Two discussions of note today and this weekend: 1) Internet Politics: The=20
Keys to Success and 2) Consuming Kids: How Marketing Undermines Children=92s=
=20
Health, Values and Behavior. For these and other upcoming media policy=20
events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
IN CONGRESS
Ready for DTV?
Anti-Taxers Attack Clinton Bill
AT THE FCC
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
85 Stations Get DTV Extensions
FCC Opens Access to New Spectrum in 3650-3700 MHz Band
FCC Adopts Rule Changes for Smart Radios
Both Sides Declare Victory After FCC Changes UWB Testing Rules
Bells Can Hike Competitors' Leases as of Today
Rule Eases Comparison Of Cell Phone Charges
JOURNALISM
Broadcast Journalists Fire Back
QUICKLY -- APTS Responds to "Cut Buster Loose;" ABC Writes Out Fox;=20
Wireless Carriers Should Shield Kids from Smut; Google Lets Users Customize=
=20
News Site; America at a Crossroads Initiative
IN CONGRESS
READY FOR DTV?
At the House Telecom Subcommittee hearing Thursday, representatives of=20
Hispanic groups and the AARP indicated they could support a hard date for=20
the end of analog broadcasting -- if the government will give their=20
constituents adequate notice -- at least a year -- of the switch and help=20
them pay for the converter boxes they will need to keep their analog-only=20
sets from being suddenly broadcast-unfriendly. The transition date is=20
currently Dec. 31, 2006, but with the caveat that at least 85% of the=20
households in a market must be able to receive a digital signal before that=
=20
market can pull the plug on analog. The consumer electronics industry told=
=20
Congress that if a hard date is set, companies will deliver=20
digital-to-analog convertor boxes for as little as $67 and digital TVs=20
under $300.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA509998?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See also:
* AARP Calls for Converter Subsidies
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D7431
(requires free registration)
* On March 8, Benton Foundation Chairman and active member of the Public=20
Interest, Public Airwaves Coalition, Charles Benton was appointed to the=20
Federal Communication Commission's Consumer Advisory Committee, on which=20
Benton plans to raise the public interest obligations of digital television=
=20
broadcasters as the essential consumer issue in the DTV transition. Benton=
=20
noted that "Although the digital television debate has thus far focused on=
=20
the technical questions, this transition offers great potential for=20
broadcasters to better serve American TV viewers in ways other than=20
prettier pictures and clearer sound. Instead of preparing consumers to buy=
=20
costly digital TVs, policymakers should clearly define the compact between=
=20
the public and the country's broadcasters. Are broadcasters prepared to use=
=20
digital technology to better serve children and parents, communities and=20
civic discourse, the hearing- and sight-impaired? If broadcasters were=20
committed to increased public service content and interactively to match=20
their increased capacity, consumers and citizens alike would rush to adopt=
=20
this new technology."
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/FCC-199.html
ANTI-TAXES ATTACK CLINTON BILL
Citizens Against Government Waste Thursday criticized Sens. Hillary Clinton=
=20
(D-NY), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Rick Santorum=20
(R-PA)., for reintroducing the Children and Media Research Advancement Act,=
=20
which would earmark $90 million to research the effects of television=20
viewing and other media on children's cognitive development and eating=20
habits. "This proposal is just one expensive rerun," CAGW President Tom=20
Schatz said. "For decades this issue has been studied to death, always=20
yielding the same results. Calling for yet another taxpayer-funded study=20
belittles the ability of parents to use common sense in deciding what shows=
=20
are appropriate for their children."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510006?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
AT THE FCC
SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH
Outgoing FCC Chairman Michael Powell bid farewell after overseeing is 90th=
=20
-- and last -- Commission meeting Thursday. He's expected to leave the FCC=
=20
next week. =93I've loved it, every single day of it. Thanks to the most=20
remarkable public staff I've ever worked with. It will be the greatest=20
memory of my life,=94 Chairman Powell said, holding back tears as FCC=20
employees stood to give him a round of applause. Commissioner Kevin Martin,=
=20
who many expect will be the next FCC chairman, released this statement: "It=
=20
has been an honor and privilege to work with Chairman Powell. He is a=20
dedicated public servant who has worked tirelessly to improve the state of=
=20
our communications industry, particularly as an advocate of new=20
technologies. He should be commended for his many accomplishments, which=20
span across every sector under our jurisdiction. He has eloquently=20
articulated his vision for the communications industry and the FCC's=20
regulation of it. Over the last four years, he has helped lay the=20
regulatory groundwork so that services in each sector can thrive in the=20
face of the challenges and opportunities the 21st century will present. He=
=20
should be very proud, in particular, for the steps he has taken to foster=20
new services and technologies; this certainly will be one of his most=20
important legacies. We all will miss his enthusiasm and his warm and=20
engaging manner, and I personally wish him the very best in his future=20
endeavors."
