To view Benton's Headlines feed in your RSS=20
Aggregator, paste=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dtaxonomy/term/6/all/feed into your read=
er.
For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Spector: White House will defy Democrats on Security
Raiding your Inbox
As EPA libraries go digital, public access suffers
More money urged for emergency communications
NTIA Retains Oversight of .Com Domain
INDECENCY REGULATION
Geller and Robinson: FCC Indecency Enforcement Unconstitutional
Groups Urge Courts To Limit FCC's Authority to Regulate Speech
Could Tony on A&E bring restrictions to cable?
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Take Control of Your Airwaves
Media Consolidation Hearing In Seattle
TELEVISION
FCC hopes to speed phone companies' entry into TV
NBC Universal Contests Pappas/TV Azteca License
TELECOM
No 'rubber stamp' on telecom mergers, judge says
FCC Needs to Improve in Dedicated Access Services
Alcatel Completes Purchase of Lucent
QUICKLY -- Markey Takes Telecom Panel Over=20
Committee Chairmanship; National Security=20
Telecommunications Advisory Committee; FCC's=20
Inspector General Report to Congress; Mom, Dad,=20
Buy the Broccoli; America's most digital cities;=20
Brits Mull Radio=92s End; Gates Foundation plans=20
Web access grants; "View" bleeps Bush-bashing DeVito
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
SPECTOR: WHITE HOUSE WILL DEFY DEMOCRATS ON SECURITY
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: David Morgan]
The Bush administration is unlikely to allow the=20
incoming Democratic majority in Congress to learn=20
details about its domestic spying program and=20
interrogation policy, Senate Judiciary Committee=20
Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) said Thursday. He=20
added he would welcome detailed congressional=20
oversight of the National Security Agency's=20
warrantless eavesdropping: "We have to really get=20
into the details as to what the program is, as to=20
how many people they are tapping, what they're=20
finding out." Sen Specter and other critics say=20
the program has violated U.S. laws, including the=20
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978,=20
which requires warrants for all intelligence surveillance.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DpoliticsNews&storyID=
=3D2006-11-30T224244Z_01_N30170295_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-SPYING-SPECTER.xml=
&WTmodLoc=3DPolNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-4
RAIDING YOUR INBOX
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] IN THE LATEST illustration of the=20
Bush administration's disregard for your privacy,=20
the Justice Department is trying to convince a=20
panel of federal judges that the FBI should be=20
free to read your e-mail without obtaining a=20
warrant. It's not all your e-mail -- only=20
messages left on a Web-based system such as=20
Hotmail or on your Internet service provider's=20
computers. A 1986 law forbids the interception=20
and disclosure of e-mail and other online=20
transmissions without a warrant. But there is an=20
exception. If the messages are more than 180 days=20
old, they can be obtained merely with a subpoena=20
or a court order, which investigators can obtain=20
more easily than a warrant. The U.S. 6th Circuit=20
Court of Appeals should rein in the feds and=20
strike down the provisions of the law that are=20
out of sync with the technological realities of=20
the broadband era -- and the privacy expectations of Americans.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-ed-email01dec01,1,5...
619.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)
AS EPA LIBRARIES GO DIGITAL, PUBLIC ACCESS SUFFERS
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Mark Clayton]
For a new Democratic Congress facing big=20
environmental issues from global warming to=20
dwindling fisheries, the first step may be=20
keeping the nation's top environmental libraries=20
from closing - and saving their myriad tomes from=20
ending up as recycled cardboard. To meet a=20
proposed 2007 budget cut, the Environmental=20
Protection Agency has in recent months shuttered=20
regional branches in Chicago, Dallas, and Kansas=20
City, Mo., serving 15 states, and has cut hours=20
and restricted access to four other regional=20
libraries, affecting 16 states. Two additional=20
libraries in the EPA's Washington headquarters=20
closed in October. Until these closures, the EPA=20
had 26 libraries, brimming with a trove of=20
environmental science in 500,000 books, 25,000=20
maps, thousands of studies and decades of=20
research - much of it irreplaceable, experts=20
