The FCC's Open Meeting this morning will be available at=20
http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/. For upcoming media policy events, see=20
http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
MORE ON SINCLAIR
Hill Dems Push Sinclair Probe
Sinclair Kerry Plans Drawing Dem Fire
Activists Push for Personal-Attack Rule
Sinclair Fiddles While the FCC Sleeps
Common Cause, Media Groups Challenge Sinclair Broadcast
Media Reform Groups Challenge Sinclair Broadcasting to Uphold the Public=
Trust
Sinclair's Plans Demand Return to Personal Attack Rule, Fairness Doctrine
Sinclair vs. Sundance
JOURNALISM
Young Offers Airtime to Candidates
Will Satellite, 'Podcasting' Bring a Renaissance to Radio Journalism?
Press-Public Dialogues About Media Credibility Prompt Changes in=20
Newspapers that Participate
Crackdown on Internet Journalists
Iraqi TV Delivers Twists on Reality and Reality Shows
NEWS FROM FCC
Universal Service Monitoring Report
FCC to Act on Fiber-Optic Networks
Source: Majority of FCC Backs Cingular Plan
Decision Looms on High-Speed Access Aloft
FCC's Freeze on Funding Catches Some Schools, Libraries by Surprise
NAB Proposes Helping Minorities, Majority
NCTA Fighting for Digital Downconversion
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
McCain Blocks Senate Consideration of Copyright Bill Senate Consideration
MORE ON SINCLAIR
HILL DEMS PUSH FOR SINCLAIR PROBE
How does the FCC determine whether an action by a licensee serves the=20
public interest? Does it serve the public interest for a licensee to air a=
=20
program that is no more than a one-sided propaganda piece against one of=20
the Presidential candidates two weeks before the election is held? If the=20
FCC determines that a licensee has violated the Commission's public=20
interest test, can the Commission, during license renewal proceedings,=20
designate an application for a hearing that could ultimately lead to the=20
denial of renewal? If the FCC determines that a licensee has violated the=20
Commission's public interest test, would such violation be considered by=20
the Commission during license renewal proceedings? If the FCC determines=20
that a licensee has violated the Commission's public interest test, can the=
=20
commission commence license revocation proceedings? These are the questions=
=20
senior Democratic members of the House Commerce Committee are asking the=20
FCC to answer by Wednesday October 20 in response to Sinclair's decision to=
=20
air "Stolen Honor." Reps. John Dingell (MI) and Ed Markey (MA) say Sinclair=
=20
appears to be violating its obligation to operate stations in the public=20
interest by airing programming attacking a presidential candidate so close=
=20
to the election.
[If the FCC answers the first question above, won't the entire Sinclair=20
mess be worth it?]
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA471959?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
SINCLAIR KERRY PLANS DRAWING DEM FIRE
Here's how FCC insiders explain why the Commission will not act before=20
Sinclair stations air "Stolen Honor." Until the show airs, there is no=20
violation of equal-time rules for political candidates. The FCC wouldn't=20
step in unless it got a complaint that a broadcaster gave time to one=20
candidate, then refused a request by the opposing candidate for equal time.=
=20
Blocking the program before it airs could amount to censorship and violate=
=20
Sinclair's First Amendment rights. Sinclair stock prices fell Tuesday for=20
the second day running, tumbling more than 1% in heavy volumes. Total wiped=
=20
off the market value since the weekend: $25 million.
[SOURCE: Boston Herald, AUTHOR: Greg Gatlin]
http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=3D48778
ACTIVISTS PUSH FOR PERSONAL-ATTACK RULE
Representatives of Common Cause, the Alliance for Better Campaigns, Media=20
Access Project, Media for Democracy, and the Office of Communication of the=
=20
United Church of Christ said Wednesday that Sinclair's decision to carry=20
the documentary three weeks before the election on all of its 62 stations=20
represented a political agenda at odds with its responsibilities as=20
licensees to be fair and balanced. The groups were not asking for the=20
documentary to be pulled, pointing out that they hadn't seen it and it=20
wasn't the government's place to do so anyway. But they do want Sinclair to=
=20
offer a similar amount of time for an opposing view. If Sinclair doesn't=20
offer the time, all 62 of its TV licenses could be challenged. Media Access=
=20
Project head Andrew Schwartzman said they would ask the FCC to reinstate=20
the personal attack rule, a corollary of the fairness doctrine, which the=20
FCC threw out in 1987. The Fairness Doctrine grew out of Section 315 of the=
=20
Communications Act, which still requires broadcasters who allow one=20
candidate to use their airtime to make time available to opposing=20
candidates (the so-called equal opportunities clause), though they are not=
=20
required to offer time to either (they are required to sell time to=20
candidates).
