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
NEWS FROM THE FCC
FCC Releases, Withholds Ownership Documents
Waiting For Martin=92s Next (Big) Steps
The Price of Net Neutrality
Martin Aide Willeford Joins White House Staff
Justice Department to FCC: Delay Telling Victims of Pretexting
TELECOM REFORM
No Failure to Communicate ...
Limited Focus On Telecom Overhaul In Chamber Of Commerce Agenda
JOURNALISM
Local TV Is #1 Source of News for Americans
In Trying Times, Papers Retreat From Washington
For Journalists, Politics Not as Usual
Be More, um, Aggressive?
Cell-Phone Videos Transforming TV News
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Music Fans: Dismantle DRM
Tribune deal speculation pointing to management
PRIVACY
First wiretapping, now letter-opening?
FCC rules expected on phone records
Most teens use social networking sites
YouTube's Legal Woes
QUICKLY -- Broadcast dispute could lead to higher=20
cable fees ; NTIA: Expect a Converter Box Coupon=20
RFP Soon; San Francisco, EarthLink have tentative=20
Wi-Fi deal; Satellite Television in a Portable=20
Box; Curriki offers new world of course content;=20
FCC Releases 9 Orders Addressing Wireless E911
NEWS FROM THE FCC
FCC RELEASES, WITHHOLDS OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC's Media Bureau has released a number of=20
documents and audio transcripts related to its=20
media ownership proceeding, but has withheld some=20
1,400 pages of documents, including two draft=20
reports, citing various privilege exemptions.=20
That came in response to a Freedom of Information=20
Act (FOIA) request from a public interest law=20
firm, the Institute for Public Representation=20
(IPR), which professed itself "troubled" by the=20
amount of information withheld -- including those=20
two drafts -- pointing out the FCC has made other=20
drafts available. The Commission has already=20
released a number of documents on its Web site,=20
with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin saying it was in=20
response to the public's interest in the=20
material. That interest was peaked last fall when=20
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) got hold of drafts of=20
media ownership studies the FCC had not released,=20
prompting her to ask what else the FCC wasn't=20
sharing. In its responding to the FOIA request=20
for all data related to its localism proceeding=20
and review of media ownership rules, the FCC=20
provided a half dozen or so new documents,=20
pointed to a host of documents it had already=20
made available on its Web site, as well as CD's=20
with a couple thousand of hours radio recordings=20
made by Edison Media Research under contract to=20
the FCC for an analysis of whether radio stations=20
were serving their local communities. Angela=20
Campbell, director of IPR, said she was troubled=20
that "policy is being made pursuant to data the=20
public does not have access to," including the two staff drafts.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6404744.html
WAITING FOR MARTIN'S NEXT (BIG) STEPS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
In December, a politically divided Federal=20
Communications Commission adopted rules that give=20
franchising authorities 90 days to act on cable=20
entry petitions filed by phone companies and=20
others with pre-existing access to rights of way.=20
But pressuring local governments to act swiftly=20
on the cable franchise applications of companies=20
like AT&T and Verizon Communications could be=20
just a baby step in FCC chairman Kevin Martin=92s=20
ongoing march to overhaul cable competition=20
policy. The biggest step would be a ruling by the=20
Martin-led commission that AT&T=92s Internet=20
Protocol-TV offering is an interstate service.=20
That would have the effect of sweeping aside any=20
actions taken by the 50 states =97 including the=20
ones that have gone to statewide franchising to=20
appease the deployment schedules of AT&T and=20
Verizon. Another big step: the FCC could declare=20
that IPTV is an information service, just like=20
digital subscriber line, cable-modem service and=20
dial-up Internet access. That would be a=20
gamechanger because, as a rule, the FCC doesn't=20
regulate information service providers. Nor do=20
the states. If either step were to be taken, the=20
FCC would effectively be saying that IPTV isn't a=20
cable service within the meaning of federal law.=20
If IPTV isn't a cable service, then none of the=20
key cable provisions found in Title VI of the=20
Communications Act would apply, including=20
franchising requirements; franchise fee=20
obligations; mandatory carriage of local TV=20
stations; program access rules; public access and=20
leased access channel set-asides; and local=20
approval of IPTV system sales. In short, regulatory nirvana for IPTV provid=
ers.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6404701.html?display=3DPolicy
THE PRICE OF NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: TPM Cafe, AUTHOR: Art Brodsky, Public Knowledge]
[Commentary] FCC Chairman Kevin Martin was sold=20
out in the merger of AT&T and BellSouth. He=20
wasn't undercut by the other commissioners who=20
disagreed with him, even though Martin took out=20
his anger at them. He was sold out by the company=20
for which he had extended his prestige -- AT&T.=20
On top of that, Martin has made life for himself=20
just that much more difficult dealing with=20
Democrats in Congress, even as he accepted the=20
foundation for a more open Internet.
