For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
-------------------------------
NOW with Bill Moyers
Friday, July 23 at 9PM on PBS (check local listings)
If voters are relying on local television news to help them make
decisions in this important election year, recent studies show that they
may be left in the dark. By some estimates, more than half of local news
broadcasts may not cover politics at all in the weeks before the election,
and important local races and issues are often completely ignored. In a
nation where the public owns the airwaves, are local stations driving
corporate profits at the expense of the communities they are supposed to
serve? On Friday, July 23, 2004 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings),
NOW's David Brancaccio takes a hard look at how local broadcasters are
covering politics. With stations expecting record earnings from political
ads, the program examines the winners and losers in the battle for localism
and profiles one station that is getting it right.
-------------------------------
BROADCASTING
Hill Tees Up More LPFMs
Copps, Adelstein Rally media Activists for New Ownership Battle
Senate Commerce Committee Passes Public Broadcasting Reauthorization Bill
SATELLITE/CABLE
Senate Panel OKs Retransmission Measure
Forget a la carte Cable Idea; the Future is in Internet TV
E-RATE
House Commerce Chairman Barton Pledges Legislation to Reform E-rate Program
TELECOM
FCC Approves Interim Phone Rules
AT&T Retreats From Tradition
Bells Win a Battle, Not Necessarily the War
Senate Panel Embraces State VoIP Taxes
NOMINATIONS
Senators Press White House on Adelstein's Behalf
Vote on FTC Chairman Blocked
BROADCASTING
HILL TEES UP MORE LPFMs
The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill Thursday aimed at permitting
more low power FM radio stations to spring up in big cities around the
country. The bill also would eliminate a 2000 Congressional mandate for
further testing on the economic impact of potential interference from LPFM
stations on full power FM stations. Sen Conrad Burns had offered an
amendment to the bill that would have required an economic impact study,
but the amendment was rejected. Sen John McCain said passage of the bill
was first loss ever for National Association of Broadcasters in Senate
Commerce Committee.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA438262?display=Breaking+News
(requires subscription)
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
See the Senate Commerce Committee news release on this action
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=224486
Benton Foundation Chairman Charles Benton said, "Today, the Senate Commerce
Committee moved to get the static out of the Community radio issue and send
a clear signal that the public should benefit from Low Power
Radio. Today's decision moves us one step closer to allowing the FCC to
create opportunities for new voices on the air waves and to allow local
groups, including schools, churches and other community-based
organizations, to provide programming responsive to local community needs
and interests'. By tuning into the public's needs, Low Power FM has
finally won out over high power politics."
Additional press statements:
Prometheus Radio Project
http://www.prometheusradio.org/release_win_s2505.shtml
COPPS, ADELSTEIN RALLY MEDIA ACTIVISTS FOR NEW OWNERSHIP BATTLE
Yes, yes, we covered the FCC Localism Task Force hearing in Monterey
yesterday morning, but couldn't you stand a little more good news as we
start the weekend? Commissioners Copps and Adelstein rallied the audience
for a continued fight over the Commission's media ownership rules. Some in
the audience called for a mandatory set-aside of 10% of prime-time for
programming from or concerning local communities. "The ultimate reality
show is not how many bugs someone can eat on a deserted island,"
Commissioner Copps said.
"The ultimate reality show is this fight over democracy and the right to
control the public airwaves." Broadcasters highlighted their news, public
affairs and educational programming, PSAs and other support of civic and
community groups. Eduardo Dominguez of Telemundo's KSTS-TV San Jose told
how his station explained to its Hispanic audience how to open a checking
account and how immigrants should deal with the public schools, and
presented news from Mexico and El Salvador. He, along with Joseph Heston of
Hearst Argyle's KSBW-TV Salinas, and other commercial broadcasters insisted
community commitment was simply good business -- a much more effective
impetus than regulation. They said affiliation with big companies only
strengthened their localism by providing additional resources, such as by
making available government capital bureau stories on local issues.
Representatives of the United Way of Monterey County and the National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children gave local broadcasters high praise
for their support. But one audience speaker after another joined several
panelists in denouncing local commercial broadcasters for what they
contended was trivializing and largely ignoring state and local politics,
ethnic and minority groups and local musicians and other artists. Most of
the audience responded enthusiastically to critiques of broadcasters and
the Commission.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Louis Trager]
(Not available online)
Free Press has collected even more coverage. See
http://mediareform.net/townmeetings//monterey
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE PASSES PUBLIC BROADCASTING REAUTHORIZATION BILL
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved
by voice vote, S. 2645, the Public Broadcasting Reauthorization Act of
2004. Senator McCain (R-AZ) introduced the legislation on July 13, 2004.
This legislation is designed to reauthorize the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting (CPB) through fiscal year 2011. This independent agency has
not been reauthorized since 1992. The bill does the following: 1) Provides
the Corporation the explicit authority to award grants for the production
and acquisition of local programming and allows stations to use CPB funds
supporting the digital transition to produce local digital programming, 2)
Expands the definition of public telecommunications services to capture the
services public broadcasters are now providing through their web sites and
through digital multicasting, and; 3) Allows CPB to recoup some federal
funds provided to a public broadcast station if the broadcaster sells the
station to an entity that does not offer public broadcasting services.
