For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Media Ownership Case
Early Reaction to Supreme Court Decision
LEGISLATION
McCain Pushes Analog Reclamation Bill
Stevens: Time's Up in '09
NRB Opposes DTV Legislation
Municipal Broadband Bill Draws Consumer Opposition
Public Broadcasting's $20 Billion Pitch
LAST WEEK (...OR, WHY I CAN'T MISS A NEWS CYCLE)
Panel Would Cut Public Broadcasting Aid
Stevens Aide Withdraws As Candidate For FCC
FCC Modifies Digital Tuner Requirements to Advance DTV Transition
FCC Official Vows Tougher Enforcement of DTV Tuner Mandate
FCC Reaffirms Rules for Hearing Aid Compatible Digital Wireless Telephones
FCC Moves Closer to Auctioning Spectrum for Advanced Wireless Services
QUICKLY -- Viewers Want VNR IDs; TV Debates: Still Beyond the Fringe; Who's
a Journalist?; Shapiro, NAB: Almost Strange Bedfellows?
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
SUPREME COURT REFUSES TO HEAR MEDIA OWNERSHIP CASE
The U.S. Supreme Court won't hear broadcaster arguments to appeal a 3rd
U.S. Appeals Circuit, Philadelphia, order remanding FCC media ownership
regulations for agency review. Last June's remand order negated new FCC
rules that would have significantly loosened media ownership restrictions
on TV and newspapers. The Supreme
Court ruling throws those rules back to the FCC. The Tribune Co., News
Corp.'s Fox, Viacom's CBS and GE's NBC asked the high court to review the
case. The networks urged an overturn of Red Lion, a 1969 Supreme Court
decision that is the basis for many radio and TV industry rules. The Media
Access Project (MAP) said it wasn't surprised by the Supreme Court
decision. "Even the Dept. of Justice and the FCC agreed that this case
wasn't worthy of Supreme Court Review," MAP President Andrew Schwartzman
said. But he went on to caution: "I expect difficult fights ahead.
Chairman Martin has signaled that he will try to divide the media ownership
proceeding into several pieces to reduce its visibility."
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
* High Court Leaves Ownership Limits In Media to FCC
Chairman Kevin Martin is expected to advocate relaxing media-ownership
limits, particularly for newspaper publishers. Chairman Martin is likely to
seek public comment on the matter next month. Although Chairman Martin
privately had argued against taking a broad approach to overhauling
media-ownership limits in 2003, he is now likely to deal with both
newspaper and broadcast cross-ownership and local-television ownership caps
together, since those are the major issues left to be resolved.
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111868229749458160,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)
* NAA Undaunted By Supreme Court Cross-Ownership Ruling
The Newspaper Association of America has been one of many organizations and
media companies fighting for the FCC's loosened media ownership rules --
and it will now take that fight back to the FCC. Prudential Equity Research
released a note Monday predicting that it will take nine to 12 months
minimum before the FCC issues new media ownership rules.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
* Supremes Won't Review Ownership Rules
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton & Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA607951?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* High Court Refuses Ownership Cases
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA608128.html?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Limits on Media Ownership Stand
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/13/AR200506...
* High court won't hear media case
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050614/fcc14.art.htm
* Justices Decline to Hear FCC Media Case
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fccmedia14jun14,1,538...
