For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY & ELECTIONS
FCC Decides on Pappas
Anti-Kerry Film Gets Vast Airing
Profiting From Politics
Media Timing and the October Surprise
Stung by Miscalls in 2000, Networks Gird for Accuracy in '04
NAB Poll Finds Public Satisfied With Amount of Election Coverage
For Undisconnectables, Tomorrow May Bring Relief From Obsession
Media Consolidation Seen on Menu in Election
Empty Promises and Tech's Future
MEDIA POLICY
FCC Raps Station Knuckles Over Ads
In High Spirits
Fox Affils Fume Over Fine
Canadian Court Ruling Would Lift Restrictions on U.S. DBS
Even in Information Age, China Keeps Rein on Media
TELECOM
Rural-Phone Subsidy's Shortfall Could Be Costly for Consumers
Legislative Help Sought to Fix Universal Service Accounting
AWS Shows Reallocation Still Too Slow, Thomas Says
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ELSEWHERE
Broadcast Industry Increases Lobbying Budget, Study Says
The TV That Sent Out a Cry for Help, via Satellite
MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY & ELECTIONS
FCC DECIDES ON PAPPAS
Several California Democrats filed a complaint with the FCC last week=20
saying Pappas Telecasting violated federal equal time rules by offering=20
free air time to GOP candidates in one CA county and to Democratic=20
candidates in another county, while requiring opposing candidates to=20
request and pay for an equivalent
amount of air time. The FCC made a ruling on the Pappas case on Friday. It=
=20
found that the broadcast time that has been made available to one candidate=
=20
was furnished free of charge by the Pappas stations. The Commission has=20
ruled that when a candidate is furnished time at no cost, competing=20
candidates are entitled to receive the same amount of free time in=20
comparable time periods. Thus, under these circumstances, the FCC finds=20
that the opposing candidate is entitled to equal opportunities on the same=
=20
free basis as her opponent.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov -- (decision not yet available online)
AP covered the decision, see:
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~2502509,00.html#
See also:
FCC: Pappas Issue Still Open
FCC Media Bureau Chief Ken Ferree said Friday that the Commission has made=
=20
"no decision regarding the equal-time requirements in the matter of Pappas=
=20
Telecasting." Pappas' suggestion to the contrary in a press release is=20
"completely false," according to FCC spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476432.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
ANTI-KERRY FILM GETS VAST AIRING
Conservative media group NewsMax bought infomercial time on the broadcast=20
network Pax to show "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," the anti-Sen.=20
John F. Kerry film that caused a furor when the Sinclair Broadcast Group=20
planned to televise it before the election. The Pax network reaches 90% of=
=20
US homes. In addition, NewsMax paid for airings on select TV stations=20
affiliated with other networks, but it didn't name them. Some stations=20
airing the film over the weekend were owned by Sinclair, according to=20
viewer complaints on several websites. The NeqwsMax website, which=20
describes the company as a "for-profit corporation dedicated to informing=20
Americans to the truth the major media won't report," has been soliciting=20
donations to pay for the "Stolen Honor" airings. It was not disclosed how=20
much it paid.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Elizabeth Jensen]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-stolen1nov01,1,1...
00.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)
PROFITING FROM POLITICS
With many local stations pulling back on political coverage, regional 24-hr=
=20
news cable channels are establishing themselves as the comprehensive source=
=20
for presidential, state and local races this year. On election night, the=20
regional networks are counting on historically high ratings to snag an even=
=20
bigger crop of viewers and grab advertisers' attention. Regional operations=
=20
aim to hook political junkies with updates on nearly every state and local=
=20
race=97results that TV stations miss because the bulk of their Election=
Night=20
results come from national network feeds. The regional channels aren't=20
banking on a simple one-night bump in the ratings, however. Throughout the=
=20
2004 campaign season, they've rolled out a slew of segments intended to=20
differentiate themselves from local broadcasters and the national cable=
nets.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell ]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476535.html?display=3DTop+of+...