SOURCE: US Senate]
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=224485
SATELLITE/CABLE
SENATE PANEL OKs RETRANSMISSION MEASURE
The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday approved legislation that would
require satellite operators to offer all retransmissions of local broadcast
signals on a single dish within 18 months. The legislation also opens the
door for satellite companies to offer distant digital TV signals to
subscribers that can't receive those from local affiliates -- an initiative
broadcasters have opposed. Pro-broadcast provisions in the legislation make
clear that satellite operators can only offer the distant network digital
signals in areas where they are already offering the local analog signals
of broadcast stations. In addition, the legislation would require satellite
operators to cut off the distant network feeds within 120 days of the time
an affiliate begins offering digital service to the homes at issue.
In a somewhat related story from Broadcasting & Cable, small TV group
owners -- looking to save money on electricity -- are asking FCC Chairman
Michael Powell to drop plans that would force stations to reach their
complete licensed coverage area with a DTV signal by a certain date or have
that licensed coverage area reduced. But Congress want progress on the
transition, not stalling.
[SOURCE: TV Week, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news/web072204.html#senate
See the Senate Commerce Committee news release on this action
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=224502
Broadcasters Fight Coverage Mandate
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA438289?display=Breaking+News
(requires subscription)
FORGET A LA CARTE IDEA; THE FUTURE IS IN INTERNET TV
A la carte, scmal-la-carte. After panning the idea of a la carte cable TV,
Langberg concludes, "Anyone searching for relief from high cable rates in
Washington is stuck on the wrong coast. Silicon Valley will ultimately
provide a much better solution: broadcast-quality television delivered
through the Internet, completely independent of the bloated cable industry.
Akimbo, a start-up company in San Mateo, says it's no more than six weeks
away from launching a digital video recorder (DVR) that gets TV shows
through a high-speed Internet connection rather than a cable, satellite
dish or roof antenna. San Jose-based TiVo, which pioneered the DVR
category, plans to add Internet delivery next year. Cable companies will
have to scramble like they've never scrambled before to meet the challenge
of Internet TV. Their pain will be our gain."
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR:Mike Langberg]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/9224062.htm
See also:
A La Carte Hits Home for Ferree
FCC Media Bureau chief Kenneth Ferree's wife asks, Why are we paying for
ESPN if we don't watch ESPN. "When we get to 50- or 100-megabit per second
downstream speeds, there is going to be a lot of content on broadband and
if the cable operator is still trying to shove a 200-channel package down
people's throat, take it or leave it, there're going to be a lot more
leaving it at that point," Ferree said.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA438315?display=Breaking+News
(requires subscription)
E-RATE
HOUSE COMMERCE CHAIRMAN BARTON PLEDGES LEGISLATION TO REFORM E-RATE PROGRAM
At the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations hearing Thursday, House
Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) pledged legislation next year
to improve the administration of the federal E-rate program, beset by
scandal at the local level. Rep Barton said "we're going to make structural
changes in this program statutorily, probably in the next Congress... to
make sure this doesn't happen again." FCC Wireline Bureau Chief William
Maher said the bureau has recommended rule changes for Commission action at
the August 4 agenda meeting to target bad actors better. He said the bureau
recommends: 1) Expanding the document retention requirements for
applicants "to maintain a comprehensive paper trail;" 2) Modifying E-rate
forms "to expand the required certifications" which "help deter bad actors
because their falsification is a federal criminal offense;" 3) "Heightened
scrutiny of applications from E-rate beneficiaries that have violated the
statute or the Commission's rules in the past;" and 4) "Improvements to the
certifications that beneficiaries make regarding their compliance with
substantive program rules."
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Edie Herman]
(Not available online)
See link to the Subcommittee's web page for this hearing
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/07222004hearing1343/hearing...
TELECOM
FCC APPROVES INTERIM PHONE COMPETITION RULES
Unexpectedly, the FCC voted on and passed Wednesday night, interim rules
governing the leasing of Baby Bell local phone networks by competitors. The
vote was along party lines. The rules probably include a 6-month freeze on
the prices contained in existing interconnection agreements. After 6
months, if no final rules are in place, a price increase -- reportedly 15%
-- might be applied to existing wholesale customers. Rates for new
customers after the 6-month period would pay whatever was negotiated with
the Baby Bell. The release of this order will coincide with a request for
comments on new rules. Medley Global Advisors issued a report saying what
the FCC voted on appears to be consistent with what was expected "with a
few minor changes." The report said "there is a tectonic shift emerging in
the industry where [competitors] are moving away from consumer voice
markets in search of growth in areas such as enterprise services and VoIP."
