TODAY'S QUESTION: So... who won the debate last night?
We have a busy week ahead starting with TPRC this weekend along with a=20
discussion on the importance of digital TV, a meeting of the Committee on=20
Diversity for Communications and a symposium on Unleashing the Educational=
=20
Power of Broadband (all at the FCC). Add to that two more debates. Yikes!=20
That's a lot of headlines a-comin'. For details see=20
http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
MEDIA POLICY
A Proposed Outline for A Public Interest Media Agenda
Senate Forcing FCC on Multicasting
Barton Opposes Spectrum Amendment, Favors Comprehensive Bill
Abernathy Undecided on Multicast Must-Carry
House, Senate Nearing Agreement on Indecency
FCC Begins TV Licence Renewal Process in the East
Report Urges Nationwide Campaign to Combat Childhood Obesity
QUICKLY
Copyright-Bill Negotiations Continue
Hanging Up on Telemarketers
Saying Cheese Comes with a Catch
Next Big Thing: The Web as Your Servant
The Technologist who has Michael Powell's Ear
Rules for Digital Low Power Television and Television Translator Stations
MEDIA POLICY
A PROPOSED OUTLINE FOR A PUBLIC INTEREST MEDIA AGENDA
We are in the midst of a fundamental transition that will affect all=20
aspects of media and communications, and one that will have profound=20
implications for our democracy as well. Affecting new media as well as old,=
=20
this transition includes newspapers, broadcasting, cable TV, and the=20
Internet=97in short, the very means by which we exchange information and=20
ideas. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to suggest that the country=92s media=
=20
system has reached an unprecedented crossroads. With the right decisions,=
=20
the Internet and new digital media will strengthen democratic expression,=20
unleashing new forms of civic and cultural content and revitalizing our=20
communities. A more democratic media will ensure the airing of a wider=20
range of viewpoints by providing for greater participation by those groups,=
=20
including persons of color and women, which have long been marginalized by=
=20
the traditional media.
How do we get to a more democratic media? Visit an outline of a plan at the=
=20
URL below.
[SOURCE: Center for Digital Democracy]
http://www.democraticmedia.org/issues/mediagenda.html
SENATE FORCING FCC ON MULTICASTING
It is a long way from being law, but an amendment attached to the national=
=20
intelligence-reform bill (S.2845) would require the FCC to issue a final=20
decision on multicast must-carry by January 1. The issue is hotly debated=20
between television broadcasters and cable operators. When using digital=20
technology, broadcasters can split their signals to provide 5 or six=20
simultaneous streams of video programming. They believe that under=20
must-carry regulations, cable operators should have to make all those=20
channels available to subscribers. Cable operators believe they should only=
=20
have to make available the primary channel a station broadcasts. The FCC=20
plans to address the issue in November or December, but the amendment=20
introduced by Sen John McCain (R-AZ) would ensure that the Commission did=20
not let the matter drag on for months.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA457423.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
BARTON OPPOSES SPECTRUM AMENDMENT, FAVORS COMPREHENSIVE BILL
Did I mention that the McCain amendment is far from being law? On Thursday,=
=20
House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) said he did not support=
=20
the compromise and thinks that the digital TV transition should be=20
addressed by comprehensive legislation in the next Congress. Rep Barton has=
=20
said he supports a hard date for the completion of the digital TV=20
transition and has even gone as far to ask why that could not be December=20
31, 2006.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
ABERNATHY UNDECIDED ON MULTICAST MUST-CARRY
Speaking of feet dragging at the FCC [see story above], FCC Commissioner=20
Kathleen Abernathy told reporters Thursday that she's still undecided about=
=20
the issue. She believes that broadcasters should get carriage for their=20
primary video feed plus programming services with local content. But for=20
new entertainment services, she thinks broadcasters should have to compete=
=20
for cable shelf space just like any other new channel. But the law does not=
=20
allow for approval must-carry rights based on the content provided by TV=20
stations.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA457640.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
HOUSE, SENATE NEARING AGREEMENT ON INDECENCY
House and Senate members of the Department of Defense authorization=20
conference are coming closer to a compromise on how to punish broadcasters=
=20
that air indecent material. The compromise would cap fines at $500,000 for=
=20
each violation and would let the FCC fine performers. In addition the=20
compromise is likely to include: 1) a 90-day deadline for the FCC to act on=
=20
indecency complaints, 2) the factors the FCC should consider when=20
determining culpability, including whether a program was live and children=
=20
were watching and the size of the audience, 3) allowing the FCC to require=
=20
public service announcements of offending stations [pennence?], 4) a =93thre=
e=20
strikes =94 rule requiring the FCC to a hold license revocation hearing for=
3=20
violations within 8 years, and 5) a call for the National Association of=20
Broadcasters to renew the Family Viewing Policy.