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/specialguests/2007/jan/05/the_price_of_net_n...
rality
See also --
* Win for Net Neutrality
[SOURCE: Multichannel News 1/8, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6404702.html?display=3DPolicy
Net neutrality advocates hail AT&T's concessions
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, AUTHOR: Tom Abate]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2007/01/07/BUG8KNE...
1.DTL&type=3Dtech
MARTIN AIDE WILLEFORD JOINS WHITE HOUSE STAFF
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Emily Willeford, a senior aide to Federal=20
Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin,=20
moved to the White House, serving in the office=20
of deputy chief of staff Karl Rove. Willeford was=20
Chairman Martin=92s deputy chief of staff and top=20
adviser on international communications issues.=20
Her departure wasn't announced by the FCC, but=20
she recently spoke to a reporter on the phone=20
from her White House office. She left the commission in late December.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6404676.html?display=3DBreaking+News
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WANTS PHONE COMPANIES TO DELAY=20
TELLING CONSUMERS THAT THEIR CALLING RECORDS HAVE BEEN STOLEN
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally=20
asked the Federal Communications Commission to=20
"include a mechanism of delay" in any rules=20
requiring phone companies to notify consumers=20
that their records have been "pretexted"=97that is,=20
stolen. The delay would last at least a week, and=20
could go on indefinitely. "Allowing for delayed=20
consumer notification in appropriate cases=20
enhances our ability to investigate the=20
circumstances surrounding the loss of the data=20
and, thereby, advances consumer protection,"=20
Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty wrote to the=20
FCC on December 28th, 2006. The DOJ request comes=20
in the context of an FCC proceeding to establish=20
security measures against "pretexters"=97con=20
artists who trick phone companies into disclosing=20
customer records, then sell those records to others.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/276
TELECOM REFORM
NO FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE ...
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Tom Steinert Threlkeld, Editor In Chief]
[Commentary] Back when the 1934 Communications=20
Act gave birth to the Federal Communications=20
Commission, the media consisted of newspapers,=20
magazines, postal mail and the first big=20
electronic players -- radio, telephone and=20
telegraph companies. There was just one problem.=20
The telephone industry was dominated by a=20
monopoly (the American Telephone & Telegraph Co.)=20
The telegraphy industry essentially was a duopoly=20
(Western Union and Postal Telegraph). Regulation=20
was the response. The days of stifled choices in=20
communications are disappearing in a rush. That=20
has been coincident with the 1996 reform of the=20
Communications Act. But not because of it. That=20
act tried to help new companies gain access to=20
Bell telephone companies' networks, to provide=20
alternative local service. But competition=20
instead came in the form of a second set of=20
networks -- namely cable systems. Those=20
cable-system operators, on their own, tested the=20
waters and are now diving into the business,=20
head-first and with serious success. The digital=20
age needs an act that commits government to just=20
a few tasks: defining what universal=20
communications service needs to be and how it=20
should be funded; allocating spectrum; protecting=20
intellectual property in transit; and, keeping=20
competition open. Instead of more patches, it's=20
time for regulators and legislators to figure out=20
how to get out of the way. If they can, the last=20
decade has proved that product innovators,=20
network innovators and technology visionaries=20
will take care of providing consumers and=20
businesses with more ways to communicate with=20
each other than they can even now employ.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6404698.html?display=3DOpinion
LIMITED FOCUS ON TELECOM OVERHAUL IN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AGENDA
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 1/4, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Overhauling the nation's telecommunications laws=20
received little attention at a U.S. Chamber of=20
Commerce briefing, suggesting that the issue may=20
be less critical for the group now that Democrats=20
control Congress. A new Chamber report issued=20
Thursday on "The State of American Business"=20