* High Court Ruling May Reignite Media Ownership Debate
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-QAVP1118694849326.html
EARLY REACTION TO SUPREME COURT DECISION
At the FCC --
* Chairman Martin: "I am now looking forward to working with all of my
colleagues as we reevaluate our media ownership rules consistent with the
Third Circuit's guidance and our statutory obligations."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259294A1.doc
* Commissioner Copps: "The ball is clearly back in the Commission's
court. The FCC has a fresh opportunity now to come up with a set of rules
to encourage localism, competition, and diversity in our media. If we work
together, conduct outreach to engage the American people, and gather a more
complete record, I am confident of our ability to craft rules that will
withstand judicial scrutiny and the scrutiny of the American people. I am
ready to roll up my sleeves and work with my colleagues to get the job done."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259295A1.doc
* Commissioner Adelstein: "This decision is a rare victory for the public
over some of the most powerful corporations in America. The American
public is concerned about concentration in the media, and our court system
has rightly responded. The court's decision puts the issue of media
consolidation right back in the FCC's hands and gives us an opportunity for
a fresh start, so we better get it right this time. We need to be very
careful because once we allow greater media concentration, we can't put the
toothpaste back in the tube. We can't let a handful of media giants
dominate the discourse in any community. Learning from the backlash against
the rules last time, we now need to involve the public and Congress more
fully in our deliberations. We need to hold public hearings across the
country, and call for more studies from experts and academics. I look
forward to working with Chairman Martin and all of my colleagues on a
bipartisan basis to fix the rules so they comply with the court order. We
need a comprehensive response that recognizes our media ownership rules
work together to prevent a single owner from gaining too much control over
what the American people see, hear and read."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259293A1.doc
From Advocacy Groups --
* Consumers Union: "The Supreme Court today reaffirmed what we already knew
-- the FCC went too far in permitting the mergers between dominant local
newspapers and TV stations, the most important sources of local news and
information. This decision is a clear signal to the FCC that any change in
media ownership rules must reflect today's environment and not a zealous,
overreaching deregulation agenda. Consumers have the right to a diverse and
independent media, covering a range of issues and presenting different
points of view. Today's decision helps ensure that what consumers read in
the morning newspaper isn't verbatim what they see on the 6 o'clock news.
While this decision is good news for consumers, the battle over media
ownership is far from over. We must remain vigilant to ensure efforts to
allow a few companies to dominate the major sources of local news and
information don't succeed. We are extremely hopeful the new FCC chairman
will revisit these issues with a better understanding of how important a
diverse and independent local media is to a community."
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_telecom_and_utilities/002395.html...
* Free Press: "The brazen attempt to loosen media ownership restrictions by
the big media corporations and their cronies at the FCC now has been
definitively rejected by the courts and the American people. Will the FCC
use this rebuke as an opportunity to institute media policy that reflects
the wishes of the millions and millions of Americans who oppose greater
media consolidation? Or will the majority on the commission simply try to
sneak in the same indefensible policies through the back door? The public
will be watching very closely. FCC leadership -- including whoever fills
the vacant seat of the commission -- should heed the call by Commissioners
Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein for nationwide public hearings on
media ownership before taking up these rules again. Decisions on the future
of our media system must reflect the will of the American public -- not
just the whims of the big media moguls. Such monumental decisions should
not be made behind closed doors in Washington."
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=74
LEGISLATION
MCCAIN PUSHES ANALOG RECLAMATION BILL
Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) will unveil today
legislation aimed at reclaiming broadcast TV spectrum and handing it over
to public safety departments and other new users by Jan. 1, 2009. Sens
McCain and Lieberman have titled their bill the "Save Lives Act," short for
Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to Improve
Vital Emergency Services Act. Sen McCain will hold a press conference
Tuesday afternoon to promote the bill. He will be joined by Thomas Kean,
chairman of the 9/11 Commission, which urged Congress to hand more
communications spectrum to local emergency departments after his panel
discovered that crowded emergency radio bands prevented New York City
police and fire personnel from communicating adequately during the 2001
terrorist attacks. The bill will get a hearing June 29, along with
legislation expected to be introduced soon by Sen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
(see following story).
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608133?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
STEVENS: TIME'S UP IN '09
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and House
counterpart Joe Barton (R-TX) apparently agree that the transition to
digital-only television should be completed by January 1, 2009. Sen Stevens
is working on digital television legislation -- and gathering support for
it. He said he expects a DTV bill to reach the White House by October at
the latest. A decade ago, TV stations received digital licenses to provide
HDTV and other advanced services. The federal government wants to reclaim
the analog spectrum for reallocation to public safety groups and to
wireless broadband providers. Analog spectrum auctions could generate
between $10 billion and $30 billion for the U.S. Treasury, according to
private estimates. The imposition of a so-called hard date would replace
current law, which allows TV stations to keep both licenses until 85% of
local households have acquired digital reception equipment. The 85% test
has come under fire as unnecessarily prolonging the transition.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA607843.html?display=Policy&referra...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
NRB OPPOSES DTV LEGISLATION
The National Religious Broadcasters opposes proposed digital television
legislation on three grounds: 1) Dual carriage -- the requirement that
mustcarry stations receive both digital and analog carriage on cable
systems should be extended to 2013, "at a minimum," the group argues, 2)
Multicast must carry -- "We believe a provision for multicast must-carry is
an essential (yet currently missing) component of this legislation" because
without multicasting, carriage opportunities for religious programming are
"marginalized," and 3) Converter box subsidy -- lack of a subsidy provision
will leave many sets dark, a "significant adverse
impact on our programs."
