POLITICAL DISCOURSE
Fox and NBC Renege on a Debt (NYT)
In Silicon Valley, Candidates Seek a Bit More Than Money (NYT)
Four California Counties To Test Voting Via Internet (SJM)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Digital Steppingstones (TRPI)
Speech: Fulfilling the Promise (FCC)
OWNERSHIP
Radio One's Mom-and-Son Team Deliver Urban Appeal (USA)
MEDIA & SOCIETY
Independent Studios Free Of Violence Scrutiny (USA)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Napster Case: Hard Queries On Copyrights (NYT)
SECURITY/PRIVACY
U.S. Selects a New Encryption Technique (NYT)
Consumer Internet Privacy (Senate)
First Carnivore FOIA Documents (EPIC)
INTERNET
Cable & Wireless, Nortel Team Up To Offer Voice Services Over Web (WSJ)
The Future of the Interactive Television Services Marketplace (House)
Firm to Offer Asian Domain Names (WP)
POLITICAL DISCOURSE
FOX AND NBC RENEGE ON A DEBT
Issue: Television
[Op-Ed] The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission takes NBC and
Fox to task for deciding not to air the first debate between Gov Bush and
Vice President Gore tonight. Forty years ago, the televised presidential
debates were born and we saw how important television and democracy can be
for each other. In the tightest race since 1960, broadcasters are likely to
pocket $1 billion in political ads for this election using spectrum given to
them by Congress with this explicit condition: they must serve the public
interest. Is it really too much to ask, Kennard asks, that the major
networks televise three 90-minute presidential debates every four years?
NBC, for example, has preempted sports for "news" before -- remember the
white Bronco during game five of the 1994 NBA Finals? Kennard concludes: in
the future, the networks should remember that the public interest is far
more important than their financial interest.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A31), AUTHOR: FCC Chairman William Kennard]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/03/opinion/03KENN.html)
(requires registration)
See Also:
(http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/Statements/2000/stwek078.html)
IN SILICON VALLEY, CANDIDATES SEEK A BIT MORE THAN MONEY
Issue: Political Discourse
One might guess that Silicon Valley would be Gore country. He's the
candidate who has championed high-technology issues, been part of an
Administration in power during a period of unimaginable wealth grow in this
region, and young college graduates (who usually gravitate to Democrats) are
flocking here. But Gov Bush is out pacing Vice President Gore in
contributions here, by a 2-1 margin. This is the first presidential election
in which Silicon Valley, but candidates may be concentrating so much
attention on the region for something more than votes and dollars: being
identified as a candidate of the future and being linked with the forward
thinking of the high-technology world. "Silicon Valley represents the
crosscurrent of money and cool," said Gregory Slayton, chief executive of
ClickAction Inc., an Internet marketing firm, and chairman of Silicon Valley
Bush-2000. "And that's where all politicians want to be."
[SOURCE: New York Times (A1), AUTHOR: Leslie Wayne]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/03/technology/03SILI.html)
(requires registration)
FOUR CALIFORNIA COUNTIES TO TEST VOTING VIA INTERNET
Issue: E-voting
San Mateo and three other counties will launch the first online voting
project in California this month. San Mateo, Contra Costa, Sacramento and San
Diego counties will open online voting booths next week. "It's not voting at
home in your pajamas," said Warren Slocum, San Mateo County's election
chief. "It's not for real, it's just for practice," said Secretary of State
Bill Jones, who views the projects as a way to appeal to a younger,
tech-savvy, but perhaps more politically disillusioned, generation. Voters
will be able to scroll through simulated ballots and cast non-binding votes
on laptop computers at courthouses, city halls and community centers through
Nov. 3. "The goal is not necessarily to prove the technology side of the
system, but to introduce people to the concept -- whether people will adapt
to it, whether they'll like it." Supporters say online voting would attract
more voters by reaching out to the homebound, rural and young voters.
Opponents say hackers, viruses and potential vote fraud still pose serious
threats.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Karen de S