For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
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.
BROADCASTING
NBC Universal Is Born
One Man's Campaign To Rid Radio of Smut Is Finally Paying Off
FCC May Let Wi-Fi Go Between TV Signals
FCC to Study Who Is Broadcast-Only
Public Radio Stations Begin Digital Transition
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Telecommunications Policy Review: A View from Industry
Doubts Linger on Bells' Success
AT&T Wireless Has Four Times as Many Customer Complaints as Verizon
COPYRIGHT
H.R. 107, The Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act of 2003
Hatch Slams Dish Divide
INTERNET GOVERNANCE
Global Forum on Internet Governance
The Complicated World of ICANN =AD Part One
QUICKLY
Advertisers Bid, You Click, They Pay
Cell-Phone Camera Snoop Ban Advances in Congress
Media Literacy Grant to Girls Inc
Job Openings
BROADCASTING
NBC UNIVERSAL IS BORN
It is official. The $5.4 billion NBC-Vivendi Universal merger -- into NBC=20
Universal -- was completed Wednesday. The new company comprises the NBC TV=
=20
Network, the Universal Film Studio, an array of news and entertainment=20
networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Sci-Fi, Bravo and Telemundo, as well=
=20
as 29 owned and operated local TV stations and a theme parks division. Bob=
=20
Wright will head the new company as chairman and CEO and retain his title=20
as vice chairman of parent company General Electric. Expected 2005 revenues=
=20
for the new company are $15 million. GE owns 80% of the new company;=20
Vivendi Universal owns 20%.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Steve McClellan & John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA416880?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
WP: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22433-2004May12.html
USAToday: NBC signs long-term deals with stalwarts [Dick Wolf & Tom Brokaw]
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040513/6198492s.htm
LATimes:=20
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-nbc13may13,1,841899.s...
?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
ONE MAN'S CAMPAIGN TO RID RADIO OF SMUT IS FINALLY PAYING OFF
A look at David Smith's crusade against Mancow's Morning Madhouse, a=20
morning drive radio program out of Chicago. Since 1999, Mr. Smith has sent=
=20
the FCC more than 70 complaints about Mancow's humor which he believes is=20
indecent. They have resulted in $42,000 in fines that Erich "Mancow"=20
Muller's employer insists he pay. And so far, the FCC, behind in its work,=
=20
has only waded through his complaints up to July 2002. Half of them are=20
still pending. This article tracks how Mr. Smith has changed the Madcow=20
show, but also reveals how indecency enforcement works at the FCC -- and=20
how one particularly aggressive member of the community can have enormous=20
influence. Mancow's Morning Madhouse was the number 1 morning radio show in=
=20
Chicago. After Mr. Muller toned down his show, it has fallen to #4. And Mr.=
=20
Muller has sued Mr. Smith for harassment.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Sarah McBride at=
sarah.mcbride( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108441349000710328,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
s_page_one
(requires subscription)
FCC MAY LET WI-FI GO BETWEEN TV SIGNALS
The FCC is expected to propose rules today that would allow unlicensed=20
wireless services to use vacant airwaves between TV stations as long as the=
=20
wireless services do not cause interference. Providers and equipment makers=
=20
can't wait to start using the TV spectrum, which is in lower-frequency=20
bands that let signals travel farther and better penetrate buildings and=20
foliage. That means more seamless service -- and lower costs, because fewer=
=20
antennas are needed. ''This (spectrum) is beachfront property,'' says=20
Peter Pitsch, communications policy director for Intel, a Wi-Fi chip maker.=
=20
''In rural areas where the nearest broadcaster is 100 miles away, you could=
=20
crank the power up and provide very low-cost wireless broadband service.=20
The National Association of Broadcasters is warning of interference. But=20
Michael Calabrese of the New American Foundation, which promotes=20
competition, says interference fears are a smokescreen. Broadcasters, he=20
says, are eyeing the vacant spectrum to offer new subscription TV or other=
=20
services. The NAB denies its members are trying to make money.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040513/6198493s.htm
For more on today's FCC meeting, see
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-246980A1.doc
FCC TO STUDY WHO IS BROADCAST-ONLY
As part of the plan to speed the transition to digital-only broadcasting,=20
the FCC is planning to release a Public Notice soon seeking information on=
=20
the number of TV households that rely solely on free, over-the-air=20
broadcasting. =93Particularly, we=92d like to know more of the facts about=
who=20
these people are, what the demographics are, where they are, all of this=20
stuff,=94 said FCC Media Bureau Chief Kenneth Ferree at a New America=20
Foundation event. Currently, the Commission has only a lot of =93informed=20