devotes only one paragraph to telecom, which is=20
lumped together with transportation. "We will=20
also advocate updated federal telecommunications=20
laws and seek the elimination of federal policies=20
that hinder investment in technology, while=20
opposing net neutrality legislation," the report=20
said. Chamber Of Commerce President Thomas=20
Donohue said that the conditions recently imposed=20
by the FCC on the AT&T-BellSouth merger "took=20
some steam out of what we're trying to do on the=20
re-regulation of the telecommunications=20
business." But he contended that those=20
conditions, many of which the Chamber considers=20
ill-advised, will spur the business community to=20
seek recourse through legislation.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-QTBG1168026646808.html
JOURNALISM
LOCAL TV IS #1 SOURCE OF NEWS FOR AMERICANS
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher]
A new Gallup poll reveals a halt in the steady=20
decline of Americans who rely on newspapers for=20
most of their news gathering, with local TV news=20
still holding at #1. Despite all of the publicity=20
about people fleeing to the Web for their daily=20
news diet, the Gallup survey found that twice as=20
many still rely on newspapers: 44% daily vs. 22%=20
daily for Internet use. An additional 13% say=20
they rely on newspapers "several times a week,"=20
meaning 57% use the papers a lot. Behind local=20
news and newspapers come the network news at 35%=20
daily and cable news at 34%, and public=20
television at 28%. Radio talk shows fall far=20
behind at 20%. Gallup reports: "Only 7% of=20
Americans say they read a national newspaper=20
(such as USA Today or The New York Times) every=20
day. An additional 6% read these several times a week.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003528255
* See Gallup release
http://www.galluppoll.com/content/Default.aspx?ci=3D26053&VERSION=3Dp
IN TRYING TIMES, PAPERS RETREAT FROM WASHINGTON
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Katharine Seelye]
Faced with declining advertising revenues and=20
competition from the Web, midsize, regional=20
dailies across the country have been retrenching=20
in recent years to focus on local news. That has=20
scaled back their Washington coverage, and their=20
national ambitions. Journalists generally lament=20
such cuts, saying they can lead to generic=20
articles from news services and less=20
investigative or original reporting. But some say=20
the cuts are useful because they mean less=20
redundancy and can force a smarter use of=20
resources, since newspapers long ago lost their=20
monopoly on the Washington scoop. Unlike in most=20
cities, events all over the highly wired capital=20
are broadcast live and transcripts are instantly=20
available. Congressional committees Webcast their=20
hearings. Scores of industry newsletters track=20
incremental steps in legislation. The Supreme=20
Court releases same-day audio recordings of some=20
cases. Public-interest groups do original=20
research and are making raw data available on the Web.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/08/business/media/08bureau.html
(requires registration)
FOR JOURNALISTS, POLITICS NOT AS USUAL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Katharine Seelye]
As many newspapers across the country are cutting=20
their staffs and trimming back on Washington=20
coverage, The Politico is finding younger=20
journalists and some veterans =97 including John F.=20
Harris and Jim VandeHei from The Washington Post,=20
Mike Allen from Time magazine and Roger Simon=20
from Bloomberg News =97 who are willing to leave=20
the once-secure confines of traditional print to=20
join a start-up. If The Politico succeeds, it=20
could signal that the Web has become a more=20
plausible alternative for mainstream journalists.=20
(Most bloggers offer their Web logs free, and=20
rare is the site that pays reporters to create=20
original content.) But there are skeptics who say=20
that the focus of The Politico is too narrow and=20
that the marketplace too crowded with sources of=20
political news, from sites like=20
RealClearPolitics.com to scores of other=20
publications, including newspapers and their Web=20
sites. Partisans, especially, feast on sites that=20
affirm their views; The Politico says it will be=20
nonpartisan. The Politico, financed by Allbritton=20
Communications and based in suburban Washington=20
in a glassy tower that once housed Gannett, has=20
smoothed the transition for print journalists=20
with handsome salaries, though no one is talking exact figures.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/08/business/media/08washington.html
(requires registration)
BE MORE, UM, AGGRESSIVE?
