The House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet is hold a=20
hearing today: How Internet Protocol-Enabled Services Are Changing the Face=
=20
of Communications: A Look at Video and Data Services. For this and other=20
upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
TELEVISION
Broadcasters and the Public Interest: Gambling with Our Democracy
Mitchell Charts Course for PBS
Broadcasters Pitch Own Content Crackdown
Strong Support for ACA Retrans-Reform Move
CEA Fires Back in Tuner Battle
OWNERSHIP
Merger Critics Seek Telecom Regulation
Time Warner, Comcast may Face Battle about Adelphia
QUICKLY -- Radio Is Blamed For Unrest In Ecuador; Multicast Radio; Internet=
=20
Taxation Legislation; State-Level Cable Franchising; Donaldson: Network=20
News Dead; Hewitt: No It's Not
TELEVISION
BROADCASTERS AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST: GAMBLING WITH DEMOCRACY
[Commentary] The health of a democratic system depends on an informed,=20
engaged citizenry. And the reality is that television continues to play an=
=20
enormous role in the process of getting the public the information they=20
need to make their own decisions about the issues of the day, especially at=
=20
election time. Unfortunately, plenty of data prove that broadcasters are=20
failing to provide even basic information about local politics and public=20
issues. A study of local news during the last election by the Norman Lear=20
Center clearly shows that the "if it bleeds, it leads" mentality continues=
=20
to drive news decisions. And that means that when citizens across the=20
country went to the ballot box last year, they were essentially forced to=20
shrug their shoulders and roll the dice. As trustees of a public resource,=
=20
broadcasters have a statutory obligation to air programming that is in the=
=20
public interest. But too many in the broadcast industry continue to resist=
=20
even minor efforts to strengthen the public interest standard - to the=20
detriment of the public, and our democracy itself.
[SOURCE: Campaign Legal Center , AUTHOR: Meredith McGehee]
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/press-1645.html
MITCHELL CHARTS COURSE FOR PBS
Last week, PBS CEO Pat Mitchell identified four priorities: 1) Development=
=20
of a new and standard-setting educational children's program strategy for=20
preschoolers and expand reach to older kids with a new digital service=20
built on the success of PBS Kids GO. 2) Implementation of digital=20
technologies to meet age-specific learning that addresses the much-needed=20
gaps in our country in math and science education. 3) Renewal of the Ready=
=20
to Learn Partnership with the Department of Education. 4) Creation of a=20
plan for the future that includes new sources of revenue including a=20
national fund for special initiatives and services managed by the newly=20
created PBS Foundation in alliance with stations and producers and in=20
alignment with PBS Content strategies developed in consultation with=20
stations and producers.
[SOURCE: PBS Press Release]
http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20050413_mitchellshowcase.html
BROADCASTERS PITCH OWN CONTENT CRACKDOWN
A task force of broadcast industry executives organized by the National=20
Association of Broadcasters will present its recommendations this summer,=20
says LIN Television Chairman Gary Chapman. Areas of focus include better=20
audience communication on safeguards like the V-Chip and ratings system.=20
Radio and TV stations will also share their "best practices" for training=20
staff and trying to prevent FCC violations. There has been talk of reviving=
=20
the so-called family hour, but execs familiar with the plan say that it is=
=20
unlikely that NAB will recommend that stations institute a prime time=20
family viewing period, though it is something that new FCC Chairman Kevin=20
Martin has suggested broadcasters institute voluntarily.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA526288?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See also:
* TV, Radio to Issue Decency Guide This Summer
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DtopNews&storyID=3D8230855
* Broadcasters Plan to Offer Voluntary Code on Indecency to Police=20
Industry's Airwaves
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-nab20apr20,1,5565082....
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
STRONG SUPPORT FOR AA RETRANS-REFORM MOVE
More than 55 cable companies, independent programmers and national=20
organizations have filed comments with the Federal Communications=20
Commission in support of the American Cable Association=92s call for reform=
=20
of retransmission-consent rules. The AA in March filed a petition with the=
=20
FCC asking the agency to examine and change regulations used by the =93Big=
=20
Four=94 TV-broadcast networks and TV-station groups to allegedly prop up the=
=20
price of retransmission consent. The AA charged that cash-for-carry=20
retransmission-consent demands could cost the small-cable-operator group=20
and its customers an estimated $1 billion if current rules aren't changed.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA526308.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See a show of support for ACE from the National Telecommunications=20
Cooperative Association at:
http://www.ntca.org/ka/ka-3.cfm?content_item_id=3D3173&folder_id=3D522
More on retransmission:
* CBS Eyes Retrans After Viacom Split
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Farrell]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA525947.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* CBS May Seek Signal Fee
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Sallie Hofmeister]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-viacom20apr20,1,70966...
