Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service =
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday =
through Friday, this service provides updates on important industry =
developments, policy issues, and other related news events. Headlines =
are compiled this week by Norris Dickard (norris( at )benton.org) -- we =
welcome your comments.
FCC
Plan Considered to Speed DTV Transition
INTERNET
Justice Department Seeks Online Monitoring Authority
COMPUTING
EU Moves Against Microsoft with Antitrust Ruling
Samsung Sees Chip Shortage
=20
FCC
PLAN CONSIDERED TO SPEED DTV TRANSITION
Federal regulators are considering an aggressive plan to speed the =
transition to digital TV and require consumers who don't have cable or =
satellite service to buy a digital-to-analog converter box by December =
2006, a requirement that FCC officials say could be covered by a subsidy =
program. This plan would allow the government to reclaim broadcasters' =
analog TV channels in 2006 so they could be auctioned to wireless firms, =
paving the way for improved services and raising billions for other =
national needs.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2004-03-15-digitaltv=
_x.htm
INTERNET
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEKS ONLINE MONITORING AUTHORITY=20
The Justice Department wants to significantly expand the government's =
ability to monitor online traffic. The agency's lawyers filed a petition =
with the FCC proposing high-speed Internet service providers be forced =
to grant easier access for FBI wiretaps and other electronic =
surveillance. James X. Dempsey, executive director of the Center for =
Democracy & Technology, a public interest group, is reported to have =
said, "The breadth of what they are asking for is a little breathtaking. =
The question is, how deeply should the government be able to control the =
design of the Internet? . . . If you want to bring the economy to a =
halt, put the FBI in charge of deploying new Internet and communications =
services."=20
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Dan Eggen and Jonathan Krim]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54512-2004Mar12.html
(requires registration)
COMPUTING
EU MOVES AGAINST MICROSOFT WITH ANTITRUST RULING
The European Union's antitrust regulators won backing for a draft ruling =
against Microsoft Corp. that finds the U.S. software giant abused its =
Windows monopoly. Microsoft wants to avoid a far-reaching order that =
would not only result in a fine of up to $3 billion, but also force the =
company to change the way it sells its flagship Windows operating system =
to computer-makers in Europe. A negative decision would be the most =
major setback for Microsoft since a U.S. judge found it guilty of =
antitrust violations involving Internet browsers in 2000.
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Paul Geitner]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59375-2004Mar15.html
(requires subscription)
SAMSUNG SEES CHIP SHORTAGE
Samsung Electronics expects a global shortage of basic memory chips =
later this year as the industry switches production to more specialized =
chips used in cell phones or digital cameras. "Supply is likely to =
remain slightly tight in the second half as chipmakers are switching a =
significant portion of their DRAM capacity to flash chips,'' said Chin =
Yeong-hoon, an analyst at Daishin Securities. Demand for flash, which =
stores and erases data quickly in digital electronic goods, is so strong =
that Samsung has said it was meeting only 60 percent to 70 percent of =
demand.=20
[SOURCE: C/NET, AUTHOR: Reuters]
http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-5173075.html?tag=3Dnefd_top
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