Museums: A Special Section (NYT)
Sure, its not exactly about what we cover, but we thought you might like to
know that there's a special 34-page section on museums today in the Times.
See the URL below.
[SOURCE: New York Times (Section D)]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/arts/041900mus-index.html)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Clinton Uses High-Tech Show to Push Plan for
Internet Parity (NYT)
Clinton Enlists Net in Battle Against Poverty (USAToday)
Reno Seeks High-Tech Tools for Disabled (WP)
Digital Divide Forum (NTIA)
Telecommunications Deployment and Subscribership in
Underserved Areas (NTIA)
INTERNET
Librarian, Long an Internet Booster, Sees Clouds on Web Horizon
(CyberTimes)
Agencies Form Group to Help Set Guidelines for Ads on the Web (WSJ)
COPPA Begins New Era (CME)
No Grown-ups Allowed on eKids Playground(USA)
Palm, Delphi to Sell Device to Operate Organizers in Cars (WSJ)
Ananova, Virtual Newscaster, Hopes to Deliver the Goods (WSJ)
COMPETITION
Firms Duel Over The Wired West (WP)
JOBS
SBC Communications Sued by Workers on Stock Sale (NYT)
INTERNATIONAL
Frequency Conflict May Make France a Bluetooth-Free Zone (WSJ)
ANTITRUST
Microsoft's Server Tactics May Influence Antitrust Case (WSJ)
Microsoft Defends Its Practices (WP)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
CLINTON USES HIGH-TECH SHOW TO PUSH PLAN FOR INTERNET PARITY
Issue: Digital Divide
Speaking in Chicago yesterday to participants at the Comdex/Spring 2000
computer trade show, President Clinton said, "I came here today to ask you
to set another trend -- to devote more time and technology, more ideas and
energy, to closing the digital divide. I honestly believe that the new
information economy has the potential, at home and around the world, to lift
more people out of poverty more quickly than at any previous period in all
of human history -- and that tapping that potential is actually in our
enlightened self-interest."
[SOURCE: New York Times (A18), AUTHOR: Marc Lacey]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/04/biztech/articles/19bill.html)
CLINTON ENLISTS NET IN BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY
Issue: Digital Divide
President Clinton visited a technology trade show Tuesday and urged
executives to put their time, talent and money into ensuring that all
Americans have access to the Internet. President Clinton urged technology
executives at Comdex in Chicago to put their time, talent and money into
ensuring all Americans have access to the Internet. "American values require
that everyone be given a fair chance to participate," President Clinton said.
"It's good social policy, good personal ethics and good for our economy."
Fredric Rosen, chairman of ZD Events, said his company will gladly join the
"digital divide" fight and urged his fellow executives to do the same. "It
is time for those of us who have been the beneficiaries of this Internet
revolution to voluntarily share our knowledge and wealth with those who have
not, he
said.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Richard Benedetto]
(http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20000419/2174169s.htm)
RENO SEEKS HIGH-TECH TOOLS FOR DISABLED
Issue: Disabilities/Digital Divide
Speaking at the FOSE (which does not stand for anything -- we guess that
sometimes a cigar is just a cigar) convention, Attorney General Janet Reno
yesterday urged IT companies to provide products for the disabled and
encouraged government agencies to move aggressively to make their workplaces
more welcoming for disabled workers. "It does not have to be expensive, it
does not have to be difficult, and it is the right thing to do," she said.
Reno's speech was to focus attention on government agencies' Aug. 7 deadline
for making their information technology accessible to disabled workers.
Floor exhibits included a variety of new devices for the disabled, including
speech-recognition software, Braille printers, ergonomic keyboards and
special computer mice.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E3), AUTHOR: Mike Musgrove]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38865-2000Apr18.html)
DIGITAL DIVIDE FORUM
Issue: Digital Divide
Gregory L. Rohde, assistant secretary of commerce for communications and
information and administrator of NTIA, participated in a "Digital Divide"
Forum in Brooklyn, New York on April 17 that focused on the challenges faced
by minority companies in efforts to close the gap between those with access
and those without access to information technologies, tools critical for
economic success and advancement. The Forum was organized by Representatives
Edolphus Towns (D-NY) and Maxine Waters (D-CA), senior members of the
Congressional Black Caucus. The Forum also explored ways of improving access
to the Internet for minorities and low-income Americans. Among those
participating in the Forum were representatives from Bell Atlantic, GTE,
AT&T, New Media Technology, Netcom Technological Solutions, the
Telecommunications Development Fund, WireAmerica, Technical Career
Institute, Long Island University, Fort Greene SNAP, and Brooklyn Community
School Board 13.
