do-over'
Sen Franken Urges Rejection of AT&T/T-Mobile
Rep. Mike Thompson endorses AT&T deal
MORE ON SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
Squeezing More Blood From The Spectrum Turnip -- Harry Reid's Contribution To The Spectrum
Smartphones, iPads & the state of the mobile Internet [links to web]
Why The U.S. Government Should Embrace Smart Cities - analysis
INTERNET/BROADBAND
Financial analysts: Large carriers will recommend cost model for broadband Universal Service program
FCC reform disastrous for rural broadband - op-ed
Colleges Join Plan for Faster Computer Networks
State of the Internet: What are the fastest cities in the world
Smartphones, iPads & the state of the mobile Internet [links to web]
No need for cloud-specific legislation, SIIA industry group says [links to web]
Coalition Launches To Push For Online Poker Regime [links to web]
Ofcom warns on broadband speed advert claims
Advocates: Seniors, poor need online education, protection
CYBERSECURITY
Cyber-attacks on US grow, experts say
GAO decries 'decentralized' DoD cyber efforts
PRIVACY
Under threat of regulation, tech industry takes on challenge of Internet privacy
Google+ and the loss of online anonymity
JOURNALISM
ABC News, NBC News Snipe Over Paying Sources
'What About the Journal?' A Report from the Special Committee
TELEVISION
FCC Seeks Input on Regional Sports Network Marketplace - public notice
PTC Asks NBC Affiliates Not To Air ‘Playboy Club' [links to web]
CONTENT
Pew: 71% of online adults now use video-sharing sites - research
Fox to Limit Next-Day Streaming on Hulu to Paying Cable Customers
Pirates of the ISPs: Tactics for Turning Online Crooks Into International Pariahs [links to web]
Paperback Publishers Quicken Their Pace [links to web]
Digital Maps Are Giving Scholars the Historical Lay of the Land [links to web]
LABOR
Microsoft tells lawmakers to reform high-skill immigration [links to web]
HEALTH
Most rural hospitals wouldn't meet meaningful use: report
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
White House recharges effort to help people with disabilities use government technology
Before giving websites the ax, feds should consider public satisfaction, analyst says [links to web]
14 Recommendations for Federal Cloud Adoption [links to web]
No need for cloud-specific legislation, SIIA industry group says [links to web]
AT&T/T-MOBILE
AT&T'S NEW MODEL
[SOURCE: Fierce, AUTHOR: Phil Goldstein]
AT&T's proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA will lead to lower prices "adjusted for quality," AT&T said in a new filing to the Federal Communications Commission that is aimed at bolstering its case that the deal should be approved. The filing is based on new economic analysis of the potential impacts of the deal, and the FCC has halted its 180-day review "shot clock" so that it can analyze the data and allow third parties to comment. AT&T said that the deal "will relieve significant capacity restraints faced by both companies and lead to improved service quality." The new economic analysis focused on "the likely output and price effects of the proposed transaction, focusing on the extent to which the efficiencies of the proposed transaction will result in lower marginal costs of output and higher quality levels." The filing itself, which looks at the deal's potential impact on 15 U.S. markets, including Los Angeles, New York and Washington (DC), is confidential and filed under seal. The letter has some parts redacted. "In each market, the merger simulations project that industry output will rise and average price adjusted for quality will fall as a result of the transaction," AT&T and T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom said in the letter.
Sprint Nextel, the most outspoken critic of the deal, blasted AT&T's new filing as an attempt to "distract regulators."
Free Press Research Director S. Derek Turner said, "New models or not, this is the same bad deal for American consumers, workers and businesses. After failing to make a credible case in the first go-round, AT&T is desperately trying a do-over. Yet while AT&T is spinning, support for the merger continues to unravel, from Capitol Hill to California. AT&T is asking the FCC for a do-over because its case for the merger was obliterated by the evidence. Free Press and others have demonstrated time and again before the FCC that both of AT&T's central claims — that the merger will lead to greater rural buildout and improved quality — are nothing more than a facade. AT&T could accomplish both of these goals without this merger and without killing off a major competitor."
