Check local listing for tonight's debate. For upcoming media policy events,=
=20
see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
MONDAY IS COLUMBUS DAY, WE WILL BE BACK TUESDAY OCTOBER 12.
TODAY'S QUESTION: Do you think there's a link between media ownership=20
concentration and indecent broadcast content?
FCC PROCEEDINGS
Tell the FCC What You Think About Local Media!
FCC Open Meeting Agenda: Three Broadband Items,
No Mention of Broadcaster Disclosure Rules
DIGITAL TV
Senate Passes Bill With 2008 Digital Conversion for Some Stations
Children's Advocates Ask Congress to End FCC's DTV Campaign
BROADCASTING
Senate Committee Drops Media Provisions From Pentagon Bill
Stern's Move to Satellite Radio Is a Signal Event
Building a 21st Century Radio
NBC to Delay NASCAR
Burns Wants FTC to Oversee TV Ratings Fairness
INTERNET
Burns Vows to Maintain =91Critical' Internet Funding for Schools
E-rate Funds Could Resume Soon, FCC Chief Says
Internet Tax Moratorium Could be Renewed in House
House Passes Second Anti-Spyware Bill
QUICKLY
Performers Bear Brunt of Reality TV and Runaway Production Trends
Grant Opportunity for Massachusetts Community and Faith-Based Organizations
Debating For Ratings
FCC PROCEEDINGS
TELL THE FCC WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT LOCAL MEDIA
The FCC has initiated a proceeding to evaluate whether broadcasters are=20
serving local needs. Now is a good time to put down on paper how you think=
=20
local issues are being covered and submit it to the FCC. When you are done,=
=20
you can submit these to the FCC either via mail or via the Internet. In=20
addition, if you don't want to write something long, you can send a simple=
=20
email to the FCC. The Media Access Project, a public interest law firm in=20
Washington, has published a guide for communicating with the FCC.
[SOURCE: Media Access Project]
http://www.mediaaccess.org/programs/diversity/TELLTHEFCC.pdf
FCC OPEN MEETING AGENDA: THREE BROADBAND ITEMS, NO MENTION OF BROADCASTER=20
DISCLOSURE RULES
The FCC released the agenda for its October 14 open meeting. The Commission=
=20
will consider: 1) rules for providing broadband Internet access of power=20
lines, 2) making additional spectrum available for advanced wireless=20
services, 3) broadband unbundling obligations and 4) payphone compensation=
=20
rates.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-252981A1.doc
DIGITAL TV
SENATE PASSES BILL WITH 2008 DIGITAL CONVERSION DEADLINE FOR SOME STATIONS
The Senate overwhelmingly passed (96-2) intelligence reform legislation=20
(S-2845) on Wednesday that included a 2008 deadline for broadcasters to=20
vacate the portions of the 700 MHz spectrum reserved for public safety. The=
=20
House has also passed intelligence reform legislation, but it does not=20
include provisions concerning spectrum for public safety. House Commerce=20
Committee Chairman Barton (R-TX) has said he'd prefer dealing with the=20
digital TV conversion with a comprehensive bill in the next Congress.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
CHILDREN'S ADVOCATES ASK CONGRESS TO END FCC'S DTV CAMPAIGN
=93Television is a major public health problem. It is a factor in many=20
diseases, syndromes and unhealthy habits, including obesity, type 2=20
diabetes, violence, aggression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder,=20
poor fitness and smoking,=94 says a coalition of children's groups, so the=
=20
FCC should not be in the business of encouraging consumers to buy expensive=
=20
new digital TV sets. They have asked Congress to cut off funding for the=20
FCC's digital television education campaign. Among the coalition members=20
are Mothering magazine, Action Coalition for Media Education and Harvard=20
Medical School.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily]
(Not available online)
See also --
Digital TV Effort Sends Wrong Signal, Group Says
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:Alex Pham]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-dtv8oct08,1,2964399.s...
?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
BROADCASTING
SENATE COMMITTEE DROPS MEDIA PROVISIONS FROM PENTAGON BILL
Provisions that would have boosted fines for broadcasting indecent=20
programming have been stripped from the Department of Defense authorization=
=20
bill that Members of Congress hope to pass by the end of the week.=20
Media-related amendments became too controversial and risked passage of the=
=20
DoD bill. According to the sources, the lawmakers made their move after=20
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) made clear he would fight to include a=20
controversial provision in the package that would bar the FCC from relaxing=
=20
its media ownership rules. Said Barry Piatt, a spokesman for Sen. Dorgan,=20
"If their choice was to protect conglomerates who are buying up everything=
=20
rather than to protect children from indecency, it's a pretty poor choice,=
=20
and they're the ones who made it."
