POLITICAL DISCOURSE/TELEVISION
Instant Media Analysis Often Proves at Odds With
Public Opinion (NYT)
Agenda for Public hearing on Public Interest Obligations of
TV Broadcasters (FCC)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Assessment of
Networking and Connectivity (NTIA)
Domain Names Hoarded, Suit Says (WP)
TELEPHONY
Senate Backs Phone-Tax Repeal (WP)
Additional Spectrum for Wireless Services (FCC)
COMPETITION/MERGERS
FCC Says Local Phone Providers Can't Make Exclusive Building Deals (WSJ)
NOI on Cable Internet Access (FCC)
Study: Government Agencies Competing Against Private E-Commerce (SJM)
Vivendi-Seagram Antitrust Investigation Is Expected to
Take Four More Months (WSJ)
PRIVACY
Recent Developments in Privacy Protection for Consumers (EPIC)
PHILANTHROPY
Internet Moguls Help to Preserve Ore. Prairie (WP)
POLITICAL DISCOURSE/TELEVISION
INSTANT MEDIA ANALYSIS OFTEN PROVES AT ODDS WITH PUBLIC OPINION
Issue: Political Discourse
After watching a debate on TV, a viewer can stick around and watch
conventional wisdom solidify before their eyes. Instant polls and on-air
focus groups lead right into instant analyses by correspondents. "We were
talking about this this morning," said Hotline Editor Chuck Todd. "We're
kind of curious what the coverage would have been like if you could have
locked every reporter in a soundproof chamber, and seen what they said if
they hadn't heard the immediate polls and immediate spin on TV." Those who
study viewer and voter attitudes say the question of whether such
conclusions are shared widely by people outside the insular circles of
media and politics grows ever more doubtful. "There is increasing evidence
the American public has an ability to ignore what the pundits say," said
Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the
Press. As an example, Mr. Kohut pointed to the disparity last week between
the news media and the public in their reactions to the Boston debate. "At
least for a while, the pundits were saying Gore won," Mr. Kohut said. "But
the subsequent polling showed that he lost support, because when people
focused on the candidates, they personally liked Gore less." Kathleen Hall
Jamieson, dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University
of Pennsylvania, said she advised viewers to turn off their televisions the
moment the debate was over because everything they heard in the post-debate
chatter was meaningless to efforts to form an opinion. "It's dangerous,"
said Ms. Jamieson, who often appears on network talking-head programs as an
expert on the news media. "And the reason it's dangerous is that it
displaces information that's useful with information that's useless."
[SOURCE: New York Times (A20), AUTHOR: Peter Marks]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/13/politics/13MEDI.html)
(requires registration)
See Also:
FEWER WATCHED LAST DEBATE THAN MOST PREVIOUS ONES
The audience for the second presidential debate of the year dropped sharply
from the first one. The debate was viewed by 37.6 million people watching
commercial broadcast networks and ~2.6 million watching PBS. That audience
is the lowest of all the presidential debates save the 2nd debate between
President Clinton and former-Sen Bob Dole in 1996. The October 3, 2000
debate was watched by 46.6 million on commercial stations and 3.7 million
on PBS.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A21), AUTHOR: Bill Carter]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/13/politics/13RATI.html)
(requires registration)
AGENDA FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON PUBLIC INTEREST OBLIGATIONS OF TV BROADCASTERS
Issue: Television
As announced on October 3, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission will
hold an en banc hearing on Monday, October 16, 2000, examining the public
interest obligations of television broadcasters. The hearing will commence
at 9:00 a.m. at the Commission's headquarters, 445 12th Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. The Commission hearing will consist of three panels: (1)
serving children in a digital television world, (2) protecting children
from the effects of sexually explicit or violent programming, and (3) using
digital television to better serve local communities. A preliminary agenda,
including expected panelists, is attached. FCC Commissioners will moderate
and participate in the hearing.