say. EPA officials say the closures are part of=20
a plan "to modernize and improve" services while=20
trimming $2 million from its budget. Under the=20
plan, "unique" library documents would be=20
"digitized" as part of a shift to online=20
retrieval. But while electronic databases are=20
easy to access, they could end up being more=20
costly to use - and thousands of those "unique"=20
paper documents may now sit for years in=20
repositories waiting for the funding needed to=20
"digitize" them, critics say. Meanwhile, the=20
closings are proceeding so quickly that key=20
materials are likely to be lost or inaccessible=20
for a long time, EPA librarians say.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1201/p02s02-uspo.html
MORE MONEY URGED FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
[SOURCE: Reuters]
More money and modern technology is needed to=20
help police, fire and other first responders=20
better communicate when responding to terrorist=20
attacks and natural disasters, two former U.S.=20
government officials said on Thursday. Already $1=20
billion in federal money has been set aside in=20
the coming years to help communities develop=20
interoperable systems to ensure their radios can=20
communicate with each other during crises. Some=20
say much more is needed. "However, $1 billion=20
will not be sufficient to deploy advanced=20
networks nationwide," said Michael Gallagher and=20
Larry Irving, the former heads of the Commerce=20
Department's National Telecommunications and=20
Information Administration. Irving held the job=20
during the Clinton administration and Gallagher=20
resigned from the post earlier this year.=20
"Congress must continue to address the funding=20
needs of first responders and take action to=20
ensure that future funds are available to=20
complete the task," they said in a joint white=20
paper. Money needs "to be spent better and=20
smarter," Gallagher said. He argued that=20
authorities should be buying 21st century=20
technology, including digital radios, and use=20
high-speed Internet technologies. They also urged=20
the Department of Homeland Security to set=20
benchmarks as part of a national plan for=20
achieving interoperability, such as covering half=20
the U.S. population within five years and rest within 10 years.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DdomesticNews&storyID=
=3D2006-11-30T211616Z_01_N30217940_RTRUKOC_0_US-COMMUNICATIONS-DISASTERS.xm=
l&WTmodLoc=3DUSNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-7
NTIA RETAINS OVERSIGHT OF .COM DOMAIN
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The Department of Commerce=92s National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration=20
(NTIA) approved a new .com domain name registry=20
agreement between the Internet Corporation for=20
Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and VeriSign=20
Inc. The new agreement allows VeriSign to=20
operate the .com domain through 2012. The=20
agreement was negotiated between ICANN, which=20
manages the technical functions relating to the=20
Internet domain name and addressing system, and=20
VeriSign, which operates the .com registry, as=20
part of a settlement of litigation over terms of=20
the existing contract, and submitted to the=20
Department for approval. The Department retains=20
its right to review the .com domain name registry=20
agreement as part of the continuing transition of=20
the Internet domain name and addressing system to=20
the private-sector. As a condition of approval,=20
the Department negotiated an amendment to its=20
existing Cooperative Agreement with VeriSign to=20
address the competition and Internet security and=20
stability issues identified during the review=20
process. Under this amendment, the Department=20
retains oversight over any changes to the pricing=20
provisions of, or renewals of, the new .com=20
registry agreement. Department approval of any=20
renewal will occur only if it concludes that the=20
approval will serve the public interest in the=20
continued security and stability of the Internet=20
domain name system and the operation of the .com=20
registry, and the provision of registry services=20
at reasonable prices, terms and conditions.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2006/icanncom_113006.htm
* For details see=20
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/agreements/amend30_11292006.pdf
* For a fact sheet see=20
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2006/icanncom_fact_113006.htm
* Commerce OKs VeriSign '.com' contract
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/COMMERCE_VERISIGN?SITE=3DMSJAD&SE...