See summaries and links below to statements made by these groups.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA471915.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
SINCLAIR FIDDLES WHILE FCC SLEEPS
America's Big Media system has become a menace to our democracy. Americans=
=20
granted these media companies our very first constitutional protection. In=
=20
return many media groups have short changed American democracy by putting=20
their corporate interests before those of the public. Unfortunately, the=20
FCC has been lax in ensuring that bad actors such as Sinclair are held to a=
=20
more meaningful set of public interest obligations, including a minimum of=
=20
fair coverage of electoral and civic affairs. Free from the consequences of=
=20
a more forceful FCC, media groups like Sinclair will continue to push their=
=20
extreme bias onto the public. It's now time that the public turns the=20
tables on Sinclair. Along with the other groups here today, MediaChannel=20
and Media for Democracy have issued a challenge that Sinclair uphold its=20
obligation to the public interest by offering on all 62 of its stations an=
=20
equal amount of pre-election, prime viewing airtime for the broadcast of a=
=20
program that is controlled by those representing an opposing view to=20
"Stolen Honor". But there's more that we can, and will, do. If Sinclair=20
doesn't act now to repair its shoddy intentions on behalf of the public,=20
MediaChannel and Media for Democracy pledge to mobilize local activists=20
against the 62 stations that operate under Sinclair's banner. We already=20
have more than 21,000 activists on the ground in Sinclair markets. More=20
citizens across the nation are responding with a willingness to take action=
=20
if this station group moves ahead with "Stolen Honor". Actions will include=
=20
comprehensive monitoring of Sinclair stations, call in campaigns to station=
=20
general managers and news directors, public forums and meetings to reach=20
others and educate the community about Sinclair's public interest=20
obligations, and, if necessary, a formal challenge to Sinclair license=20
renewals, station by station, when they come due.
[SOURCE: MediaChannel.org Press Statement, AUTHOR: Timothy Karr]
http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert278.shtml
COMMON CAUSE, MEDIA GROUPS CHALLENGE SINCLAIR BROADCAST
Like all broadcasters who receive their public airwaves licenses for free=20
from the government, Sinclair Broadcast Group promises to serve the public=
=20
interest, convenience and necessity. At the heart of that promise is the=20
commitment to report the news as fairly as possible, and to air diverse=20
points of view on issues of national and local importance. Airing the=20
anti-Kerry documentary, Stolen Honor: Wounds that Never Heal, or portions=20
of it, and billing it as =93news=94 is not fair, and fails to provide=
viewers=20
with the even-handed journalism that they require. Sinclair reportedly is=20
giving its 62 stations no choice in whether to air the movie. This is one=20
of the key flaws of concentrated media ownership: Sinclair, headquartered=20
in Maryland, gets to dictate programming for communities in North Carolina,=
=20
Ohio and Florida and across the United States without local citizens having=
=20
a say. Sinclair=92s plans reinforce the need for the FCC to place=20
restrictions on media concentration and to define in specific terms what=20
broadcast licensees must do to serve the public interest. When media=20
conglomerates with political agendas decide what constitutes =93news=94 for=
the=20
American public, true democratic discourse is threatened.
[SOURCE: Common Cause Press Release]
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=3DdkLNK1MQIwG&b=3...
