BROADCASTING
Lawmakers back keeping 2009 digital TV date
The FCC and Armstrong Williams' Continuing Legacy
Supreme Court Urged to Lift Political Ad Restrictions
Nexstar: Retrans Consent Key to 2007 Revenue
INTERNET/BROADBAND
'Net Neutrality' Strikes Chord With Coalition Of Musicians
Surprise: Study Finds Online Users Finish More Stories Than Print Readers
Web fuels 'democratization' of knowledge
A Radio Station Just for You
Searching for Ads Offline
Packet Politics
CHILDREN & MEDIA
Children's TV ads loaded with junk food
Child Wants Cellphone; Reception Is Mixed
Amp'd Mobile faces $100,000 FCC fine
OWNERSHIP
Tribune Co. Board Pressured to Accept Zell's Bid
SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
Study Finds FCC Spectrum Auctions Anti-Competitive
"Family friendly" Internet proposal challenges status quo on FCC auctions
Dauman: Wireless Industry =91Respects=92 Copyrights
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Communication in the Face of Terror
QUICKLY -- Freedom of information? Uncle Sam, get=20
it right!; The Scent of Scandal Makes Gonzales=20
the Big Story; Congressional Internet Caucus:=20
It=92s For Sale!; Income Gap Is Widening
BROADCASTING
LAWMAKERS BACK KEEPING 2009 DIGITAL TV DATE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Rachelle Younglai]
The switch to digital television from analog=20
should not be delayed because it is critical that=20
emergency services have access to freed-up=20
airwaves to communicate, members of the House=20
Telecommunications Subcommittee said at a hearing=20
on Wednesday. U.S. television stations are=20
required to switch to airing only digital=20
broadcasts by February 17, 2009, and that will=20
free up 108 megahertz of analog airwaves. Out of=20
that chunk, 24 MHz is being set aside for public=20
safety so that emergency workers can better=20
communicate with each other, a significant=20
problem during 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.=20
Lawmakers raised concerns over the progress and=20
logistics of the transition -- a move that will affect tens of millions.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2835021920070328
* Politicians squabble over digital-TV funds
http://news.com.com/Politicians+squabble+over+digital+TV+funds/2100-1028...
6171346.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert
* Statement of Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell:
As we prepare for February 2009, we should not=20
forget that we are asking ordinary people to pay=20
for a Government decision that essentially makes=20
their television sets obsolete. For that reason,=20
we should ensure that this transition is as=20
painless as possible for American consumers.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110st30.shtml
* Upton Predicts Converter Subsidy Is Sufficient
By the time of the transition to DTV in February=20
2009, only a little more than 20 million sets=20
will need analog-to-digital converter boxes,=20
predicted Rep Fred Upton (R-MI). And, if that=20
projection is correct, the Republican-backed plan=20
to provide up to $1.5 billion toward the boxes,=20
which would cover 33.5 million sets, will be=20
enough money to cover everyone who needs them.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6428657?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
* Yager Details DTV Education Plan to House
National Association of Broadcasters board member=20
and Barrington Broadcasting CEO Jim Yager spelled=20
out the NAB-MSTV joint efforts to educate the=20
public on the industry=92s transition to digital=20
television broadcasting in 2009.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/03/28/daily.4/
* Jim Yager Speaks Before the House Telecom Subcommittee
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6428679?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
* Britt Unsure About Local HDTV for Basic-Only Subs
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt said Wednesday=20
that his company hadn't established policy for=20
making HD local TV signals available to customers=20
who buy just the introductory basic-programming=20
tier. =93We have not addressed yet somebody who=20
buys basic only and might want HD. My guess is=20
that there aren't very many of those people,=94=20
Britt said in testimony at a House Subcommittee=20
on Telecommunications and the Internet hearing on=20
cable=92s role in the national shutdown of analog=20
TV signals on Feb. 17, 2009. Presumably, Britt=92s=20
point was that a subscriber who had spent=20
hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on an HD=20
set was unlikely to be among the small percentage=20
of customers who don't buy multiple programming tiers.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6428870.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* Best Buy Won't Commit To Labels or Carriage of Converters
Best Buy admitted that the company does not have=20
any warning labels on it's analog-only sets to=20
inform potential buyers that the sets will not=20
work without a converter box after the DTV=20
transition in 2009. A company executive would not=20
commit to stocking stores with analog-to-digital=20
converter boxes. Commerce Committee Chairman John=20
Dingell (D-MI) asked whether there should be=20
concern that retailers would be discouraging=20
people from getting the converters so that they=20
would, instead, buy more expensive DTV sets. Best Buy said no.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6428721?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
* Fuzzy Pictures
[Commentary] House Telecommunications & Internet=20
Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) says the=20
DTV transition picture is still fuzzy; B&C reporter John Eggerton agrees.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/blog/1380000138/post/1350007935.html?nid=
=3D2960
THE FCC AND ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS' CONTINUING LEGACY
[SOURCE: PR Watch, AUTHOR: Diane Farsetta]
[Commentary] On March 14, House Commerce=20
Committee Chairman John Dingell asked FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin about the status of the=20
agency's ongoing Armstrong Williams=20
investigation. Williams is a conservative=20
commentator who was retained by the U.S.=20
Education Department, as a subcontractor of the=20
public relations firm Ketchum, to promote the No=20
Child Left Behind Act. Williams' $240,000=20
government contract and his failure to disclose=20
it, first reported on by USA Today's Greg Toppo=20
in January 2005, spurred public outrage and calls=20
for accountability. To date, two government=20
reports on Williams have been released -- both=20
late on a Friday, presumably to limit media=20
coverage of them. In May 2005, the Education=20
Department's Office of Inspector General stated=20
that it had "found no evidence of any ethical=20
violations," though it admitted there were "poor=20
management decisions," and "poor judgment and=20
oversight." In September 2005, the Government=20
Accountability Office issued a harsher=20
assessment, finding that aspects of the Education=20
Department's contract with Ketchum violated=20
federal law. "The Department violated the=20
publicity or propaganda prohibition when it=20
issued task orders to Ketchum directing it to=20
arrange for Mr. Williams to regularly comment on=20
the NCLB Act without requiring Ketchum to ensure=20
that Mr. Williams disclosed to his audiences his=20
relationship with the Department," concluded the=20
GAO. Meanwhile, the FCC's investigation into the=20
Williams affair remains open. However, Rep.=20
Dingell's recent questioning of FCC Chair Martin=20
did reveal new information, as well as establish=20
a mandate for yet another report, on the status=20
of the agency's ongoing investigation.
http://www.prwatch.org/node/5902
SUPREME COURT URGED TO LIFT POLITICAL AD RESTRICTIONS
[SOURCE: CNSNews.com, AUTHOR: Randy Hall]
With an eye on the 2008 elections, a number of=20
groups from across the political spectrum are=20
asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ban=20
on organizations airing issue advertisements on=20
TV or radio 30 days before a primary and 60 days=20
before a general election. "The work of the=20
government does not cease in the days leading up=20
to an election, and those who seek to comment on=20
key political and cultural issues should not be=20
silenced during that period," Jay Sekulow, chief=20
counsel of the conservative American Center for=20
Law and Justice (ACLJ), said in a news release.=20
Moreover, he said, "citizens enjoy a fundamental=20
right to petition for a redress of grievances. To=20
prohibit the use of genuine issue advertisements=20
by grassroots lobbying organizations is not only=20
wrong, but it also violates that sound=20
constitutional principle." "The Supreme Court has=20
an important opportunity to end this censorship=20
and should do so without hesitation," he added.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=3D/Politics/archive/200703/...