"It is clear that AT&T’s submission of a new justification for taking over T-Mobile is exactly like the coach of a losing team calling time out so he can work the referees," said Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn. "While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stops its merger review process to examine the new plan, AT&T will use the time to spend more millions of dollars lobbying federal, state and local officials and recruiting non-governmental groups to support what is clearly a failing action. Unless this new ‘model’ can come up with a different answer to the problem of 4-1=3, (which would inevitably be followed by 3-1=2) we’re not interested. Removing a major competitor from the national wireless market still makes no sense."
benton.org/node/84041 | Fierce | read the filing | Bloomberg | Free Press | Public Knowledge
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FRANKEN URGES REJECTION OF AT&T/T-MOBILE
[SOURCE: US Senate, AUTHOR: Sen Al Franken (D-MN)]
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) told federal regulators that they should deny AT&T's request to acquire T-Mobile because the merger would drive up prices for wireless customers and likely cost thousands of jobs. In a filing sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Sen. Franken said the merger would be a bad deal for consumers, noting that some analysts predict that wireless costs could go up by as much as 25 percent as a result. He also said that the merger would further stifle competition in an already-concentrated wireless market and would allow only two companies-AT&T and Verizon-to control more than 80 percent of the market.
"This transaction is not in the public interest," Sen. Franken said in his filing. "If approved, it would result in greatly reduced competition, the potential loss of thousands of jobs, higher consumer prices, and less innovation in technology. I urge the FCC and the DOJ to deny AT&T's application for approval of its acquisition of T-Mobile."
benton.org/node/84108 | US Senate | read the filing | WashPost | The Hill
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THOMPSON BACKS AT&T/T-MOBILE
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Brendan Sasso]
In a letter sent to the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) endorsed AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile. “I urge that the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission expeditiously review and approve the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile. Once approved, this merger will allow AT&T to significantly expand and strengthen its broadband network, better serving constituents in Northern California and nationwide.”
Rep Thompson noted the rapid growth in demand for wireless broadband has led to a “spectrum crunch” for AT&T. “If approved, this merger would bring the added benefit of increasing the spectrum available to AT&T, allowing them to expand its latest generation 4G broadband network,” he wrote. Rep Thompson argued the merger would be good for his constituents. “Many communities in my district clearly gain expanded and improved service under this merger,” he wrote. “It is my strong hope however, that if and when this merger is approved, AT&T will remain committed to continued critical infrastructure investments in the remaining rural communities who do not yet enjoy access to their services.”
benton.org/node/84106 | Hill, The
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MORE ON SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
SPECTRUM AUCTION PLANS
[SOURCE: Public Knowledge, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] No sooner had I posted my wonkish critique of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score for S.911, the Rockefeller Public Safety/Spectrum Bill, when Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) turns around and drops a new version of the plan as part of his debt ceiling bill. Sen Reid promises to raise $15 billion in “spectrum sales” while still reallocating the D Block to public safety. That’s quite a trick, given that CBO had given S.911 a “score” (meaning the amount of money it will add or subtract from the deficit) of $6 billion.
A quick review shows how Sen Reid is trying to squeeze more blood from the spectrum turnip. Specifically, the bill would:
Cut the proposed level of public safety funding from $12 billion to $7 billion.
Cut the proposed level of funding for public safety research from $500 Million to $300 Million.
Give the FCC much greater flexibility to repack broadcasters.
Limit the total amount of incentive auction reimbursement to $1 billion.
