For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Millions Said to Be Lacking Phone Service of Any Kind
Delivering News Of the Storm That Stopped The Presses
PBS Seeks Federal Funds for Katrina-Hit Public TV Stations
BROADCASTING
United Church of Christ Challenges Spanish-language TV Licences
NAB Launches Campaign to Win Multicasting in DTV Bill
INTERNET/BROADBAND
When Brotherly Love Goes Wireless
States Expanding Push for Internet Taxes
QUICKLY -- Alternative Papers Consider Merger; Australia Considers Media=20
Ownership Rules; SBC May Use the AT&T Name; MCI Sets Oct. 6 Vote On Bid=20
From Verizon; Can't Kill P2P; Tech helps special-needs kids pass key=20
tests; Wireless raises security concern; In Eastern Europe, A Gumshoe=20
Chases Internet Villains
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
MILLIONS SAID TO BE LACKING PHONE SERVICE OF ANY KIND
Efforts to get food, water and electricity to the hundreds of thousands of=
=20
survivors of Hurricane Katrina have been hampered by a lack of an essential=
=20
tool: the ability of aid groups, citizens and even the phone companies to=
=20
communicate with one another. Landline and wireless phone service across=20
the Gulf Coast from New Orleans eastward has been largely cut off, and=20
restoring it will take weeks, if not months. As many as 750,000 BellSouth=
=20
landline customers and millions of cellphone customers are thought to be=20
without service across Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, though precise=
=20
figures are hard to come by because phone companies have been unable to get=
=20
to all their equipment to assess the damage. CommDaily reports that=20
BellSouth said preliminary reports show some 1.75 million customers lost=20
landline phone service to Hurricane Katrina. Of those, about 750,000 are in=
=20
New Orleans and other coastal cities in Louisiana and Mississippi The rest=
=20
are inland in those states, Alabama and Florida. A spokesman said BellSouth=
=20
had roughly 220 switches and 1,800 remote network terminals in La. and=20
Miss. using backup power, with the main immediate job being to keep=20
generators fueled and batteries charged.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Ken Belson]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/business/01tele.html
(requires registration)
* Power Outages Hamstring Most Emergency Communications
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112553304837128550,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_page_one
* Hard to Get Word Out After Hurricane
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/31/AR200508...
2656.html
DELIVERING NEWS OF THE STORM THAT STOPPED THE PRESSES
Among the many cruelties delivered by Hurricane Katrina, there was this:=20
The people most in need of information about the storm were the least=20
likely to be able to see, hear or read about it. With electricity wiped out=
=20
in the affected areas, receiving local broadcast or cable TV signals was=20
nearly impossible. Only New Orleans radio station WWL-AM reportedly stayed=
=20
on the air. Printing a newspaper in New Orleans was a cosmic absurdity:=20
Even if the Times-Picayune, New Orleans's largest daily, hadn't had its=20
presses disabled by rising floodwaters, delivering a printed paper would=20
have been an act of madness, given the state of roads and bridges in the=20
paper's circulation area.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Paul Farhi and Teresa Wiltz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/31/AR200508...
2682.html
(requires registration)
* TV Networks Navigate Floodwaters To Get on Air
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/31/AR200508...