20070327a.html
NEXSTAR: RETRANS CONSENT KEY TO 2007 REVENUE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Michael Malone]
On the heels of recent retransmission consent=20
victories, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook vowed to be=20
=93right back at the trough=94 in the coming months.=20
Speaking at the Bank of America Media,=20
Telecommunications and Entertainment Conference,=20
Sook pointed out Nexstar=92s $13.7 million in=20
retrans cash in 2006 and $49 million over the=20
last five years, and predicted a bigger windfall:=20
=93That=92s without the telephone companies=20
delivering TV service,=94 he said. =93They=92re just starting to talk to us=
.=94
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6428820?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
INTERNET/BROADBAND
'NET NEUTRALITY' STRIKES CORD WITH COALITION OF MUSICIANS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Michael Martinez]
A coalition of musicians announced a campaign=20
that they hope will rock the nationwide debate=20
over the future of high-speed Internet networks.=20
The "Rock The Net" campaign is being backed by=20
musicians who want Congress to mandate network=20
neutrality, or the principle that broadband=20
network operators should treat all traffic=20
equally. The coalition includes several=20
high-profile artists from varying musical genres,=20
including R.E.M. and OK Go, the band that=20
recently took home the "most creative" trophy in=20
the inaugural awards by the YouTube video-sharing=20
site. Rock The Net is being organized by the=20
Future of Music Coalition, Noise Pop and=20
Zeitgeist Artist Management, and funded by the=20
Proteus Fund's Media Democracy Fund. A series of=20
concerts throughout the country will be held by=20
participating artists to raise awareness on the=20
issue. Media Access Project President Andrew=20
Schwartzman said that for musicians, network=20
neutrality is just as much about uploading=20
content as it is downloading. He said artists=20
should be able to upload without facing higher=20
prices for certain content so they can take=20
advantage of social media and distribute their=20
works. "It really involves people's right to=20
speak as much as it involves their ability to receive information," he said.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-MVLT1175104332892.html
* Music Stars Back "Rock the Net" Campaign
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6428643?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
* Musicians campaign for free Internet (Associated Press)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17821093/
SURPRISE: STUDY FINDS ONLINE USERS FINISH MORE STORIES THAN PRINT READERS
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher, AUTHOR: Joe Strupp]
In a surprise finding, online readers finish news=20
stories more often than those who read in print,=20
according to the Poynter Institute=92s Eyetrack=20
study released Wednesday at the American Society=20
of Newspaper Editors conference here. When=20
readers chose to read an online story, they=20
usually read an average of 77% of the story,=20
compared to 62% in broadsheets and 57% in=20
tabloids. The research also found that 75% of=20
print readers are methodical in their reading,=20
which means they start reading a page at a=20
particular story and work their way through each=20
story. Just 25% of print readers are scanners,=20
who scan the entire page first, then choose a=20
story to read. Online, however, about half of=20
readers are methodical, while the other half=20
scan, the report found. The survey also revealed=20
that large headlines and fewer, large photos=20
attracted more eyes than smaller images in print.=20
But online, readers were drawn more to navigation bars and teasers.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003563988
WEB FUELS 'DEMOCRATIZATION' OF KNOWLEDGE
[SOURCE: eSchool News]
Getting into college might be tougher today than=20
it used to be--but an increasing number of top=20
schools are now offering courses free of charge=20
online. What's more, some program administrators=20
report giving away course content actually is=20
having a positive impact on student recruitment.=20
The moves--which differ from the=20
distance-education courses that many schools=20
offer for credit and charge for--come as colleges=20
and universities say they want to democratize=20
education, making the best resources available to=20
more people. But the schools also hope such=20
efforts lead to more interest from potential=20
applicants and inspire alumni in far-flung locales to make a donation.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=3D6958
A RADIO STATION JUST FOR YOU
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Wilson Rothman]
For all the talk about satellite radio, the most=20
vibrant frontier in radio may be the Web. Many=20
traditional AM and FM stations have begun=20
streaming on the Internet, along with hundreds of=20
smaller online-only operators. Even subscription=20
download services like Napster, Rhapsody and Urge=20
from MTV have preprogrammed radio for users who=20
are not in the mood to hunt for tracks.=20
Currently, the most compelling online radio is=20
interactive. Services like Pandora, Last.fm and=20