883&ct=3D252769
MEDIA REFORM GROUPS CHALLENGE SINCLAIR BROADCASTING TO UPHOLD PUBLIC TRUST
Our broadcast system is founded on the public trustee system - a system in=
=20
which broadcasters get licenses for free to use the publicly owned airwaves=
=20
in exchange for a promise to serve their communities and fulfill public=20
interest obligations. Sinclair=92s announced plan to air =93Stolen Honor:=20
Wounds That Never Heal=94 threatens to breach that trust, since Sinclair=92s=
=20
decision appears to be driven more by a political agenda than by news=20
judgment. However, the airing of this or any other particular program is=20
not what is in question. The question is whether, as a public trustee,=20
Sinclair will make sure that all viewpoints are given equal opportunity to=
=20
be heard. Any decision by a broadcast station to use the publicly owned=20
airwaves to promote one candidate over another raises questions about its=20
fitness as a public trustee. The courts have ruled that broadcasters are=20
exempt from certain campaign finance laws dealing with corporate=20
expenditures on behalf of candidates - so long as their activities fall=20
within their legitimate press function. Acts of extreme bias may be outside=
=20
of this standard, and should be addressed by the Federal Election=20
Commission. Similarly, acts of extreme bias may violate broadcasters=92=20
statutory public interest obligations, and should be addressed in license=20
renewal hearings at the Federal Communications Commission. Of course, that=
=20
assumes a vibrant and functional license renewal process and clear=20
guidelines on the responsibilities of being a public trustee - both of=20
which are in question today. For five years, the FCC has failed to take=20
action on the public interest obligations of broadcasters in the digital=20
age. Secure in the knowledge they face few consequences or sanctions from=20
the FCC, station groups like Sinclair will continue to push the bounds of=20
their public trust. And the ultimate losers in this game of chicken are the=
=20
American people who will not have the balanced information they need to be=
=20
informed and educated voters.
[SOURCE: Alliance for Better Campaigns Press Release]
http://www.bettercampaigns.org/press/release.php?ReleaseID=3D63
SINCLAIR'S PLANS DEMAND RETURN TO PERSONAL ATTACK RULE, FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
"Sinclair Broadcasting's plans to show an anti-Kerry documentary days=20
before the presidential election demand restoring the personal attack rule=
=20
and the Fairness Doctrine," Gloria Tristani, managing director of the=20
Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ told reporters at a=
=20
joint press conference in Washington, D.C. The FCC's Fairness Doctrine=20
policy, which was in effect from 1949 to 1987, required television=20
broadcasters to cover controversial issues in their community by offering=20
balanced and contrasting views. The personal attack rule, which was in=20
force from 1967 to 2000, gave individuals an opportunity to respond to=20
character attacks during discussions of controversial public issues. "While=
=20
Sinclair can order its 62 television stations to air the documentary, each=
=20
station holds its license as a public trustee and is obligated to serve its=
=20
community of license," Tristani said. But although media outlets and=20
corporations have fundamental public interest obligations embodied in the=20
Communications Act, nothing in current FCC rulings or policies would=20
require Sinclair Broadcasting to give others the air time to provide a=20
contrasting or balancing view, she added. "It is high time that the FCC, or=
=20
even better, the United States Congress, reinstate the personal attack rule=
=20
and the Fairness Doctrine," Tristani said.
[SOURCE: United Church of Christ, Office of Communications Press Release]
http://www.ucc.org/news/u101304.htm
SINCLAIR VS. SUNDANCE
[Commentary] You think what Sinclair is doing is bad? Get a load of the=20
Sundance Channel! Operated by Viacom's Showtime Networks, this channel is=20
preempting its scheduled lineup in order to devote nearly one-sixth of its=
=20
airtime through Election Day to programming opposed to President Bush and=20
the GOP. So far, however, this highly partisan scheme has slipped under the=
=20
news media's radar. And you can forget about "equal time." Not one film on=
=20
Sundance's schedule can be construed as pro-Bush, pro-GOP or even=20
politically balanced. Its pre-election political film selection is instead=
=20
uncompromisingly monolithic and deeply hostile to Republicans and President=
=20
Bush. Never before in the annals of U.S. broadcasting has a television=20
network so vigorously and unabashedly pursued such a totally one-sided=20
political agenda, unquestionably intended to influence voters ahead of=20
what's shaping up to be a very close presidential election.
[Editor's note: Sundance is not a broadcaster -- as Sinclair is -- and is=20
not subject to public interest obligations broadcasters are.]