[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/nydigdivide041800.htm)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEPLOYMENT AND SUBSCRIBERSHIP IN UNDERSERVED AREAS
Issue: Universal Service
The NTIA filed Ex Parte comments in FCC proceeding (CC Docket No. 96-45):
NTIA urges the FCC to revise eligibility rules for receipt of universal
service funding to encourage more service to remote areas such as tribal
lands. NTIA suggested ways to change eligible telecom carrier (ETC) rules:
1) Declare that carrier need not be already providing service in order to
obtain ETC designation; 2) Bar state regulators from establishing additional
eligibility requirements for ETC designation if they conflict with other
provisions of Telecom Act; and 3) Clarify procedures for FCC action on ETC
requests from carriers not subject to state jurisdiction, such as tribal
carriers. "If these actions result in an increase in the number of carriers
designated as ETCs, the [FCC] should ensure that all designated ETCs receive
sufficient universal service support."
[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fccfilings/tribal41700.htm)
INTERNET
LIBRARIAN, LONG AN INTERNET BOOSTER, SEES CLOUDS ON WEB HORIZON
Issue: Content
"Librarians have played a very important role in protecting intellectual
freedom and privacy online. We've done it formally as a profession. And we
have been champions for people who don't often have champions -- poor people
who use libraries because they have no other access to the Internet," said
librarian Karen Schneider, the author of one of the early books about
filtering. She sees trouble ahead caused by the mass commercialization of
the Web. "It's funny that people are concerned about being exposed to a
naked body on the Internet, but they're not concerned about the
ramifications of being exposed to this onslaught of commercialism from an
early age and its impact on the value systems of children," she said. She
also warns that people tend to trust the information they find online more
than that which they find in books -- even when the information online is
wrong. Ms. Schneider believes there's a pressing need for teachers,
librarians and other caring adults to redouble efforts to teach students how
to use the Internet for education -- not just entertainment and consumerism.
"There has to be an ongoing educational effort. It has to begin at home and
continue at school," Ms. Schneider said. "We all have the tendency to want
to just put a kid in front of a computer and then do something else. But
there has to be that involvement."
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: This is Pamela Mendels's last Education column.
The column will continue next week under new authorship.]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/04/cyber/education/19education.html)
AGENCIES FORM GROUP TO HELP SET GUIDELINES FOR ADS ON THE WEB
Issue: Advertising
Advertising agencies such as Advertising.com, Modem Media, Organic and
Agency.com are banding together to form an organization called New Media
Consortium. The organization is being formed in response to the slow
progress made by FAST, or the Future of Advertising Stakeholders, a broad
based industry coalition formed two years ago to establish online ad
standards. Since FAST was created, it has set only a few guidelines,
including defining what constitutes a "click" on a banner ad or an
"impression." It also has recommended guidelines for consumer privacy
online. But for many advertising agencies, FAST hasn't been fast enough.
The New Media Consortium seeks to provide more specific, legal definitions
of terms in order to make Web sites more accountable for billing. "We are
trying to nail down some things," said one of the New Media Consortium's
co-founders Greg Smith, director of strategic services at Darwin Digital,
the interactive unit of Saatchi & Saatchi. The New Media Consortium has its
first meeting in New York today.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B7), AUTHOR: Kathryn Kranhold]
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB956092938772637531.htm
COPPA BEGINS NEW ERA
Issue: Privacy
From Press Release: "Friday, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
(COPPA) goes into effect. This is a major step forward to protect children,
our most vulnerable citizens, from manipulative and exploitative marketing
and advertising practices on the Web," said Kathryn Montgomery, Ph.D.,
president of the Center for Media Education (CME). "Along with a coalition
of education, child advocacy, health and consumer groups, we've worked
toward this goal for several years."
The Federal Trade Commission Rule implementing COPPA goes into effect April
21, 2000. Under this Rule, commercial Web sites targeted to children under
age 13 must:
* Provide clear notice of what personal information children are being
asked for and how it is to be used.
* Obtain verifiable parental consent (for example, a signed authorization
form mailed or faxed back to the Web site; a call to a toll-free number by a
parent) in most instances, before collecting and using a child's personal
information.
* Provide parents access to the personal information collected from their
child and the right to prevent further use.