guesswork=94 about the 15% of so-called =93granny=94 TV watchers who won=92t=
update=20
analog sets. Han Hege, Director of Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg, told=20
luncheon attendees how Berlin used consumer subsidies to accomplish a=20
9-month DTV transition. =93We anticipated much more protest,=94 Hege said.=
The=20
success was achieved
by maintaining consumer choice of platforms and reducing the dependence of=
=20
broadcasters on cable and satellite, he said. As a result, 2/3 of former=20
analog over-the-air households switched to DTV and 1/3 to cable and=20
satellite. In addition, 86% of households were satisfied or very satisfied=
=20
with the transition, he said.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA417064?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS BEGIN DIGITAL TRANSITION
Earlier this week, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced=
=20
grants totaling more than $2.3 million to help 29 additional public radio=20
stations, including 19 serving rural and minority audiences, purchase the=20
equipment needed to transition to digital radio. Digital radio will bring=20
exciting advances in radio broadcast technology that could increase=20
significantly the quality and scope of program services, as well as to=20
provide richer quality sound than is currently available. CPB is=20
encouraging and supporting the early adoption of this promising new=20
technology by providing matching funds to eligible stations. The=20
announcement marks the third round of grants to assist local public radio=20
stations in making the digital transition. Last month, CPB announced=20
digital grants to 76 public radio stations serving 32 states and=20
territories. Also, the CPB Board of Directors recently approved a plan=20
(based on management recommendations and a consultation with a joint=20
industry panel) for allocating nearly $50 million in special fiscal year=20
2004 digital transition funds provided by Congress. This action will set=20
aside more than $4 million to fund efforts to create digital content and=20
services for public television (the first time such funding has been=20
available); $30 million will support public television activities; the=20
remaining $15 million will support public radio.
[SOURCE: Corporation for Public Broadcasting Press Release]
http://www.cpb.org/programs/pr.php?prn=3D355
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY REVIEW: A VIEW FROM INDUSTRY
At the third hearing on revisiting the Telecom Act of 1996, Ivan=20
Seidenberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon, warned the Senate Commerce=20
Committee that his company might not continue to invest in broadband if=20
regulations is not "straightened out." He asked Congress to adopt a=20
=93market-based=94 policy that, among other things, eliminated =93price=20
controls.=94 Telecom services are becoming more national in scope and yet=20
=93there are 53 jurisdictions setting prices=94 and terms, which is =93going=
to=20
continue to disadvantage the formation of broadband networks,=94 Mr.=20
Seidenberg said.
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts does not want to see a major overhaul of US=20
telecommunications law; his company is making too much darn money as it is?=
=20
"We're having problems storing all this cash," Mr. Roberts never said. =93To=
=20
do a massive rewrite of the Telecommunications Act, I think, would create=20
nothing but instability [and] would destabilize capital markets,=94 is what=
=20
Mr. Roberts actually told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday. Mr.=20
Roberts did speak in favor of Sen John Sununu's (R-NH) legislation that=20
would bar states from regulating voice-over-Internet-protocol services=20
(VoIP) since that will help with Comcast's rollout of those services in=20
three cities this year. =93We hope these policies will not have to await a=
=20
comprehensive rewrite of the Telecommunications Act,=94 he said. =93We need=
=20
them sooner rather than later.=94
[SOURCE: US Senate]
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=3D1187
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA416963?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Edie Herman]
(Not available online)
DOUBTS LINGER ON BELL'S SUCCESS
To avoid taking local phone competition rules to the Supreme Court, FCC=20
Chairman Michael Powell called on Baby Bells and competitors to negotiate=20
access to local networks. But with a June 15 deadline looming for existing=
=20
phone competition rules, federal policymakers are skeptical those=20
negotiations will work. Chairman Powell wants to devise interim rules. But=
=20
Michael D. Gallagher, head of the National Telecommunications and=20
Information Administration, wants to push mediation to reach settlements.=20
The companies involved agree there will be some increase in the price for=20
leasing phone lines. But in California, SBC wants that increase to be=20
$8/month while competitors like AT&T think $3/month is more reasonable. At=
=20
stake for consumers is the $10 billion a year in savings through lower=20
prices and more choices of carriers that competition has brought.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR:James S. Granelli]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-phones13may13,1,19101...