ON=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
INDECENCY REGULATION
GELLER AND ROBINSON: FCC INDECENCY ENFORCEMENT UNCONSTITUTIONAL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Two former FCC officials say the FCC's current=20
indecency enforcement regime is unconstitutional.=20
Saying indecency enforcement has morphed from a=20
restrained effort to regulate "clear, flagrant=20
instances of indecency language" by a few to an=20
ever-expanding campaign against "ordinary radio=20
and TV programming" that affects the many, Henry=20
Geller and Glen Robinson have filed an amicus=20
brief in CBS' challenge to the Janet=20
Jackson/Justin Timberlake fine against CBS=20
stations. Both are veterans of the more=20
restrained policy. Geller is former general=20
counsel and special assistant to the chairman of=20
the FCC in the 1960s, while Robinson was a=20
commissioner in the mid 1970s. Pointing out that=20
they have been associated with indecency=20
controversy in the past, including the Pacifica=20
decision--the so-called "seven dirty words"=20
decision--they say they have sympathy for the=20
FCC's concern but that the FCC is on a censorship=20
"crusade" that will chill even the blandest programming.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6396135.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
* See also --
Second Court Schedules Oral Argument for Profanity Decisions
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has=20
fast-tracked a broadcaster challenge of the FCC's=20
stepped-up profanity enforcement. The court has=20
scheduled Dec. 20 for the oral argument in Fox=20
and CBS' challenge to four profanity decisions=20
the FCC released last March against shows on Fox,=20
CBS and ABC. They will have to be succinct. Each=20
side will have 12 minutes apiece to make their case.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6396104.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
GROUPS URGE COURTS TO LIMIT FCC'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE SPEECH
[SOURCE: Center for Democracy & Technology]
As communications technologies converge, courts=20
must rein in the Federal Communications=20
Commission's continued efforts to expand its=20
authority to regulate speech over broadcast=20
media. That is the key message of two=20
friend-of-the-court briefs CDT filed this week in=20
conjunction with Adam Thierer of the Progress and=20
Freedom Foundation (PFF) in the U.S. Courts of=20
Appeals for the 2nd and 3rd Circuits. As an=20
organization focused on the Internet and emerging=20
digital technology, CDT has not typically=20
involved itself in the broadcast indecency=20
debate. But the FCC's increased indecency=20
enforcement is likely in this age of convergence=20
to threaten the underlying freedom of other=20
digital communications. November 30, 2006
Press Release: http://www.cdt.org/press/20061130fcclimits.php
2nd Circuit Brief: http://www.cdt.org/speech/20061129circuit2.pdf
3rd Circuit Brief: http://www.cdt.org/speech/20061129circuit3.pdf
* In a related article...
Unions back networks' suit over indecency rules
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera]
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-briefs1.1dec01,1,2773...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
COULD TONY ON A&E BRING RESTRICTIONS TO CABLE?
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
When HBO introduced The Sopranos in 1999, critics=20
applauded the smartly crafted stories about a=20
modern-day crime family. They saw the=20
obscenities, sex, nudity and violence as part of=20
what made it so realistic. But it's unclear how=20
audiences will react beginning Jan. 10 when a=20
version of the series moves from the 30 million=20
homes paying a premium to get HBO to the 90=20
million that get A&E Network in their basic cable=20
TV package. Some of the more graphic elements=20
have been edited out, but it may still cause a=20
stir. That's because an army of fed-up parents=20
and lawmakers already are making an issue of what=20
they see as the spread of child-unfriendly=20
programming on basic cable that has followed the=20
success of taboo-breaking basic cable shows=20
including FX's The Shield, Rescue Me and=20
Nip/Tuck, Comedy Central's South Park and MTV's=20
annual Spring Break. =93There are cable network=20
programmers whose clear and sole objective is to=20
break any boundary without regard for what the=20
consequences are for society,=94 says Parents=20
Television Council Executive Director Tim Winter.=20
Some shows, he says, have glamorized rape,=20
pedophilia, incest, racism and misogyny. The risk=20
cable now faces is that if edgy shows such as The=20
Sopranos lead many more people to conclude that=20
Winter is right, that could result in government=20
restrictions for these basic networks, which now=20
largely regulate themselves. Although such a=20
change would raise free-speech questions, critics=20
say that the fact that 86% of all homes get TV=20
via cable or satellite services makes basic cable=20
and broadcast programming virtually=20
indistinguishable. About 60% of adults endorsed=20
programming standards for basic cable in a recent Pew Research Center surve=
y.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20061201/sleazecov.art.htm
* How broadcast rules differ from cable
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20061201/sleazebox.art.htm
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR AIRWAVES
[SOURCE: Seattle Times, AUTHOR: FCC Commissioner Michael Copps]
[Commentary] What do Americans want from their=20
media? As a commissioner at the Federal=20
Communications Commission, I hear a lot about=20
this issue. I hear that Americans want to listen=20
to hometown talent on the radio and to see local=20
issues and politicians covered on the nightly=20
news. They want an in-depth look at what's going=20
on at City Hall and the schools their children=20
attend. In short, they want to know what's really=20
going on in their neighborhoods and to see the=20
essentials of their own lives reported accurately=20
to the larger world. Even if the future of our=20
media is not your No. 1 issue, it needs to be =97=20
it has to be =97 your No. 2 issue. That's because=20
Americans get their input and develop their views=20
about all the other critical issues of the day =97=20
the war, jobs, the economy, health care,=20
education, etc. =97 from the media. They learn=20
about them on TV news, hear about them on the=20
radio, and read about them in the newspaper. I=20
can't think of any of these issues that wouldn't=20
fare much better in an open, diverse,=20
community-responsive and competitive environment.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/d...