2692.html
PBS SEEKS FEDERAL FUNDS FOR KATRINA-HIT PUBLIC TV STATIONS
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Department of Commerce are=
=20
working on plans to provide additional funding for public broadcasters=20
damaged by Hurricane Katrina. PBS has not been able to make contact with=20
the eight public TV stations in Louisiana, but given the location of the=20
New Orleans station, it is feared to have suffered extensive flooding=20
damage. The public radio station in New Orleans is also off the=20
air. Mississippi and Alabama public TV stations are running on generators=
=20
and have concerns about maintaining service because of the fuel situation=
=20
in the area. Meanwhile, the FCC Media Bureau is providing relief to cable=
=20
operators and TV and radio broadcasters affected by the hurricane. The FCC=
=20
released two public notices (links below) that will mean additional,=20
expedited assistance to get systems and stations back on the air, the FCC=
=20
said. For TV and radio stations, the FCC will: 1) Promptly handle special=
=20
temporary authority (STA) requests; 2) Let FM and TV stations erect=20
temporary antennas without prior FCC authority, and let AM stations use=20
emergency antenna; 3) Let AM stations use their full daytime facilities=20
during nighttime hours to broadcast emergency information; 4) Waive rules=
=20
on notification of discontinued operations and accept notifications within=
=20
30 days and requests to remain silent within 60 days of the discontinued=20
operation; and 5) Give, on request, permittees of broadcast stations=20
located in a federal disaster area an extra 90 days to complete constructio=
n.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Dinesh Kumar, Jonathan Make, Tania=
=20
Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
* Procedures to Provide for Emergency Communications in Areas Impacted by=
=20
Hurricane Katrina
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260820A1.doc
* Relief for Cable Operators and Broadcast Stations
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260810A1.doc
* FCC Aids Katrina-Damaged Media
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6253052?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* CPB Helps Hurting Noncoms
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6253144?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
BROADCASTING
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CHALLENGES SPANISH-LANGUAGE TV LICENSES
Standing up for the educational needs of Hispanic children, the Office of=
=20
Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc. (OC, Inc.) today asked=
=20
the Federal Communications Commission to deny the license renewal=20
application of a Spanish-language television broadcaster in the Cleveland,=
=20
Ohio, area, for failure to comply with children's educational programming=
=20
standards. The UCC's action against Univision Cleveland, Inc. (WQHS-TV)=20
represents the first time that a Spanish-speaking station's license renewal=
=20
has been challenged for failure to comply with the Children's Television=20
Act of 1990 and the children's educational guidelines, adopted by the FCC=
=20
in 1996, that require local stations to air at least three hours per week=
=20
of specifically educational programming. At issue is the station's airing=
=20
of "Complices al Rescate," a telenovel that "fails miserably" to satisfy=20
the FCC's children's educational programming guidelines, according to=20
Gloria Tristani, managing director of the UCC's OC, Inc., and a former FCC=
=20
Commissioner. Univision, the fifth largest U.S. broadcast network in any=20
language, is the leading Spanish-language media company in the United=20
States, reaching 98% of this country's Spanish-speaking population. Almost=
=20
all of the Univision Network broadcasters relied on "Complices al Rescate"=
=20
as their only children's educational program.
[SOURCE: United Church of Christ Press Release]
http://www.ucc.org/ocinc/news/083105.htm
* UCC Challenges Two More TV Licenses
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6252896?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
NAB LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO WIN MULTICASTING IN DTV BILL
Focused "like a laser" on winning mandated carriage of multiple digital TV=
=20
signals on cable systems, the National Association of Broadcasters is=20
flying in 91 broadcasters to meet Sept. 8 with House and Senate Commerce=20
Committee members who will be considering digital television transition=20
legislation in the coming weeks. The group also plans a 2-page ad to run in=
=20
Capitol Hill publications slamming cable =93monopolies,=94 which NAB says w=
on't=20
run broadcasters=92 programming unless forced by Congress. NAB is =93puttin=
g on=20
the table=94 plans for more public interest obligations in exchange for=20
multicast carriage. The NAB released a new study showing that 85% of TV=20
stations intend to create new local programming if Congress mandates=20
multicast carriage, but 80% won't pursue such programming without a=20
congressional mandate."NAB's tired rhetoric doesn't disguise the fact that=
=20
broadcasters are asking the government for another handout that the FCC has=
=20
already twice rejected, would harm diversity in programming and would do=20
nothing to speed the digital TV transition,=94 an NCTA spokesman said. Cabl=
e=20
has said it will carry broadcasters=92 programming without congressional=20
mandate, but broadcasters said cable views multicast as a competitive=20
threat. Key allies for broadcasters in Congress are Sens. Hutchison (R-TX)=
=20
and Snowe (R-ME).
