CABLE
Consumer Groups Open New Front in Battle Over Cable Monopolies
FCC's Powell Sees Digital TV Drive
Cable Will Rule Broadband, Report Says
Ending The Broadband Rip-Off
SPECTRUM
House Approves Bill To Delay Spectrum Auction
JOURNALISM
Political Web site authors in New Jersey keep identity secret
NONPROFITS
How Public Service Ads Could Be Greatly Improved
CABLE
CONSUMER GROUPS OPEN NEW FRONT IN BATTLE OVER CABLE MONOPOLIES
The Consumer Federation of America launched a nation-wide campaign to fight
cable monopolies at the local level. Local authorities in Cambridge, San
Francisco, Dallas and Montgomery County, Maryland have been asked to refuse
to transfer cable franchises affected by the AT&T Comcast merger. Dr. Mark
Cooper, Director of Research, said, "For two decades Federal authorities
have let cable companies run amuck, jacking up prices at almost three times
the rate of inflation, while delivering poor service quality, and mergers
have played a key role in creating cable monopoly power." Testimony from
the CFA touched on several areas where local authorities can take action,
including denial of access to programming and predatory pricing and
preservation of senior discounts
[SOURCE: Consumer Federation of America, AUTHOR: Mark Cooper]
(http://www.consumerfed.org/localATTComcastrelease.pdf)
FCC'S POWELL SEES DIGITAL TV DRIVE
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell addressed a group
of cable executives at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association
conference on Tuesday. The transition to digital TV has been slowed by a
lack of programming, expensive equipment and concerns around digital piracy.
Powell has called upon broadcasters and consumer electronics manufacturers
to support a plan where TV networks broadcast at least half their primetime
lineups in digital by Fall 2002. Powell also commented the FCC is continuing
to examine media ownership rules and that despite recent criticism from
consumer groups he felt, "...there's still pretty energized competitive
pressure for who gets on...when. I think there's things to watch there, but
for the moment I would describe it as a healthy market environment."
[SOURCE: CNET, AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1023-901794.html?tag=cd_mh)
ENDING THE BOARDBAND RIP-OFF
[Commentary] Paul Beckner, president and CEO of Citizens for a Sound Economy
discussed the necessity for lawmakers to develop legislation that will speed
the deployment of broadband Internet service. The White House, House of
Representatives and FCC have made statements suggesting they would ease
current regulations in an effort to speed broadband deployment. Beckner
questions where the Senate will come down on broadband. Beckner feels that
equalizing regulations between phone and cable companies will encourage
investment in broadband networks and offer a major boost to the U.S.
economy.
[SOURCE: CNET, AUTHOR: Paul Beckner (president and CEO of Citizens for a
Sound Economy)]
(http://news.com.com/2010-1078-902091.html)
CABLE WILL RULE BROADBAND, REPORT SAYS
Cable modems will rule the broadband age--at least for the next five years,
according to a research report The Yankee Group released Tuesday. DSL
technology will remain in second place due to regulatory hurdles, and other
broadband technologies, such as satellite, will lag far behind, according to
the report from the from the Boston-based research firm. By the end of 2001,
60 percent of U.S. homes were equipped for cable modem service, while only
45 percent of homes were equipped for DSL service. The report also predicted
that broadband growth will cannibalize the market for dial-up Internet
access.
[SOURCE: CNet, AUTHOR: Tiffany Kary]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1033-901501.html?tag=cd_mh)
SPECTRUM
HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO DELAY SPECTRUM AUCTION
The U.S. House of Representatives today approved legislation to prevent the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from auctioning off a block of
airwave licenses in the 700 MHz band that could be attractive properties for
many wireless companies. That portion of the spectrum is currently occupied
by broadcasters, who are required to return it as they make the transition
to digital television. There is concerned that a sale would be premature,
since there is no solid estimate as to when the current occupants of those
airwaves will vacate them. Opponents of the auction also say that the FCC
should not parcel out the licenses until the agency develops a comprehensive
plan for managing the airwave spectrum under its control.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Staff Washtech.com]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48080-2002May7.html)
JOURNALISM
POLITICAL WEB SITE AUTHORS IN NEW JERSEY KEEP IDENTITY SECRET
In the last two years an online site, politicsnj, has become one of the most
popular news sources for the New Jersey political community. Tom Shea,
chief of staff in Sen. Jon S. Corzine's Washington office said, "It's the
first thing I check every morning, and I usually wind up checking it two or
three times a day. It's turned into a pretty potent and credible force in
the media in New Jersey." The editor of politicsnj uses the pseudonym Wally
Edge and even the newly hired managing editor of the e-publication claims he
has never meet his boss. During an email interview Edge said that they use a
"long list of reliable sources who respond to email and instant messages."
To avoid lawsuits that would force Edge to reveal names of anonymous sources
he or she is extremely careful to confirm items before publishing them to
the site. Run on a shoestring budget the site is financed through
advertising revenue and averages about 100,000 to 120,000 page views per
day.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Herb Jackson]
(http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/3210258.htm)
NONPROFITS
HOW PUBLIC SERVICE ADS COULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED
Public service advertising, at least in print form, is not connecting
effectively with consumers, and there are ways it could be better, according
to a new report by Andy Goodman, an independent communications consultant
who focuses on public-interest groups and foundations. The report, "Why Bad
Ads Happen to Good Causes and How to Ensure They Won't Happen to Yours,"
begins with a study of 195 public-interest print ads and is followed by
seven guidelines for creating more effective ones. The Starch division of
Roper ASW, conducted the study and provided data for the guidelines. "Those
of us who feel deeply about causes recognize that there's a huge opportunity
for them to do better advertising," said Philip Sawyer, senior vice
president and director at Starch in New York, "and also recognize that they
had missed an opportunity by not creating more powerful advertising." The
project, including the 5,000 copies that have been printed, was financed
with $154,500 from five organizations: the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation;
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; the David and Lucile Packard Foundation;
the Pew Charitable Trusts; and the Surdna Foundation. The booklet and an
insert intended for use on the job by employees of nonprofit organizations
were designed by Cause Communications in Santa Monica, Calif. Organizations
can order the report at Mr. Goodman's Web site, www.agoodmanonline.com.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Allison Fass]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/08/business/media/08ADCO.html)
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