lay?slug=3Dcopps29&date=3D20061129&query=3Dcopps
MEDIA CONSOLIDATION HEARING IN SEATTLE
[SOURCE: KUOW]
A conversation about the FCC's media ownership=20
rules including: 1) Jonathan Adelstein is one of=20
two FCC Commissioners in Seattle for tonight's=20
hearing on relaxing media ownership rules. He and=20
Commissioner Michael Copps are the two Democrats=20
on the FCC Commission. 2) James Gattuso is a=20
senior fellow in regulatory policy at The=20
Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank=20
advocating free enterprise and limited=20
government. From 1990 to 1993 he served as Deputy=20
Chief of Plans and Policy at the FCC. 3) Mike=20
Davidson is the CEO of Newsvine.com, a website=20
that collects news from established media and=20
individuals all over the world and allows users=20
to respond to the stories. Newsvine.com is based=20
here in Seattle. Before starting Newsvine, he=20
worked as the Manager of Media Product=20
Development for The Walt Disney Internet Group.=20
4) Phillip Napoli is an Associate Professor of=20
Business at Fordham University and director of=20
the McGannon Communication Research Center. He is=20
the author of Foundations of Communications Policy.
http://www.kuow.org/defaultProgram.asp?ID=3D11863
See also --
* Hosts of public hearing don't want FCC to relax media-ownership rules
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003454363_fcchearing30....
TELEVISION
FCC HOPES TO SPEED PHONE COMPANIES' ENTRY INTO TV
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
Trying to spur competition and beat back cable TV=20
prices, Federal Communications Commission=20
Chairman Kevin Martin has proposed rules to make=20
it easier for phone companies and others to jump=20
into the video business. The proposed order aims=20
to streamline the video franchise approval=20
process, FCC officials said. They declined to be=20
named because the order has not been formally=20
adopted. The other four FCC commissioners are=20
reviewing it. Chairman Martin is using the FCC's=20
upcoming annual report on cable TV prices as=20
ammunition. FCC officials say the report shows=20
that satellite TV and cable TV operators have=20
settled into a cozy duopoly, keeping prices in a=20
steady, upward climb. It shows the average price=20
of cable TV in 2005 was $43.33 a month. Where=20
satellite TV also was available, the average was=20
$43.34. But in markets with another =93wired=94 video=20
provider, the price was dramatically less:=20
$35.94. The upshot: Absent credible land-based=20
rivals, cable TV prices will keep going up.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20061201/1b_fcc_martin01.art.htm
NBC UNIVERSAL CONTESTS PAPPAS LICENSE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Mike Malone and P.J. Bednarski]
A battle between NBC Universal, which owns=20
Telemundo, and Spanish-language rival TV Azteca,=20
took a bitter turn Thursday when NBCU filed a=20
petition with the FCC to deny the license renewal=20
of KAZA, a Los Angeles-area TV Azteca America=20
affiliate. The station is owned by Pappas=20
Telecasting, but, the NBCU petition says, not=20
really: Through a loan and other factors, NBCU=20
says TV Azteca, the Mexican-owned parent of=20
Azteca America, actually controls 51.6% of the=20
station, far beyond the 33% investment threshold=20
for foreign investors. Furthermore, NBCU claims=20
TV Azteca clearly has operating control. Though=20
it=92s that ownership question that might get the=20
FCC=92s initial attention, NBCU=92s petition goes=20
further than that, arguing that TV Azteca lacks=20
=93the character qualifications to own and operate=20
a U.S. broadcast station.=94 The filing claims=20
that TV Azteca has ripped off shareholders with a=20
=93massive securities fraud,=94 that it arranged for=20
an =93armed raid=94 that stopped production of a=20
Telemundo show in Mexico and filed =93baseless=20
criminal complaints=94 in Mexican courts against=20
Telemundo and NBC=92s parent, General Electric.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6396183.html
TELECOM
NO RUBBER STAMP ON TELECOM MERGERS, JUDGE SAYS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the=20
District of Columbia on Thursday continued to=20
press the Department of Justice to explain why he=20
should approve twin mergers involving some of the=20
nation's largest telephone companies, but did not=20
say when he will make a final decision. He warned=20
multiple times that he has no intention of=20
"rubber-stamping" the mergers -- proposed between=20
AT&T-SBC Communications and Verizon-MCI -- and=20
plans to issue an opinion only after an=20
"independent review" of the materials presented=20
to him. He said that "it remains to be seen=20
whether the record is complete yet" and=20
questioned whether the government was withholding=20
"significant documents." Justice Department=20
attorney Claude Scott replied that the government=20
had submitted to the court a "fair=20
representation" of the thousands of documents and=20
interviews they had gathered while vetting the=20
deals. Attorneys for the government and the=20
telephone companies continued to assert that the=20
deals would not stifle competition or harm=20
consumers. The merger agreements had already been=20
modified in an attempt to ensure the companies'=20
competitors could gain access to fiber optic=20
connections in certain commercial buildings where=20
Verizon and MCI or AT&T and SBC had been the only=20
two companies supplying "last-mile" connections,=20
leaving no immediate competition after the merger.