While the FCC could allocate 6 MHz for unlicensed if it reclaimed more than 84 MHz of broadcast spectrum, any additional unlicensed would need to come from somewhere else — although you could use the incentive auction fund to clear other licensees.
benton.org/node/84039 | Public Knowledge
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EMBRACING SMART CITIES
[SOURCE: Fast Company, AUTHOR: Bruce Katz]
[Commentary] Global companies, having wired people throughout the world, are now on a mission to connect cities, within and without, through the integrated application of advanced technologies like wireless sensors and processors, mobile and video telecommunications, and geographic information systems. The tantalizing prospect: cities and metropolitan areas that use technology to manage urban congestion, maximize energy efficiency, enhance public security, allocate scarce resources based on real time evidence, even educate their citizenry through remote learning. The United States would seem tailor made for this market transformation. One of the most urbanized countries in the world, cities and metropolitan areas house over 83% of the population and generate 90 percent of national GDP. American companies (and the U.S. military) have been innovative leaders in the invention of technologies critical to making cities smart. Despite these natural advantages, the U.S. lags rather than leads the move towards smart cities.
benton.org/node/84015 | Fast Company
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INTERNET/BROADBAND
USF PLAN COMING SOON
[SOURCE: Connected Planet, AUTHOR: Joan Engebretson]
A broadband universal service reform proposal from six of the nation’s largest telcos expected later this week will recommend using a cost model to determine the maximum level of support for high-cost areas, said Stifel Nicolaus analysts. The proposal also envisions the use of a reverse auction to award funding, but only if the incumbent carrier declines to provide broadband service at the calculated support level.
Other key elements of the expected proposal, according to the Stifel Nicolaus analysts, include:
Reducing terminating intrastate access charges over the next two years to interstate levels and then reducing terminating charges to $.0007 per minute over the following three years.
Assessing access charges on VoIP calls at the level of interstate access charges or reciprocal compensation rates “depending on the carrier and/or the circumstances” before being reduced to $.0007 along with other voice traffic.
Creating an access charge replacement mechanism for rural telcos, in part by enabling local phone service rates to rise to $25- $30 a month, by increasing the subscriber line charge, and from additional USF support. Verizon and AT&T (and perhaps some other large carriers) would not receive the additional USF support, nor would CLECs or wireless carriers.
Keeping high-cost USF at current levels, including keeping rate-of-return carriers at their current levels.
Phasing out high-cost support for wireless carriers and shifting much of that funding toward high-cost areas where the incumbent is one of the larger telcos.
The proposal is expected to have the backing of Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, Frontier, Windstream and FairPoint, the Stifel Nicolaus analysts said. The US Telecom Association also was involved in creating the proposal, according to the analysts.
benton.org/node/84112 | Connected Planet
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USF REFORM AND RURAL BROADBAND
[SOURCE: Wichita Eagle, AUTHOR: Mike Foster]
[Commentary] Kansas will lose out if rules currently under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission are enacted.
At issue is an effort by the government agency to "reform" a telecommunications fund that Kansas residents and businesses rely on to the tune of nearly $143 million annually to connect their rural areas to the world. Unfortunately, this so-called reform of the federal Universal Service Fund looks like it could be more of a grand experiment than a focused effort to update and fine-tune a system that has worked well. It will mean that Kansans may need to say goodbye to broadband Internet access in some of the state's more remote corners. Indeed, unless the FCC reforms this fund in the right way, millions of rural Americans could be left behind.
I was among nine Kansas RLEC chief executives who went to Washington, D.C., earlier this month to tell the FCC and Congress how this so-called reform proposal will harm thousands of Kansans. Rural broadband is a part of our state's critical infrastructure. It has played a vital role in equipping Kansas first responders and health care providers with information that has been used to save and enhance the lives of Kansans. It has helped small communities by attracting businesses. Broadband enables rural Kansas residents to gain employment with companies far from home, through the ability to "telework." Eliminate the support for these networks, and the networks and the benefits they deliver will go away. The reforms being considered are a recipe for rural devastation. The FCC needs to proceed with deliberate caution.
