Universal Service
Chairman Kennard Tells Mayors U.S. Faces Third Great
Education Challenge (FCC)
Mergers
AT&T Agrees to Buy TCI in $48 Billion Deal (NYT)
AT&T Trying to Buy TCI (WP)
Ma Cable? AT&T Appears Close to a Deal to
Acquire TCI for $30 Billion (WSJ)
Euro Commission, MCI, WorldCom Strike Merger Deal (WSJ)
Mergers and Consolidation in the Telecommunications Industry (FCC)
Antitrust
Microsoft Winner In Appeal To Keep Software Intact (NYT)
U.S. loses round to Microsoft (ChiTrib)
Microsoft Scores a Court Victory in Fight With Justice (WP)
Microsoft Wins a Battle in Antitrust War (WSJ)
Internet Regulation
House Passes Bill to Ban Taxes on Internet Sales (WSJ)
On-line pornography invades public libraries (ChiTrib)
Spam Attack (WP)
Telephone Regulation
House Telecom Subcommittee Debates Slamming Bills (TelecomAM)
Privacy
Don't Sacrifice Freedom for 'Privacy' (WSJ)
Journalism
"Liberal Media?" Not By These Numbers (ChiTrib)
Media & Politics
Candidates, media sought for trial run in campaign reform
(ChiTrib)
Philanthropy
Soros to Give $6 Million to New York Schools (NYT)
Advertising
Advertising: Rosy and Getting Rosier (NYT)
Some Sweet News
Sweet Homecoming: Bakery Cuts Deal to Reunite
Ring Dings and Ding Dongs
** Universal Service **
Title: Chairman Kennard Tells Mayors U.S. Faces Third Great Education
Challenge
Source: FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/spwek818.html
Author: Chairman Kennard
Issue: Universal Service
Description: "FCC Chairman William Kennard said yesterday that our country's
education system faces its third great challenge in the last 150 years -
whether to make the benefits of technology available to ALL children or to
let our nation develop a "digital divide" of information "haves" and
"have-nots.""
** Mergers **
Title: AT&T Agrees to Buy TCI in $48 Billion Deal
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/late/
Title: AT&T Trying to Buy TCI
Source: Washington Post (A1)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-06/24/059l-062498-idx.html
Author: Paul Farhi and Mike Mills
Issue: Mergers
Description: AT&T will but Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) for $32 billion in
stock and $16 in debt. TCI has 14 million cable customers across the United
States.
Title: Ma Cable? AT&T Appears Close to a Deal to Acquire TCI for $30 Billion
Source: Wall Street Journal, A1, A8
http://www.wsj.com/http://www.wsj.com
Author: Leslie Cauley
Issue: AT&T is buying the nation's largest cable-TV operator,
TeleCommunications Inc, giving AT&T instant access to TCI's 22 million
cable-ready homes in dozens of states and offering AT&T a digital platform for
selling both long distance and local phone service, not to mention the cable
Internet capabilities already in place. The purchase offers AT&T a "nifty
detour" [that's what they wrote] around the "last mile" -- the phone wiring
into millions of homes and businesses that until now have been the complete
domain of local phone companies. And the purchase also includes assets such as
some of America's most popular cable networks (Discovery, Black Entertainment
Television).
Title: Euro Commission, MCI, WorldCom Strike Merger Deal
Source: Wall Street Journal, B6
http://www.wsj.com/http://www.wsj.com
Author: Julie Wolf & Jennifer Schenker
Issue: Mergers
Description: The European Commission has reached an agreement with WorldCom
and MCI that will allow the $37 billion merger to move forward. While details
weren't forthcoming, the two companies have apparently met the commission's
key demand that they eliminate any overlap in their Internet activities.
Title: Mergers and Consolidation in the Telecommunications Industry
Source: FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Ness/States/stsn820.html
Author: Commissioner Ness
Issue: Mergers
Description: Commissioner Ness's Statement on Mergers and Consolidation in
the Telecommunications Industry before the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary.
