TELEVISION
Political Editorial and Personal Attack Rules (FCC)
TV Broadcasters and Disclosure Requirements (FCC)
Digital Television Broadcasters Children's
Television Obligations (FCC)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Digital Divas Tech Group Rumps Microsoft (SJM)
MERGERS
SBC, BellSouth Finalize Merger (WP)
Some Other Contenders For Rich EMI Repertory (NYT)
The Future of the Interactive Television
Services Marketplace (House)
ECOMMERCE
Speaking in Bar Code (NYT)
PRIVACY
Recent Developments in Privacy Protections
for Consumers (House)
TELEVISION
POLITICAL EDITORIAL AND PERSONAL ATTACK RULES
Issue: Broadcasting/Political Discourse
From Press Release: The FCC suspended its political editorial and personal
attack rules
for 60 days, and asked parties to then submit evidence on the effect of the
suspension. The political editorial rule provides generally that if a
licensee airs an editorial supporting a political candidate, it
must notify other candidates for that office of the editorial and provide
them an opportunity to respond on-the-air. Similarly, the personal attack
rule provides generally that when, during a program on a controversial issue
of public importance, an attack is made on someone's integrity, the licensee
must inform the subject of the attack and provide an opportunity to respond
on-the-air. The Commission noted that broadcasters have contended generally
that the rules have had a "chilling effect" on programming, and specifically
that elimination of the political editorial reply rule would increase
broadcast station editorializing. The Commission said that temporarily
suspending the rule during the current election period would enable it to
receive updated information on these issues. With respect to the personal
attack rule, the Commission said it expects broadcasters to collect
information regarding complaints concerning personal attacks received while
the rule is suspended, and to compare the number and nature of the
complaints during this 60-day suspension period to a comparable period while
the rule was in effect.
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/News_Releases/2000/nrmm0041.html)
TV BROADCASTERS AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
Issue: Television
From Press Release: The FCC is proposing to standardize and enhance public
interest disclosure
requirements for television broadcasters. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM), the FCC tentatively concludes that television
broadcasters should provide information on how they serve the public
interest in a standardized format on a quarterly basis. The disclosure form
would be maintained in the station's public inspection file in place of the
currently required issues/programs lists. The Commission notes that given
the benefits to be derived from enhanced public disclosure, it should not
wait until after the digital transition to implement this proposal.
The FCC is also proposing to enhance the public's ability to access this public
interest information by requiring licensees to make the contents of their
public inspection files, including the standardized disclosure form,
available on the station's or a state broadcasters association's Internet
website. The NPRM is based upon the comments received in response to the
Notice of
Inquiry released December 20, 1999. Full text of notice available at URL below.
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Notices/2000/fcc00345.pdf)
DIGITAL Television BROADCASTERS CHILDREN'S TELEVISION OBLIGATIONS
Issue: Television
From Press Release: The FCC is asking for comments on the obligation of DTV
broadcasters to provide educational and informational programming for
children and the requirement that DTV broadcasters limit the amount of
advertising in children's programs. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the
Commission is asking for comment largely on challenges unique to the digital
age but also explored several issues that children's advocates have raised
about children's educational and informational programming in general. Full
text of notice available at URL below.
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Notices/2000/fcc00344.pdf)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
DIGITAL DIVAS TECH GROUP RUMPS MICROSOFT
Issue: Intellectual Property
A small women's technology group called the Digital Divas is claiming
victory over software giant Microsoft. Earlier this year, the company had
bestowed Stacy Elliot, a consumer product manager, with the official title
of Digital Diva. Dana Whitmire, who founded the Digital Divas in 1997 to
introduce Internet technology to neophytes, threatened to sue the Microsoft
for trademark infringement. While Whitmire's group had not officially
trademarked its name at the time Microsoft began using "Digital Diva," she
claimed they had built a reputation with the name over time and had a right
to keep it. Microsoft has decided to relinquish claim on the name, which is
rare for a large corporation. "You have to pick your battles," said Microsoft
spokesman Adam Sohn. "Just because you feel you have a good chance in court
doesn't mean you take it. At end of day it was just a smarter move to
put this thing behind us and not have a big protracted fight."