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D6476
Indecency Fine Boost a Bust
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA470105.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See additional coverage in --
Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16587-2004Oct7.html
STERN'S MOVE TO SATELLITE RADIO IS A SIGNAL EVENT
Howard Stern's move to satellite radio is 16 months off, but analysts are=20
already wondering what it will mean for the radio business. Here's one=20
view: "What did it mean to late-night TV when Johnny Carson left?" said=20
David J. Field, chief executive of Entercom Communications, which owns 100=
=20
radio stations. "The reality is, that was not the demise of late-night TV."=
=20
But other see similarities between the evolution of radio from AM to FM.=20
Until the late 1960s, AM was king and FM was a backwater. Station owners=20
who had both AM and FM signals put their high-profile deejays and music on=
=20
the AM stations and used the FM signals for brokered programming -- selling=
=20
time to advertisers -- or simply handed them over to youthful underground=20
deejays to play music. FM was not considered a viable revenue-maker and=20
station owners largely ignored them. But rock music started sounding=20
better. On AM, Jimi Hendrix was tinny. On static-free FM, he was a=20
revelation. Young listeners began streaming to FM stations and owners=20
realized they could be profitable. Owners of AM stations, satisfied with=20
their profits, were afraid to take the risks necessary to compete with the=
=20
growing FM industry. Eventually, almost all music left AM for FM. AM=20
stations struggled until the '80s, when Rush Limbaugh's show caught on and=
=20
AM stations thrived with talk formats. Many worry that broadcast radio will=
=20
lose its best programming to satellite radio. In part, Mr. Stern's=20
departure is fueled by a desire to get out from under FCC indecency=
regulation.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16113-2004Oct7.html
(requires registration)
Additional coverage:
* Wall Street Journal
Howard Stern's decision to leave Viacom for Sirius Satellite Radio=20
reinforces broadcast radio's low standing with investors.
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109718083800039552,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_money_and_investing
BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY RADIO
How does broadcast radio compete with satellite? Go digital, of course.=20
"Radio cannot remain the only analog player in a digital world," said=20
National Association of Broadcasters CEO Edward Fritts, in a keynote speech=
=20
at the industry's annual convention in San Diego this week. "This industry=
=20
has always been a business filled with risk-takers. But in my view, the=20
real risk is for those unwilling to embrace the promise of HD (digital)=20
Radio." A move to digital radio broadcasting will offer improved reception,=
=20
as well as on-demand programming and time-shifting which allow listeners to=
=20
pause, rewind and record live broadcasts. By the end of the year, there=20
could be anywhere from 2,000 to 2,500 stations licensed or committed to=20
move over to digital.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: John Borland & Evan Hansen ]
http://news.com.com/Building+a+21st+century+radio/2100-1025_3-5402054.ht...
ag=3Dnl
NBC TO DELAY NASCAR
In the wake of Dale Earnhardt Jr's "utterance" last weekend, NBC has=20
decided to institute a five-second delay for its National Association for=20
Stock Car Auto Racing coverage beginning with Sunday's Banquet 400 race=20
from Kansas City Speedway. NBC already delays all its live award=20
show broadcasts in the wake of the FCC crackdown on indecency, including=20
the finding that Bono's use of the F-word on an NBC telecast was indecent.=
=20
The Parent's Television Council has announced it is likely to file a=20
complaint concerning the Earnhardt S-Word.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA469956.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
BURNS WANTS FTC TO OVERSEE TV RATINGS FAIRNESS
Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) wants the Federal Trade Commission to "ensure that=
=20
the television ratings industry is run fairly and in the best interest of=20
the public" and has asked the FTC to see whether existing statutes give it=
=20
that jurisdictional authority.
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Michele Greppi]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D6474
INTERNET
BURNS VOWS TO MAINTAIN 'CRITICAL' INTERNET FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS
With the E-rate payments of 34 schools and libraries in Montana stopped=20
because of the FCC moratorium started in August, Sen Conrad Burns (R-MT)=20
has vowed to maintain but fix the program. "We can fix this fraudulent=20
abuse,'' Sen Burns said. "They should be reported and action taken on the=20
people that abuse the program. This investigation should move forward. If=20
there is abuse, let's get after it, but don't close the payments and=20
penalize the schools that have benefited from following the rules.'' Burns=
=20
other senators are angry that as part of an effort to rein in the program=20
federal officials have halted payments to schools, libraries and health=20
centers. Sen Burns helped create the E-Rate program when he and other=20
lawmakers were writing the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The program is=20
an expanded version of the basic universal service program that is intended=
=20
to guarantee that all Americans have telephone service.
[SOURCE: Independent Record, AUTHOR: Ted Monoson]
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/10/06/montana/a06100604_01.txt
E-RATE FUNDS COULD RESUME SOON, FCC CHIEF SAYS
Money to wire schools and libraries to the Internet and help fund rural=20
health care should resume flowing within weeks, FCC Chairman Michael Powell=
=20
said on Wednesday, a day after lawmakers attacked the agency for stopping=20
funds. "We are working on this 24 hours a day and I want to assure you that=
=20
were moving aggressively to get those funding commitments going again,"=20
Chairman Powell said. He added that the Commission had no choice but to=20
stop new funding while they made sure the E-Rate program, administered by=20
the Universal Service Administrative Company, complied with government=20
accounting standards. Despite Powell's pledge that the money would flow=20
again soon, a spokesman for USAC said that under current rules, requests=20
would far outstrip available funds. "We will have more commitments to issue=
=20
than money in the bank," USAC spokesman Mel Blackwell said. "We would have=
=20
to wait until we collect more money." Democrats at the FCC attacked Powell=
=20
for not informing them about the accounting issue or his decision to halt=20
the funds.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=3DbondsNews&storyID...