[SOURCE: Michael Getler, PBS Ombudsman]
[Commentary] This is not a typical ombudsman's=20
column and this proposed resolution of mine for=20
PBS is not accompanied with any specific ideas.=20
Rather it is to express a sense that we are at a=20
troubling time in our history and that=20
journalists and producers of news and public=20
affairs programs who have access to the nation's=20
airwaves need to ratchet up their determination=20
to challenge, to explore and to cut through spin.=20
And, it seems to me, that public television and=20
its 350 independent but affiliated stations may=20
be able to play a special role, both in making=20
lots of voices, including new ones, heard and in=20
stirring some sort of national dialogue about=20
these troubles, broadcast soon and in real time.
http://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/2007/01/be_more_um_aggressive.html
CELL-PHONE VIDEOS TRANSFORMING TV NEWS
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: David Bauder]
Michael Richards in a West Hollywood comedy club=20
and the authorities in Iraq who executed Saddam=20
Hussein painfully learned that the prying eyes of=20
television news can belong to anyone who carries=20
a cell phone. Saddam's execution and Richards'=20
flameout illustrate the growing power of=20
cell-phone video as a news tool, not only to=20
supplement stories but to change them. "It=20
brought to a fore the sense that wow, this is a=20
ubiquitous technology," said Mark Lukasiewicz,=20
NBC News vice president for digital media.=20
"Cameras are now in places where cameras never=20
used to be. That's transformational."
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TV_PHONE_VIDEOS?SITE=3DTXBRY&SECT...
=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
MUSIC FANS: DISMANTLE DRM
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Catherine Holahan]
When it comes to legal action over downloaded=20
music, the defendants are often individuals: The=20
lone user downloads one too many copyrighted=20
files and Big Media goes on the offensive. But=20
now, the little guy is turning the tables. A=20
fresh crop of lawsuits filed on behalf of=20
individuals argue that it's the big companies=20
that are ripping off the consumer. Melanie=20
Tucker, a San Diego resident, says Apple Computer=20
unfairly restricts how its iTunes Store customers=20
can use legally purchased music. Apple uses its=20
so-called Digital Rights Management, or DRM,=20
software to prevent iTunes songs from easily=20
running on media players that compete with its=20
iPods. (The files can be converted but the=20
process is time-consuming and can be confusing.)=20
Apple's brand of DRM software, called FairPlay,=20
also prevents music purchased through services=20
other than iTunes from playing on the iPod.=20
Tucker maintains that the company, which controls=20
between 70% to more than 85% of the legal music=20
download market and perhaps a 90% share of the=20
digital music player market, is behaving like an=20
overly aggressive monopoly, stifling competition=20
in violation of antitrust legislation. A 2006=20
class action filed by Scott Ruth against music=20
industry players including Sony BMG Music=20
Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Time Warner=20
Music Group, and EMI, argues that the labels are=20
violating antitrust agreements by using DRM to=20
prevent music from being sold by a variety of=20
retailers, thereby stifling competition that=20
could keep prices down. Both Ruth and Tucker's=20
suits seek compensation for music download=20
customers as well as a change in the restrictions.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2007/tc20070105_896787...