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DtopNews&storyID=3D7869022
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA509921?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA509938.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257317A1.doc
* So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye to Chairman Powell
http://creativevoices.typepad.com/blog/
* Powell Leaves FCC Admonishing Uncivil America
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24164-2005Mar10.html
* Powell Exits FCC Without a Successor
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fcc11mar11,1,1895058....
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
85 STATIONS GET DTV EXTENSIONS
Even as Congress pushes to set a firm date for the end of analog TV=20
broadcasting, some broadcasters continue to drag their feet. All commercial=
=20
stations were supposed to be providing digital signals by May 2002 and all=
=20
noncommercial stations by May 2003. But 189 stations have not started=20
transmitting digital signals yet and 85 received extensions at the FCC's=20
meeting Thursday. Three stations were signaled out for their delays and if=
=20
they are not providing digital signals by this time next year, they will=20
lose their licenses when the digital transition is completed.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA509963?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
The decision was part of the Commission's "Consent Agenda," for more=20
information see items 8 & 9 at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257303A1.doc
FCC OPENS ACCESS TO NEW SPECTRUM IN 3650-3700 MHZ BAND
The FCC opened access to new spectrum for wireless broadband in the=20
3650-3700 MHz band. The Commission said it had adopted a =93hybrid=94=
approach=20
based on both its licensed and unlicensed regulatory models, providing for=
=20
nationwide, nonexclusive licensing of terrestrial operations in the band=20
using technologies employing content-based protocols. =93I am delighted that=
=20
we are today opening this 50 MHz of spectrum for the provision of wireless=
=20
broadband for consumers, especially in rural areas,=94 FCC Chairman Powell=
=20
said. =93This spectrum has been unutilized for far too long.=94 He said the=
=20
Commission=92s =93flexible=94 technical rules turned the band into =93a=
potential
home for new innovative technologies, such as WiMAX.=94 The Media Access=20
Project (MAP), Free Press and the New America Foundation praised the FCC=20
action, but
said the final order should ensure that community wireless networks =93will=
=20
really have access to the spectrum on equal footing with commercial WISPs.=
=94=20
MAP Senior VP Harold Feld said the Commission took a =93huge step in making=
=20
wireless broadband available to people who don't have access to DSL and=20
cable broadband, or who can't afford it.=94 New America Senior Research=20
Fellow Jim Snider cautioned: =93We won't know for sure if this is a good=20
thing until we see the details. The exact balance stuck between licensed=20
and unlicensed advocates is not yet clear. If the first few people to set=20
up systems can block new entrants, then we are back to the old=20
site-licensing model with its army of lawyers and lobbyists playing king of=
=20
the hill.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Susan Polyakova]
(Not available online)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257309A1.doc
http://www.mediaaccess.org/press/NAF-MAP-FP%20Release%203-9-05.pdf
FCC ADOPTS RULE CHANGES FOR SMART RADIOS
In light of the ever increasing demand for radio spectrum, and to=20
facilitate new technologies and services as well as permit more intensive=20
and efficient spectrum use, the FCC adopted rule changes for cognitive, or=
=20
"smart," radio systems. This action will facilitate continued growth in=20
the deployment of radio equipment employing cognitive radio technologies=20
and make possible a full realization of their potential benefits. As a=20
result, consumers will reap the benefit of new and enhanced services. Given=
=20
their technical and operational flexibility, smart radios make possible the=
=20
improved use of vacant spectrum channels -- that is, spectrum that may be=20
available in a specific frequency range at a particular geographic location=
=20
or during a particular period of time -- spectrum that would otherwise go=20
unused. Smart radios have the technical capability to adapt their use of=20
spectrum in response to information external to the radio. For instance, a=
=20
system could use geographic positioning system (GPS) data to determine its=
=20
exact location, then determine whether certain transmissions are=20
permissible based on that location. Alternatively, such radios could sense=
=20
their operating or radiofrequency (RF) environment and use this information=
=20
to determine both the optimal frequency range and transmit power to use,=20
yet avoid harmful interference. Many smart radios can also interpret and=20
transmit signals in different formats or modulation schemes in an effort to=
=20
transmit without harming others in the vicinity.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257310A1.doc
BOTH SIDES DECLARE VICTORY AFTER FCC CHANGES UWB TESTING RULES
On Thursday the FCC adopted an order permitting radiated emissions from=20
ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitters to be measured while the transmitter is=20
in its normal operating mode. This waiver responds to the petition filed=20