[Foster is the CEO of Twin Valley Telephone in Miltonvale (KS]
benton.org/node/84109 | Wichita Eagle
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GIGU LAUNCH
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: John Markoff]
A coalition of 28 American universities is throwing its weight behind a plan to build ultra-high-speed computer networks — with Internet service several hundred times faster than what is now commercially available — in the communities surrounding the participating colleges. The project, which is named GigU and will be announced on July 27, is meant to draw high-tech startups in fields like health care, energy and telecommunications to the areas near the universities, many of which are in the Midwest or outside of major cities. These zones would ideally function as hubs for building a new generation of faster computer networks, which could make the United States more competitive internationally. For now the plan is a work in progress, with the universities reaching out to telecommunications companies for suggestions and to corporations and nonprofits for business ideas. The institutions involved include Arizona State University, Case Western Reserve University, Howard University, Duke University, the University of Michigan, the University of Washington and the University of Chicago. ”We’re not asking for government money,” said Blair Levin, a fellow at the Aspen Institute who is heading the project. “We believe the right approach is to have the private sector fund the networks.”
benton.org/node/84150 | New York Times
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STATE OF THE INTERNET
[SOURCE: GigaOm, AUTHOR: Om Malik]
The Internet continues to grow bigger and bigger, thanks to growing number of Internet subscribers and Internet connected devices according to Akamai, which is about to release its latest State of the Internet (for Q1 2011) report. The Internet’s expansion is accompanied by steady growth in bandwidth and connection speeds, Akamai’s research shows. Here are some factoids from the report:
Nearly 60 percent of South Korean broadband connections had speeds above 5 Mbps.
South Korea also achieved the highest average connection speed at 14.4 Mbps. Hong Kong had an average connection speed of 9.2 Mbps, and Japan came in third with 8.1 Mbps.
More than 40 countries/regions saw average connection speeds increase by 10 percent or more in the first quarter, a healthy sign for broadband adoption overall and even better news for startups building applications that consume a lot of bandwidth.
Nearly 72 percent of all broadband connections in the state of Delaware were faster than 5 Mbps.
Delaware also had the highest average connection speed, at 7.5 Mbps.
Based on data collected by Ericsson, mobile data traffic saw 130 percent yearly growth in the first quarter and is now more than double the measured volume of voice traffic.
During the first three months of 2011, there was a 5.2 percent increase in the number of unique IPv4 addresses connecting to Akamai’s global network. US, China and Japan were the top three countries in terms of unique IP addresses.
benton.org/node/84029 | GigaOm
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BROADBAND ADVERTISING CLAIMS
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Tim Bradshaw]
The Internet speeds promised by UK broadband providers are diverging further from the reality that their services deliver to the average customer, according to a study by Ofcom. The media and communications regulator found that although the average UK broadband speed increased by 10 per cent to 6.8 megabits per second between December 2010 and May 2011, the gap between advertised and actual speeds widened. It said average speeds were 8.2 Mbps lower than the 15 Mbps average maximum advertised during the period, compared with 7.6 Mbps lower six months earlier. Consumer Focus, the consumer advocacy group, said the trend was “worrying.”
benton.org/node/84141 | Financial Times | Ofcom
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SENIORS ONLINE
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Rachel Roubein]
Consumer and privacy advocates pushed for greater online protections and education for seniors as well as low-income and disadvantaged users who increasingly are embracing the Internet. Among families with an annual income of $20,000 or less, 92% of blacks and 63% of Hispanics look for jobs online, compared with 54% of whites, according to a 2010 study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. "Broadband has the potential to level the playing field," says Nicol Turner-Lee, vice president and director of the center's media institute. We "don't want new adopters to face potential harms they're not ready for." Among the concerns expressed at a policy forum hosted by the Joint Center: Vulnerability to Web fraud, Privacy protection, Opportunities for discrimination, Transparency.
benton.org/node/84143 | USAToday
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CYBERSECURITY
CYBERATTACKS GROW
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Gautham Nagesh]
A panel of government experts once again warned lawmakers that cyber-attacks against the nation’s computer networks are growing more frequent and increasingly sophisticated, while the U.S. has lagged behind on implementing the necessary protections. The House Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held the first in a series of hearings on cybersecurity and securing the nation’s critical infrastructure featuring two representatives from the Department of Homeland Security’s cyberdivision. In their opening statements, Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) both argued that the committee should play a significant role in the upcoming debate over comprehensive cybersecurity legislation.