[SOURCE: National Review Online, AUTHOR: William P. Kucewicz, former=20
editorial board member of the Wall Street Journal]
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/kucewicz200410131008.asp
JOURNALISM
YOUNG OFFERS AIRTIME TO CANDIDATES
Young Broadcasting owns six ABC affiliates, three CBS affiliates, one NBC=20
affiliate and independent KRON-TV San Francisco. The TV stations will offer=
=20
some Congressional candidates two 50-second spots (each airing twice)=20
during newscasts to respond to issues chosen by the stations.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA471578.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
WILL SATELLITE, 'PODCASTING' BRING A RENAISSANCE TO RADIO JOURNALISM?
Don't look to satellite radio to re-energize radio journalism, a victim of=
=20
massive corporate buyouts. These operators are making investments in=20
personalities -- not news -- to draw in new listeners. But while satellite=
=20
radio will always have limited appeal due to the monthly charge, podcasting=
=20
offers a free way for you to create your own radio station on the fly each=
=20
day, listening when you want. There's commentary out there -- but mainly=20
technology radio shows. Beyond the smaller productions, there are now more=
=20
polished podcasts from public radio station WGBH as well as KOMO 1000 AM=20
news in Seattle. Offering audio programming can be cheap: can spend about=20
$1,000 on audio equipment, maybe $2,000 on an Apple laptop, and with the=20
right training, start reporting stories and put them online. It may take=20
some time, then, for quality programming to find an audience.
[SOURCE: Online Journalism Review, AUTHOR: Mark Glaser]
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/glaser/1097614994.php
PRESS-PUBLIC DIALOGUES ABOUT MEDIA CREDIBILITY PROMPT CHANGES IN NEWSPAPERS=
=20
THAT PARTICIPATE
With help from the Associated Press Managing Editors Association,=20
newspapers around the country are discussing journalistic credibility with=
=20
their readers, and a survey released today shows that such discussions are=
=20
prompting them to make changes to improve their accuracy, broaden their=20
pool of news sources, and increase the diversity of their coverage and=20
their newsroom staffs. The APME survey looked at the results of the first=20
two cycles of public discussions held as part of APME's National=20
Credibility Roundtables Project. Launched in 2001, the project trains and=
=20
coaches newspapers in how to have dialogue with their communities around=20
issues that influence readers' trust in what they read. Approximately 10%=20
of American daily newspapers have held or are scheduled to hold roundtable=
=20
discussions as a result of the project. The survey reported on 94=20
newspapers that held roundtable discussions in a 2001-2003 period. In=20
responses to a series of questions, 92 of the 94 newspapers said that=20
engaging in the community discussions had influenced their practices or=20
policies or both. The topic for each roundtable was specific to that=20
community, but the three top categories of topics were diversity and=20
minority issues, special issues of local concern such as the reporting of=20
certain crimes, and general credibility of the media.
[SOURCE: Associated Press Managing Editors Association Press Release]
An 8-page executive summary of the survey is available on-line=20
www.apme.com/credibility or, by request, by email from credibility( at )ap.org
CRACKDOWN ON INTERNET JOURNALISTS
Iranian authorities have arrested at least six Internet journalists and=20
webloggers in recent days in a further blow to limited press freedoms in=20
the Islamic state. News-based Internet sites and online journals known as=20
Weblogs have flourished in Iran where the disproportionately youthful=20
population often turns to the Internet for information and entertainment.=20
The hardline judiciary's muzzling of print media through the closure of=20
some 100 publications in the last four years also meant the Internet became=
=20
a haven for liberal journalists seeking a place to write.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=3D6...