http://news.com.com/No+rubber+stamp+on+telecom+mergers%2C+judge+says/210...
036_3-6139838.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert
FCC NEEDS TO IMPROVE ITS ABILITY TO MONITOR AND=20
DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF COMPETITION IN DEDICATED ACCESS SERVICES
[SOURCE: Government Accountability Office]
Government agencies and businesses that require=20
significant capacity to meet voice and data needs=20
depend on dedicated access services. This segment=20
of the telecommunications market generated about=20
$16 billion in revenues for the major incumbent=20
telecommunications firms in 2005. The Federal=20
Communications Commission has historically=20
regulated dedicated access prices. With the=20
Telecommunications Act of 1996, FCC reformed its=20
rules to rely on competition to bring about=20
cost-based pricing. Starting in 2001, FCC granted=20
pricing flexibility on the basis of a proxy=20
measure of competition. GAO examined 1) the=20
extent that alternatives are available in areas=20
where FCC granted pricing flexibility, 2) how=20
prices have changed since the granting of pricing=20
flexibility, and the effect on government=20
agencies, and 3) how FCC monitors competition.=20
GAO=92s work included analyzing data on competitive=20
alternatives, list prices, and average revenue,=20
and interviewing FCC officials and industry=20
representatives. GAO recommends that FCC better=20
define effective competition, and consider=20
additional data to measure and monitor=20
competition. FCC disagreed that they need to=20
better define competition and collect additional=20
data. GAO maintains that additional data=20
collection is necessary for FCC to better fulfill=20
its regulatory responsibilities. (GAO-07-80)
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-80
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0780high.pdf
ALCATEL COMPLETES PURCHASE OF LUCENT
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Lawrence Frost]
Two of the world's biggest telecom gear makers=20
have tied the knot, eight months after France's=20
Alcatel SA announced plans to buy U.S. rival=20
Lucent Technologies Inc. and create a global=20
force that can cash in on hot "triple-play"=20
services offering phone, TV and Internet=20
together. Thursday's completion of the $11.6=20
billion, all-stock acquisition, approved by=20
shareholders of both companies on Sept. 7, came=20
after the first meeting of the new combined board=20
in Paris, headquarters to both Alcatel and the=20
new Alcatel-Lucent, which begins operating=20
Friday. Whether the marriage will be happy is an open question.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FRANCE_ALCATEL_LUCENT?SITE=3DNYEL...
