MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Arizona Citizens Blast FCC in Public Forum
Mr. Murdoch's War
Hughes Sale May Happen This Week
Italian Leader Faces Dissent Over Control of the Media
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Wi-Fi for Everyone
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
ARIZONA CITIZENS BLAST FCC IN PUBLIC FORUM
At an Arizona public forum co-hosted by the Benton Foundation yesterday, a
group of over 80 citizens, journalists and policymakers gathered at the KAET
studio to debate FCC proposals to deregulate US media ownership limits. FCC
Commissioner Michael Copps, speaking at the event, argued that the FCC
should give the public more opportunities to offer input on the proposed
deregulation. "There's potential to remake our entire communications
landscape, for better or for worse, for many years to come," Copps said.
Phoenix art gallery owner Kimber Lanning complained that previous
deregulation of the radio industry had allowed corporate monopolies to
squeeze the diversity out of radio programming. "It's like having the most
vibrant colors you can imagine watered down into the most blah shade of
brown," Lanning said. Benton Foundation President Andrea Taylor added that
public forums were important tools to give citizens a chance to weigh the
potential impact of deregulation. "Once the ruling occurs and people begin
to digest the impact, there will be even greater concern, but by then it
will be too late," she said.
[SOURCE: Arizona State University, AUTHOR: Garrett Neese]
(http://www.asuwebdevil.com/news/411406.html)
(Requires free registration)
MR. MURDOCH'S WAR
Long rumored to have exercised editorial control over his various media
holdings, some experts believe that News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch now wields
even more control over political thought. Murdoch has been outspoken
concerning his views on the military conflict in Iraq, and his feelings are
reflected in Fox News broadcasts as well as through the recently acquired
Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine that has been closely read in the
White House. Though the CEO says that he has no time to be involved in the
newsroom anymore, several employees report that he serves as an "information
service" for them. As media ownership regulations face potential relaxation
around the world, Murdoch has announced plans to expand his media empire
into China and India.
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: David D. Kirkpatrick]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/07/business/media/07RUPE.html)
HUGHES SALE MAY HAPPEN THIS WEEK
News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch's efforts to own DirecTV may come to fruition
this week. Sources close to the companies believe that a meeting to discuss
a Murdoch takeover of DirecTV parent Hughes Electronics as soon as
Wednesday. With Murdoch as the only bidder, satellite industry pundits feel
that the only outstanding issue is, "Can [Hughes parent] GM blow it again,"
referring to last year's failed bid to merge with EchoStar. Murdoch sees
satellite as a way to build his US programming assets, which include network
and cable holdings. Ever since the mid-1990s, when many cable operators
refused to carry his Fox News Channel, Murdoch has been determined to add
DirecTV's 11.3 million US subscribers to his satellite properties in Europe,
Asia and Latin America.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: David Leiberman]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/2003-04-07-directv_x.htm)
ITALIAN LEADER FACES DISSENT OVER CONTROL OF THE MEDIA
In what has been described as a major political coup, a faction of Italy's
governing party in parliament amended a bill that would have increased Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi's power in the country's media. Berlusconi
currently owns Italy's largest private TV network and indirectly controls
public broadcasting. The proposed bill would have removed restrictions on
TV-newspaper cross-ownership, increasing ad revenue ceilings and permitting
a company to control more than one TV station in the same market. As a
result of the secret vote, however, Berlusconi may be forced to give up one
of his three private channels.
[SOURCE: The New York Times]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/06/international/europe/06ITAL.html)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
WI-FI FOR EVERYONE
Private, public and nonprofit sources are converging to offer low-cost
wireless broadband access in low-income areas. The United Way of
Southeastern Pennsylvania, for example, is working to build Wi-Fi hotspots
in West Philadelphia to serve a homeless shelter and clients of a community
housing group. The service will cost $5-$10 per month, aided by subsidies
from the state and community groups as well as networking companies such as
IBM, Cisco and Unisys. Boston, San Jose and Chicago are performing similar
projects to bring broadband to low-income housing.
[SOURCE: 802.11 Planet, AUTHOR: Ed Sutherland]
(http://www.80211-planet.com/columns/article.php/2177251)
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