“In the face of cyberthreats that are both more frequent and more sophisticated, this committee is well-positioned to play an important role in any comprehensive cybersecurity legislation that moves through the House,” Chairman Upton said.
A turf battle between two Senate committees -- Commerce vs Homeland Security -- delayed comprehensive cybersecurity legislation in the upper chamber for the better part of a year. Both committees sought jurisdiction over federal cybersecurity standards for private networks deemed critical infrastructure.
Gregory Wilshusen, director of information technology for the Government Accountability Office, told lawmakers the Administration has implemented only two of 24 recommendations generated by the president’s cyberspace policy review to improve security. Officials told the GAO that progress has been slower than expected because agencies lack cybersecurity officials with defined roles and responsibilities, Wilshusen said in his opening statement. He added that the DHS team in charge of responding to attacks must improve its analysis and warning capabilities. “In summary, the threats to information systems are evolving and growing, and systems supporting our nation’s critical infrastructure are not sufficiently protected to consistently thwart the threats.” Wilshusen said.
benton.org/node/84123 | Hill, The | GAO-11-865T | National Journal
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GAO CYBERSECURITY REPORT
[SOURCE: FederalNewsRadio, AUTHOR: Jack Moore]
The Defense Department unveiled its sweeping cybersecurity proposal a little more than a week ago. Now, a recently declassified Government Accountability Office report shows just how much the Pentagon is up against in its efforts to better coordinate its cyber capabilities. The report, which was originally prepared in May 2010 and declassified today - thus pre-dating the most recent Pentagon plan - aimed to address how DoD is organized with regard to cybersecurity. The answer: not very. DoD's organization to address cybersecurity threats is "decentralized and spread across various offices," GAO found, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff and the military. And while there have been several attempts at publishing joint strategies for addressing cyberspace operations, GAO found that "the discussions are insufficient, and no single joint publication completely addresses cyberspace operations." GAO also identified so-called cyber "capability gaps," which the watchdog agency said the Pentagon has not done enough to address. DoD "has not completed a comprehensive, departmentwide assessment of needed resources, capability gaps and an implementation plan for addressing any gaps," GAO said.
benton.org/node/84022 | FederalNewsRadio | GAO
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PRIVACY
CHALLENGE OF INTERNET PRIVACY
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Joelle Tessler]
The federal government has put Google, Microsoft, Apple and other technology companies on notice: Give consumers a way prevent advertisers from tracking their movements across the Web — or face regulation. Yet for all its innovative know-how and entrepreneurial spirit, the technology industry has yet to agree on a simple, meaningful solution to protect consumer privacy on the Internet. So privacy watchdogs and lawmakers are stepping up the pressure, calling for laws that would require companies to stop the digital surveillance of consumers who don't want to be tracked. They argue that effective privacy tools are long overdue from an industry that typically moves at breakneck speed.
benton.org/node/84120 | Associated Press
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LOSS OF ANONYMITY
[SOURCE: GigaOm, AUTHOR: Mathew Ingram]
As Google rolls out its Google+ social network, it is struggling with the same questions about identity that have caused problems for Facebook in the past: namely, how much should it force people to use their “real” names? The web giant has been disabling user accounts on Google+ for a variety of reasons over the past few weeks, but it has caused an outcry from many who feel it is being too strict in some cases and not enough in others. The big issue at the root of this battle, as we have pointed out before, is that in many cases anonymity (and pseudonymity) has real value. Are we losing that as a result of Google and Facebook’s real-name obsession? Google senior vice-president Vic Gundotra, the man who is in charge of Google’s social efforts, said in response to a post by blogger Robert Scoble that Google doesn't necessarily want to force people to use only their legally given names — he says the web company is fine with users setting up accounts under “commonly used” names, although it’s not clear how this is defined. This would presumably cover celebrity users like 50 Cent or Lady Gaga (Gundotra noted that even he doesn't use his legal name on Google+). The Google executive said he simply wants to maintain a “positive tone” on the network, and compared it to requiring people to wear shirts in a restaurant. While this is an appealing metaphor, it’s not as simple as that, unfortunately.
