For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
TELEVISION
The Effect of Television Violence on Children
Terrorists Have Their Way On TV
NAB Advisory Committee on Responsible Programming
Advocacy Secures Support for the Digital Transition in Rural=20
Communities
OWNERSHIP
AFTRA Urges Industry To Apply Industry Standards to Spanish
Language Actors and Broadcast Journalists
'Flood FCC,' Say Unions
TELECOM & POLITICS
Grading Bush on Tech
QUICKLY
NCTA Opposed to Net Discrimination Ban
Cingular-AT&T Wireless Merger Order Close to Circulation
Microsoft E-Mail ID Plan Rejected
Philadelphia Expands Free Wireless Web Access Zone
Yahoo to Buy Online Music Seller for $160 Million
Amazon to Take Searches on Web to a New Depth
TELEVISION
THE EFFECT OF TELEVISION VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN
The House Telecommunications Subcommittee (Commerce) heard testimony from=20
academic and medical professionals who acknowledged portrayals of violence=
=20
on TV have contributed to a rise in violence among adolescents. Jeff=20
McIntyre, representing the American Psychological Association (APA), said=20
there is great =93ambiguity in implementation=94 of the current rating=
system.=20
=93It appears that ratings systems are undermined by the marketing efforts=
of=20
the very groups responsible for their implementation and effectiveness.=94=
He=20
said this =93significant lack of accountability=94 should be considered=
=93when=20
proposals for self-regulation are discussed.=94 Ronald
Davis, a member of the American Medical Association board, said it=92s up to=
=20
the entertainment industry to =93assume its share of responsibility for=20
contributing to the epidemic of violence in our society and [it] should=20
exercise greater responsibility in its programming content.=94 University of=
=20
Arizona Prof. Dale Kunkel, a researcher on the National TV Violent Study=20
project in the 1990s, noted research shows =93that the manner is which most=
=20
violence is presented on television actually enhances rather than=20
diminishes its risk of harmful effects on child-viewers.=94 Most TV violence=
=20
depicts violence that doesn't cause realistic suffering, he said, while=20
only 4% of shows had an anti-violence theme. =93Independent of whether or=
not=20
violence on television might be reduced in quantity, it could certainly be=
=20
presented in more responsible fashion, thereby diminishing its risk to=20
child viewers,=94 Dr. Kunkel said.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: ]
(Not available online)
TERRORISTS HAVE THEIR WAY ON TV
[Commentary] The =93if it bleeds, it leads=94 mentality of television news=
is=20
failing us. TV's hunger for shocking pictures is distorting Americans' view=
=20
of the war in Iraq, and its excessive use of terrorist video is spreading=20
propaganda of an even more damaging sort. TV outlets run the risk of=20
becoming mindless, amoral communications tools by which terrorists=20
advertise their brutality, enlarge their reputations and belittle those who=
=20
would protect us. The Pew Charitable Trusts' 2004 report on the state of=20
the U.S. media found a troubling trend: News outlets =93disseminate=94 news=
=20
from other sources rather than collect it themselves, and the end video=20
product often becomes repetitive, chaotic and incoherent =93raw news.=94=20
Ultimately, news decisions are surrendered to those who would manipulate it=
=20
for their own ends. TV may need to explore a new ethic =97 with some stern=
=20
written-down policies including: 1) A refusal to air video or other=20
propaganda from terrorist Web sites or other anonymous terrorist sources,=20
except in the rare circumstances that such information warns viewers of an=
=20
imminent, credible threat. 2) A prohibition against using images that=20
aren't shot by network or other legitimate photographers. That means not=20
using video shot by terrorists or insurgents, because these images are=20
suspect, often staged for propaganda. 3) A new practice of prominently=20
labeling all non-network, freelance or bystander video =97 akin to the photo=
=20
credit in print journalism =97 so audiences can judge the source of each=20
image. 4) A commitment to require the same sharp scrutiny and relentless=20
challenges to terrorists and insurgents that journalists traditionally give=
=20
our own government and military officials.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Alcestis =93Cooky=94 Oberg, a member of USA=
TODAY's=20
board of contributors]
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20040915/oplede07.art.htm
NAB ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RESPONSIBLE PROGRAMMING
In large part due to Washington firestorm over indecent broadcast content,=
=20
the National Association of Broadcasters formed an Advisory Committee on=20
Responsible Programming in March and the group met again on Monday. Five=20
subcommittees are covering the First Amendment, audience communications,=20
improving the V-chip, best practices, and a code of conduct or statement of=
=20
principles. Details of the closed-door meeting were scarce, but apparently=
=20
the Parents TV Council, Media Access Project and Morality and Media gave=20
presentations Monday. =93I have no hint on what they have in mind on what I=
=20
said,=94 said Media Access Project's Andrew Schwartzman. The advisory=20
committee is scheduled to meet again November 30 to draft working proposals=
=20
on responsible programming.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Terry Lane]
(Not available online)
ADVOCACY SECURES SUPPORT FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSITION IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
After several years of combined regulatory and legislative advocacy, and=20
two years of special appropriations through the US Department of=20
Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, public television stations have won=
=20
a significant victory as the FCC voted unanimously to authorize digital=20
translators on a secondary basis. APTS petitioned the FCC to enact rules to=
=20
ensure the successful transition of rural translators from analog to=20
digital. =93As the rest of the TV infrastructure is converted to digital, it=
=20
is vital that TV translators also have some means to convert to digital --=
=20
otherwise, millions of rural Americans would not receive the educational=20
benefits of the noncommercial educational broadcast service,=94 said John=20
Lawson, President and CEO of APTS. In the face of significant opposition,=20
APTS sought and secured support from key lawmakers, such as Senator Ted=20
Stevens (R-AK), and activist stations, such as Idaho Public Television. The=
=20
Commission=92s decision ensures that Rural America will not be left behind=
as=20
the nation=92s broadcast infrastructure migrates from analog to digital=20
operation.