52
IRAQI TV DELIVERS TWISTS ON REALITY AND REALITY SHOWS
A look at the program line-up on Al-Sharqiya, or =93The Eastern,=94 Iraq's=
=20
first independently owned satellite channel. The network was launched June=
=20
11 by Iraqi media mogul Saad al-Bazzaz. He is best known as the founder of=
=20
Al-Azzaman, a London-based newspaper for Iraqi exiles. Al-Bazzaz has=20
invested $30 million in the network, one of five in Iraq. But Al-Sharqiya=20
is the only one with original, non-news programming. There's a lot of=20
reality programming: a show called Labor and Materials stars a home=20
improvement crew that each week surprises a family by rebuilding its=20
war-damaged home; on Ration Card, the network gives $1,000 to the lucky=20
family whose food ration card number is drawn from a bin; Blessed Wedding=20
pays $6,000 of a poor couple's wedding expenses (in exchange, the couple=20
lets cameras film them from engagement to married life); and The Gentlemen=
=20
profiles Iraqis who have prospered from the booming economy.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Csar G. Soriano]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20041014/a_iraqtv14.art.htm
NEWS FROM FCC
UNIVERSAL SERVICE MONITORING REPORT
The staff of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service has=20
released its most recent Monitoring Report on Universal Service. This=20
report reflects
information on the telephone industry filed with the FCC through May 2004.=
=20
The report addresses the various universal service support mechanisms,=20
which amounted to over $5 billion in 2003. In 2003, disbursements among the=
=20
four categories of universal service mechanisms were: 61.1% for high-cost=20
support; 25.1% for schools and libraries support; 13.4% for low-income=20
support; and 0.4% for rural health care support. The report presents data=20
in eleven categories including: 1) Subscribership and Penetration =AD The=20
percentage of households subscribing to telephone service declined slightly=
=20
to an average of 95.1% in 2003. 2) Low-Income Support =AD Total low-income=
=20
support increased from about $676 million in 2002 to about $716 million in=
=20
2003. 3) Schools and Libraries Support =AD Schools and libraries are making=
=20
substantial use of their available support, with commitments remaining=20
above $2 billion and disbursements remaining below $1.7 billion for the=20
latest school years. 4) Rural Health Care Support =AD The demand for rural=
=20
health care support has remained at a modest level, with disbursements of=20
about $19.2 million for the fourth year of the program (July 2002 - June=20
2003), up from $18.6 million in the prior year. 5) High-Cost Support =AD In=
=20
2003, total high-cost support amounted to nearly $3.3 billion, an increase=
=20
from over $2.9 billion in 2002. This increase is primarily due to the=20
increase in the interstate common line support mechanism, which began in=20
July 2002.
This report makes a fine Halloween "treat" -- and it is free at the URL=
below.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Reports/FCC-State_Link/Monitor...
4-0.pdf
FCC TO ACT ON FIBER-OPTIC NETWORKS
The long-standing approach to fostering telephony competition has been to=20
allow competitors to lease parts of the dominant telephone companies'=20
networks. In a move expected today, the FCC is likely to approve a proposal=
=20
to give the major telephone companies more leeway in the design of new=20
fiber-optic networks, sparing them from the regulation that governs=20
traditional phone lines. Under current rules, fiber networks are not=20
subject to the same regulations as existing copper phone lines if they are=
=20
used to connect homes in new neighborhoods. The FCC is considering the same=
=20
deregulatory framework if telephone companies establish fiber networks=20
within 500 feet of a home, using copper wires to complete the connection.=20
The company would still have to share the copper for local phone service=20
competitors, but no longer be required to open its network to competing=20
Internet service providers. The fiber/copper combo will reportedly be=20
robust enough to deliver phone and high-speed Internet service as well as=20
hundreds of television channels.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Christopher Stern]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30725-2004Oct13.html
(requires registration)
Additional coverage --
* Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-phones14oct14,1,25654...