TRIBUNE DEAL SPECULATION POINTING TO MANAGEMENT
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, AUTHOR: Michael Oneal and Becky Yerak]
As the auction for Tribune Co. winds down to its=20
Jan. 17 bid deadline, a key question emerging=20
from the situation is what role, if any, Tribune=20
Co. management will play in a possible deal for=20
the company. The question gained new currency on=20
Thursday, when two foundations with close ties to=20
the company announced they had hired New York's=20
Blackstone Group to advise them as they consider=20
alternatives for their combined 13.1 percent=20
stake in Tribune stock. Since the foundations --=20
charitable organizations set up by Robert R.=20
McCormick, the legendary editor and publisher of=20
the Chicago Tribune -- are controlled by current=20
and former Tribune Co. management, the move=20
raised speculation that they might be gearing up=20
to support some sort of management buyout of the=20
company. Sources close to the situation said the=20
special Tribune board committee in charge of the=20
process likely would frown on any management=20
effort to guide a buyout, since it could raise=20
conflict-of-interest issues. But they also said=20
there is little doubt that Tribune's top=20
managers, led by Chairman and Chief Executive=20
Dennis FitzSimons, would like to keep their jobs=20
and continue running the company. Under the right=20
circumstances, they said, management would likely=20
try to participate in a deal for the company, and=20
such a transaction could be made easier now that=20
the McCormick Tribune Foundation and the Cantigny=20
Foundation have officially signaled a more active stance.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0701060150jan06,0,4260694.sto...
coll=3Dchi-business-hed
PRIVACY
FIRST WIRETAPPING, NOW LETTER-OPENING?
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The Bush administration seems=20
determined to raise the specter of surveillance=20
over every means of communication within the=20
United States. Not content to monitor selected=20
phone calls and e-mails in secret, it recently=20
hinted that letters and packages may be opened=20
without a search warrant too. Befuddled, some=20
privacy advocates started asking why the White=20
House felt compelled to assert these surveillance=20
powers when the issue wasn't even on the table.=20
Was Bush trying to provide cover for another=20
secret monitoring program? Was he laying the=20
groundwork for a new one? Was he prodding balky=20
government agents into being more aggressive on=20
mail searches? It's hard not to be suspicious of=20
the president's position on mail privacy, given=20
the administration's record on the issue of=20
domestic surveillance. In the name of the "war on=20
terror," it has taken an unusually expansive view=20
of government power and a correspondingly=20
restrictive view of individual privacy rights. It=20
also has sought to redefine what constitutes a=20
"reasonable" search, and has often done so=20
unilaterally and in secret. The administration=20
may indeed be up to nothing new when it comes to=20
mail =97 and that's not the least bit comforting.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-ed-mail08jan08,1,44...
88.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)
FCC RULES EXPECTED ON PHONE RECORDS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
Four months after Hewlett-Packard's spying=20
scandal, the Federal Communications Commission is=20
expected within weeks to set new rules protecting=20
personal phone records from unauthorized=20
disclosure. The move follows last summer's=20
revelations that investigators for=20
Hewlett-Packard used deception to obtain the=20
phone records of board members and reporters in=20
an effort to identify the sources of news leaks=20
about company matters. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin=20
is recommending the FCC order land-line and=20
wireless phone carriers to require that customers=20
use a password to immediately obtain their=20
calling records from a representative by phone,=20
FCC officials say. Customers also could obtain=20
their records without a password by asking phone=20
companies to send the information to their home=20
addresses, or having a phone company=20
representative call them back at their home or=20
cellphone number of record. Those trying to=20
obtain their calling data online would have to=20
use a password. A majority of the FCC's five=20
commissioners support the proposal, though some=20
details could be modified before the new rules=20
are approved in the next few weeks
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070108/1b_phonerecords08.ar...