The hearing is open to the public, and seating will be available on a first
come, first served basis. At the end of each panel, we will provide the
audience with an opportunity for a short question-and-answer period. All
interested persons are invited to attend. Internet users may listen to the
real-time audio feed of the hearing via the FCC's Internet Audio Broadcast
Home Page. Step-by-step instructions on how to listen to the audio
broadcast, as well as information regarding the equipment and software
needed, are available on the FCC's Current Audio/Video Events Home Page.
The URL address for this home page is http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/.
Mass Media Bureau contacts: Susanna Zwerling (202) 418-2600; Kim Matthews
(202) 418-2120; Julie Barrie (202) 418-2120.
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Public_Notices/pnmm0073.html)
DIGITAL DIVIDE/INTERNET
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: AN ASSESSMENT OF NETWORKING
AND CONNECTIVITY
Issue: Digital Divide
From Press Release: A majority of the nation's Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs) have networks that provide connectivity to the
Internet and the World Wide Web, but most students do not have ready access
to the campus networks, according to report released by Department of
Commerce. The study was conducted by the National Association for Equal
Opportunity in Higher Education under a contract provided by the Technology
Opportunities Program (TOP) of the Commerce Department's National
Telecommunications and Administration (NTIA).
The study, Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Assessment of
Networking and Connectivity, assessed the computing resources, networking
and connectivity of 80 of the 118 Historically Black Colleges and
Universities in the United States. It represents the first comprehensive
assessment of the technology needs of these post secondary institutions
that were founded prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act with the primary
objective of educating African Americans. On the lack of student
accessibility to computer networks and resources, the study said computer
networks in a majority of the colleges are concentrated in administrative
buildings rather than in classrooms and student dormitories. In addition,
less than 25 percent of the students bring their own computers to school,
compared to nearly 50 percent of non-HBCU students who own computers.
Access to the campus networks and computer ownership among students are key
to insuring networking and connectivity, the study said.
[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2000/nafeo101200.htm)
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/research/nafeo/nafeo_report.pdf)
DOMAIN NAMES HOARDED, SUIT SAYS
Issue: Internet
An Alabama businessman has filed a class-action lawsuit against Network
Solutions, alleging that the former domain name monopoly unlawfully
restrained trade when it refused to grant him 28 expired names. This
summer, Network Solutions stirred controversy when it warned customers with
delinquent payments that it would auction their domain names to recoup
losses. Critics argued that the expired names should be returned to the
public pool instead. "They have no right to hoard names that should have
been returned to the public," said Alabama lawyer Scott Powell, who filed
the suit. "It's not theirs to auction."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E05), AUTHOR: Dina ElBoghdady]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64669-2000Oct12.html)
TELEPHONY
SENATE BACKS PHONE-TAX REPEAL
Issue: Telephony
The Senate has voted to repeal a century old tax that was imposed to help
finance the Spanish-American War [signaling an end to century-old
conflict]. In eliminating the tax, Congress will lower phone bills by
forgoing over $55 billion in revenue over the next decade. Phone carriers
said they would immediately cease collecting the 3 percent federal excise
tax that now appears as a line item on all telephone bills. In 1898, when
Congress imposed the excise tax to raise funds for the war against Spain in
Cuba and the Philippines, only 1,376 U.S. households had a phone. Thus,
Congress was effectively taxing a luxury, tapping the wealthiest Americans.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E03), AUTHOR: Peter S. Goodman]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64659-2000Oct12.html)
ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM FOR WIRELESS SERVICES
Issue: Wireless
From Press Release: The Federal Communications Commission has allocated
for commercial wireless services 50 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum transferred
from Government to non-Government use pursuant to provisions of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The
spectrum is located in the 3650-3700 MHz band and can be used for both
fixed and mobile commercial wireless services. The FCC also proposed
licensing and service rules for this spectrum and seeks comment on the
possibility of being able to pair this 50 MHz of spectrum with the 50 MHz
of spectrum available in the 4940-4990 MHz band. These actions will benefit
the public by permitting and encouraging the introduction of new services,
particularly in rural areas.