** Antitrust **
Title: Microsoft Winner In Appeal To Keep Software Intact
Source: New York Times (A1)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/06/biztech/articles/24microsoft.html
Author: Joel Brinkley
Title: U.S. loses round to Microsoft
Source: Chicago Tribune (p.1)
http://chicago.tribune.com
Author: Naftali Bendavid
Title: Microsoft Scores a Court Victory in Fight With Justice
Source: Washington Post (C9)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-06/24/084l-062498-idx.html
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Title: Microsoft Wins a Battle in Antitrust War
Source: Wall Street Journal, A3, A10
http://www.wsj.com/http://www.wsj.com
Author: John R. Wilke & David Bank
Issue: Antitrust
Description: A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia has ruled that Federal District Judge Thomas
Penfield Jackson "erred procedurally" by issuing a preliminary injunction
without giving Microsoft a chance to present its case, and "substantively"
by misinterpreting the intent of antitrust law. The court ruled that
Microsoft had a right to determine which bugs...um...features and functions
to include in its operating software as long as the combination "offers
advantages unavailable" if a consumer were to purchase separate software
products and combine them to achieve similar capabilities. "Antitrust
scholars have long recognized the undesirability of having courts oversee
product design, and any dampening of technological innovation would be at
cross-purposes with antitrust law," said the text of Tuesday's decision.
** Internet Regulation **
Title: House Passes Bill to Ban Taxes on Internet Sales
Source: Wall Street Journal, B5
http://www.wsj.com/http://www.wsj.com
Author: WSJ Staff Reporter
Issue: Electronic Commerce
Description: The House yesterday passed, unanimously, a bill to ban taxes on
Internet sales and services for three years. The Act would also create a
temporary commission to study electronic commerce tax issues.
Title: On-line pornography invades public libraries
Source: Chicago Tribune (Sec 1, p.15)
http://chicago.tribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/article/0,1051,SAV-98062
40247,00.html
Author: Kathleen Parker
Issue: Libraries
Description: What are your kids doing at the library, Parker asks.
Downloading porn off the Internet. At least they can because of our national
infatuation with Internet access for all. Parker supports the mother suing
the Livermore Public Library because her son gained access to porn.
Title: Spam Attack
Source: Washington Post (A16)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-06/24/015l-062498-idx.html
Author: WP Editorial Staff
Issue: Internet Regulation
Description: "Is "spam," as junk e-mail is known, just a price you pay for
using the Internet, or is it an environmental hazard demanding government
action?" The Senate has passed legislation introduced by Sens. Frank
Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Robert Torricelli (D-NJ). The arguments for
regulating unsolicited, bulk commercial email are 1) the recipient pays, it
raises overall costs of the Internet, and it slows the computer network
down. "If that can be fixed, though, taking a small, cautious step such as
this one is probably the right way to go."
** Telephone Regulation **
Title: House Telecom Subcommittee Debates Slamming Bills
Source: Telecom AM
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Telephone Regulation
Description: On June 23, House Telecom Subcommittee debated two versions of
an anti-slamming bill (S-1618) passed in the Senate in May. Subcommittee
Chairman Billy Tauzin's (R-LA) anti-slamming bill (HR-3888) includes
restrictions on the sending of unsolicited
e-mail, popularly known as spamming. The bill gives the FCC new powers to
combat slamming, but does not arm the agency with the large fines that the
Senate bill does. John Dingell (D-MI), the Ranking Member of the Commerce
Committee, is backing a bill (HR-3050) that has three main differences: 1)
slamming enforcement would move from the FCC to the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC); 2) slammers would be required to reimburse customers for calls made
for three months after they were slammed; and 3) the bill contains no
anti-spamming provisions. TelecomAM reports, "many in Congress hope to have
a law on the President's desk in time to take the popular
consumer-protection issue home for next Fall's elections."
** Privacy **
Title: Don't Sacrifice Freedom for 'Privacy'
Source: Wall Street Journal, A18
http://www.wsj.com/http://www.wsj.com
Author: Solveig Singleton (editorial)
Issue: Privacy
Description: Expressing concern about the European Union's recent efforts to
urge U.S. lawmakers to enact Europe-style privacy regulations [which have
strong consumer/citizen protections], Singleton claims that "danger to privacy
and other rights is best restricted by limiting the power and scope of
government, not by limiting the freedom of businesses to trade information."