[SOURCE: Center For Media Education]
(http://www.cme.org/)
NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED ON EKIDS PLAYGROUND
Issue: Media&Society
These days many parents struggle to find a safe place for their children on
the Internet. That is why SilverTech, a San Francisco-based start-up, just
launched eKids Internet, a private network for kids. While eKids, which is
funded by corporate sponsors, is mostly free for kids who have Net access,
kids are requested to refer other kids to the program. SilverTech controls
everything that goes into the eKids network and has a screening process to
eliminate those who shouldn't be online. Everyone must fill out a form
specifically designed to weed out non-kids. Monitors also constantly check
the chat rooms and other venues for inappropriate behavior.
[SOURCE: USAToday (3D), AUTHOR: Janet Kornblum]
(http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20000419/2174641s.htm)
PALM, DELPHI TO SELL DEVICE TO OPERATE ORGANIZERS IN CARS
Issue: InfoTech
Palm Inc. and Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. have announced plans to sell
a device that will let drivers plug their Palm V handheld organizers into
their cars. Drivers will be able to operate the organizers with voice
commands while cruising down the road. Delphi and Palm haven't yet announced
the price of the device or the monthly Internet service. The voice activated
system is just the latest development in a race to bring consumer Internet
technologies into cars and trucks. Some critics, however, argue that
electronic devices in moving vehicles present a safety hazard because they
divert a driver's attention from the road [Watch out for that tree!] -- even
if they allow the driver to keep both hands on the wheel. Dave Wohleen,
president of Delphi's electronics and mobile-communications sector, noted
that thousands of Palm users currently hold their organizers in one hand and
the steering wheel in the other [oh, you're not supposed to do that?], and
said a voice-activated system "is certainly safer than that."
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B6), AUTHOR: Jeffrey Ball]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB956107144519992639.htm)
ANANOVA, VIRTUAL NEWSCASTER, HOPES TO DELIVER THE GOODS
Issue: Journalism?
Ananova, with her green hair, big eyes, slightly jerky movements and a
vaguely American accent makes her Internet debut today (www.ananova.com).
Now, computer users around the world can have breaking news bulletins read
to them by the glamorous cyber-anchor, programmed to exude a range of human
emotions. "She's not a babe. She's a sophisticated real-time computer
system," says Vivienne Adshead, Britain's Press Association news agency
commercial director. Ananova was developed by Britain's Press Association
news agency, which has gone so far as to rename its new media division
Ananova Ltd. Yet, Ananova bears more than a passing resemblance to Posh
Spice, a.k.a. Victoria Beckham, even though her creators dismissed claims
that she's just another cyber-babe along the lines of Internet icon Lara
Croft, the buxom heroine of the video game Tomb Raider. "She's a lot more
than a talking head that reads the news," Mark Hird, publishing director at
Ananova Ltd.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal Interactive, AUTHOR: Jill Lawless]
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB956083475135471955.htm
COMPETITION
FIRMS DUEL OVER THE WIRED WEST
Issue: Competition
In Phoenix, telephone, cable and satellite companies are engaged in
house-to-house urban warfare in an effort to get customers. The two major
combatants in this conflict are Cox Communications which has installed new
equipment and cables to make it possible to sell local telephone service and
fast Internet connections, in addition to cable television. In response, US
West has recently begun to offer cable television service over phone lines
using a technology called VDSL. As the main battle plays itself out,
satellite companies and small cells of rival ISP's are engaged in their own
guerilla warfare to gain footholds in the rough desert landscape. Phoenix is
at the center of this mess because it's growth rate is amazing. From 30,000
twenty years ago, the population has swelled to 170,000 within the city
limits. Caught in the middle of the battle, are, of course, the consumers.
