For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
Headlines will next be published THURSDAY, AUGUST 19. See you then.
SPECTRUM & PUBLIC SAFETY
DTV Transition Next Big Public Safety Focus
Wireless Group Changes Stance On Spectrum Reshuffling
MEDIA POLICY
Congressional Economists Tackle Copyright Issues
Censoring Violence in Media
QUICKLY
USAC Anticipates Rolling Over $180 Million for the 2005 Funding Year
FCC Regulatory Fees Lag Behind Sub Losses
Goodbye, Booknotes
SPECTRUM & PUBLIC SAFETY
DTV TRANSITION NEXT BIG PUBLIC SAFETY FOCUS
With 700MHz spectrum on the line for public safety, the transition to=20
digital-only broadcasting in the US will be "the primary policy imperative"=
=20
of the FCC over the
next 6 months, said FCC Chief of Staff Bryan Tramont recently. He added=20
that Chairman Michael Powell is eager to establish a date certain for the=20
transition. Over the next few months, the Commission will be addressing the=
=20
public interest obligations of digital TV broadcasters, followed =93very=20
quickly=94 by an order clarifying what constitutes the prerequisite DTV=20
market penetration of 85% allowing broadcasters to turn off analog signals.
Former NTIA Director Greg Rohde, now Executive Director of the E911=20
Institute, said Congress may have to pass legislation to guarantee that the=
=20
digital TV transition will occur on a timely basis. Mr. Rohde said, given=20
the size of the stakes for broadcasters and public safety, FCC action may=20
not be enough. he predicted telecommunications will be a hot topic in the=20
next Congress especially as it relates to the 9/11 Commission report.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Howard Buskirk]
(Not available online)
WIRELESS GROUP CHANGES STANCE ON SPECTRUM RESHUFFLING
The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association has changed its=20
position and is now supporting the "consensus plan" to reshuffle the=20
800-megahertz band of spectrum adopted by the FCC last month. CTIA head=20
Steve Largent said, "Now that the commission has announced its decision in=
=20
the 800-MHz proceeding, it's time for all of us to focus on working=20
together to take the steps necessary to remedy public-safety interference=20
as quickly and efficiently as possible." CTIA had coordinated opposition to=
=20
the plan, arguing that it would unjustly enrich Nextel by granting it 10=20
megahertz of contiguous spectrum at 1.9 gigahertz in exchange for its=20
scattered holdings around 800 megahertz.
[SOURCE: National Journal's Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/techdaily/pmedition/tp040810.htm
MEDIA POLICY
CONGRESSIONAL ECONOMISTS TACKLE COPYRIGHT ISSUES
The Congressional Budget Office released a new study on digital copyright=20
issues Tuesday; it could provide a strong working text for legislators, as=
=20
they face growing calls from both copyright holders and consumer groups to=
=20
reshape laws that have been severely tested by the growth of the Net and=20
digital copying technologies. The paper outlines the likely economic=20
effects of several ideas that have been proposed in Congress or by=20
copyright experts, without advocating support for any of them. The paper=20
was not requested by a member of Congress.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: John Borland]
http://news.com.com/Congressional+economists+tackle+copyright+issues/210...
28_3-5304486.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
See the full report, Copyright Issues in Digital Media
http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=3D5738&sequence=3D0
CENSORING VIOLENCE IN MEDIA
Responding to a request from Congress, the FCC will investigate violence on=
=20
TV and its impact on children. Thierer l-o-v-e-s the idea: "The "for the=20
children" mantra has quickly become the universal pretext for legislative=20
attempts to censor TV, radio, cable, video games and the Internet.=20
Apparently, if you have the best interests of children in mind, you can=20
dispense with the First Amendment and let the government censor whatever it=
=20
pleases." Instead of government intervention, Thierer asks, "What ever=20
happened to personal and parental responsibility in this country?" Isn't=20
this what those "silly" V-chips are for, he asks. Parents need to act=20
responsibly, Thierer writes, and exercise their private right=97indeed,=20
responsibility=97to censor their children's eyes and ears from certain=20
things. It's become increasingly evident, however, that a lot of parents=20
have just gotten lazy about carrying out this difficult job. While I can=20
appreciate the hassle of constantly trying to monitor a child's viewing and=
=20
listening habits, that's no excuse for throwing in the towel and calling in=
=20
the government to censor what the rest of the world has access to.
[SOURCE: Cato Institute, AUTHOR: Adam Thierer]
http://www.cato.org/tech/tk/040810-tk.html
QUICKLY
USAC ANTICIPATES ROLLING OVER $180 MILLION FOR THE 2005 FUNDING YEAR
The Universal Service Administrative Company notified the FCC August 2 that=
=20
it anticipates it will have an additional $180 million worth of E-rate=20
funding available to roll over to support applications in the 2005 funding=
=20
year. USAC had previously notified the FCC that it would have an additional=
=20
$150 million in unused funds available to support applications from 2004=20
and $420 million available to support applications from 2003.
[SOURCE: Funds for Learning]
http://www.fundsforlearning.com/cgi-bin/NewsList.cgi?cat=3DNews&rec=3D55...
t=3DE-rate
FCC REGULATORY FEES LAG BEHIND SUB LOSSES
Starting Tuesday, cable companies have until August 19 to pay 70 cents per=
=20
subscriber to the FCC. In the aggregate, the Commission expects to receive=
=20
$45.5 million from the industry. But the FCC=92s financial projections are=
=20
based on cable-subscriber totals as of December 31, 2003 and several Wall=20
Street analysts have noted that cable operators have been losing=20
subscribers this year -- a net loss of about 250,000.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA444241?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
GOODBYE, BOOKNOTES
After 15 years and interviews with nearly 800 authors, C-SPAN founder and=20
CEO Brian Lamb has decided to end Booknotes, the Sunday-evening program=20
devoted to authors and their books on history and politics.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA444226?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
WashPost:=
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55337-2004Aug10.html
(requires registration)
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Thanks for the break... see you next week.
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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.
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