Contacts: Rodney Conway (Office of Engineering and Technology) at (202)
418-2904, e-mail: rconway( at )fcc.gov or Eli Johnson (Wireless Bureau) at (202)
418-1310, e-mail: ejohnson( at )fcc.gov. ET Docket No. 98-237 WT Docket No. 00-32
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/News_Releases/2000/nret00
11.html)
COMPETITION/MERGERS
FCC SAYS LOCAL PHONE PROVIDERS CAN'T MAKE EXCLUSIVE BUILDING DEALS
Issue: Competition
Federal regulators barred local phone companies from making exclusive deals
with landlords of commercial buildings to provide phone service. The Federal
Communications Commission also decided to examine whether to extend the rule
to residential buildings. The measure is aimed at letting tenants choose
their local phone company as was mandated by the 1996 Telecommunications
Act. The decision also said rival phone and cable companies must be given
access to major areas where equipment needs to be installed. Separately, the
regulators approved freeing up some airwaves that can be used for services
including high-speed Internet in rural areas [see summary below]. John
Windhausen, president of
the Association for Local Telecommunications Services, which represents
phone companies seeking to offer competing services in commercial
buildings, was pleased with the decision. While his group wanted
residential buildings included, "we'll take what we can get," he said.
Roger Platt, a spokesman for the Real Access Alliance, which represents
landlords, also praised the
measure as "reasonable and targeted." David Bolger, a spokesman for the
U.S. Telecom Association, whose members include local phone companies with
the exclusive deals, said the group couldn't take a stance until it saw the
decision's details.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR: Jill Carroll]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB971391378490071183.htm)
See Also:
F.C.C. BACKS PHONE-SERVICE COMPETITION IN BUSINESS COMPLEXES
[SOURCE: New York Times (C5), AUTHOR: AP]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/13/business/13TELE.html)
(requires registration)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION AND CONSUMER CHOICE IN MULTIPLE TENANT
ENVIRONMENTS
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/News_Releases/2000/nrwl0038.html)
NOI ON CABLE INTERNET ACCESS
Issue: Cable/Internet
Commission Extends Comment Dates for High-speed Internet Access Over Cable
Notice of Inquiry and Seeks Comment on USTA Petition for Declaratory Ruling
Regarding Universal Service Obligations of Cable Operators.
For further information, contact: Johanna Mikes or Christopher Libertelli,
Policy and Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202)
418-1580; William Johnson, Cable Services Bureau, at (202) 418-7200; Robert
Cannon, Office of Plans and Policy, at (202) 418- 2030; or Douglas Sicker,
Office of Engineering and Technology, at (202) 418-2478. Information
regarding this proceeding is also available at the following FCC web page:
www.fcc.gov/broadband/.
For further information regarding the USTA petition, contact: Katherine
Schroder, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202)
418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0484.
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Public_Notices/2000/da002329.html)
STUDY: GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COMPETING AGAINST PRIVATE E-COMMERCE
Issue: E-Commerce
A new industry study shows that a number of federal government agencies are
launching Web sites that directly compete against private-sector companies.