Slacker evaluate your musical tastes, then serve=20
up a continuous stream of programming to match.=20
They mix familiar songs with new material you=20
might like. They all do it by harnessing the=20
technological forces of social networking, data=20
mining and music analysis, though each uses a=20
slightly different technique. With so much=20
momentum, there are still plenty of bumps. The=20
Copyright Royalty Board of the Library of=20
Congress recently announced a Web-radio royalty=20
payment plan that has caused many free Internet=20
broadcasters to fear for their fragile business=20
models. Some new interactive music services=20
choose not to stream anything. Instead, they rely=20
strictly on music the listener already owns or=20
new tracks donated by publicity-hungry=20
independent artists and labels. Others are=20
becoming as creative with the way they license=20
content as they are with the way they personalize it for you.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/technology/29basics.html
(requires registration)
SEARCHING FOR ADS OFFLINE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Miguel Helft]
If there was any doubt about the scope of=20
Google=92s ambitions in the advertising world, one=20
of its recent job postings should dispel them: It=20
seeks a =93head of national TV sales=94 to help build=20
=93a world-class national TV advertising sales=20
team.=94 Then there is radio. Google=92s chief=20
executive, Eric E. Schmidt, said last year that=20
the company would eventually have 1,000 employees=20
dedicated to radio advertising alone. Google may=20
one day rock the television and radio advertising=20
markets. But its TV plans have yet to take shape,=20
and its other efforts to extend its dominance=20
over online advertising into offline media like=20
newspapers and radio are inching along. The early=20
results are mixed, suggesting that Google=92s=20
successful transition from online kingpin to=20
credible player in traditional media is far from assured.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/technology/29google.html
(requires registration)
PACKET POLITICS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Daniel Henninger]
[Commentary] Computer, the Internet and changing=20
screens hundreds of times each day to access=20
different gobs of "information" has changed the=20
way our brains order the world, which is known as=20
human consciousness. This "change" is having a=20
material effect on just about everything else;=20
why not on who gets elected president next year?=20
In 1996, an eon ago, Steve G. Steinberg wrote a=20
prescient article in Wired magazine on the battle=20
between what he called Bellheads and Netheads.=20
This was essentially an argument over the network=20
design of the Web between engineers for the=20
established phone companies, the Bellheads, and=20
the anarchic engineers of the Web, Netheads. It=20
was a war between the old world of=20
circuit-switching and the new world of=20
packet-switching, the one we inhabit today.=20
Today, the Bellheads are long-form TV,=20
traditional political ads, 74-minute CDs,=20
two-hour movies -- predetermined A-to-B formats.=20
(Newspapers are in fact a collection of=20
"packets," a subject for another time.) The=20
Netheads are YouTube, shared playlists, remixed=20
videos, the idea of personal choice, and randomly=20
arriving political ads such as "Hillary 1984."=20
That Netheads are chop-shopping "The Daily Show"=20
or "The Colbert Report" is ironic, but as the=20
Yoda of old-media Walter Cronkite said, "That's=20
the way it is." Prepackaging versus packets. And so in politics.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117513310695452758.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)
CHILDREN & MEDIA
CHILDREN'S TV ADS LOADED WITH JUNK FOOD
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
In a child=92s buffet of food commercials, more=20
than 40 percent of the dishes are candy, snacks=20
and fast food. Nowhere to be found: fresh fruit,=20
vegetables, poultry or seafood. For years, health=20
officials have warned that kids were being=20
inundated with commercials about not-so-healthy=20
foods. Now, researchers have put numbers to those=20
warnings in the largest-ever study of commercials=20
aimed at children. =93The vast majority of the=20
foods that kids see advertised on television=20
today are for products that nutritionists would=20
tell us they need to be eating less of, not more=20
of, if we=92re going to get a handle on childhood=20
obesity,=94 said Vicki Rideout of the Kaiser Family=20
Foundation, which conducts health research.=20
Children ages 8-12 see the most food ads on TV =97=20
an average of 21 a day, or 7,600 a year.=20
Teenagers see slightly fewer =97 17 a day, or about=20
6,000 a year; and children ages 2-7 see the fewest =97 12 a day or 4,400 a =
year.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17831211/from/ET/
* Food for Thought: Television Food Advertising=20
to Children in the United States
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia032807pkg.cfm
* Kaiser Study: Tweens See Most Food Ads
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6428627?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
* Forced Feeding
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR200703...
