Southern Baptist Convention Calls for Boycott of Disney
In Unusual Move, F.C.C. Chief Criticizes a Possible Deal
Baptists Vote to Boycott Disney Fare
E-Magazine Started in China
Couch Potatoes Sprout Wings
AT&T-SBC Pact Expected to Draw Hundt's Concern
Baptists Vote Boycott of Disney, Calling Positions 'Immoral'
Hundt Chastises House, Senate Committees Over Spectrum "Giveaway" Legislation
Universal Service Order (FCC 97-157) was published in the June 17, 1997
Federal Register
Spectrum Policy and Auctions: What's Right, What's Left
Project Tell Celebration
*********************************************
Title: Southern Baptist Convention Calls for Boycott of Disney
Source: New York Times (A16)
Author: Allen Myerson
Issue: Religion
Description: The Southern Baptist Convention called for a boycott of the
Walt Disney Company to protest the media giant's stance on homosexuality.
Disney extended health benefits to employee's homosexual partners and aired
the controversial Ellen coming out party on ABC this year. The boycott is to
cover the entire Disney empire: movie studios, cable television channels,
book publishers, trade magazines, newspapers, television and radio stations,
theme parks, stores, the ABC network and various small island city-states.
Title: In Unusual Move, F.C.C. Chief Criticizes a Possible Deal
Source: New York Times (D1)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Mergers
Description: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt plans to
deliver a "tart, point-by-point rebuttal" to AT&T's chairman Robert Allen's
rationale for a possible merger between the largest long distance company
and the largest of the six Baby Bells, SBC. "Congress, in my view, intended
these companies to be in separate war rooms, planning strategies directed at
each other's markets. Congress did not intend AT&T and the Bells to be in
each other's board rooms discussion combinations." Hundt likened a AT&T/SBC
deal to allowing the dominant producer to merge with the monopoly supplier
of bran -- so that the combined company could compete in the raisin bran
industry.
Title: Baptists Vote to Boycott Disney Fare
Source: Washington Post (A1)
Author: Marc Fisher and Paul Farhi
Issue: Religion
Description: Yesterday the Southern Baptists Convention, the nation's
biggest Protestant denomination, started a boycott of the Walt Disney
Corporation. The 15 million member Baptist group joined with other
religious denominations and conservative Christian organizations to rally
against "what they see as Disney's acceptance of homosexuality in its
employment practices and its entertainment products." Disney products such
as the films Kids and Priest, about a gay clergyman, and the TV show,
Ellen, along with Gay Days at Walt Disney World and the company's inclusion
of employees' homosexual partners in health benefits has angered
conservative Christian groups for awhile. CPP Pop quiz: Were Minnie and
Mickey married?
Title: E-Magazine Started in China
Source: Washington Post (A22)
Author: Reutuer Staff
Issue: International
Description: China has its first underground electronic magazine called
Tunnel. Tunnel has had three issues since June and aims to help break the
lock on information and expression.
Title: Couch Potatoes Sprout Wings
Source: Washington Post (D1)
Author: Art Buchwald
Issue: TV/Disturbing Marketing Trends
Description: "Just when you thought there was no more the airlines could
do for you, they have added an incentive to get you to stay at home." You
too can get American Airlines frequent flyer miles by watching ABC shows and
filling out a questionnaire to prove that you did. "Everyone is taking it
seriously. Mark Weinberger who had a tennis game scheduled with me,
canceled at the last moment. His explanation was, 'I have to watch Prime
Time Live if I want to be upgraded to first class to Albany next week."
Title: AT&T-SBC Pact Expected to Draw Hundt's Concern
Source: Wall Street Journal (A8)
Author: Bryan Gruley
Issue: Mergers
Description: FCC Chairman Reed Hundt is expected to speak today on his
concerns about the proposed AT&T-SBC merger. Hundt's remarks will be a
response to AT&T Chairman Robert Allen's comments that the merger could
be pro-competitive.
Title: Baptists Vote Boycott of Disney, Calling Positions 'Immoral'
Source: Wall Street Journal (B2)
Author: WSJ Staff Reporter
Issue: Religion
Description: The Southern Baptist Convention voted to boycott Walt
Disney because of its "anti-Christian and anti-family direction." The group
is angered by Disney's decision to provide medical benefits to partners of
gay employees and Ellen's coming out episode.
Title: Hundt Chastises House, Senate Committees Over Spectrum "Giveaway"
Legislation
Source: Telecommunications Reports Daily
Issue: Digital TV/Spectrum
Description: In a speech addressing Citizens for a Sound Economy
, Federal Communications
Commission Chairman Reed Hundt criticized House and Senate reconciliation
bills that would allow broadcasters to hold on to additional spectrum until
less than 5% of US homes are using analog TV sets. Chairman Hundt said these
provisions will turn the "loan" of additional spectrum into a "gift." Hundt
said provisions in the Senate bill will also strip power from the FCC to
enforce a strict buildout schedule for digital broadcast facilities. That
power will be replaced with a directive that the FCC "encourage"
broadcasters to provide digital signals by Nov 1, 1999.
At the FCC
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION
UNIVERSAL SERVICE, DOCKET NO. 96-45
The FCC's 5-08-97 Universal Service Order (FCC 97-157) was
published in the June 17, 1997 Federal Register. Effective dates:
July 17, 1997, except for Subpart E of Part 54 which will become
effective on January 1, 1998. This publication includes changes
made in the FCC's 6-04-97 errata. Petitions for Reconsideration of
the Order are due 7-17-97. Pursuant to Part 1 rules, oppositions to
petitions are due 15 days after notice of any petitions appears
in the Federal Register. Replies to oppositions are due 10 days
after the date for filing oppositions has expired.
Chairman Hundt's 6/18/97 Speech "Spectrum Policy and Auctions: What's Right,
What's Left" to the Citizens for a Sound Economy, in Washington, D.C.
Chairman Hundt's 6/17/97 Speech to the Project Tell Celebration at the City
University of New York
*********