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Anne Veigle]
(Not available online)
* NAB URGES PASSAGE OF PRO-CONSUMER MULTICAST DTV MANDATE
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/pressrel/Releases/083105_DTVNewsConference.htm
* NAB Launches Multicast Assault
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6253087.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* Broadcasters Mass for DTV Carriage Push
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6253000?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
INTERNET/BROADBAND
WHEN BROTHERLY LOVE GOES WIRELESS
[Commentary] Instead of investing in building citywide wireless Internet=20
capacity in Philadelphia and other cities, Verizon lobbied hard to quash=20
public-sector competition. And close to midnight one evening last November,=
=20
lawmakers in Harrisburg quickly passed House Bill 30, whose fine print=20
barred any "political subdivision" (government or nonprofit set up by the=
=20
government) from providing a public telecom service for a fee. After an=20
outcry, Philadelphia got a waiver, but Verizon is the one that sounds like=
=20
a political subdivision. For the cost of its lobbyists, it should have just=
=20
installed the citywide system and held off competition. Clearly Verizon is=
=20
hiding something: But what? It turns out cities get to sort of cheat, cite=
=20
eminent domain, and place a lot of gear on their own light poles and radio=
=20
towers. No startup gets that deal. And new mesh technologies mean=20
Philadelphia can plug into the Internet just once, paying wholesale rates,=
=20
unlike the folks who run Starbucks or hotel hotspots, who overpay (probably=
=20
to Verizon) for the Internet connection their Wi-Fi users share. But the=20
real whopper is that by the third year, Philadelphia will be saving $2=20
million a year on its $150 million IT budget by not having to pay Verizon=
=20
for Internet access at its 24,000-employee city offices. By rigging the=20
city with wireless hotspots under the guise of helping the disadvantaged,=
=20
Philadelphia may completely bypass Verizon. A T1 line from Verizon, which=
=20
carries 1.5 megabits of data per second, runs anywhere from $400 to $1,300=
=20
a month. With Municipal Wi-Fi (Mu-Fi), that could drop to $300, heck, maybe=
=20
even $20 a month. Consumers (read voters) are happy and small businesses=20
will save tons of money. No wonder phone companies are circling the wagons.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Andy Kessler]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112554143253428743,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_opinion
(requires subscription)
STATES EXPANDING PUSH FOR INTERNET TAXES
Come this fall, 13 states will start encouraging - though not demanding -=
=20
that online businesses collect sales taxes just as Main Street stores are=
=20
required to do, and more states are considering joining the effort. Right=
=20
now, buyers are expected to pay sales taxes on Internet purchases=20
themselves directly to the state when they pay their income taxes. But it's=
=20
not widely enforced, and states say it costs them upwards of $15 billion a=
=20
year in lost revenues, collectively. Organizers of the states' effort,=20
known as the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, sought to unify tax rules and=
=20
definitions among the states. They hope to persuade federal lawmakers to=20
pass a new law to overcome a Supreme Court ruling and allow states to take=
=20
the next step - demanding online companies levy the taxes.
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Robert Tanner]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/12528274.htm
Also see --=20
http://www.streamlinedsalestax.org/http://www.streamlinedsalestax.org/
QUICKLY
A MERGER PROPOSAL EMERGES
New York=96based Village Voice Media, which owns six urban newspapers=20
including Seattle Weekly, and New Times Newspapers of Phoenix, which owns=
=20
another 11, got slapped down by the U.S. Justice Department for colluding=
=20
to create monopolies in Los Angeles and Cleveland. Now, according to the=20
San Francisco Bay Guardian, a locally owned weekly that competes with New=
=20
Times, the companies plan even closer collaboration, merging into a=20
17-paper chain serving many of the biggest media markets in the country.=20
Besides Seattle Weekly, Village Voice Media owns New York's Village Voice,=
=20
LA Weekly, OC Weekly in Orange County, Calif., City Pages in Minneapolis,=
=20
and Nashville Scene. New Times owns SF Weekly, East Bay Express, Cleveland=
=20
Scene, Phoenix New Times, Westword in Denver, Miami New Times, New Times=20
Broward-Palm Beach in Florida, the Dallas Observer, the Houston Press,=20
Riverfront Times in St. Louis, and The Pitch in Kansas City.