by the Multi-band OFDM Alliance Special Interest Group. The waiver=20
provides greater flexibility and innovation in designing UWB devices. The=20
Commission previously established regulations permitting the marketing and=
=20
operation of products incorporating UWB technology. Because UWB devices=20
operate on the same frequency bands used by licensed stations, the=20
Commission established a conservative procedure to measure the levels of=20
radio frequency emissions generated by these devices. UWB transmitters=20
that employ frequency hopping techniques must be measured with the hop=20
stopped and the transmitter operating in a continuous mode; UWB=20
transmitters that gate the emissions on and off must be measured with the=20
emissions gated on. These procedures can result in measured emission=20
levels that are greater than the UWB signal levels under actual operation.=
=20
In today's Order, the Commission is providing a waiver of the existing=20
measurement procedure, permitting emissions from UWB transmitters to be=20
determined with the transmitter operating normally. Both sides in the=20
often bitter ultra wideband debate --- proponents of MultiBand OFDM=20
technology and Motorola spinoff Freescale -- said the FCC decision was good=
=20
for UWB device makers as they start to build a market, with some of the=20
first consumer devices possibly on shelves before Christmas.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Howard Buskirk, Adrianne Kroepsch]
(Not available online)
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257308A1.doc
BELLS CAN HIKE COMPETITORS' LEASES AS OF FRIDAY
TGIF! New telecommunications rules slated to go into effect today will=20
allow local phone giants to hike the prices at which they lease their lines=
=20
to competitors. Consumers and businesses shouldn't experience dramatic=20
price hikes right away because the FCC capped how much extra the Bells can=
=20
charge over the next 12 months. For residential lines, the Bells can charge=
=20
at most $1 a month on top of what operators were previously paying.=20
Businesses telephone operators will see up to a 15 percent increase. A year=
=20
from now, the Bells will be able to charge whatever they want.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Jim Hu and Ben Charny]
http://news.com.com/Bells+can+hike+competitors+leases+as+of+Friday/2100-...
_3-5609118.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
RULE EASES COMPARISON OF CELL PHONE CHARGES
The Federal Communications Commission passed an order yesterday that it=20
hopes will make cell phone bills easier to understand by setting a national=
=20
standard for how charges are explained. The FCC said cell phone carriers=20
may not represent line-item service charges in a manner that suggests they=
=20
are taxes or government-required charges. But the new rules supersede state=
=20
regulations, causing some concern. Democratic FCC commissioners Michael J.=
=20
Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein think states ought to be able to impose=20
additional regulations on cell phone bills on top of the new federal=20
standards in an attempt to make them clearer.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25331-2005Mar10.html
(requires registration)
FCC Press Release:=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257319A1.doc
* FCC rule seeks clarity on cellphone bills
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050311/cellbill11.art.htm
* Consumer groups say FCC decision is a defeat in the effort to protect=20
consumers from misleading long distance and cell phone charges
http://www.nasuca.org/newsroom/newsroom/nasuca%20surcharge%20ban%20react...
20to%20fcc%203-10-05.pdf
* FCC decision raises concerns:
http://www.naruc.org/displayindustryarticle.cfm?articlenbr=3D24870&start...
=3D1
* FCC Truth-In-Billing Order Will Provide Real Consumer Benefits
http://www.ctia.org/news_media/press/body.cfm?record_id=3D1501
* Extends 'Truth in Billing' Guidelines to Cellphones
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/11/business/11phone.html
JOURNALISM
BROADCAST JOURNALISTS FIRE BACK
At the Radio-Television News Directors Foundation awards dinner in=20
Washington, the White House, the courts and the FCC all took hits from=20
broadcast journalists Thursday night who said they were feeling under fire=
=20
from a manipulative and even malicious government. NBC News President Neal=
=20
Shapiro the executive and judicial branches are pursuing journalists with=20
"actual malice" just for doing their jobs. Shapiro attributed some of the=20
repressive climate to frustrated government officials who, having failed=20
to please their superiors, take it out on journalists. But he also cited "a=
=20
handful of scandals" that have tarred the broadcast industry and a=20
post-9/11 climate that contributed to the crackdown. He advised journalists=
=20
to do a better job of showing themselves as reporters, rather than=20
entertainers. Liberty station group President Jim Keelor, winner of the=20
First Amendment Leadership Award, told the audience that at the same time=20
he was notified of the award, he was making the seemingly First=20
Amendment-unfriendly decision not to air Saving Private Ryan on his ABC=20
affiliates. It wasn't for the potential fine, said Keelor, it was to send a=
=20
message to the FCC that the indecency crackdown has gone too far. "The FCC=
=20
is getting more political every day," he said. Broadcasters in recent weeks=