[SOURCE: Communications Daily]
(Not available online)
See also:
* NRB Opposes DTV Draft Bill
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608149?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
MUNICIPAL BROADBAND BILL DRAWS CONSUMER OPPOSITION
More consumer and high-tech advocates spoke out Monday against a bill to
bar municipal governments from offering broadband Internet service except
to remedy market failures. The bill (HR-2726), introduced by Rep. Sessions
(R-TX), a former 16-year executive at SBC predecessor Southwestern Bell
Telephone, is "an outrage" and a "smack in the face" for Texans, whose
state legislature thwarted recent attempts at passing a similar bill, said
Mark Cooper, Research Director for the Consumer Federation of America.
According to Cooper and Free Press, more than 100 telecom lobbyists
bombarded legislators, but defenders of public broadband and legislative
allies held firm against the proposed law in Texas. "[Sessions] wants to
jump in and see if the feds are willing to do SBC's bidding if the state
won't," Cooper said. Backers of measures to keep municipalities from
providing high-speed Internet, like SBC and BellSouth, argue that
government gets special treatment and tax breaks. But Cooper said these
systems won't require subsidies since they provide services in lieu of
taxes. "What they give back to the people is equal to or greater than what
the telephone companies give back," he said. Cooper noted that just as
electricity and roadways are public services, "these are the streets and
highways of the 21st century." He accused private carriers of doing a poor
job of making broadband available to rural and underserved populations.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Andrew Noyes]
(Not available online)
See also --
* Rep. Sessions Lends A Hand To SBC
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-QCTQ1118693221810.html
PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S $20 BILLION PITCH
Budget battles (see following story) and the ongoing political food fight
over the GOP's alleged attempt to stamp out liberal programming on PBS has
left the government's willingness to support public broadcasting in the
future open to doubt. But Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) has gained bi-partisan
support for a bill that would create a $20 billion trust fund that would
support public broadcasting. The legislation, dubbed the Digital
Opportunities Investment Trust, would create monies that could be used to
help stations develop new educational programming and distance-learning
technology as well as for digitizing content in libraries and creating
worker training and educational software. The legislation calls for 30% of
the proceeds from spectrum auctions to be earmarked for the fund.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA607814?display=News&referral=...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
LAST WEEK (...OR, WHY I CAN'T MISS A NEWS CYCLE)
PANEL WOULD CUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING AID
A House Appropriations panel on Thursday approved a spending bill that
would cut the budget for public television and radio nearly in half and
eliminate a $23 million federal program that has provided some money for
producing children's shows that include "Sesame Street," "Clifford the Big
Red Dog," "Between the Lions" and "Dragon Tales." By a voice vote, the
House Appropriations subcommittee adopted a measure that would reduce the
financing of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the organization that
directs taxpayer dollars to public television and radio, to $300 million
from $400 million. The subcommittee also eliminated $39 million that
stations say they need to convert to digital programming and $50 million
for upgrading aging satellite technology that is the backbone of the PBS
network. The cuts in financing went significantly beyond those requested by
the White House and are likely to be approved next week by the full
Appropriations Committee and then by the House. Lobbyists for public
television and radio say they hope to have the money restored in the
version of the bill prepared by the Senate, where they have support from
several senior Republican members. The final legislation will be the
product of negotiations between the House and Senate.
[SOURCE: New York Times (6/10), AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/10/arts/television/10pbs.html?
(requires registration)
See also --
* House Panel Proposes Devastating Cuts in Federal Funding for Public
Broadcasting
"The actions of the House subcommittee are nothing less than a direct
attack on public television and radio. They are also an attack on some of
the last, locally controlled and independent media voices in our country.
