Communications-Related Headlines for December 3, 2002

DIGITAL DIVIDE
Antonia "Toni" Stone, Founder of Playing to Win and CTCNet
Helping Bridge the 'Digital Divide'

OWNERSHIP
Fewer Media Owners, More Media Choices=20

BROADBAND=20
AOL to Announce New Focus on High-Speed Internet Service

DIGITAL DIVIDE

HELPING BRIDGE THE 'DIGITAL DIVIDE'
A community outreach group funded in part by Cornell University is =
doing its
part to bridge the Digital Divide in the local community. The Cornell =
Ithaca
Partnership is working diligently to put computers in 57 homes where
grade-school-aged children would otherwise not have home access. "In =
this
educational environment, a computer is a necessity," said Tish =
Pearlman,
program coordinator for the partnership. Tony Wilhelm, vice president =
of the
Benton Foundation, applauded the project, noting the importance of =
"students
hav[ing] both quality and quantity access to computers.=B2
[SOURCE: The Ithaca Journal, AUTHOR: Dan Higgins]
(http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20021129/localregional/469=
983.
html)

ANTONIA "TONI" STONE, FOUNDER OF PLAYING TO WIN AND CTCNET
As many readers already know, the community technology movement lost =
one of
its pioneering figures last month. Antonia "Toni" Stone died of
complications from myelodysplasia on November 21, leaving behind a
well-paved path for others serving urban technology needs. Toni =
founded the
Harlem Community Computing Center in 1983, a full decade before most =
people
even recognized the existence of a Digital Divide. Her commitment to
equitable access to computing characterized her career serving the =
public
interest. A biographical remembrance can be found at the link below.
[SOURCE: CTCNet, AUTHOR: Peter Miller]
(http://www.ctcnet.org/tonistone/bio.htm)

OWNERSHIP

FEWER MEDIA OWNERS, MORE MEDIA CHOICES=20
The Federal Communications Commission will consider the impact of the
Internet and the expansion of cable and satellite TV as debates the
elimination of ownership restrictions in what could be the largest =
overhaul
of media regulations in a generation. Many believe that there are more =
than
enough media options available to the average American home - 89 =
channels by
the count of Nielsen Media Research. "When I look at the trends in
television over the last 20 to 50 years, I see a constant and =
increasing
explosion in variety," said Michael Powell, the F.C.C. chairman. "In =
the
purported golden age of television there were three networks." But =
public
interest advocates argue that while the number of national television
channels has increased greatly, ownership of those outlets has not.=20
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jim Rutenberg]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/02/business/media/02MEDI.html)

BROADBAND=20

AOL TO ANNOUNCE NEW FOCUS ON HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SERVICE
AOL Chairman Jonathan Miller is expected today to announce a major =
strategic
shift for the company -- a move away from selling Internet access and =
toward
providing a high-speed version of its services. The service, which is
currently available but marketed only sparingly until now, serves as an
add-on for customers of telephone and cable high-speed access. AOL has
suffered from a decline in ad revenue and competition from high-speed
providers. As part of its plan to attract and retain members, AOL may =
join
with sister companies Warner Bros., Time, Inc. and Turner Broadcasting =
to
provide exclusive content.
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: David D. Kirkpatrick]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/03/technology/03AOL.html)

=20
----------------------------------------------------------------------