benton.org/node/84026 | GigaOm
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JOURNALISM
PAYING SOURCES
[SOURCE: AdWeek, AUTHOR: DM Levine]
As ABC News moves away from checkbook journalism, its competitors are starting to gloat -- and distance themselves from similar practices. “We were happy to hear about this change in ABC News policy," a spokesperson for NBC News said. “We agree that their recent activity has been bad for journalism and the news industry. And we welcome them back to the practices that we work hard to uphold.” An ABC News insider, flabbergasted by the NBC comment, fired back saying, "NBC News lies about its practices, does not disclose the habitual payments it makes for interviews, and then has the gall to get up on a high horse. Someone ought to remind NBC News that the higher they get up on that horse, the farther they will fall as their rank and recurring hypocrisy is exposed."
benton.org/node/84118 | AdWeek
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WHAT ABOUT THE JOURNAL
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Thomas Bray, Louis Boccardi, Jack Fuller, Nicholas Negroponte, Susan Phillips]
[Commentary] As a condition of the acquisition of Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, in late 2007, Rupert Murdoch and News Corp. agreed to the establishment of a five-person Special Committee to oversee the continued editorial integrity of the Journal and its sister organization, Dow Jones Newswires. Given the recent revelations of telephone hacking, police bribery and other violations of ethical and legal standards at News Corp. properties in the United Kingdom, it's fair to ask of us -- as many people have in recent weeks -- "What about the Journal?" Since its inception, the committee has repeatedly reached out to a broad range of staff and management at Dow Jones. We have reviewed ethics procedures and enforcement standards. We have talked with former employees. We have reviewed the journalistic offerings of the newspaper. We have asked again and again: "Is anybody putting political, ideological or commercial pressure on you to influence your news judgment?" The broad and consistent answer we get is "no." To be sure, the Journal has changed in focus, style and content since coming under News Corp. ownership. This is both obvious to readers and documented in various studies. Reasonable people debate the merits of the new versus the old Journal. But in our view the long-established reputation of Dow Jones as a highly trusted source of news and commentary endures.
benton.org/node/84037 | Wall Street Journal
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TELEVISION
REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORKS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Public Notice]
The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau seeks comment on issues related to regional sports network (“RSN”) access and carriage in order to prepare a report.
The FCC prohibits Time Warner Cable and Comcast from entering into any exclusive distribution agreements with existing and future affiliated RSNs and unduly or improperly influencing the sale of the programming of those RSNs to unaffiliated multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”). The companies are also required to provide the programming of affiliated RSNs to all MVPDs pursuant to non-discriminatory terms and conditions. Moreover, the FCC applied the program access rules applicable to satellite-delivered, cable-affiliated programming to all of the Applicants’ affiliated RSNs, regardless of the method of delivery. However, the FCC partially exempted Comcast’s SportsNet Philadelphia from these requirements given that it was delivered terrestrially before being acquired by Comcast, and therefore the method of delivery was not chosen for anticompetitive purposes. Finally, the FCC implemented a dispute resolution process allowing aggrieved MVPDs and unaffiliated RSNs respectively to submit program access or carriage disputes with the Time Warner and Comcast to an arbitrator.
The FCC seeks comment generally on issues related to RSN access and carriage. What effect, if any, have marketplace and program access rules revisions had on MVPDs’ ability to gain access to RSN programming? Similarly, what impact have regulatory and marketplace changes had on the ability of unaffiliated RSNs to gain carriage on MVPD systems? Has there been an increase in the delivery of RSNs by terrestrial means? In addition, has the number of RSNs affiliated with a cable operator changed? If there has been a change, how does this number compare with the overall number of RSNs in the marketplace? Are there examples since the release of the Adelphia Order involving the withholding of an RSN and what impact has this had on the MVPD marketplace? Further, has there been a change in the number of exclusive deals involving MVPDs and unaffiliated RSNs?