tm
MOST TEENS USE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Aline van Duyn]
More than half (55 per cent) of American children=20
aged between 12 and 17 use online social=20
networking sites such as MySpace, research by the=20
Pew Internet & American Life Project has found.=20
MySpace and Facebook and numerous smaller=20
alternatives allow people to create web pages and=20
fill them with text, pictures and video and also=20
exchange messages with others in the network.=20
Among 12- and 13-year olds, 37 per cent say they=20
have created online profiles, with 63 per cent of=20
the 14- to 17-year olds having done that, the Pew=20
study shows. Older girls are the biggest users of=20
the sites, with 70 per cent of 15- to 17-year-old=20
girls having created profiles. MySpace, which=20
turned three years old this month and is owned by=20
Rupert Murdoch=92s News Corp, is by far the biggest=20
social networking destination, reflected in its=20
global tally of more than 145m members. Of the=20
teens surveyed, 48 per cent said they visited=20
social networking websites daily or more often,=20
with 22 per cent visiting several times a day.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0edd645e-9e80-11db-ac03-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)
See --
* Social Networking Websites and Teens
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/198/report_display.asp
YOUTUBE'S LEGAL WOES
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
A Brazilian judge has ordered YouTube to find a=20
way to stop Brazilians from viewing steamy=20
footage of supermodel Daniela Cicarelli and her=20
boyfriend on the highly trafficked video-sharing=20
site, court officials said last week. YouTube,=20
the popular Web site owned by Google, was first=20
ordered in September to remove video showing=20
Cicarelli and Brazilian banker Renato Malzoni in=20
intimate scenes along a beach near the Spanish=20
city of Cadiz. But the clip still appears=20
periodically on YouTube, prompting the expanded=20
order from Sao Paulo state Supreme Court Justice=20
Enio Santarelli Zuliani on Tuesday, the court's=20
press office said Thursday. Two Brazilian sites=20
that ran the video of Cicarelli and Malzoni=20
complied with the original order, the statement=20
said. The judge said YouTube must find a way to=20
use filters so the clip stops popping up in=20
Brazil. Rubens Decousseau Tilkian, an attorney=20
representing Cicarelli's boyfriend, said YouTube=20
had not gone far enough to prevent access to the=20
clip because people keep posting it using different names for the video.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/07/AR200701...
1102.html
(requires registration)
QUICKLY
BROADCAST DISPUTE COULD LEAD TO HIGHER CABLE FEES
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
A battle is underway which, no matter how it's=20
resolved, could set a precedent affecting nearly=20
all cable subscribers. Sinclair Broadcast Group=20
over the weekend yanked 22 of its TV stations off=20
Mediacom Communications cable systems that reach=20
700,000 subscribers. If the standoff continues,=20
those cable customers could miss network TV shows=20
including American Idol, CSI and Desperate=20
Housewives while the companies squabble about how=20
much cash cable systems should pay to retransmit=20
a station's free over-the-air signals. After=20
years of getting no cash, Sinclair is asking for=20
"no more than 50 cents" per subscriber a month=20
for each station Mediacom carries on cable in a=20
market, says Sinclair general counsel Barry=20
Faber. That's about what many operators pay for=20
CNN and USA Network. "If you ask people, 'What do=20
you think they pay more for: your Fox station or=20
Animal Planet?' =97 I've never heard anybody say=20
Animal Planet," Faber says. But Mediacom says=20
that Sinclair is playing economic hardball to set=20
benchmarks for station compensation that, if=20
applied throughout the cable industry, could=20
raise cable prices by up to $6 billion a year.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070108/1b_blackout08.art.htm
NTIA: EXPECT A DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTOR BOX COUPON PROGRAM RFP
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The Department of Commerce/National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration=20
(NTIA) intends to issue a Request for Proposals=20
(RFP) to provide services in support of the=20
Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program=20
authorized by section 3005 of the Deficit=20
Reduction Act of 2005. The Coupon Program=20
provides for distribution and redemption of=20
coupons that consumers may apply toward the=20
purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes.=20
The converter boxes will enable consumers to=20
watch over-the-air television broadcasts on=20
analog televisions once television stations cease=20
analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, as=20
required by law. The services required cover=20
three broad functional areas: (1) consumer=20
education and communications, (2) systems=20
processing (e.g., determine consumer eligibility,=20
coupon distribution and activation, and certify=20
retailers and provide training materials), and=20
(3) financial processing (e.g., administer the=20
coupon authorization for redemption, and retailer=20
payment process, and perform independent=20
auditing). NTIA plans to award a single contract=20
for an end-to-end solution and execution of the=20
Coupon Program that encompasses all three=20
functional areas. The Coupon Program=20
components require expertise across a variety of=20
fields. NTIA encourages potential Offerors to=20
include expertise from small businesses as well=20
as large businesses to provide the best mix of=20
resources to enable NTIA to execute the Coupon=20
Program efficiently and effectively. NTIA expects=20
to issue an RFP on or about January 26, 2007. If=20
circumstances permit, a draft RFP will be issued=20
prior to that time. NTIA expects to host a=20
Bidder's Conference after RFP=20
release. Details will be provided on NTIA=20
website as they are finalized. NTIA anticipates=20
an approximate 27-month contract performance=20
period with several major milestones mandated by=20
law. For further information, call Diane Trice at=20
(301) 713-0838 ext 102, email diane.trice( at )noaa.gov.