Week&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
MEDIA TIMING AND THE OCTOBER SURPRISE
Last Monday, The New York Times and CBS News reported that the Iraqi=20
interim government had warned the United States and international nuclear=20
inspectors that nearly 380 tons of powerful conventional explosives were=20
missing from the Qaqaa munitions facility in Iraq. In the ensuing uproar=20
over the revelations, charges of journalistic impropriety and partisanship=
=20
fly and many question whether the news media should report something so=20
controversial so close to Election Day. There are no firm rules guiding=20
news organizations through these journalistic minefields. Some journalists=
=20
have no compunction about printing or broadcasting controversial news about=
=20
a political candidate in the last weeks of an election campaign. Others=20
apply calculus to their deliberations, trying to determine the equation of=
=20
topic, distance and fairness. Still others refuse to run any investigative=
=20
articles in the week, or sometimes in the last two days, before the=
election.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jacques Steinberg & David Carr]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/business/media/01media.html
(requires registration)
STUNG BY MISCALLS IN 2000, NETWORKS GIRD FOR ACCURACY IN '04
This year's Election Day coverage by TV networks will focus on getting it=20
right, not getting it first. The networks have revamped the way they=20
collect and analyze polling data, using more sophisticated equipment and=20
better communications. To tone down their competitive instincts in=20
"calling" states for either candidate, some are blocking their news desks=20
from watching rivals' shows. All the networks are also striving to get=20
their respective "decision desks" -- the units that make the calls -- to=20
work more closely with the producers and reporters so information doesn't=20
fall through the cracks. If the new system works the way it is supposed to,=
=20
throughout Election Day, pollster interviewers will speak to voters as they=
=20
leave about 1,500 precincts, asking them whom they voted for and why. The=20
"why" part will be analyzed later, but the "whos" will be tallied and=20
shipped out to give news organizations a first look at where the race is=20
headed.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Joe Flint joe.flint( at )wsj.com &=20
Shailagh Murray shailagh.murray( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109926950781860736,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)
See also:
'04 Election Has Local Roots
Election night coverage has traditionally been network-centric, but this=20
year's coverage will include more contributions from local stations than=20
ever, particularly in contested states.
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Daisy Whitney]
http://www.tvweek.com/article.cms?articleId=3D26411
NAB POLL FINDS PUBLIC SATISFIED WITH AMOUNT OF ELECTION COVERAGE
Almost 90% of the public believe local broadcasters are providing enough --=
=20
or even too much -- coverage of the 2004 elections, according to a poll=20
sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters. The poll found that=
=20
42% of adults believe local radio and TV stations have been spending too=20
much time covering the elections, while 47% said the amount of time was=20
about right. In addition, 48% of the respondents cited local broadcast=20
coverage as the most helpful medium for their selection of candidates,=20
compared with 24% who picked cable TV news coverage, 9% who cited=20
newspapers, and 1 percent citing broadcast advertising. The survey also=20
found that the public opposes mandatory free airtime for political=20
candidates, 69% to 28%.
See NAB press release at=20
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/Releases/102904electioncoveragepoll...
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D6630
FOR UNDISCONNECTABLES, TOMORROW MAY BRING RELIEF FROM OBSESSION
[Comentary] The one aspect of the Web and the 2004 election that no one saw=
=20
coming is the extent to which so many people would become utterly obsessed=
=20
with following the race online -- to the point where they're incapable of=20
disconnecting from their Web browsers for fear of missing the latest poll,=
=20
the most recent blog posting, the latest headline at Yahoo News. Gomes=20
calls this faithful few "the Undisconnectables." There is no Kinsey Report=
=20
estimating the Undisconnectable population in this country. But it is a=20
safe bet that U.S. productivity will surge on Wednesday, when all of them=20
delete the likes of electoral-vote.com from their lists of browser=20
favorites and get back to work. (Assuming, of course, that the election is=
=20
decided by then.) The lesson here is that if people have access to=20
information, they will consume it, whether they are hungry or not. What's=20
more, Undisconnectables can claim that they aren't just passively observing=
=20
the election, they are also helping shape it. The Bush blogosphere played a=
=20
major role in forcing CBS to backtrack on the Bush National Guard memos.=20
Liberal bloggers took the lead in putting pressure on Sinclair Broadcasting=
=20
to modify its plans to show a documentary critical of John Kerry.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Lee Gomes]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109926556403660662,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_marketplace
(requires subscription)
See also:
Blogs Play Critical Role in Campaigns
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: John Borland ]
http://news.com.com/Blogs+play+critical+role+in+campaigns/2100-1028_3-54...
9.html?tag=3Dnefd.hed
Political Jihads and the Blogosphere [Commentary]
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Charles Cooper ]
http://news.com.com/Political+jihads+and+the+blogosphere/2010-1028_3-543...
.html
Political Spam Permeates Internet, Influences Voters
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:Jon Swartz]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20041101/2b_electionspam01.ar...
m
MEDIA CONSOLIDATION SEEN ON MENU IN ELECTION
Media and telecommunications mergers would likely face greater scrutiny by=
=20
the FCC if Sen. John Kerry wins next week's presidential election, industry=
=20
analysts and lobbyists say. If President Bush is reelected, these experts=20
expect the FCC to continue freeing companies from regulation and pushing=20
competition between cable, wireless, telephone and satellite systems,=20
rather than within each mode. No matter who wins, the next president is=20
seen getting a chance to reshape the five-member FCC due to the expected=20
departure of Chairman Michael Powell, but it's unclear who Bush or Kerry=20
would select to replace him.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DreutersEdge&storyID=3D66...