And this: "It makes no more sense to let you prevent [a store] from giving out
your name and address in a list of hedge-trimmer buyers than it would to give
the store the right to forbid you from telling Consumer Reports what you think
of the trimmer [you purchased]." Singleton is director of information studies
at the Cato Institute.
** Journalism **
Title: "Liberal Media?" Not By These Numbers
Source: Chicago Tribune (Sec 1, p.15)
http://chicago.tribune.com
Author: Clarence Page
Issue: Journalism
Description: Page examines the recent FAIR poll that reports that Washington
DC-based journalists are more conservative than the general public. Page
does not take much such stock in such polls, however, because a good
journalist does not let his or her personal views get in the way of their
work. The right and the left are complaining out the media, so journalists
must be doing something right. The only bias journalists should show is for
a good story.
** Campaign Finance Reform **
Title: Candidates, media sought for trial run in campaign reform
Source: Chicago Tribune (Sec 2, p.8)
http://chicago.tribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,1051,SAV-9806240174
,00.html
Author: Bob Kemper
Issue: Media&Politics
Description: Paul Taylor's Alliance for Better Campaigns is working with
Paul Simon's Illinois Campaign for Political Reform to persuade television
stations and candidates to alter the way campaigns are covered this fall. If
successful their efforts will produce five minute mini-debates between the
gubnortorial candidates on nightly newscasts. Candidates would also agree to
appear in their own ads which would discourage negative attack ads. The
media would step up analysis of candidates' ads. But it may be an uphill
battle for the groups to see changes in campaign coverage. The major-party
candidates, Republican George Ryan and Democrat Glenn Poshard, are
considering the groups' proposals, but have not committed to them. The
Illinois Broadcasters Association plans to discuss the proposals today at a
meeting in Peoria. A spokesperson for the group said many stations already
do what the groups are asking for. [Illinois Broadcasters Association 1125
South Fifth Street Springfield, IL 62703 Phone#: 217-753-2636 E-Mail:
info( at )ilba.org]
** Philanthropy **
Title: Soros to Give $6 Million to New York Schools
Source: New York Times (A24)
http://www.nytimes.com/
Issue: Philanthropy
Description: The Open Society Institute announced that George Soros will
give $6.4 million to expand after-school programs in 25 New York city public
schools. The Board of Education will match $4 million and NY's City Council
will make another $5 million available. The funds will allow the schools'
after-school programs to accommodate all of their students -- presently the
schools have small programs. The programs are aimed to provide academic
enrichment as well as athletic and arts activities from 3-6pm on weekdays.
The after-school sessions will be run by nonprofit organizations such as the
Dance Theater of Harlem, project Reach Youth, and the YMCA.
** Advertising **
Title: Advertising: Rosy and Getting Rosier
Source: New York Times (C8)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/forecast-ad-column.html
Author: Stuart Elliot
Issue: Advertising
Description: Predictions for total advertising spending in 1998 keep going
up. McCann-Erickson USA is estimating a record $200.3 billion -- up 6.8%
from last year. Ad spending is closely watched because it is deemed a
reliable indicator of the health of the economy.
** Some Sweet News **
Title: Sweet Homecoming: Bakery Cuts Deal to Reunite Ring Dings and Ding Dongs
Source: Wall Street Journal, B12
http://www.wsj.com/http://www.wsj.com
Author: Richard Gibson
Issue: Sweet Tooth
Description: After breaking up more than a decade ago, the two snack-cake
brands will soon be under the same corporate ownership, Interstate Bakeries
Corp. "This is a fun deal," said Interstate's chairman and CEO. The
snack-cakes business has recently benefited from the "Ring Around the Rosie"
phenomenon: Popular daytime TV talk show hostess [cupcake] Rosie O'Donnell has
frequently promoted Drake cakes, even eating them on the air. [I kid you not;
this was in the Wall Street Journal.]
*********
Thanks to guest contributor Jillaine Smith!