=20
have increasingly pointed to the disparity between the regulation of=20
broadcast and cable indecency. Some have advocated cracking down on cable=20
and satellite if broadcasters can't shed their own indecency yoke, though=20
Keelor did not go that far. The result of the post-Janet craziness, Keelor=
=20
said, is that live TV, including news,is threatened. He pointed out that=20
some local TV newscasts are tape-delayed and said live shots are being=20
re-thought for fear of somebody flipping the bird. If the crackdown=20
continues, he said, broadcast networks will be second-class citizens. For=20
First Amendment and business reasons, said Keelor, "we can't let that=
happen."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA510012?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See also --
RTNDA Warns of 'Dangerous' Secrecy
The Radio-Television News Directors Association and its associated=20
foundation have produced three TV spots promoting Sunshine Week, an effort=
=20
by electronic and print journalists across the country to 1) educate=20
citizens about their rights to government information and 2) update them on=
=20
government efforts to restrict those rights. that effort includes news=20
stories, PSA's, editorials, cartoons, speeches and seminars throughout the=
=20
week.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA509912?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
For more info on Sunshine Week see: http://www.sunshineweek.org/
QUICKLY
APTS RESPONDS TO "CUT BUSTER LOOSE"
[Commentary] George Will=92s March 3 column indicates that the Washington=20
pundit questions the value of PBS and, one supposes, public television in=20
general. Luckily, the American people do not share Mr. Will=92s opinion=
about=20
one of the most successful public-private enterprises in this country.=20
Maybe Mr. Will=92s generous income from a commercial program struggling to=
=20
hold an audience has something to do with his viewpoint about another=20
choice for viewers, but Will neglects to mention the fact that public=20
television is local service =AD which, for AETN, means education services=
for=20
all Arkansans. PBS itself is simply a distributor of programming for public=
=20
television stations or networks such as AETN to use if the programs fit=20
their local or state mission.
[SOURCE: Association of Public Television Stations, AUTHOR: Allen=20
Weatherly, Arkansas Educational Television Network]
http://www.apts.org/
ABC WRITES OUT FOX
Sunday's episode of David E. Kelley's legal drama "Boston Legal" on ABC is=
=20
about the censorship issues raised when a high school principal tries to=20
block students' access to a cable news channel. In Kelley's original=20
script, the network in question was News Corp.'s Fox News Channel. But that=
=20
script didn't pass muster with the standards department at Walt Disney=20
Co.'s ABC, which ordered Kelley to remove multiple references to Fox News.=
=20
"While real-life situations are often used as original inspiration for=20
fictionalized programming story lines, it is a long-standing, industrywide=
=20
practice not to use real people or actual events," ABC spokesman Kevin=20
Brockman said in a statement. ABC also rejected an ad for the DVD version=20
of "Outfoxed," an anti-Fox News documentary released last year. The=20
distributor wanted to run the ad during "Boston Legal," partly because the=
=20
documentary is mentioned during Sunday's episode. Brockman said the ad=20
contained unacceptable content.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:Scott Collins]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-abc11mar11,1,6028421....
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
WIRELESS CARRIERS SHOULD SHIELD KIDS FROM SMUT
CTIA, the wireless telephone industry trade group, is urging members to=20
adopt controls and age verification methods to keep children from getting=20
adults-only content through mobile telephones.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3D2ULMUZAXSAOMCCRBAE...
Y?type=3DtechnologyNews&storyID=3D7869865
GOOGLE LETS USERS CUSTOMIZE NEWS SITE
Web search leader Google on Thursday said it added tools to its news site=20
that lets users customize the stories they see. With the new tools, users=20
of Google News can create customized pages on the site that gathers news=20
stories from around the Web, the company said. Google News users can now=20
prioritize existing news topics such as top stories, health, entertainment=
=20
or sports to change the look of the site's front page. Users also can=20
create new categories to capture news stories that contain certain key=
words.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=3D7...
03
AMERICA AT A CROSSROADS INITIATIVE
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Thursday announced that it has=20
selected 14 additional projects for funding through its America at a=20
Crossroads initiative. The grants will fund research and development on=20
film topics ranging from the Madrid terrorist attack to fledgling democracy=
=20
movements in the Middle East to underground terrorist fundraising and=20
recruiting here in the United States.
[SOURCE: Corporation for Public Broadcasting]
http://www.cpb.org/programs/pr.php?prn=3D398
--------------------------------------------------------------
...and we are outta here. Have a great weekend. Let the March Madness begin!
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------