FCC
TelecomAM: FCC Commissioners Take Office; Kennard Starts by Outlining Vision
WP: FCC Chief Urges Study Of Liquor Ads
WSJ: New FCC Chief Shows Willingness to Aid Firms Unable to Pay
for PCS Licenses
TelecomAM: Hundt Takes New Job at Aspen Institute
Internet
NYT: Advertising: Clinton Adviser Urges Regulation in Cyberspace
Newspapers
NYT: Sunday Circulation Decreases At Many Big City Newspapers
** FCC **
Title: FCC Commissioners Take Office; Kennard Starts by Outlining Vision
Source: Telecom AM
http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: FCC
Description: The new commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission
took the oath of office yesterday. New chairman William Kennard announced
his staff and held his first press conference. He stressed that the top
priority of the FCC is "to serve the American people in
the best way that I can." He outlined his philosophy as the FCC "should only
regulate when necessary" and that they "must find practical solutions to the
problems that we face." For additional information see Chairman Kennard's
homepage (its worth the visit) http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/kennard/
along with updates on Michael Powell
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/News_Releases/1997/nrmc7080.html
and his staff
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/News_Releases/1997/nrmc7081.html,
and Gloria Tristani
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/News_Releases/1997/nrmc7079.html.
Title: FCC Chief Urges Study Of Liquor Ads
Source: Washington Post (C3)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-11/04/0991-110497-idx.html
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Advertising
Description: The FCC's new chairman, William Kennard, called for an
inquiry into the effects on children of TV ads for alcohol. He said, "This
is all about kids. It's about whether there is an appropriate role for the
FCC to take in ensuring that underage drinkers are not exposed to distilled
liquor advertising." Kennard hopes his 3-2 Democratic majority on the new
FCC will help him prevail on the issue. Lisa Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said, "We firmly believe the
FCC doesn't have jurisdiction over alcohol advertising."
Title: New FCC Chief Shows Willingness to Aid Firms Unable to
Pay for PCS Licenses
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/
Author: Bryan Gruley
Issue: Spectrum
Description: New FCC chairman, William Kennard, has signaled his
willingness to consider helping troubled wireless companies that haven't
been able to pay for licenses they won in gov't. auctions. He told reporters
that the FCC should explore ways to keep bidders out of bankruptcy court.
"It would be devastating for the commission to have to be embroiled in
multiple billion-dollar bankruptcy proceedings," he said. While no specific
course of action has been identified, there are some who would oppose the
plan. Holdover Commissioner Susan Ness said, "Everybody is agreed that not
being in bankruptcy is better than being in bankruptcy...but that does not
translate to re-opening an issue and creating, yet again, uncertainty in the
marketplace."
Title: Hundt Takes New Job at Aspen Institute
Source: Telecom AM
http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: FCC
Description: Former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt accepted a new job with the
Aspen Institute yesterday. Hundt will serve as chair of the institute's
Forum on Communications and Society, which addresses subjects relating to
the societal impact of the communications and information sectors. In 1998,
the forum will address the subject of information literacy. "I am pleased to
have the opportunity to work with the Aspen Institute, which is known
worldwide for its efforts to connect leaders with core democratic and human
values," Hundt said. "This will give me an opportunity to reflect on my four
years as chairman of the FCC, and to make significant progress on my
upcoming book." For more information see
http://www.aspeninst.org/dir/polpro/CSP/C%26S1.html.
** Internet **
Title: Advertising: Clinton Adviser Urges Regulation in Cyberspace
Source: New York Times (D13)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/110497magaziner.html
Author: Stuart Elliott
Issue: Advertising/Internet
Description: At a conference about youngsters and online advertising, Ira
Magaziner asked advertisers to regulate themselves when aiming ads at
children. "The tremendous economic benefits of the Internet will not work if
we don't get efficient industry self-regulation on issues like privacy and
content, especially in the children's area." In April, the Children's
Advertising Review Unit issued voluntary guidelines on Internet marketing to
junior consumers -- included are recommendations that advertisers disclose
why they are collecting children's personal information and what will be
done with it.
Title: Satellites Could Speed Up Internet Data Transfer, New Report States
Source: Telecom A.M.---Nov. 4, 1997
http://www.capitol( at )cappubs.com/
Issue: Satellites
Description: A new report from the U.K.-based Royal Astronomical Society
indicates that satellites could be a key element in increasing the speed
with which data is transferred from the 'Net. Long downloading delays could
"all but be eliminated by sending signals via high-altitude satellites,"
according to the report. The report also stated that satellites could help
in the development of telemedicine, and serve rural areas that may not have
highly developed infrastructures. The drawbacks of geostationary satellites
are the distance involved -- great distances can cause delays and most Internet
software packages aren't designed to cope with even one-second delays.
Expense is another drawback, even for recommended systems like "Leo", whose
satellites may close the distance gap between transmission and reception,
but due to their close proximity to the
planet may be unable to remain in orbit. Then, of course, there is the
problem of a lack of space. "Finding room for the new arrivals could be
difficult," the report stated.
** Newspapers **
Title: Sunday Circulation Decreases At Many Big City Newspapers
Source: New York Times (D13)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/papers-circulation.html
Author: Iver Peterson
Issue: Newspapers
Description: Five of the country's biggest eight Sunday papers saw declines
in circulation. Sunday papers provide nearly three times the ad revenue as
weekday papers and are seen for an anchor for weekday readership. Publishers
had hoped Sunday circulation would help offset loses in weekday circulation.
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