0596.html
* Study Says Junk Food Still Dominates Youth TV
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/business/media/29adco.html
* No sugarcoating this: Kids besieged by food ads
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20070329/d_tvfoodads29.art.htm
* Study finds TV feeds children plenty of junk
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-foodads29mar29,1,9810...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
CHILD WANTS CELLPHONE; RECEPTION IS MIXED
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Lisa Foderado]
After securing a foothold in the teenage market,=20
cellphones are quickly emerging as the must-have=20
techno-toy among elementary-school society.=20
Companies are sating the appetite -- and=20
expanding demand -- by offering special phones=20
for children like the bright blue Firefly, which=20
features only five keys, including ones with=20
icons for speed-dialing a parent, and allows=20
users to call a maximum of 22 numbers. Industry=20
analysts say the =92tween market, defined as 8- to=20
12-year-olds, represents one of the major growth=20
opportunities for the wireless industry. Some 6.6=20
million of the 20 million American children in=20
that age range had cellphones by the end of 2006,=20
according to an analysis by the Yankee Group, a=20
technology consulting firm in Boston, which=20
projects there will be 10.5 million preteen=20
cellphone users by 2010. The number of=20
8-year-olds with phones, Yankee Group estimates,=20
more than doubled to 506,000 over the past four=20
years while the number of 9-year-olds jumped to=20
1.25 million from 501,000. Children want a=20
cellphone for reasons obvious to them. It looks=20
cool and makes them feel grown-up. It conveys a=20
certain status. And it lets them stay in=20
near-constant touch with friends and (oh, yeah)=20
parents. For parents, the decision of when, or=20
whether, to buy children cellphones --=20
paralleling the age-old debate over the=20
appropriate age for ear piercing =97 is emotionally=20
charged and value-laden, raising ticklish=20
questions about safety and status, maturity and=20
materialism. Some parents and child psychologists=20
say the need for cellphones among such young=20
children, who are rarely without adult=20
supervision, is marginal, and the gadgets serve=20
mainly as status symbols, quickly lost in a=20
tangle of toys, batteries hopelessly out of=20
juice. Others, though, say the phones are an=20
electronic security blanket for both parent and=20
child in a world of two-career households and=20
split-custody arrangements, Amber alerts and color-coded terror threat leve=
ls.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/fashion/29cell.html
(requires registration)
AMP'D MOBILE FACES $100,000 FCC FINE
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Federal Communications Commission is=20
proposing a $100,000 fine against Amp'd Mobile,=20
the wireless phone company aimed at the youth=20
market, and two other companies for failing to=20
protect consumers' personal calling records from=20
thieves. The FCC has proposed such fines against=20
at least three other U.S. companies since January=20
2006 for failing to comply with rules requiring=20
that consumer phone records be protected by=20
internal safeguards. The FCC promised=20
"aggressive, substantial steps" to crack down on=20
phone companies that fail to protect such records.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AMPD_PHONE_FINE?SITE=3DCACRU&SECT...
=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
OWNERSHIP
TRIBUNE CO BOARD PRESSURED TO ACCEPT ZELL'S BID
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens]
Two powerful forces are pushing Tribune Co.'s=20
board of directors toward Chicago billionaire Sam=20
Zell's bid for the troubled media empire: the=20
rapid and recent deterioration of the newspaper=20
advertising market and the backing of Tribune's=20
largest and most contentious shareholder group.=20
Saturday is the company's self-imposed deadline=20
for deciding what to do. The board's favored plan=20
is to accept Zell's outside offer, though it=20
could still pursue its own refinancing plan. And=20
Southern California billionaires Ronald Burkle=20
and Eli Broad could still sweeten their offer,=20
which Tribune put on the back burner last month=20
because it would give the pair control of the=20
company. In recent weeks, Zell's $8 billion bid=20
for Tribune's nine newspapers and 25 television=20
and radio stations has looked more attractive to=20
the company's board, said a source close to the=20
situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity=20
because discussions are ongoing. Zell, a real=20
estate magnate who recently sold Equity Office=20
Properties for $39 billion, is offering $33 a=20
share for Tribune, a 6 percent premium on yesterday's share price.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR200703...
2208.html
(requires registration)
* 2 Suitors for Tribune Co. Renew Their Interest
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/business/media/29paper.html
* How Zell's offer for Tribune might work
Some hints about the structure of the Zell bid=20
have surfaced in conversations with several=20
people familiar with the auction, all of whom=20
declined to be identified because the process is=20
supposed to be confidential. Those hints,=20
together with comments from finance and legal=20
experts, suggest ways that a Zell buyout could=20
work. Until Zell or Tribune supplies more=20
details, however, any picture is speculative.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-esop29mar29,1,7272533...
ory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
* Judge delays sale of Tribune's Stamford Advocate to Gannett
A federal judge says the sale can't go through=20
until the future of a union contract for newsroom=20
employees is settled. The union says Gannett=20
plans to rip up the contract between Tribune and=20
36 Advocate union members; the union filed a=20
grievance saying that any new owner is bound to honor the contract.