[SOURCE: Association of Public Television Stations]
http://www.apts.org/
OWNERSHIP
AFTRA URGES INDUSTRY TO APPLY INDUSTRY STANDARDS TO SPANISH LANGUAGE ACTORS=
=20
AND BROADCAST JOURNALISTS
Last week, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus =96 in a Joint Forum of its=
Task=20
Forces on Corporate America, Technology & Telecommunications, and Arts &=20
Entertainment - heard from a number of witnesses, including the American=20
Federation of Television and Radio Artists, about the ongoing struggle to=20
increase diversity in the English language media and ensure decent wages=20
and benefits for workers in the Spanish language media. AFTRA National=20
Executive Director Greg Hessinger testified, =93In representing Hispanic=20
broadcasters in the English-language news sector, AFTRA has been a vocal=20
advocate for strong and enforceable EEO rules at the FCC. While we all=20
recognize that there has been a strong growth in Spanish-language outlets,=
=20
we cannot look to these companies as an appropriate offset to the lack of=20
effective representation of Hispanic broadcasters in the general=20
market. Licensees have an obligation, to conduct effective outreach and=20
recruitment for job openings and they should be held accountable for=20
meeting it.=94 Among the specific actions sought by AFTRA at the hearing:=
1)=20
Support from the Caucus for both the continuation of FCC EEO Audits and the=
=20
public=92s right to have access to the data found within a licensee=92s=20
Broadcast Station Annual Employment Report. 2) Action from the Caucus to=20
urge NBC/Telemundo to sit down with AFTRA to negotiate an agreement for=20
their Spanish Language entertainment programming and their broadcast=20
journalists at WSNS-TV in Chicago, and set the example for other=20
Spanish-language networks and producers to follow.
[SOURCE: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Press Release]
http://www.aftra.org/press/print/print_20040908_cong_hisp_caucus.html
'FLOOD FCC,' SAY UNIONS
The Newspaper Guild/Communications Workers of America union has broadcast=20
an e-mail to "ordinary citizens" asking recipients to "flood the FCC" with=
=20
comments on its rewrite of media ownership rules. "Please take a few=20
moments and send a message to the FCC that this time -- when they look at=20
new rules for media ownership -- they need to listen to the people and not=
=20
just to the corporations," the union asks, then provides them a "four=20
click" route to the FCC.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA453097?display=3DBreaking+New...
ferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
TELECOM & POLITICS
GRADING GEORGE BUSH ON TECH
[Commentary] So have the last four years been good or bad when viewed=20
through the lens of what's best for tech? McCullagh offers his opinion on:=
=20
1) Broadband: There's not much that distinguishes Bush from Kerry on=20
high-speed Internet access. Both have called for universal broadband for=20
all Americans, coupled with freeing up radio spectrum through auctions. In=
=20
April, President Bush said in a speech, "We must not tax broadband access.=
=20
If you want broadband access throughout the society, Congress must ban=20
taxes on access." 2) FCC Chairman choice: President Bush appointed and=20
supports Chairman Michael Powell, "a champion of the free market." If=20
elected president, Sen Kerry could choose to nominate Commissioner Copps, a=
=20
former Senate staffer, as FCC chairman. "A Copps FCC would represent a=20
major step backward, as he would undoubtedly seek to undo any and all of=20
the limited reforms pushed through over the past two decades," says Adam=20
Thierer, a policy analyst at the free-market advocate Cato Institute. "He=20
is the Darth Vader of communications policy, and he will make the FCC his=20
Death Star, should Kerry appoint him." [Thierer, known in pundit circles as=
=20
Luke Skywalker, has been hiding out in a wampa ice creature liar praying=20
for a more conservative Administration.] 3) Copyright: Under President=20
Bush, the Justice Department has prosecuted commercial copyright infringers=
=20
and tried to export the most controversial sections of the Digital=20
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)--the parts that say "circumventing" copy=20
protection technology is unlawful. When Sen Kerry was asked what he thought=
=20
about online piracy in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, he=20
emphatically replied, "I think any kind of mass file sharing that goes=20
beyond the normal college dorm, room-to-room, person-to-person,=20
friend-to-friend kind of sharing is a violation of the law. I believe in=20
copyright."