432205
INTERNET TAX MORATORIUM COULD BE RENEWED IN HOUSE
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is leading a late=20
charge to extend the Internet tax moratorium through November 1, 2007. But=
=20
the effort is meeting resistance from groups representing local tax=20
authorities. The strategy appears to be to attach the Internet tax language=
=20
to a spending bill. Lawmakers hope o pass a bill the Senate approved in=20
April so it could then go right to President Bush to become law.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Patrick Ross]
(Not available online)
HOUSE PASSES SECOND ANTI-SPYWARE BILL
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed a second=20
bill targeting perpetrators of computer "spyware" that hides in users'=20
computers and monitors their activities. The House voted 415 to 0 to=20
stiffen jail sentences for those who use secret surveillance programs to=20
steal credit-card numbers or commit other crimes. The vote came two days=20
after House lawmakers approved a separate bill that establishes=20
multimillion dollar fines for spyware perpetrators. Backers expect to=20
combine the two bills with another spyware bill pending in the Senate,=20
though time is running short in the legislative year.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Andy Sullivan]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3DQQXWHRBNBBPFUCRBAE...
Y?type=3DtechnologyNews&storyID=3D6443392
Also see --
* Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16600-2004Oct7.html
* Los Angeles Times
The Federal Trade Commission filed the first case against software=20
companies accused of infecting computers with intrusive "spyware" and then=
=20
trying to sell people the solution.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-rup8.10oct08,1,659181...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
QUICKLY
PERFORMERS BEAR BRUNT OF REALITY TV AND RUNAWAY PRODUCTION TRENDS
While the overall trend of declining U.S. television and theatrical roles=20
appears to be losing steam, new employment statistics released by Screen=20
Actors Guild (SAG) strongly indicates that actors are bearing the brunt of=
=20
today=92s trend toward more reality programming and runaway production. The=
=20
data, gathered from producers in accordance with SAG=92s collective=20
bargaining agreement, indicates a 1.6% overall decline in TV and theatrical=
=20
member roles in 2003 over 2002. This drop is far more modest than in recent=
=20
years (6.5% in 2002 and 9.3% in 2001) with much of the loss concentrated in=
=20
lead roles for Asian and Latino male lead roles in primetime, which=20
declined 35% and 31% respectively from 2002 to 2003. =93Although we have=20
certainly seen some encouraging signs in this latest data, particularly for=
=20
Native Americans and African-Americans, for many other performers the news=
=20
is not as good,=94 said SAG President Melissa Gilbert. =93We are=
particularly=20
concerned to note the decline in lead roles for Latino and Asian male=20
actors. It=92s been clear for some time that reality television and runaway=
=20
production are having an adverse impact on the number of opportunities=20
available to working actors. Overall, this data ought to be a wake-up call=
=20
to the industry. There is still significant work left to do to increase the=
=20
opportunities for many groups.=94 Latino performers were cast in 10.5=
percent=20
less roles in 2003. This 5.4 percent share of all roles is far below the=20
Latino community=92s 13.7 percent representation in the U.S. population.=20
Asian/Pacific Islanders represent 3.8 percent of the American population,=20
yet continue to secure only 2.5 percent of all TV/theatrical roles. Male=20
Asian leads cast in episodic television were hardest hit =AD declining from=
=20
104 lead roles in the 2002 data to 61 in 2003. Women also continue to be=20
significantly under-represented on television and in the movies.
Links to data at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Screen Actors Guild Press Release]
http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/application?origin=3Dpage1.jsp&event=3Dbea....
al.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=3DHidden&contentUrl=3D/NewsAndAnnouncem=
ents/announcementLander.jsp&cp=3Dnull&announcementPage=3D/Content/Public/cas=
tingdatareports.htm
GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
$750,000 Total Available for Use of Technology to Serve At-Risk Youth and=20
Homeless Populations
Program and development staff from Massachusetts community- and faith-based=
=20
organizations interested in developing, expanding, and enhancing the=20
capacity of community programs that provide technology skills to homeless=20
individuals and/or at-risk youth are encouraged to attend a free=20
teleconference workshop on the Connections for Tomorrow grants program=20
(http://www.ctcnet.org/c4t/grants).
CONTACT: Tara Kumar/CTCNet, 617-354-0825 x13, tkumar( at )ctcnet.org
DEBATING FOR RATINGS
TV stations will rake in a record $1.5 billion from campaign ads, while=20
offering less and less substantive coverage. Since they are laughing all=20
the way to the bank, why not have a laugh at their expense? See the short=20
video at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Free Press]
http://www.debatingforratings.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend. See ya Tuesday morning.
What do you think -- Cards vs Yankees?
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------