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/scn-injunction,0,6402629.story?coll=3Dst...
top-headlines
SPECTRUM/WIRELESS
STUDY FINDS FCC SPECTRUM AUCTIONS ANTI-COMPETITIVE
[SOURCE: WirelessIQ]
A new study filed with the Federal Communications=20
Commission (FCC) finds that the FCC's use of=20
auctions for assigning spectrum licenses could be=20
subject to anti-competitive behavior by incumbent=20
carriers. The study performed by Dr. Simon=20
Wilkie, former chief economist at the FCC and=20
current head of the University of Southern=20
California Center for Communications Law and=20
Policy, reviews past auction results and finds=20
that auctions do not work in all circumstances to=20
secure for the public the benefits of the=20
efficient use of spectrum as the law requires the=20
FCC to do. For example, in the recent AWS=20
auctions, the study found that 98% of the=20
spectrum in major metropolitan areas went to=20
incumbents, effectively shutting out any new=20
entrants. _Spectrum Auctions are not a Panacea:=20
Theory and Evidence of Anti- Competitive and Rent=20
Seeking Behavior in FCC Rulemakings and Auction=20
Design_ identified and analyzed four=20
anti-competitive tactics that incumbents use to=20
manipulate the spectrum auction process: 1)=20
Strategically warehousing spectrum in order to=20
prevent entry for potential competitors; 2)=20
Delaying the decision-making process at the FCC=20
by drawing out debates over service rules and=20
unquantifiable arguments over technical matters=20
and other means: 3) Adopting a no holds barred=20
bidding strategy to block new entrants in=20
auctions with insufficient safeguards against=20
incumbent carriers' potentially anti-competitive=20
tactics, and no caps on the overall amount of=20
spectrum that incumbents may hold; and 4) Slicing=20
new available bands for private commercial use=20
that make it more costly or impossible to build a=20
viable national competitive business plan to=20
challenge the incumbents' dominant position.
http://www.wirelessiq.com/content/topstories/1886.html
"FAMILY FRIENDLY" INTERNET PROPOSAL CHALLENGES STATUS QUO ON FCC AUCTION
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
Over the last nine months, hundreds of=20
organizations, community leaders, and politicians=20
have written to the Federal Communications=20
Commission in support of M2Z Network's proposal=20
for a free national broadband service. But while=20
the idea may stumble over FCC auction rules, it=20
has stimulated an interesting debate about the=20
agency's competitive bidding system for spectrum.=20
Menlo Park, California based M2Z petitioned the=20
FCC for their proposed "family-friendly, free,=20
nationwide wireless broadband service" in May of=20
2006. M2Z says that it wants to roll out the=20
network to 95% of the population of the United=20
States within ten years of receiving a license.=20
One of the proposals' biggest selling points is=20
its claim that the network will save the FCC's=20
Universal Service Fund billions of dollars by=20
taking on the USF's mission of bringing broadband=20
to poor and rural areas. Needless to say, the=20
smut free aspect of M2Z's proposal makes it a=20
strong sell with parents, community, and=20
indecency groups across the United States, who=20
have filed hundreds of pro-M2Z comments with the FCC.
http://www.lasarletter.net/drupal/node/384
DAUMAN: WIRELESS INDUSTRY "RESPECTS" COPYRIGHTS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Todd Spangler]
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said the media company=20
is the largest supplier of content to wireless=20
carriers -- producing more than 100 hours of=20
mobile video worldwide each month -- and praised=20
the industry for its =93respect=94 of copyright=20
protections. Mobile carriers provide Viacom with=20
a =93brand extension that respects copyrights,=94=20
Dauman said, adding, =93I=92m guessing you=92re not too=20
surprised about my feelings on that point.=94=20
Wireless, he said, =93is a distribution medium and=20
a business model that works for everyone --=20
carriers, content providers and consumers. That=20
is its genius and its point of competitive differentiation.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6428671.html?rssid=3D108
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
COMMUNICATION IN THE FACE OF TERROR
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] One of the glaring shortfalls during=20
the 9/11 attacks =97 the fumbling attempt by=20
federal agencies to communicate with one another=20
in a crisis =97 remains stuck at ground zero. Five=20
years after the government=92s law enforcement and=20
disaster agencies vowed to develop a unified=20
wireless network to put the 81,000 federal agents=20
in sync, a scathing inspector general=92s report=20
finds the plan fractured, disjointed and facing=20
=93high risk of failure.=94 The project is already 15=20
months behind schedule. But there=92s an=20
opportunity to get back on track as the deadline=20
approaches for awarding a major management=20
contract to spur progress. The crucial missing=20
ingredient has become clear =97 a believable=20
commitment from Homeland Security and Justice=20
that the nation=92s future security demands that=20
they cease going their separate ways.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/opinion/29thu2.html
(requires registration)
QUICKLY
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION? UNCLE SAM, GET IT RIGHT!
