Telephone
TelecomAM: McCain Says Universal Service Contributions Will Raise Bills
NYT: Ameritech and Microsoft to Offer High-Speed Internet Access
NTIA: Wireless Local Loop Forum
Digital TV
WP: A PhD for the Idiot Box
FCC: Digital TV Allotments
InfoTech
NYT: Research Center is Laboratory for 'Intelligent Workplaces'
** Telephone **
Title: McCain Says Universal Service Contributions Will Raise Bills
Source: Telecom AM (12/9/97)
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Universal Service
Description: Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) said last
week that long distance bills may rise significantly as a result of
carriers' contributions to the universal service fund. How the rate
increases will be passed on to consumers is becoming a contentious question
as AT&T and MCI work behind the scenes in order to add a separate line on
consumers' bills that lists the USF charges. American Enterprise Fellow
James Glassman said that his recent Washington Post editorial (see 12/2/97
Headlines) has sparked "an enormous response" from Republicans. Under that
pressure the Federal Communications Commission "is thinking of scaling back"
the contribution factors. [See The Boy Who Cried "Tax" by Andrew Blau]
Title: Ameritech and Microsoft to Offer High-Speed Internet Access
Source: New York Times/CyberTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/121097microsoft.html
Author: Associated Press
Issue: Internet/Telephone
Description: The Ameritech Corp. is teaming up with Microsoft to offer small
businesses and consumers Internet access that is up to 50 percent times
faster than the standard 28.8 kilobit per second. The move to offer this
technology is part of the Baby Bells strategy to bundle services in an
effort to fend off competitors. Bell Atlantic, Bell South, Pacific Bell,
Southwestern Bell and U.S. West, have all been testing the technology and
plan to begin rolling out this service within a year.
Title: Wireless Local Loop Forum
Source: NTIA
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/new.html
Issue: Telephone
Description: A draft agenda for the December 17th Wireless Local Loop forum
has been released. This forum is the second is a series of advanced
technology forums. Panel sessions include: Technology and Applications,
Competition and Universal Service, Policy and Regulatory Perspectives, and
Roundtable Discussion.
** Digital TV **
Title: A PhD for the Idiot Box
Source: Washington Post (C13,C15)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-12/10/129l-121097-idx.html
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Digital TV
Description: Personal computers and television are becoming "genetically"
related as chips and software find their way into the TV set. These digital
changes will allow the viewer to receive and display a wide amount of
information besides the more traditional picture. At the annual Western
Cable Show, being held in Anaheim, CA this week, one of the main discussions
is centering around just what these digital boxes will look like and who
will make them. [For more on digital TV see
http://www.benton.org/Policy/TV/piac.html]
Title: Digital TV Allotments
Source: FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Public_Notices/1997/pnet7
027.wp
Issue: Digital TV
Description: FCC Seeks Comment on Filings Addressing Digital TV Allotments
(MM Docket No. 87-268). Responses Due December 17, 1997. On November 20,
1997, the Association for Maximum Service Broadcasters, Inc. and other
broadcasters (MSTV) submitted an ex parte filing that presents suggestions
for addressing two issues relating to the Table of Allotments for digital
television (DTV) that was adopted in the Sixth Report and Order in this
proceeding. The first of these issues concerns DTV-to-DTV adjacent channel
assignments. The second concerns assignments in the most congested areas of
the country -- the Northeast, Great Lakes region, and California coastal
area. MSTV's filing suggests making 357 changes to the DTV Table in the
continental United States.
** InfoTech **
Title: Research Center is Laboratory for 'Intelligent Workplaces'
Source: New York Times/CyberTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/121097workplace.html
Author: Lisa Napoli
Issue: Information Technology
Description: On Tuesday, a "living laboratory," designed help researchers
further understand how to create an efficient office building, opened at the
Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics, on the campus of Carnegie
Mellon Univ. in Pittsburgh. "We spend $500 billion a year on construction
in the United States, but less than 1 percent goes into research," said
Stephen Lee, associate director of the center. "We're failing to deliver
buildings that perform, that allow people to be healthy and productive in
their workplace." The team will be headed by Volker Hartkopf, professor of
architecture. They will focus on the best ways to make the work environment
a comfortable and productive one, while also working towards a building that
is environmentally and economically wise.
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