tory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
SOURCE: MAJORITY OF FCC BACKS CINGULAR PLAN
Three of five FCC Commissioners have reportedly voted to approve the merger=
=20
of Cingular and AT&T Wireless. The decision will likely include=20
requirements that the company make some divestitures in as many as two=20
dozen markets.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Reuters]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-rup14.1oct14,1,449465...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
DECISION LOOMS ON HIGH-SPEED ACCESS ALOFT
The FCC is set next month to decide how to auction spectrum to wireless=20
carriers to bring high-speed Internet service to U.S. airlines as early as=
=20
next year. Proponents say the new =93air-to-ground=94 service would be more=
=20
economical for struggling U.S. airlines than current satellite-based=20
in-flight broadband offered only overseas. The agency could auction the=20
airwaves to at least two companies, encouraging competition but risking=20
interference among the services that, some say, would prevent any from=20
working properly. Alternatively, it could auction the spectrum to one=20
company, ensuring the service works smoothly but creating a virtual=20
monopoly that could mean higher prices, fewer features and more limited=20
rollout.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041014/airbroadband14.art.htm
FCC'S FREEZE ON FUNDING CATCHES SOME SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES BY SURPRISE
The freeze on E-rate funds could result in the collapse of the Maine=20
Schools and Library Network, a network that links 1,100 schools and=20
libraries statewide. The network relies on $3 million/year from the E-Rate=
=20
program. Edna Comstock, the E-Rate coordinator for the Maine State Library,=
=20
said, "Without that funding, we don't know what happens to the network.=20
Major programs like the statewide (library) automation system, the shared=20
catalog and databases -- all of those things ride on that network."=20
Additionally, some libraries depend on E-rate funds to support basic=20
telephone service and Internet connections. One library estimates it would=
=20
pay $1,000/month for Internet service it currently pays $300/year for.=20
Pornography filters funded by the E-rate may also be dropped.
There's more at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Maine) , AUTHOR: Chuin-Wei Yap at=20
cyap( at )centralmaine.com]
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/1047154.shtml
NAB PROPOSES HELPING MINORITIES, MAJORITY
The National Association of Broadcasters has weighed in on the FCC's=20
inquiry into making it easier for small businesses, women and minorities to=
=20
get a piece of spectrum-based services. Both of its principal suggestions=20
have the added benefit of helping established broadcasters in the bargain.=
=20
NAB's suggestions: 1) Restore tax incentives that give established=20
broadcasters tax breaks or other benefits when they sell stations to=20
minorities or women and 2) Repeal the "equity/debt plus" attribution rule=20
that makes any debt or equity position in a broadcast property of more than=
=20
33% attributable toward station ownership limits.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA471685.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
NCTA FIGHTING FOR DIGITAL DOWNCONVERSION
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association is asking the FCC to=20
give cable operators the option to convert digital-broadcast signals to=20
analog at cable systems=92 headends. The NCTA wants the format-selection=20
authority granted to cable operators until a substantial majority of=20
consumers have digital-reception equipment, because if a TV station=20
insisted on digital carriage, its signal would be unviewable on analog-TV=20
sets in the homes of millions of cable subscribers. Consumers would need to=
=20
buy digital-TV sets or lease cable set-top boxes to view passed-through=20
digital-broadcast signals. The National Association of Broadcasters has=20
told the FCC that in addition to being bad policy, downconversion at the=20
headend would violate the federal bar on the material degradation of=20
local-broadcast signals by cable operators.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA471923.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
McCain Blocks Senate Consideration of Copyright Bill Senate Consideration
MCCAIN BLOCKS SENATE CONSIDERATION OF COPYRIGHT BILL SENATE CONSIDERATION
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) is holding up a vote=
=20
on a combination of bills he says might hinder people's ability to=20
fast-forward through TV commercials. The combined bills are called the=20
Intellectual Property Protection Act (IIPA). IIPA is made up mainly of two=
=20
bills introduced by House Judiciary
Courts, Internet & Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Smith=20
(R-TX): 1) HR-2391, the Cooperative Research & Technology Enhancement Act=20
(CREATE Act), a bill that amends patent law and 2) HR-4077, a more=20
contentious bill that lowers the prosecutorial threshold for pursuing=20
file-sharers. That bill, which cleared the House last month, was amended to=
=20
include language protecting ClearPlay, a service that allows viewers to=20
skip objectionable content in DVDs. Sen McCain=92s concern about IIPA=20
outlawing the skipping of commercials echoes an argument made last week by=
=20
Public Knowledge, and in fact Sen McCain cited Public Knowledge (and=20
Consumers Union) in a speech on the Senate floor. Talking points by Public=
=20
Knowledge sent out to encourage e-mails to Capitol Hill say the new=20
language was a result of the =93entertainment industry,=94 which =93hijacked=
=94 the=20
original Smith language of the Family Movie Act and =93turned it against=20
consumers and the tech community.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Patrick Ross]
(Not available online)
Learn more about Public Knowledge and a host of IP issues at=20
http://www.publicknowledge.org/
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------