[SOURCE: Seattle Weekly, AUTHOR: Roger Downey and Chuck Taylor]
http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0535/050831_news_altweeklies.php
MEDIA GIANTS MAY JOIN FORCES
Australian Communications Minister Helen Coonan outlined that government's=
=20
long-awaited plans for a major revamp of cross-media and foreign ownership=
=20
laws now that it has control of the country's senate. Under the plans, a=20
single media company could own a TV station, two radio stations and a=20
newspaper in the one market. Foreign media players could also snare=20
Australian TV networks and newspapers, subject to government approval.
[SOURCE: News.com.au, AUTHOR: Belinda Tasker]
http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,16449221-31037,00.html
SBC MAY USE THE AT&T NAME AS IT LOOKS FOR NATIONAL PROFILE
SBC Communications, which has been debating what to do with the AT&T name=
=20
after its acquisition of the long-distance company is approved, is now=20
leaning toward calling itself by the name of its former parent. AT&T,=20
whose roots as American Telephone & Telegraph Co. go back before 1900,=20
remains a name that's known world-wide. Yet the name has some issues: It's=
=20
known among older customers who grew up hearing about Ma Bell. And it comes=
=20
with the baggage of being considered a business failure, at least in some=
=20
circles. For much of the 20th century, AT&T's monopoly over phone service=
=20
in the U.S. was so complete that it put little emphasis on branding or=20
marketing, which only became critical after the federal government broke up=
=20
its monopoly in 1984. At that point, the regional companies, which were=20
formed from groups of Bell companies that provided local phone service,=20
took on their own identities. SBC is aspiring to become a national and even=
=20
international telecommunications provider. Its main competitor will be=20
Verizon Communications Inc., another company formed in the 1984 AT&T=20
breakup that recently acquired long-distance carrier MCI Inc.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Dionne Searcey dionne.searcey( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112552935412328422,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_page_one
(requires subscription)
MCI SETS OCT 6 VOTE ON BID FROM VERIZON
MCI shareholders plan to vote Oct. 6 on Verizon Communications Inc.'s $8.4=
=20
billion offer to buy the telephone company. Shareholder approval of the=20
deal is likely, though some investors say MCI should have accepted Qwest=20
Communications International Inc.'s $9.7 billion bid. MCI's board chose=20
Verizon's lower offer after a bidding war, because it said the larger,=20
wealthier company would be a better partner than Denver-based Qwest.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112552065975028214,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_marketplace
(requires subscription)
CAN'T KILL P2P
[Commentary] People want to get their music online, and currently P2P is=20
the best way to get it -- not because it's free, but because it's there.
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Annalee Newitz]
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/24748/
TECH HELPS SPECIAL-NEEDS KIDS PASS KEY TESTS
Whether, how, and how much educators should deploy technology to help=20
special-needs students on high-stakes tests are complex issues in the era=
=20
of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). As mandated by the federal law,=20
teachers and administrators around the nation must strive to make sure=20
special-needs kids meet the same high standards as their peers. That=20
struggle was underscored in July, when the U.S. General Accounting Office=
=20
(GAO) released a report highlighting the difficulties inherent in giving=20
achievement tests to special-needs learners. To achieve NCLB's goal of=20
testing every child, regardless of need, researchers concluded the=20
Education Department must do a better job of providing guidance for=20
alternative forms of testing.
[SOURCE: eSchoolNews, AUTHOR: Corey Murray]
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=3D5859
WIRELESS RAISES SECURITY CONCERN
Lost laptops on college campuses can give thieves access to information=20
such as Social Security numbers, credit-card numbers, or passwords. Young=
=20
students or college employees may not be savvy about protecting such data.=
=20
Beyond identity thieves, colleges and universities are also threatened by=
=20
hackers who can turn school computers into "zombies" to send out spam=20
e-mails or target Web servers with denial-of-service attacks.
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Gregory Lamb]
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0901/p12s02-legn.html
IN EASTERN EUROPE, A GUMSHOE CHASES INTERNET VILLAINS
Peter Fifka is one of Microsoft's high-tech gumshoes, part of the software=
=20
giant's intensifying efforts to combat cyber crime at a time when consumers=
=20
and businesses are becoming increasingly frustrated with fraud and virus=20
attacks.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Cassell Bryan-Low=20
cassell.bryan-low( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112554423119628807,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_page_one
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=
=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=
=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------