This is not how a democracy is supposed to run. Supporters of Public
Broadcasting are marshalling their resources for this fight." (See more at
the URL below)
[SOURCE: Association of Public Television Stations]
http://www.apts.org/
STEVENS AIDE WITHDRAWS AS CANDIDATE FOR FCC
Christine Kurth -- a top aide to Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens
(R-Alaska) who had been widely expected to be offered a seat on the FCC --
Thursday afternoon disclosed that she had withdrawn her name from
consideration for that post. Mrs. Kurth's husband, Timothy Kurth -- a
former policy adviser to House Speaker Hastert -- is currently a lobbyist
for the firm of Lundquist, Nethercutt & Griles. He represents several
telecommunications clients, including Motorola, Sprint and the U.S. Telecom
Association. the Kurths faced a situation that, if she had been nominated
and confirmed for an FCC slot, he would have had to give up his
telecommunications clients -- or she would have been required to recuse
herself from a variety of issues under FCC jurisdiction, even in cases when
her husband was not working on a particular issue. [Apparently, it is OK to
have a conflict of interest when writing telecom laws, just not enforcing
them.]
[SOURCE: National Journal's Insider Update, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CTSU1118360050264.html
See Press Release --
* Christine Kurth Withdraws Name for Consideration to be an FCC Commissioner
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=238697
FCC MODIFIES DIGITAL TUNER REQUIREMENTS TO ADVANCE DTV TRANSITION
On June 9, the FCC denied a request by the Consumer Electronics Association
(CEA) and the Consumer Electronics Retailers Association (CERC) to delay
the date by which 50% of mid-size TV receivers manufactured and imported
must include built-in digital television (DTV) tuners. To further its
efforts to ensure that consumers are able to receive off-the-air digital
broadcast television services, the FCC also moved up the date by which all
mid-sized TV sets must include a digital television (DTV) tuner. The
Commission's rules already provide that all large TV sets (36" and larger)
must have built-in DTV tuners by July 1, 2005. Those rules also provide
that 50% of mid-sized sets (25"-36") must have DTV tuners by that date, and
that all mid-sized sets must have DTV tuners by July 1, 2006. The rules
also provide that all receivers with a screen size 13" or more, as well as
other all other TV receiving devices (such as VCRs, DVDRs, etc.) must have
DTV tuners by July 1, 2007. The CEA and CERC asked the Commission to
eliminate the 50% requirement for mid-sized sets, and to move up the date
for full compliance for mid-sized sets to March 1, 2006 to address certain
difficulties posed by the 50%. In its Report and Order, the Commission
denied the request for elimination of the intermediate 50% compliance
deadline, stating that such an action would delay the wider dissemination
of DTV tuners in products of this size and would be inconsistent with its
efforts to advance the DTV transition as rapidly as possible. The
Commission did move up the date for 100% compliance for mid-sized TV
receivers from July 1, 2006 to March 1, 2006, the earliest feasible date
according to the industry. In the same action, the Commission proposed to
move up the date by which all TV receivers with screen size 13" or larger
and other TV receiving devices, i.e., those without a viewing screen, must
have DTV tuners from July 1, 2007, to a date no later than December 31,
2006, the statutory target date for the end of the DTV transition and the
corresponding end of analog broadcast television transmissions. TV
Interface Devices should be required to meet this timetable. Finally it
asked whether a DTV tuner requirement should be extended to TV receivers
with a screen size smaller than 13." Public comment is sought on these
proposals.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Press Release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259245A1.doc
Order: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-121A1.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Abernathy:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-121A2.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Copps:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-121A3.doc
See also --
* FCC Accelerates a Tuner Mandate
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA607844.html?display=Policy&referra...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* FCC Issues Mixed Verdict On Digital Tuners
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-TGHU1118347732857.html
FCC OFFICIAL VOWS TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT OF DTV TUNER MANDATE
Contrary to what many believe, the FCC does have "an enforcement plan in
place" for compliance with the its new digital television tuner mandate,
said Alan Stillwell of the Commission's Office of Engineering & Technology.