"We've gotten so sick of all the incoming information that we just block it
out," said Annette Wilkes of suburban Chandler.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A1) AUTHOR: Peter S. Goodman]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17099-2000Apr14.html)
JOBS
SBC COMMUNICATIONS SUED BY WORKERS ON STOCK SALE
Issue: Mergers/Jobs
After a series of mergers made AirTouch Communications and SBC
Communications competitors, SBC sold shares of AirTouch held in
company-controlled retirement accounts. The sale is estimated to have cost
45,000 employees and retirees $1.1 billion. A group of 18 employees,
retirees and spouses have now filed a suit claiming that SBC provided
misleading information about employees' ability to retain shares in AirTouch
by moving them into IRA accounts. Johnston writes, The suit is by far the
largest in a growing number of cases involving possible conflicts between
the self-interest of companies in how they invest their workers' retirement
money and their duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to
operate the plans "solely in the interests of the participants and
beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C2), AUTHOR: David Cay Johnston]
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/sbc-lawsuit.html)
See Also:
EMPLOYEES SUE SBC OVER STOCK IN 401(K)
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E3), AUTHOR: Albert B. Crenshaw]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40554-2000Apr18.html)
INTERNATIONAL
FREQUENCY CONFLICT MAY MAKE FRANCE A BLUETOOTH-FREE ZONE
Issue: International/Spectrum
France has the distinction of being the only country not signed on to the
Bluetooth protocol, which promises to be the world-wide standard for
short-range wireless networking. Bluetooth is the wireless technology that
lets computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices communicate with
each other. Over 1,700 high-tech companies have committed to supporting the
free and open protocol pioneered by Ericsson. So why is France not
participating? It's more a matter of "can't" than "don't want to". It
appears that the French military is already using a big chunk of the
Bluetooth radio frequency for its own communications and has so far resisted
pressure to give it up. "For the moment we're negotiating, but it's not sure
we're going to be able to move the military," says Olivier Marzouk, an
associate in the office of European affairs at France's national frequency
authority. The French armed forces control 43.5% of a large band of spectrum
that includes the 2.4-gigahertz Bluetooth frequency. They use it for
wireless communications and special testing devices. "If Bluetooth becomes a
big success and there are a lot of systems that are installed, we risk
having a lot of noise" in the army's signal, says Mr. Marzouk. Until the
issue is resolved, it will be illegal to use a Bluetooth unit in France.
This is a blow to a technology that was designed to be used world-wide with
minimal hassle.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal Interactive, AUTHOR: Kevin Delaney]
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB956086696223338851.htm
ANTITRUST
MICROSOFT'S SERVER TACTICS MAY INFLUENCE ANTITRUST CASE
Issue: Antitrust
The more you read about Microsoft, the more ya just gotta love the software
giant. Already in the remedy phase of an antitrust suit, new allegations are
being investigated that Microsoft is trying to extend its monopoly power to
the Internet and network "server" market with its new Windows 2000 operating
system. In a document submitted this week to federal officials, a group of
rivals allege that Windows 2000 works well only in an all-Microsoft network.
Microsoft says the server market is competitive and that the company
shouldn't be subject to restraints. It also charges that any new state and
federal scrutiny is being fueled by its competitors, especially Sun, Oracle
and IBM. Microsoft's effort to integrate new features into its server
software is no different from competitors' efforts to woo customers, a
spokesman said. Moreover, the company contends it would be inappropriate for
the court to include in its remedies issues that weren't raised at trial.
The market for servers "certainly wasn't a centerpiece of the case," says
Glenn B. Manishin, an antitrust lawyer in Washington who has worked with
some of the company's fiercest critics. But "the rules on remedies are, you
eliminate the monopoly and you prevent it from recurring, and that includes
prophylactic remedies to prevent a related monopoly from occurring in other
markets."
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal Interactive, AUTHOR: John Wilke and Ted Bridis]
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB956092838531461842.htm
MICROSOFT DEFENDS ITS PRACTICES
Issue: Antitrust
"I feel deeply that we behaved in every instance with super integrity. I'm
not saying we don't talk tough, that people don't get a little 'grrrr' in
their e-mail and all that." So said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaking at
the Washington Post yesterday. Ballmer's statement came even as U.S.
District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson is preparing to decide what should be
done with the company Jackson found guilty of violating federal anti-trust
law. Meanwhile, the Computer & Communications Industry Association is set to
release a white paper today which alleges that " Microsoft is using its
monopoly position on the desktop to springboard into another position of
dominance in the server market." Ballmer disagrees, but only to a point.
"Would it actually be helpful to our industry if we were less rough around
the edges--not less competitive--but less rough around the edges? Yeah, I
think it would help. . . . When you are a little rough around the edges,
people think that maybe you are trying to constrain opportunities."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E1), AUTHOR: James V. Grimaldi]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38873-2000Apr18.html)
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(www.benton.org/cpphome.html) Communications-related Headline
Service is posted Monday through Friday. The Headlines are highlights
of news articles summarized by staff at the Benton Foundation. They
describe articles of interest to the work of the Foundation -- primarily
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While the summaries are factually accurate, their often informal tone does
not represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by
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