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Kristi Heim]
(http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/front/docs/diva100600.htm)
MERGERS
SBC, BELLSOUTH FINALIZE MERGER
Issue: Merger
SBC Communications and BellSouth officially merged their wireless operations
on Thursday, creating a new company named "Cingular Wireless." With 19
million customers in 42 of the nation's top 50 markets, Cingular surpasses
AT&T Wireless and its 14 million subscribers as the No. 2 player in the
industry. Cingular is actually a merger of 11 different brand names,
including Cellular One, BellSouth
Mobility, and a hodgepodge of names derived from SBC's various local phone
subsidiaries.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (Online), AUTHOR: Bruce Meyerson]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19563-2000Oct5.html)
SOME OTHER CONTENDERS FOR RICH EMI REPERTORY
Issue: Mergers
With the demise of its proposed merger with Time Warner, EMI, the 3rd
largest music company in the world, is back on the block and the suitors are
lining up. Pacific Century CyberWorks, which was interested in EMI before
the Time Warner deal was announced, is back for another look. BMG
Entertainment, a unit of Bertelsmann, may be interested as well. EMI is home
to such labels as Virgin, Capitol and EMI classics.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C13), AUTHOR: Suzanne Kapner]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/06/business/06MUSI.html)
(requires registration)
See Also:
TIME WARNER AND EMI HALT VENTURE PLAN
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: John Tagliabue]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/06/technology/06ONLI.html)
(requires registration)
REGULATORS SINK EMI-TIME WARNER DEAL, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT EMI'S FUTURE
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A3), AUTHOR: Martin Peers, Charles Goldsmith
And Philip Shishkin]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB970734357798394211.htm)
(Requires subscription)
THE FUTURE OF THE INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SERVICES MARKETPLACE
Issue: Mergers
Friday, October 6, 2000
9:00 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.
The Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection has
scheduled a second day of hearings on Friday, October 6, 2000 at 9:00 a.m.
in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will be entitled: "Part
II: The Future of the Interactive Television Services Marketplace: What
Should Consumers Expect?" Witnesses will be by invitation only.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://com-notes.house.gov/schedule.htm)
EU OBJECTION TO AOL MERGER RESOLVED
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E01), AUTHOR: William Drozdiak]
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4638-2000Oct3.html)
ECOMMERCE
SPEAKING IN BAR CODE
Issue: Ecommerce
By plugging in a products bar code into a cell phone, consumers will be able
to check its price at online and brick & mortar stores, get product
information, and read snippets of reviews. Yes, the humble bar code is
poised to become the key link between products and consumers in the mobile
shopping future. Companies from Motorola to GE are investing millions in bar
code technology, betting consumers will want to get product information,
make lists, connect to the Web and make purchases. But will they make the
technological leap? Many people still don't know how to program their VCRs.
There's lots of examples of possible motivators in this story, here's just
one: The Uniform Code Council, the nonprofit consortium that doles out the
codes that appear on almost every packaged product, from canned beans to
laser printers, is working with music and publishing houses to match every
song, and even every paragraph in books, with its own code that could be
kept in a data base. The idea is eventually to allow consumers to mix and
match their own creative products, while still permitting companies to
gather royalties and information about use on an individual level. For more
on our bar coded future, see the URL below.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: Leslie Kaufman]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/06/technology/06CODE.html)
(requires registration)
PRIVACY
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS
Issue: Privacy
Wednesday, October 11, 2000 10:00 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building
The Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection has
scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, October 11, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. in 2123
Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will be entitled: "Recent
Developments in Privacy Protections for Consumers." Witnesses will be by
invitation only.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://www.house.gov/commerce/)
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...and we're outta here. Have a great weekend, even if the Mets win again.