With Commission rejection of a consumer electronics industry petition to
scrap the 50% compliance deadline on 25-36" sets, "we're going to continue
that same plan -- probably a little more aggressively," Stillwell said. The
Commission has many ways to enforce the mandate that haven't been
publicized, he said.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Paul Gluckman]
(Not available online)
FCC REAFFIRMS RULES FOR HEARING AID COMPATIBLE DIGITAL WIRELESS TELEPHONES
On June 9, the Federal Communications Commission reaffirmed the timetable
for the development and sale of digital wireless telephones that are
compatible with hearing aids, and also sought comment on whether additional
rule changes are necessary to ensure that people with hearing loss have
reasonable access to digital wireless technologies. The Commission
originally adopted rules in 2003 to make digital wireless telephones
compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Press Release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A1.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Copps:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A3.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Abernathy:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A2.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Adelstein:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A4.doc
FCC MOVES CLOSER TO AUCTIONING SPECTRUM FOR ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES BY
IMPLEMENTING COMMERCIAL SPECTRUM ENHANCEMENT ACT
Last Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission sought comment on rule
changes needed to implement the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA),
which was signed into law on December 23, 2004. A key element of CSEA is
the establishment of a "Spectrum Relocation Fund" to reimburse the
relocation costs of federal agencies currently operating on spectrum
reallocated from federal to non-federal use. The spectrum covered by CSEA
includes 216-220 MHz, 1432-1435 MHz, 1710-1755 MHz, and 2385 MHz-2390 MHz,
as well as other spectrum bands that may be reallocated from federal to
non-federal use. The 1710-1755 MHz band accounts for half of the spectrum
the Commission plans to auction as early as June 2006 for Advanced Wireless
Services, including so-called "3G" services. Under CSEA, an auction of
eligible frequencies may not conclude if the total cash proceeds of the
auction are less than 110 percent of the total estimated relocation costs
of the federal users. As the statute does not define "total cash
proceeds," the Commission determined that, for purposes of CSEA, "total
cash proceeds" should be defined as winning bids net of any applicable
discounts, such as small business bidding credits. The Commission also
sought comment on a number of prospective modifications designed to
implement CSEA and update its spectrum auction rules.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Press Release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259249A1.doc
QUICKLY
VIEWERS WANT VNR IDs, POLL FINDS
Eight out of 10 viewers would not be turned off if news programs always
disclosed the source of third-party video -- i.e., video news releases.
That's according to a phone poll of 1000 respondents conducted by VNR
distributor D S Simon Productions. Four out of 10 respondents (42%) said
they would be even more likely to watch a program that disclosed video
sources, while 39% said such disclosures would not make them any less
likely to watch. Only 16% said they would be less likely to watch.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608087?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
TV DEBATES: STILL BEYOND THE FRINGE
According to a new ruling by Federal Election Commission lawyers, the
Commission on Presidential Debates may continue to require candidates to
show that they have substantial support among voters before allowing them a
seat in televised debates. Currently, the Commission permits only
candidates who demonstrate in recognized polls that they have the support
of 15% of registered voters.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608143?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
WHO'S A JOURNALIST? IT DEPENDS.
A new Annenberg Public Policy Center poll released Monday finds a split on
the perceived goals of big media corporations. While 48% of the public said
their first priority is to generate high profits for the owners, 46% said
it is to deliver high-quality news coverage. Among journalists, only 12%
said the top priority of corporate owners is to provide factual and timely
coverage. 49% say that the owners do try to provide quality coverage but
that business realities sometimes prevent this from happening. Ask members
of the press whether Rush Limbaugh and Bob Woodward are journalists and the
answers are somewhat predictable. But the public has a different view.
About the same percentage considers the radio talk show host and the author
and Washington Post editor to be journalists, says the survey by Annenberg.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, the center's director, said the findings provide
"disturbing evidence that the public defines the word very differently from
the way that most journalists do, a conclusion buttressed by the fact that
40 percent said Bill O'Reilly... was a journalist and only 19 percent said
that George Will, the columnist and commentator, was one."
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/13/AR200506...
(requires registration)
SHAPIRO, NAB: ALMOST STRANGE BEDFELLOWS?
Apparently, the National Association of Broadcasters has had some interest
in replacing outgoing President Edward Fritts with Consumer Electronics
Association President Gary Shapiro.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA607849.html?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
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