6
See also:
Powell for President
Regardless of who wins Tuesday=92s presidential election, FCC Chairman=20
Michael Powell is likely to leave his post next year -- as soon as January=
=20
if Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) prevails and names a Democrat to run the=
agency.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476173?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
EMPTY PROMISES AND TECH'S FUTURE
[Commentary] Making promises about technology is far easier than making=20
them happen. Whoever is elected President will still have to deal with that=
=20
testy body down Pennsylvania Ave called Congress. And possible spending on=
=20
technology will be curbed by pressures to decrease the federal debt.=20
"[A]nyone governing in an era of perpetual gridlock isn't likely to be able=
=20
to do more than talk about bold new federal spending programs, tech-related=
=20
or otherwise."
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/Empty+promises+and+techs+future/2010-1028-5432950.html
MEDIA POLICY
FCC RAPS STATION KNUCKLES OVER ADS
Fox-owned UPN affiliate WDCA and Tribune-owned WB affiliate WBDC in=20
Washington, DC were admonished by the FCC Friday for violating ad limits=20
during children=92s shows. WDCA was criticized for two instances in 2002=
when=20
the station aired commercials for cereal containing the animated character=
=20
Buzz Lightyear during the program of the same name. That=92s what the FCC=20
calls a =93program-length commercial=94 and forbids because kids won't=20
necessarily differentiate between the ad and show. Last month, the United=20
Church of Christ (UCC) and the Center for Digital Democracy asked the FCC=20
to deny WDCA=92s license renewal for failing to serve the educational
needs of children. WBDC was similarly criticized for two violations in 1999=
=20
and 2004, which together totaled 1 minute 15 seconds in overages. The FCC=20
actions are just reprimands, and no fines will be levied.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476519.html?display=3DBreakin...
ws&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
[SOURCE: Communications Daily]
(Not available online)
IN HIGH SPIRITS
The liquor industry's self-regulated moratorium on TV ads is a thing of the=
=20
past and now cable is profiting from it. To evade the wrath of advocacy=20
groups and government regulators who worry about reaching underage=20
consumers, sellers have reined in their broadcast purchases=97on both TV and=
=20
radio. The amount of broadcast ad dollars devoted to spirits is dwindling,=
=20
but the amount spent on cable is rising at a time when overall ad spending=
=20
in the liquor industry is flat. Broadcasters make it difficult to buy time=
=20
for hard liquor; cable networks make it easy, particularly E!, FX and=20
Bravo, which reach viewers in their 30s and 40s. Groups that fret about the=
=20
impact of TV spots on underage drinkers have pressured lawmakers to stop=20
the practice, even though other forms of alcohol advertising -- especially=
=20
beer marketing -- have flowed with impunity. Unlike spirits makers, beer=20
has no NAB codes, no laws and no alcohol self-regulatory guidelines to=
follow.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Joe Mandese]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476541.html?display=3DTop+of+...
Week&referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
FOX AFFILS FUME OVER FINE
Fox affiliates think they have grounds to escape their share of a $1.18=20
million fine the FCC proposed against stations that aired Fox program=20
"Married by America." The affiliates contend that the show was just a=20
satellite feed that they had no chance to review before airing. The=20
stations feel they should be exempt from the $7,000 FCC fine just like CBS=
=20
stations were exempt in the Janet Jackson/Super Bowl incident. Fox=20
affiliates haven't yet filed a formal appeal, which is due Nov. 12.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA476244?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
CANADIAN COURT RULING WOULD LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON US DBS
A judge in Quebec has ruled that sections of Canada=92s Radiocommunication=
=20
Act that make selling technology that allows Canadians to access U.S.=20
satellite signals a federal offense violates the Canadian Charter of Rights=
=20
& Freedoms. A DirecTV spokesman said it =93will have no bearing on our=20
ability to legally provide satellite TV service to Canadians, and in any=20
case, we generally do not have the rights from programmers to distribute=20
their content in Canada.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Carla Pasternak, Darren Maas,=20
Jeanene Timberlake, Mark Seavy]
(Not available online)
EVEN IN INFORMATION AGE, CHINA KEEPS REIN ON MEDIA
Despite the rapid pace of reform in China over the last 25 years that has=20
produced rich capitalists and a much freer social climate, information has=
=20
remained tightly controlled government property. The country's 1.3 billion=
=20
people still have the right to know only what the Communist Party's=20
publicity department says they should, particularly on sensitive topics=20
such as Taiwan and the doings of senior leaders. Journalists for major=20
Chinese publications, particularly those who deal directly with=20
national-level censors in Beijing, say the reins have loosened in recent=20