http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/AGAMD/Reference-Number-PR-NTIA470-7-0296...
SynopsisP.html
SAN FRANCISCO, EARTHLINK HAVE TENTATIVE WI-FI DEAL
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Eric Auchard]
The City of San Francisco and EarthLink said on=20
Friday they had reached a tentative deal to offer=20
free wireless Internet access, promising to make=20
it the first major U.S. city to deliver municipal=20
Wi-Fi services citywide. Internet access provider=20
EarthLink Inc. is working with partners including=20
Google Inc. to develop a free wireless Internet=20
program throughout the hilly city of 777,000=20
residents under a preliminary agreement announced=20
last April. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said=20
the agreement reached on Friday between the city=20
and EarthLink will provide wireless Internet=20
access at no cost to taxpayers and extend to=20
cover neighborhoods throughout San Francisco over time.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2007-01-06T031708Z_01_N05306761_RTRUKOC_0_US-WIRELESS-SANFRANCISCO.xml&W=
TmodLoc=3DInternetNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-4
SATELLITE TELEVISION IN A PORTABLE BOX
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Lorne Manly]
At the Consumer Electronics Show today in Las=20
Vegas, DirecTV will unveil the Sat-Go, a mobile=20
satellite and television system weighing about 25=20
pounds that will sell for $1,000 to $1,300.=20
DirecTV hopes that the Sat-Go will help=20
differentiate the company from its=20
cable-television competition and attract a=20
different type of customer when the product goes=20
on sale this spring. DirecTV will be selling=20
Sat-Go in places it has never been before, like=20
Cabela=92s, the hunting, fishing and camping store,=20
and advertising in unfamiliar publications, like=20
RV magazine. Although the modest first-run of=20
production (about 10,000) makes Sat-Go an=20
expensive toy, that price should come down, and=20
the monthly subscription fee of $4.99 is the same as adding a box.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/08/technology/08satellite.html
(requires registration)
CURRIKI OFFERS NEW WORLD OF COURSE CONTENT
[SOURCE: eSchool News, AUTHOR: Corey Murray]
A new online community has emerged that promises=20
to give educators around the world an opportunity=20
to collaborate and share curricula in hopes of=20
expanding the educational options available to=20
schools. Called Curriki, the resource pairs the=20
benefits of social networking with the freedom of=20
open technologies to create an organic,=20
constantly evolving online repository of free=20
resources for teachers and students.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=3D6787
FCC RELEASES 9 ORDERS ADDRESSING PETITIONS FOR=20
WAIVER OF THE WIRELESS E911 LOCATION-CAPABLE HANDSET PENETRATION DEADLINE
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
* CTIA and Rural Cellular Association
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-59A1.doc
* Verizon
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-60A1.doc
* Leap Wireless & Qwest
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-61A1.doc
* Alltel
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-64A1.doc
* Centennial Communications
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-65A1.doc
* US Cellular
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-66A1.doc
* Dobson
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-171A1.doc
* Sprint Nextel
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-183A1.doc
* Nextel Partners
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-184A1.doc
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------