tory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
AT&T WIRELESS HAS FOUR TIMES AS MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AS VERIZON
Records obtained by Consumers Union through the Freedom of Information Act=
=20
show AT&T Wireless has the highest number of complaints per subscriber of=20
the top six wireless companies, and that consumers in general complained=20
most about billing problems, service quality and transferring their phone=20
numbers when switching companies. =93The data is significant because the=20
Federal Communications Commission does not report complaints so that=20
consumers can look at each company=92s track record when shopping for cell=
=20
phone service,=94 said Janee Briesemeister, campaign manager for=20
www.EscapeCellHell.org, a project of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer=
=20
Reports. Of the more than 20,000 complaints filed in 2003, AT&T Wireless=20
ranked first among the top six carriers both on a total complaint basis and=
=20
in complaints adjusted for market share. Verizon had the fewest complaints=
=20
per subscriber of the major carriers, which is consistent with Consumer=20
Reports=92 February 2004 analysis that found the company at the top in the=
12=20
metro areas surveyed. For all of the six national cell phone companies,=20
consumers complained the most about billing problems. Complaints about=20
transferring their phone numbers, service quality, contracts and marketing=
=20
were close behind. "Consumers want to know which companies are generating=20
the most complaints about billing, service and coverage before they sign a=
=20
long-term contract,=94 Briesemeister said. =93Companies will have an=
incentive=20
to improve if they know consumers can check out their service=20
records.=94 Even though the FCC =AD which currently is the only regulatory=
=20
agency overseeing wireless service =AD fields consumer complaints, it does=
=20
not disclose that information to help shoppers make informed decisions.=20
Consumers Union is pushing legislation in several states, most notably=20
California, that would give state regulators, not just the FCC, the ability=
=20
to deal with customer complaints about the wireless industry.
[SOURCE: Consumers Union Press Release]
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/campaigncellhell/001079.html#more
COPYRIGHT
H.R. 107, THE DIGITAL MEDIA CONSUMERS' RIGHTS ACT OF 2003
The debate on copyright law vs fair use moved to the House Subcommittee on=
=20
Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Wednesday. The debate centers on=20
whether regulation should focus on technology or behavior. As an analogy,=20
Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association,=20
noted that Congress does not regulate the speed of cars; instead, speed=20
limits are set and law officers enforce those limits. The content=20
industries are arguing that consumers do not have the right to make back-up=
=20
copies of music and movies -- and that software and hardware that allow=20
people to make copies can be abused to make bootleg copies for sale.
H.R. 107, The Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act of 2003, has some support=
=20
in the House and would permit fair use copies of content, but there's not=20
much support on the House Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/05122004hearing1265/hearing...
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Patrick Ross]
(Not available online)
WP: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22479-2004May12.html
News.com: http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5211674.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
HATCH SLAMS DISH DIVIDE
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has joined other=20
Members of Congress who oppose Echostar's policy of relegating some local=20
broadcast channels to a second-dish that subscribers in some markets must=20
install to get all their local channels. "I believe that the Senate should=
=20
prohibit the discriminatory placement of certain stations on a second=20
satellite, requiring subscribers to obtain a second dish to receive them,"=
=20
Sen Hatch said during a hearing on the satellite bill Wednesday. "I am=20
particularly concerned that Spanish-language, religious, and public=20
broadcast stations have been singled out for this treatment."
Sen Hatch also said DBS providers should see copyright royalty increases,=20
and the Senate should consider the House Judiciary Committee approach in=20
which a Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP) determines the rate. But=
=20
Sen Hatch also said Congress should begin to devise a way to create equity=
=20
between cable and DBS on copyright issues.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA417080?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
INTERNET GOVERNANCE
GLOBAL FORUM ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE
A global forum on Internet governance organized by the United Nations March=
=20
25-27 was the most open and inclusive platform for addressing Internet=20
governance issues to date but time was too short to disaggregate the=20
various areas of policy and regulation that are loosely grouped under=20
=93Internet governance=94. There are fundamental concerns around the=20
accountability and legitimacy of current Internet governance structures,=20
but at the same time the overall tone is =93if it ain't broke, don't fix=
it=94.=20
But not everyone agrees on what is broken, nor on what fixing might=20
involve. The challenges the Global Forum faced will now be faced by the=20
working group which will take work forward to the next UN World Summit in=20
2005. The dilemma lies in having to both expand, and shrink the scope of=20
=93Internet governance=94, to get to practical proposals that also address=
=20
broader concerns. And it has to work in a way that is inclusive of=20
different stakeholders and perspectives, and actively tackles discontent=20
instead of glossing over it, says APC.