years, allowing more reporting in vanguard newspapers and magazines and on=
=20
Web sites. But the party's power ultimately to decide what is reported,=20
exercised with particular stringency regarding television and local papers,=
=20
has remained intact even in the information age.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Edward Cody]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14707-2004Oct31.html
(requires registration)
TELECOM
RURAL-PHONE SUBSIDY'S SHORTFALL COULD BE COSTLY FOR CONSUMERS
The Universal Service Fund, established in the 1930s to ensure rural areas=
=20
the same quality phone service as urban centers, is expected to spend about=
=20
$6.5 billion in 2004 to subsidize phone service to rural and low-income=20
customers, as well as to connect schools, libraries and rural health-care=20
facilities to the Internet. The fund's monies are based on the phone=20
industry's long-distance revenue, which totals roughly $16 billion=20
quarterly. But the fund faces a $575 million shortfall early next year that=
=20
phone companies -- and ultimately consumers -- likely will have to make up=
=20
unless another solution is found. In the second quarter of 2005, the=20
shortfall amount would total about $425 million and the situation could get=
=20
worse if Congress doesn't get involved, says Universal Service=20
Administrative Corporation (USAC) Chairman USAC Chairman Frank Gumper.=20
USAC, the not-for-profit corporation that handles billing and other=20
administrative tasks for the fund, plans to ask federal regulators to boost=
=20
to approximately 12.5% from 8.9% the percentage of long-distance revenue=20
that phone companies contribute to the fund.
The latest difficulties stem from an administrative decision last year to=20
bring the USAC's accounting system in line with that of the Federal=20
Communications Commission, which oversees its activities. In doing so, the=
=20
FCC found the USAC was subject to a little-known federal law called the=20
Anti-Deficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from incurring=20
financial obligations in excess of money in hand. Before, the USAC was=20
required to have the money available only when a school system or library=20
submitted an actual invoice for work completed, which can be years after=20
they initially request funds.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Anne Marie Squeo=20
annemarie.squeo( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109927048668560771,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
LEGISLATIVE HELP SOUGHT TO FIX UNIVERSAL SERVICE ACCOUNTING
Although the board of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)=20
is prohibited from lobbying, its members are meeting with state regulators,=
=20
telecom industry executives and education groups seeking support for a=20
legislative fix to the E-rate accounting problem. A change in USAC=92s=20
accounting required by the Office of Management & Budget has resulted in a=
=20
loss of funds, a possible increase in the amount of money carriers will=20
have to pay into the Universal Service Fund (USF) and possible shortfalls=20
in funding for rural telephone companies, schools and libraries. USAC Board=
=20
Chairman Frank Gumper said two changes led to the problems: 1) USAC=92s=20
switch Oct. 1 from traditional Generally Accepted Accounting Principles=20
(GAAP) to a federal version known as GovGAAP and 2) the FCC=92s decision in=
=20
Sept. to apply the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA) to USAC. The legislative goal=
=20
is to gain a USAC exemption from the ADA, possibly by adding a provision in=
=20
the omnibus appropriations bill.
Mr. Gumper said there=92s precedent for such an exemption for specific=20
agencies, such as the Federal Highway Trust Fund and the U.S. Information=20
Agency.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Edie Herman]
(Not available online)
AWS SHOWS REALLOCATION STILL TOO SLOW, THOMAS SAYS
FCC Office of Engineering & Technology Chief Edmond Thomas said the=20
Commission=92s
proposed advanced wireless services (AWS) auction dramatically demonstrates=
=20
the need to reform how the FCC reallocates spectrum between the government=
=20
and private sectors. Thomas told the Department of Defense Spectrum Summit=
=20
on Friday that the 90 MHz reallocation -- 45 MHz of which is coming from=20
government spectrum, possibly through federal legislation -- has taken far=
=20
too long. =93The commercial guys always want more spectrum,=94 Thomas said:=
=20
=93The federal guys always want more spectrum and it takes an act of God to=
=20
move spectrum back and forth.=94 Thomas said of the AWS item, =93We started=
the=20
process in 1993. It took well over 10 years to do it and it=92s not over=20
yet... That=92s not a way to run a railroad.=94 Thomas told the DoD spectrum=
=20
managers that =93sharing=94 of spectrum will become a way of life for them.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Howard Buskirk]
(Not available online)
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ELSEWHERE
Broadcast Industry Increases Lobbying Budget, Study Says
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/business/media/01lobby.html
The TV That Sent Out a Cry for Help, via Satellite
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/technology/01signal.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------