Medley said AT&T's announcement that it's leaving consumer services is an
example. "Further shake-out among the [competitors] is expected over the
interim 6 month freeze period."
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Edie Herman]
(Not available online)
AT&T RETREATS FROM TRADITION
Twenty years after its monopoly was broken up, AT&T is fighting for its
survival. Yesterday, the company announced it will no longer no longer
market long-distance service to consumers, instead focusing on corporate
sales which account for about 70% of its revenue. Consumer groups called
AT&T's retreat a serious setback because it will lessen competition, which
has driven down rates for consumers. "This is devastating. This takes the
most revered name in quality long-distance service and the most aggressive
competitor to the [regional] Bell monopolies out of play," said Gene
Kimmelman, director of the Washington office of Consumers Union. Mr.
Kimmelman blamed the federal regulatory policy for AT&T's decision to all
but walk away from the consumer market. "This is an end to an era of
competition. It has been totally undermined by the Bush administration's
refusal to go to bat for consumers in the courts and through the regulatory
process," he said.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Christopher Stern and Griff Witte]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7239-2004Jul22.html
(requires registration)
See also:
Customers Can Keep Service
[SOURCE: Washington Post]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7225-2004Jul22.html
(requires registration)
There's also coverage in
LATimes:
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-phones23jul23,1,42038...
USAToday http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040723/6391524s.htm
BELLS WIN BATTLE, NOT NECESSARILY THE WAR
The Baby Bells still control more than 90% of the local landline phone
market, giving them great power in controlling access to homes. But
competition from wireless and cable technologies means that millions of
households a year are dropping their local Bell landline telephone service.
And the accelerating trend toward inexpensive Internet-based phone service,
even by the Bell companies themselves, is eroding the advantages the local
telephone companies have long wielded with their high-quality, but costly,
conventional networks. Moreover, the Internet phone services - so far, at
least - are not subject to the taxes and universal service fees that the
Bells must tack onto their customers' monthly telephone bills. Gene
Kimmelman of Consumers Union says the argument that wireless competitors
offer heightened competition to the regional phone giants does not hold
water since the largest wireless companies are owned by the Bells. (Verizon
has majority ownership of Verizon Wireless, while BellSouth and SBC jointly
own Cingular Wireless and, if a recent acquisition is finalized, AT&T
Wireless.)
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtel]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/business/23landscape.html?hp
(requires registration)
SENATE PANEL EMBRACES STATE VOIP TAXES
An amendment offered Thursday by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) turned Sen. John
Sununu's (R-NH) bill intended to be a safeguard from state regulation of
VoIP services into legislation now that would permitted states to regulate
VoIP services in two ways: levying taxes to pay for universal service and
for compensating traditional telephone companies for the use of their phone
lines through so-called access charges. It's unclear what will happen next
to the Senate VoIP bill. There's not much time left this year for the full
Senate to act on the measure, and the House of Representatives is
considering bills that take slightly different approaches. Another
amendment by Senators Burns (R-MT) and Nelson (D-NE) would preserve the
ability of states to require VOIP applications to provide 911 and E911
services.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/Senate+panel+embraces+state+VoIP+taxes/2100-1028_3-5...
See the Senate Commerce Committee news release on this action
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=224501
See also
VoIP Technology Must Meet Public Interest Obligations
[SOURCE: Communications Workers of America Press Release]
http://www.cwa-union.org/news/PressReleaseDisplay.asp?ID=438
NOMINATIONS
SENATORS PRESS WHITE HOUSE ON ADELSTEIN'S BEHALF
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said today that all members of the Senate Commerce
Committee plan to sign a bipartisan letter of support to the White House
endorsing the renomination of Jonathan Adelstein for a Democratic seat at
the FCC. The Administration has failed to act on the nomination for 18
months, a Commissioner Adelstein's term is set to end at the end of this
Congress. "It just defies imagination as to why [Mr. Adelstein's
renomination] hasn't been done," said Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS).
[SOURCE: TV Week, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
http://www.tvweek.com/news/web072204.html#senators
VOTE ON FTC CHAIRMAN BLOCKED
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) used a rare parliamentary maneuver yesterday to
block a Senate Commerce Committee vote on President Bush's nomination to
head the Federal Trade Commission, Deborah P. Majoras. Sen Wyden asked for
a delay on the vote which was expected to follow along party lines and
approve the nominee. Then after the Committee considered a large number of
bills, Sen Wyden invoked a rule limiting hearings to two hours when the
Senate is in session. Ms. Majoras may get a summer recess appointment from
President Bush. She could then serve as chairman until 2005, when the
present Congress adjourns.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Caroline E. Mayer]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7610-2004Jul22.html
(requires registration)
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Have a great weekend. We'll be back Monday.
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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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