Indecency would be defined as excessive grandstanding, raising campaign=20
funds for the industries on regulates, fear mongering, race baiting and --=
=20
whoops, just caught myself sleep-typing again... the provision is unlikely=
=20
to define exactly what is indecent.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
FCC BEGINS TV LICENCE RENEWAL PROCESS IN THE EAST
The FCC will begin reviewing the licenses of TV stations in Washington=20
(DC), Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. An issue of concern will be=20
indecency complaints against the stations. The license renewal of a handful=
=20
of stations have already been challenged by nonprofit groups because of=20
indecency and failure to serve the educational/informational needs of=20
children. The FCC is working on a notice of proposed rulemaking that=20
examines how to ascertain and measure public interest obligations.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
REPORT URGES NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Obviously this is a health-related story, but we highlight here some=20
recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences that touch upon media=
=20
consumption. To fight the epidemic of childhood obesity, the nation must=20
launch a far-reaching campaign enlisting virtually every aspect of society=
=20
to reduce the amount of junk food that children eat and get them exercising=
=20
more. The NAS recommends that a national conference be convened to draft=20
new guidelines aimed at curbing advertising and marketing of junk food to=20
children and pass a law empowering the Federal Trade Commission to police=20
the guidelines AND parents make sure their children eat better, exercise=20
more, and spend less time watching television and playing video games. Sen.=
=20
Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) immediately introduced a bill that would carry=
=20
out the report's recommendations and go further in many areas, but one of=20
the recommendations immediately met resistance. While praising the report=20
overall, a Department of Health and Human Services official said the=20
recommendation to convene a task force to develop advertising and marketing=
=20
guidelines is outside the agency's authority.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Rob Stein]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62046-2004Sep30.html
(requires registration)
QUICKLY
COPYRIGHT-BILL NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
The Senate Judiciary Committee did not mark up the so-called Induce Act (S.=
=20
2560) on Thursday. Many fair use fans, including companies that make the=20
software and hardware to copy such content, are afraid the definition of=20
secondary infringement will be too broad, targeting legitimate copying and=
=20
leading to nuisance suits at the drop of a digit. Content owners want to=20
close any loopholes that would let hoards of digital pirates through. These=
=20
good friends will be sitting down to work out a compromise as Senate=20
sponsors hope to move a bill before Congress adjourns.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA457662?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
HANGING UP ON TELEMARKETERS
Happy Birthday to you, Mr. No-call-list. Happy Birthday to you. More than=20
64 million phone numbers have been added to the national Do-Not-Call list=20
since last year. On the lists first birthday, thank the Federal Trade=20
Commission if you don't get as many telemarketing calls as you used to.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/Hanging+up+on+telemarketers/2100-1028_3-5391178.html...
=3Dnefd.lede
SAYING CHEESE COMES WITH A CATCH
Research firm IDC projects 93 million camera phones will be sold this year,=
=20
compared with 68.4 million digital cameras. By 2007, IDC sees sales of=20
nearly 300 million camera phones, compared with 97.4 million digital=20
cameras. Phone carriers are promoting camera phones as the latest fun=20
technology, but what they don't tell you in their ads is how much extra=20
you'll pay to use them. To keep or share pictures taken on camera phones=20
can add $15 to $20 per month, if not more, on top of a $40 to $60 cellphone=
=20
bill.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:Jefferson Graham]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041001/camphones01.art.htm
NEXT BIG THING: THE WEB AS YOUR SERVANT
How will the Internet evolve. Some are predicting a network connecting=20
wireless gadgets around the world that don't require you to search out=20
information and entertainment anymore -- it'll be delivered to you right=20
where, right when you need it. What will it look like? How about a device=20
that alerts you while you are in a meeting that you need to leave now to=20
catch your flight and showing you later options, booking the next flight=20
for you while alerting your family and your ride home automatically.
Learn more at the URL below.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:Kevin Maney]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041001/1a_nextnetxx.art.htm
Also see a timeline of Web developments over the past 10 years.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041001/1a_netnext_artxx.art.htm
THE TECHNOLOGIST WHO HAS MICHAEL POWELL'S EAR
Robert Pepper is the FCC's chief of policy development, which requires him=
=20
to be a kind of government futurist, advising Chairman Michael Powell on=20
which regulations are wise and which would be harmful. He's also=20
co-chairman of the FCC's Internet Policy Working Group. Previously, Pepper=
=20
directed the Annenberg Washington Program in Communications Policy Studies.=
=20
Read an interview with Mr. Pepper at the URL below.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/The+technologist+who+has+Michael+Powells+ear/2008-10...
-5388746.html
RULES FOR DIGITAL LOW POWER TELEVISION AND TELEVISION TRANSLATOR STATIONS
On September 9, the FCC established rules to allow for the digital=20
conversion of low power TV and TV translator stations. On Thursday, the=20
report was released online at=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-220A1.doc For a=20
quick review of the order, see the Press Release at the URL below.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-251978A1.doc
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Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
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