[SOURCE: Association for Progressive Communications]
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=3D18720
THE COMPLICATED WORLD OF ICANN -- PART ONE
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) - the body=
=20
that's responsible for managing the registration and distribution system of=
=20
domain names in the Internet - held its first meeting of 2004 March 2-6.=20
More than 600 people from different countries took part in 27 fora. In=20
attendance was Carlos Afonso, planning director of APC's Brazilian member=20
organization, RITS. His report is a help anyone trying to understand=20
Internet governance issues.
Available in both English and Spanish.
[SOURCE: Association for Progressive Communications, AUTHOR: Carlos A.=20
Afonso is RITS=92s Director of Planning and Strategy]
(http://www.aivf.org/independent/index.html)
QUICKLY
ADVERTISERS BID, YOU CLICK, THEY PAY
How does Google make money? Through a system known as pay-per-click,=20
advertisers pay Google a fee, equal to their bids on keywords, each time a=
=20
computer user doing a search clicks on one of their ads. Last year, those=20
clicks generated about 95 percent of the company's nearly $1 billion in=20
revenue. To find buyers online for its computers, cameras and other=20
products, for example, Gateway spends millions of dollars quarterly on=20
Google. One day last week, Gateway's bidding for the words "digital camera"=
=20
averaged about 75 cents, while its bidding on the plural, "digital=20
cameras," averaged $1.08. Plural terms often cost more because consumers=20
using them in searches are more likely to end up as buyers.
There's lots more at the URL below.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: David A. Vise]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22435-2004May12.html
(requires registration)
Also see:
GOOGLE SHOWS HOW SCHOOLS TURN RESEARCH INTO BIG BUCKS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Jim Hopkins]
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040513/6198511s.htm
CELL-PHONE CAMERA SNOOP BAN ADVANCES IN CONGRESS
By voice vote, the House Judiciary Committee approved the Video Voyeurism=20
Prevention Act on Wednesday, a bill that would outlaw "upskirt" photos and=
=20
other forms of video voyeurism made possible by cell-phone cameras and=20
other miniaturized technology. The legislation would prohibit taking covert=
=20
pictures in locker rooms, bedrooms and other places where people have a=20
reasonable expectation of privacy.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3D5BIVWAY1WROWUCRBAE...
Y?type=3DtechnologyNews&storyID=3D5122009
MEDIA LITERACY GRANT TO GIRLS INCORPORATED
Girls Incorporated, a national non-profit that inspires all girls to be=20
strong, smart, and bold, announced today that AFTRA has awarded the=20
organization a $25,000 grant to expand the Girls Inc. Media Literacy=20
program. Additions to the program will emphasize media production and=20
community action. Girls in the Girls Inc. Media Literacy program evaluate=20
and critique print, audio, video, and electronic messages, and then create=
=20
their own messages. Girls become active viewers who are able to assess the=
=20
effects of media messages, develop news skills, and influence people in=20
their communities. In the updated program, girls aged 14 to 18 will use=20
media and technology skills to share stories about issues affecting them,=20
and design plans to address these problems. Girls will identify, explore,=20
and document social and public policy concerns that are relevant to their=20
lives; collaborate on message development; plan and produce a media=20
campaign to express their views; and engage communities in their work. The=
=20
Girls Inc. Media Literacy program will reach girls in cities such as New=20
York, Los Angeles, Omaha, and Dothan (Alabama). Over the long term, the=20
program has the potential to reach an estimated 200,000 girls in 71 Girls=20
Inc. centers in the U.S.
[SOURCE: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Press elease]
http://www.aftra.org/press/pr_20040511_girlsincgrnt.html
JOB OPENINGS
The Campaign Legal Center is looking for experienced lawyers to fill FEC,=20
campaign finance law and litigation (district and appellate) positions. If=
=20
interested, please send resume and cover letter to Marianne Viray, managing=
=20
director, at mviray( at )campaignlegalcenter.org, or fax 202-736-2222.
--------------------------------------------------------------