These federal agency sites allow consumers to pay bills, purchase
government documents and look for jobs online. The report commissioned by
the Computer and Communications Industry Association says that some of
these sites are crossing the line into activities that should be left to
private companies. The study recommends 12 principles that could be used to
help determine whether a government agency's online activities should be
permitted. "We must never fool ourselves that the government ought to
become a competitor with the private sector," said Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who
has suggested the government impose a moratorium for the next several
months on any new e-commerce initiatives.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Heather Fleming Phillips ]
(http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/front/docs/study101300.htm)
See Also
GOVERNMENT E-VENTURES HIT AS RIVALS TO BUSINESS
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A37), AUTHOR Curt Suplee]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64608-2000Oct12.html)
VIVENDI-SEAGRAM ANTITRUST INVESTIGATION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE FOUR MORE MONTHS
Issue: Mergers
The European Commission is expected to take as many as four more months to
investigate the antitrust implications of a $34 billion merger of France's
Vivendi, Canada's Seagram and Britain's Canal Plus. That means the
hopes of a speedy approval of the deal are moot, and that may delay plans
for the combined Vivendi-Seagram's desire to explore the emerging market for
wireless distribution of music, in which the two companies would have been
in a powerful position, if the merger went through. The European regulators
are concerned about the potential of Seagram's Universal unit to clinch
exclusive deals for the distribution of movies through France's Canal Plus,
one of Europe's largest pay-TV operators. Although the companies have made
concessions to address some of these concerns, the commission appears to
have decided that they don't go far enough. Vivendi, Seagram and Canal Plus
have already promised that for a period of two years Seagram's Universal
Music will not distribute its music exclusively through Vizzavi, a
wireless-Internet portal joint venture between Vivendi, Canal Plus and
Vodafone Group PLC of Britain, the world's largest mobile network operator
by subscribers. The unexpectedly close scrutiny of the deal follows by one
week a letter to Competition Commissioner Mario Monti from the U.S. Senate
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Antitrust Mike Dewine (R-OH)
complaining that U.S. acquirer companies such as America Online Inc. and
Boeing Co. have received tougher scrutiny in the merger approval process
than have European firms such as Vivendi.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A17), AUTHOR: Philip Shishkin And Kevin J.
Delaney]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB971356122732289975.htm)
See Also:
VIVENDI OFFER ON ITS BSKYB STAKE IS REPORTED
[SOURCE: New York Times (C7), AUTHOR: John Tagliabue]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/13/business/13VIVE.html)
(requires registration)
PRIVACY
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PRIVACY PROTECTION FOR CONSUMERS
Issue: Privacy
EPIC Policy Analyst Andrew Shen testified on October 11 before the House
Commerce Committee on "Recent Developments in Privacy Protection for
Consumers". In the testimony
(http://www.epic.org/privacy/internet/shen_testimony_1000.html), EPIC
argued that the current approach of self-regulation places consumer privacy
at increasing risk and that Congress should respond to public demands for
legal protections. An archived recording
(http://com-notes.house.gov/cchear/hearings106.nsf/12b6a0781fa86e88852567e50
07558f4/77aaf2cda4eff4ab852569750046c67d?OpenDocument) of the hearing is
available.
[SOURCE: Electronic Privacy Information Center]
(http://www.epic.org/)
See Also
(http://com-notes.house.gov/cchear/hearings106.nsf/12b6a0781fa86e88852567e50
07558f4/77aaf2cda4eff4ab852569750046c67d?OpenDocument)
PHILANTHROPY
INTERNET MOGULS HELP TO PRESERVE ORE. PRAIRIE
Issue: Philanthropy
The Nature Conservancy has bought 27,000 acres of prairie for
$11.7 million. In all, the purchased area makes up 20 percent of the Zumwalt
prairie in the Northwest of Rhode Island and is home to one of the nation's
densest concentrations of nesting birds of prey. The Nature Conservancy has
known of the land for 20 years, but been unable to purchase it for
preservation. The Internet community changed that with a gift of $5 million.
The organization of late has been recruiting board members from the
high-tech industry. When the prairie land came up for sale, they turned to
Mike Burmeister-Brown, a Yahoo Inc. engineer and president of Second Nature
Software, which donates profits to the conservancy. He made a pitch to Glen
Boyd and Eli Shapira, founders of WebTrends, and the $5 million was secured.
"Part of philanthropy is not just the ability to give, but being able to
make a connection and feeling like you can make a difference," said Boyd,
whose Portland company makes software to track online traffic. The nature of
stock options makes it attractive for Internet millionaires to contribute,
Burmeister-Brown said. Turning their stock into cash means losing money to
capital gains taxes, but by making a charitable contribution, they can give
the whole amount. "A lot of these people, yeah, they're worth a lot of money
on paper," Burmeister-Brown said. "But they've had it about a year and a
half. It's foreign to them. Suddenly there's a sense of responsibility and
power, with the emphasis on the responsibility."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A20), AUTHOR: Jeff Barnard]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A428-2000Oct13.html)
--------------------------------------------------------------
...and we're outta here. Are we really ready for a subway series?