In Praise of Ira...Sort Of
An Internet Summit
TV Ratings Pact Moves Forward
Note: Well, it's official...Headlines co-writer and co-founder Susan Goslee
susang( at )benton.org will be leaving the Benton Foundation in early August.
Despite rumors to the contrary, Ms. Goslee will *not* be switching jobs with
current FCC Chairman Reed Hundt. She will, however, join him in the writers'
circuit as she heads off to the University of Alabama to study creative
writing, cloning, and badger anatomy. "The communications revolution ends
August 8," Ms. Goslee said. "I don't want to read another word about
mergers, Rupert Murdoch, or local phone competition."
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Title: In Praise of Ira...Sort Of
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(A14)
Author: James Freeman, producer of PBS' "TechnoPolitics"
Issue: Electronic Commerce
Description: Can the Clinton Administration keep its hands off the Internet?
The new report by Ira Magaziner says it will, but the White House has not
supported a bill in Congress that will prohibit any new taxes on the
Internet. The bill does not get much backing from state and local politicians.
Title: An Internet Summit
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (A22)
Author: WP Editorial Staff
Issue: Internet Content
Description: It may seem like Clinton is doing political acrobatics by
encouraging other countries to adopt a hands-off policy on Internet
regulation and at the same time calling for better protections for children
in cyberspace. However, in cyberspace this dual position may be the only
one that really makes sense. The White House will call together parents,
child-advocacy groups, industry experts, and anti-porn experts to study how
to make the Internet safer for kids. One of the goals of this gathering is
to pressure industry folks into some voluntary regulation.
Title: TV Ratings Pact Moves Forward
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (C1)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: V-Chip Cha-Cha-Cha
Description: A final agreement on the revised television ratings system
is expected to be announced tomorrow. If the TV industry has made a deal
with Congress and parent groups, then the ratings will start October 1.
The TV industry requested a three year period during which time they would
be protected from content legislation. Parent groups were initially not
keen on this, but four Representatives who were active in the initial V-Chip
debate -- Edward Markey (D-MA), Dan Burton (R-IN), James Moran (D-VA), John
Spratt Jr. (D-SC) and Billy Tauzin (R-LA) -- have said they will
back the three year grace period if negotiators can reach a deal. Parent
groups may agree if they can hold on to the right to criticize the industry
publicly.
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