ECTION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
QUICKLY
MARKEY TAKES TELECOM PANEL OVER COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
On Thursday, an aide to Rep Ed Markey (D-MA)=20
confirmed he has decided to chair the House=20
Telecommunications Subcommittee which he previously chaired from 1987 to 19=
94.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D11153
(requires free registration)
NATIONAL SECURITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: White House press release]
President George W. Bush today announced his=20
intention to appoint two people and designate two=20
people to serve in his Administration. The=20
President intends to appoint the following=20
individuals to be Members of the President's=20
National Security Telecommunications Advisory=20
Committee: Daniel J. Carroll, Jr. of New Jersey=20
and Howard L. Lance of Florida. The President=20
intends to designate Gary D. Forsee, of Missouri,=20
to be Chairman of the President's National=20
Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.=20
The President intends to designate Randall L.=20
Stephenson of Texas, to be Vice-Chairman of the=20
President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061130-15.html
FCC'S INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT TO CONGRESS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC's Inspector General, Kent Nilsson, has=20
submitted a report on his work covering April 1=20
to September 30, 2006. During this period, as in=20
the previous one, his work focused on oversight=20
of the Federal Universal Service Fund. Pursuant=20
to the direction of Chairman Kevin Martin and=20
requests from Senators Barbara Boxer, Byron=20
Dorgan, and Ron Wyden, and Members of Congress,=20
the IG also initiated an inquiry into allegations=20
of inappropriate conduct by individuals at the=20
FCC, past and present, concerning the possible=20
destruction and/or suppression of draft studies=20
or reports regarding localism and media=20
ownership. Nilsson reports that this investigation is ongoing.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268745A1.pdf
MOM, DAD, BUY BROCCOLI
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The commercials selling empty=20
calories like candy and soft drinks to children=20
have gotten so out of control in recent years=20
that now even the food industry has taken notice.=20
Last month, 10 companies that produce almost=20
two-thirds of the food and drink advertising for=20
children under 12 agreed to start cutting back on=20
advertising junk foods. Their plan, administered=20
through the Council of Better Business Bureaus,=20
is to make certain that at least half of the=20
advertising for younger children promotes=20
healthier foods and lifestyles. They also agreed=20
not to advertise in elementary schools or place=20
their products in children=92s entertainment. And=20
they promised to limit the use of beloved cartoon=20
or movie characters to help sell junk food.=20
Obesity among the young has become a health=20
emergency, and the rates of diabetes and other=20
adult diseases among American children are a=20
national scandal. For years, the food and drink=20
and candy industries have made unhealthy products=20
irresistible to those under 12. Now the question=20
is whether they can make healthy food and behavior look even better.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/opinion/01fri4.html
(requires registration)
AMERICA'S MOST DIGITAL CITIES? THINK SUN BELT
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Caroline McCarthy]
The Center for Digital Government's 2006 "Digital=20
Cities Rankings" finds that Florida, Arizona,=20
Colorado, and Southern California are home to=20
some of the most technologically astute municipal=20
governments in the country. Criteria examined for=20
the study included the ability to pay utility=20
bills, park fees and traffic citations online;=20
the online availability of meeting minutes from=20
city governing bodies; and the adoption or=20
pursuit of wireless infrastructure in public spaces.
http://news.com.com/Americas+most+digital+cities+Think+Sun+Belt/2100-735...
-6139710.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert
BRITS MULL RADIO'S END
[SOURCE: RedHerring, AUTHOR: CMedford( at )RedHerring.com]
Neither television nor the movies could do it,=20
but regulators in the United Kingdom are=20
considering the end of AM and FM radio on the=20
grounds that they have both outlived their=20
usefulness, and digital services could make=20
better use of the spectrum occupied by both=20
bands. Ofcom, the U.K.=92s communications=20
regulator, published a statement that said many=20
of the AM and FM licenses are up for renewal and=20
an automatic renewal could tie up very valuable=20
slices of spectrum for 24 years, so the time is=20
right for a long-term decision. So this could be=20
goodbye for AM and FM radio as the medium that=20
has survived the popularity of TV and movies=20
signs off after 100 years on the air. By making a=20
decision on the future of analog commercial radio=20
now, the U.K regulator argues, it will have more=20
flexibility in the use of the VHF Band II=20
spectrum currently occupied by FM radio. Ofcom=20
believes that the spectrum would be put to better=20
use if it were allotted to emerging services such=20
as mobile TV and more digital radio and data services.
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=3D19897&hed=3DBrits%20Mull%20Ra...
a?Ts%20End#
GATES FOUNDATION PLANS WEB ACCESS GRANTS
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Donna Gordon Blankinship]
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation says it will=20
expand its program to give people access to the=20
Internet in libraries and other public places to=20
two Eastern European countries and the African=20
nation of Botswana. The foundation on Thursday=20
announced grants totaling $17.5 million to=20
Botswana, Latvia and Lithuania as a step in a=20
seven-year plan to support increased Internet=20
access in public libraries in other countries.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GATES_FOUNDATION_INTERNET?SITE=3D...
AD&SECTION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
"VIEW" BLEEPS BUSH-BASHING DEVITO
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Remarks made by actor Danny DeVito's about=20
President Bush were bleeped out during an=20
appearance Wednesday morning on ABC's "The View."
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=3DtelevisionNews&sto...
D=3D2006-11-30T114057Z_01_N30397019_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-DEVITO-DC.XML
* Thursday 'View' Kind to Drunken DeVito
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_DANNY_DEVITO?SITE=3DOHALL&...
TION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
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Let's be careful out there... it's icy!
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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