Moreover, the FCC seek comment on the access of MVPDs, other than the Applicants, to RSN programming in which the Applicants hold an interest. We also request comment on whether unaffiliated RSNs have obtained carriage on the Applicants’ cable systems and on what terms. Finally, we seek comment on the Applicants’ compliance with the Adelphia Order’s RSN conditions, the dispute resolution process and the effectiveness of these remedies. Do such conditions continue to be necessary in light of marketplace and regulatory changes since the time of their adoption?
benton.org/node/84033 | Federal Communications Commission
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CONTENT
ONLINE VIDEO
[SOURCE: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, AUTHOR: Kathleen Moore]
Fully 71% of online Americans use video-sharing sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. On any given day, 28% of Internet users go to such sites. These figures come from a new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and they both are notable increases from 2010. The previous survey found that 66% of online Americans had ever used video sharing sites and that on a typical day 23% of Internet users were visiting them. Moreover, the use of video-sharing sites on any given day also jumped five percentage points. In our May 2001 survey, 28% of online Americans said they had gone to such sites “yesterday,” compared with 23% who had reported using video-sharing sites “yesterday” – or on a typical day in May 2010.
Rural Internet users are now just as likely as users in urban and suburban areas to have used these sites, and online African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely than Internet-using whites to visit video-sharing sites.
benton.org/node/84020 | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project | read the report | Washington Post
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FOX PAYWALL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Brian Stelter]
For a few years, fans have been able to log on to Hulu.com or Fox.com to watch what they missed on television the previous night. For most viewers, doing so is about to get a lot more difficult. Starting Aug. 15, the Fox network will limit next-day streaming of its shows to paying customers of approved cable and satellite distributors. Those customers will be able to log in and watch episodes of “Bones,” “The Simpsons” and other shows the day after they appear on TV; all others will have to wait eight days. The limitations, announced on July 26 and bemoaned by fans of Hulu, are a significant change to the online television system. At least one of Hulu’s other network partners, ABC, is contemplating setting a similar limit, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. For Fox, a unit of the News Corporation, the new limitations are driven by a desire to protect lucrative deals with cable and satellite distributors. Increasingly, distributors are paying monthly fees for Fox programs through retransmission agreements, and they dislike the fact that many of the programs are free online. By putting an eight-day delay in place, Fox is appeasing the distributors and supporting what is known in the TV industry as an authentication model for online streams of shows.
benton.org/node/84144 | New York Times
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HEALTH
RURAL MEANINGFUL USE
[SOURCE: ModernHealthcare.com, AUTHOR: Paul Barr]
A large majority of rural and critical-access hospitals would not meet the measures needed to qualify for incentive payments tied to the meaningful use of health information technology, according to research published in the latest issue of the Journal of Rural Health. The report, based on hospital-reported data from an American Hospital Association survey on IT use for 2007, is published in the journal's Summer 2011 issue. Just 5% of rural hospitals and 3% of critical-access hospitals participating in would be ready to demonstrate meaningful use of an electronic health-record system, according to the report's authors.
benton.org/node/84017 | ModernHealthcare.com
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GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
GOV TECH AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
[SOURCE: nextgov, AUTHOR: Caitlin Fairchild]
On the 21st anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act, the White House announced that federal agencies must make technology more accessible for people with disabilities. The Obama Administration announced it is creating a strategy to achieve this goal by improving compliance with Section 508, a technology-oriented 1998 amendment to the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 requires federal agencies' electronic and information technology to be accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities. The Administration said increased access to technology, including government websites, will allow more people with disabilities to apply for federal jobs and obtain government services and information. More access also could help current federal employees with disabilities perform their duties with greater ease.
benton.org/node/84114 | nextgov | White House
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