tory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
CEA FIRES BACK IN TUNER BATTLE
The Consumer Electronics Association fired back at the National Association=
=20
of Broadcasters Tuesday, saying that broadcasters should "stop pushing for=
=20
regulations on other industries, 'remove its shackles' and market the value=
=20
of its digital service to consumers," in the words of CEA president Gary=20
Shapiro. If broadcasters want to advance the DTV transition they should: 1)=
=20
Promote free over-the-air broadcasting; 2) Shift to HDTV quickly and=20
promote DTV on analog channels; 3) Support a hard cut-off date for analog=20
broadcasts and 4) Defend the First Amendment.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA525946?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See NAB's comments at:=20
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/Releases/NAB_Blasts_CEA.htm
OWNERSHIP
MERGER CRITICS SEEK TELECOM REGULATION
At a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and=20
consumer rights in a hearing yesterday, Critics of consolidation in the=20
telecommunications industry warned members of Congress that specific=20
remedies would be necessary to ensure consumers are not harmed by a series=
=20
of recently proposed mergers. The resulting mega-companies could, among=20
other things, drive up costs by requiring customers to buy multiple=20
services bundled together, even if consumers don't want them, Consumers=20
Union senior director Gene Kimmelman said. Smaller providers, including new=
=20
competitors in the Internet telephone service market, worry the combined=20
companies could block access to 911 emergency services and the public=20
telephone network.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Yuki Noguchi]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2400-2005Apr19.html
(requires registration)
Link to hearing: http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=3D1465
See testimony offered by Consumers Union:
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/0419%20gk%20testimony%20final.pdf
TIME WARNER, COMCAST MAY FACE BATTLE ABOUT ADELPHIA
Consumer groups and cable's top rivals are gearing up to fight at the=20
Federal Communications Commission and before antitrust officials the=20
proposed sale of Adelphia to the nation's largest cable companies -- Time=
=20
Warner and Comcast. By adding Adelphia's customers and swapping some=20
systems with Comcast, Time Warner could end up with 70% of Los Angeles=20
cable and satellite customers, vs. about 13% today. Its hold on Cleveland=20
could hit 80% from 32%. And Comcast's share of Washington, D.C.'s market=20
could rise to 70% from 57%. Such market power could pose big problems for=20
the satellite companies and phone companies planning to enter the video=20
business if the cable operators cut exclusive deals with popular=20
programmers -- particularly regional sports channels. In 1992, Congress=20
ordered the FCC to cap the national market share a cable operator could=20
have. But in 2001, a federal court rejected the regulators' limit of 30%,=20
saying that the FCC hadn't justified the number. The commission has yet to=
=20
address that objection or try to set a new limit. Andrew Schwartzman of the=
=20
Media Access Project, a public interest law firm, says he might ask the=20
court to insist that the FCC set a new cap before approving any additional=
=20
deals. Such a case could drag on longer than the companies care to wait.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050420/2b_adelphia20.art.htm
QUICKLY
RADIO IS BLAMED FOR UNREST IN ECUADOR
La Luna, a small radio station in Ecuador, is being blamed by government=20
officials for escalating unrest. Throughout the crisis, the station has=20
regularly informed listeners where and when demonstrations would occur.=20
During the height of tonight's chaotic demonstrations, the station provided=
=20
directions for protesters wishing to navigate street closures and avert=20
police blockades to reach the presidential palace. The station's signal was=
=20
cut for several hours Monday, during the evening, when most street actions=
=20
have been organized. The government blamed the outage on an electrical=20
failure at a transmission tower and said several stations were affected,=20
including a state-run television station. But many Ecuadorans who oppose=20
the president said they believed the government was targeting La Luna. [I=20
tried to sing along | But damn that radio song | Hey hey hey]
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Monte Reel]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2940-2005Apr19.html
(requires registration)
MULTICAST RADIO
National Public Radio announced Monday that it will begin offering five=20
programmed music formats to multicasting stations: classical, jazz,=20
electronica, triple-A and folk. Other program offerings NPR is developing=20
for stations with new channels include a news and information service and=20
formats that would serve culturally diverse audiences. Multicasting is a=
=20
feature of HD Radio=99 technology that creates multiple broadcast channels=
=20
from what is presently one analog radio signal.
[SOURCE: National Public Radio Press Release]
http://www.npr.org/about/press/050418.tomorrowradio.html
LEGISLATION IN BOTH HOUSES TACKLES INTERNET TAXATION
Sens. Wyden (D-OR) and Allen (R-VA) and Rep. Cox (R-CA) have introduced=20
bills to extend 1998=92s Internet Tax Freedom Act, which bans taxes on=20
Internet access, double taxation of a product or service bought online and=
=20
taxes that treat Internet purchases differently from other types of sales.=
=20
That law currently expires in Nov. 2007. The bills have not been assigned a=
=20
number yet. Apparently Rep Cox plans to introduce one measure identical to=
=20
the Senate=92s, which lets states=92 Internet tax statutes time out, and a=
2nd=20
that would repeal the grandfathered provisions immediately. This leaves it=
=20
up to the House Judiciary Committee to decide what bill to pursue.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Andrew Noyes]
(Not available online)
BELLS BACK TEXAS BILL TO MOVE CABLE FRANCHISING TO STATE
The Texas legislature is the new locus for cable vs. phone company fighting=
=20
over rules on provision of video service. It is considering a bill=20
(HB-3176) that would move the franchising process to the state level.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Dinesh Kumar]
(Not available online)
DONALDSON: NETWORK NEWS IS DEAD
Former ABC News reporter/anchor Sam Donaldson said it so it must be true:=20
broadcast network TV news is dead. There will be no film at 11.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/CA526034.html
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA526067.html?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D7679
NEWS WITH VIEWS
[Commentary] The executive producer of the first 30-minute network newscast=
=20
in 1960 thinks providing more commentary is the way to revitalize nightly,=
=20
network broadcast TV newscasts.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Don Hewitt, CBS]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/20/opinion/20hewitt.html
(requires registration)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------