So what grade does McCullagh give Bush? An "incomplete." [Hey, just like at=
=20
Yale!]
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/2010-1028-5362486.html
QUICKLY
NCTA OPPOSED TO NET DISCRIMINATION BAN
Speaking to the Federation for Economically Rational Utility Policy,=20
National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Robert Sachs=20
reminded the world that the cable industry is opposed to regulations that=20
would ban high-speed-data networks from discriminating against competing=20
applications providers that do not own their own facilities. Sachs said=20
policies designed to ensure =93Net neutrality=94 would disadvantage cable=20
companies that have invested billions of dollars in facilities reaching=20
millions of consumers. Free-market approaches were the answer, he added.=20
=93As the number of facilities-based broadband providers increases, such=20
regulation is not only discriminatory, but it is counterproductive, because=
=20
it limits the incentive for additional investment and innovation in=20
deploying those facilities,=94 said Sachs. =93Benign-sounding names, like=
Net=20
neutrality and layers=92 model, are not economically rational,=94 he added.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA452922?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
See full text of speech
http://www.ncta.com/pdf_files/FERUP_9-14-04.pdf
CINGULAR-AT&T WIRELESS MERGER ORDER CLOSE TO CIRCULATION
The FCC may be circling in on a decision on the proposed merger of Cingular=
=20
and AT&T Wireless. A draft order may be circulated to four commissioners as=
=20
early as this week after getting approval from Chairman Powell's office.=20
Consumer Federation of America's Mark Cooper has been critical of the=20
merger=92s potential effect on competition and said in a filing that =93in=
=20
light of the collapse of CLEC competition=94 and failure of the FCC to=
appeal=20
the Triennial Review Order the =93dominant wireless-wireline combination=20
poses a special threat to competition.=94
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Howard Buskirk]
(Not available online)
MICROSOFT E-MAIL ID PLAN REJECTED
Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, was dealt a setback on=20
Tuesday after the Internet Engineering Task Force decided not to adopt=20
Microsoft's e-mail sender ID standard that would make it easier for=20
Internet providers to block unwanted junk e-mail. The task force led by=20
Andrew Newton raised issues with Microsoft's patent claims on the=20
technology behind its proposal, saying that license restrictions could make=
=20
the standard difficult to adopt widely.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Reed Stevenson]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3DGTXV2EWE5LIUICRBAE...
A?type=3DtechnologyNews&storyID=3D6235098
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=3DtechnologyNews&storyID=3...
5098&pageNumber=3D1
PHILADELPHIA EXPANDS FREE WIRELESS WEB ACCESS ZONE
Philadelphia, the first major U.S. city to start a citywide wireless=20
Internet project, expanded free outdoor wireless Internet access on Tuesday=
=20
as part of a multimillion-dollar plan to connect the entire city by early=20
2006. "It will have a huge impact on the perception of Philadelphia as a=20
21st-century city and a progressive place," Mayor John Street said.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3D0FK3ACHANTN0ACRBAE...
A?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=3D6236019
YAHOO TO BUY ONLINE MUSIC SELLER FOR $160 MILLION
Yahoo announced Tuesday that it would buy Musicmatch, a company that sells=
=20
music online, for $160 million. Yahoo already has a significant=20
advertiser-supported free music business, with Internet radio and music=20
video channels, along with information and discussion boards about music.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Saul Hansell]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/15/technology/15music.html
(requires registration)
AMAZON TO TAKE SEARCHES ON WEB TO A NEW DEPTH
A9.com, a start-up owned by Amazon, announced it planned to make the newest=
=20
version of its search service, named A9.com, available Tuesday evening. The=
=20
service will offer users the ability to store and edit bookmarks on an=20
A9.com central server computer, keep track of each link clicked on previous=
=20
visits to a Web page, and even make personal "diary" notes on those pages=20
for viewing on subsequent visits. "In a sense, this is a search engine with=
=20
memory," said Udi Manber, the company's executive director. The idea is to=
=20
make searching more useful by making it easier to remember where a Web=20
browser has gone before. "The ability to search through your own history of=
=20
personal Web searches is insanely powerful," said John Battelle, a writer=20
and consultant who is the organizer of the Web 2.0 conference. "This is a=20
big deal,'' Mr. Battelle said. "But the question is will people get the=20
habit of using it?"
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: John Markoff]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/15/technology/15search.html
(requires registration)
See also --
San Jose Mercury=20
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/9667907.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.
--------------------------------------------------------------