BROADCAST
FCC Proposing New Rules to Encourage Minority Hiring (NYT)
Digital Television Consumer Information (NTIA)
FCC Expected to Make Broadcasters Pay Fee Based on Revenues
From Digital TV (WSJ)
ARTS
Putting a Price Tag on Digital Art (CyberTimes)
RESEARCH
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (NTIA)
INFO TECH
Paging Firms Back Standard for Delivery Of Internet Content (WSJ)
MCI WorldCom to Launch Web Service Via Traditional
Copper Phone Lines (WSJ)
MERGER
Microsoft Plans to Sell 10% Stake in RealNetworks, Ending Alliance (WSJ)
Microsoft Ending RealNetworks Tie (WP)
ANTITRUST
Microsoft Cites Java Use in Its Defense (WP)
Microsoft Windows Monopoly Is Criticized (WSJ)
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BROADCAST
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FCC PROPOSING NEW RULES TO ENCOURAGE MINORITY HIRING
Issue: Jobs/Minorities
The Federal Communications Commission is considering new rules to encourage
the recruitment of women and minorities for work in the broadcast industry.
In April, Judge Laurence Siberman of the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia invalidated the FCC's affirmative action rules. The
rules, enacted in 1987, encouraged broadcasters to hire a workforce where
the proportion of minorities and women was half their percentage in the
local broadcast area. These proportions were examined when stations applied
to have their licenses renewed. Although no station has ever been denied a
renewal on this basis, Judge Siberman ruled that even the possibility would
induce station owners to give preference when it came time to hiring. Women
now make up 41% of the broadcast workforce, up from 23.3% in 1971. Minority
members comprise 20.2% of the broadcast workforce, up from 9.1% in 1971.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A19), AUTHOR: Steven Holmes]
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/washpol/fcc-affirm.html
DIGITAL TELEVISION CONSUMER INFORMATION
Issue: DTV
"The arrival of digital television ("DTV") this fall promises to be one of
the most significant developments in television technology since the advent
of color television in the 1950's. DTV has the capability to provide clearer
and sharper, cinema-like pictures as well as multi-channel, CD-quality
sound. It can provide new uses such as multiple video programs or other
services on a single television channel, including data services. The use of
DTV technology will also allow television to enter the digital world of the
personal computer and the Internet. As with any major technology change, it
will be important for consumers to understand the capabilities of new
equipment in order to make purchase decisions. The new digital television
sets will have many new features and technical characteristics that will
vary somewhat between different models and manufacturers. In addition,
special features may be needed when using DTV sets to receive programs from
cable, direct satellite, or other video service providers. This bulletin has
been prepared to provide consumers with information on the new DTV
technology, its upcoming deployment, and the capabilities and features that
are expected to be available in the new DTV sets. We will release periodic
updates to this bulletin to help consumers keep up with digital television
developments such as improvements in the compatibility between the digital
programming and equipment used by broadcasters and cable operators."
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Factsheets/dtv9811.html
FCC EXPECTED TO MAKE BROADCASTERS PAY FEE BASED ON REVENUES FROM DIGITAL TV
Issue: Digital Television
The FCC will issue rules today which set annual fees for commercial
broadcasters who derive revenue from subscription and other pay services
using the new digital television technology. Since the spectrum provided
for stations to provide
DTV signals of their basic channel may allow one or more additional channels
to be broadcast simultaneously, Congress and the FCC are seeking to get a
portion of any revenue collected from the extra broadcasts to be returned to
the Government. The new rules will require stations to pay between 4 and 6
percent of subscription revenues they earn from pay-per-view or similar use
of the extra spectrum. The National Association of Broadcasters had
suggested a 2 percent charge. The FCC will also ask for public comment on
how public television stations should be allowed to use their extra spectrum.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR: John Simons]
http://www.wsj.com/
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ARTS
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PUTTING A PRICE TAG ON DIGITAL ART
Issue: Arts
The art world is struggling to put a price tag on digital art and it becomes
more acceptable in museums and amongst art connoisseurs. Digital City Inc
http://www.digitalcity.com/, for example, is donating