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Eric Sinrod]
[Commentary] The Freedom of Information Act=20
enables the public to obtain information from the=20
federal government to ascertain, as stated by the=20
Supreme Court, "what the government is up to."=20
After all, a government shrouded in secrecy is=20
not a government by the people and for the=20
people. But recent audit by the National Security=20
Archive paints a bleak picture of governmental=20
noncompliance with E-FOIA a decade after its=20
enactment. This situation is unacceptable. Not=20
only is it against the law as written 10 years=20
ago, it also completely goes against the goal of=20
freedom of access to government information.
http://news.com.com/Freedom+of+information+Uncle+Sam%2C+get+it+right/201...
028_3-6170879.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert
THE SCENT OF SCANDAL MAKES GONZALES THE BIG STORY
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
The fallout over the firing of the eight U.S.=20
attorneys was not only the biggest story last=20
week, March 18-23, it really amounts at this=20
point to a mega story. Filling 18% of the overall=20
newshole, it was the second-biggest story of the=20
year. The only one to receive more coverage was=20
the debate over the Iraq war, which filled 34% of=20
the newshole the week in January when President=20
Bush announced his troop =93surge=94 plan. Already=20
the level of coverage of the U.S. attorneys flap=20
has substantially exceeded that of two other=20
major Washington scandals=97the Scooter Libby trial=20
and conditions at Walter Reed Army Hospital. It=20
also was a big story across the media spectrum=20
last week, the top subject in four of the five=20
media sectors=97newspapers, network TV, cable TV,=20
and radio. And the subject attracted considerably=20
more attention than other major stories last=20
week, including the Iraq policy debate (second at=20
12%), the violence inside Iraq (third at 9%), the=20
2008 presidential race (fourth at 7%), and the Iraq war at home (fifth at 4=
%).
http://journalism.org/node/4733
CONGRESSIONAL INTERNET CAUCUS: IT'S FOR SALE!
[SOURCE: Digital Democracy, AUTHOR: Jeff Chester]
[Commentary] Who really runs the U.S.=20
Congressional Internet Caucus=ADMembers of Congress=20
or the companies and special interests with the=20
deepest checkbook? Take a look at how a=20
forthcoming Congressional Caucus meeting on=20
wireless issues is, literally, for sale. At the=20
NetCaucus website for the event, chaired by=20
Congressman Mike Honda [Chair of the=20
Congressional Internet Caucus=92 Wireless Task=20
Force] is a pitch for =93sponsorship.=94
http://www.democraticmedia.org/jcblog/?p=3D225
INCOME GAP WIDENS, DATA SHOWS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: David Cay Johnston]
Income inequality grew significantly in 2005,=20
with the top 1 percent of Americans -- those with=20
incomes that year of more than $348,000 --=20
receiving their largest share of national income=20
since 1928. The top 10 percent, roughly those=20
earning more than $100,000, also reached a level=20
of income share not seen since before the=20
Depression. While total reported income in the=20
United States increased almost 9 percent in 2005,=20
the most recent year for which such data is=20
available, average incomes for those in the=20
bottom 90 percent dipped slightly compared with=20
the year before, dropping $172, or 0.6 percent.=20
The gains went largely to the top 1 percent,=20
whose incomes rose to an average of more than=20
$1.1 million each, an increase of more than=20
$139,000, or about 14 percent. The new data also=20
shows that the top 300,000 Americans collectively=20
enjoyed almost as much income as the bottom 150=20
million Americans. Per person, the top group=20
received 440 times as much as the average person=20
in the bottom half earned, nearly doubling the gap from 1980.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/business/29tax.html
(requires registration)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------