FCC
Bell Firms Pledge to Fight New FCC Rules
Easing Ownership Limits is Key Topic
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Low-Income Housing Goes Wireless
GOVERNMENT & MEDIA
Firing Leaflets and Electrons, U.S. Wages Information War
FCC
BELL FIRMS PLEDGE TO FIGHT NEW FCC RULES
SBC Communications, Inc. and BellSouth pledged yesterday to fight last
week's FCC ruling in US federal court, adding that they would not invest in
high-speed Internet lines until the rules governing local telephony are
removed. The FCC preserved the system requiring the Bells to lease their
voice lines to competitors at discount rates but eliminated similar rules
for broadband Internet infrastructure, a position the Bells had formerly
lobbied for. "Considering the Bells got almost precisely the broadband
relief they requested, relief they argued would lead to increased
investment, their change of heart makes you wonder whether they really want
to increase spending at this time," an anonymous Bush administration
official said.
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jonathan Krim]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62234-2003Feb24.html)
EASING OWNERSHIP LIMITS IS KEY TOPIC
The FCC will hold its only official public hearing on media ownership rules
this Thursday in Richmond, Virginia. The meeting will feature three panel
discussion, each of which to be following by 30 minutes of public comment.
Participants need not register in advance. The commission is expected to
rule on media ownership rules by late spring.
[SOURCE: Richmond Times-Dispatch, AUTHOR: Bob Raymer]
(http://www.timesdispatch.com/frontpage/MGB0LMK7LCD.html)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
LOW-INCOME HOUSING GOES WIRELESS
Thanks to the Creating Community Connections Project, residents of a
low-income housing facility in Boston, MA have high-speed Internet at their
fingertips, no matter where they roam. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
grad students Richard O'Bryant and Randall Pinkett approached the residents
of Camfield Estates motivated by a desire to extend equal access to
technology in poor communities. "[The federal government] set[s] up
empowerment zones, they set up family self-sufficiency programs, but there
really isn't a component there that relates to technology," said O'Bryant.
The program has been a boon for residents of all ages, who use the
connection to read the news, keep in touch with family and perform school
tasks; some residents have decided to pursue a career in information
technology.
[SOURCE: CNN, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/02/24/housing.hotspot.ap/index.html)
GOVERNMENT & MEDIA
FIRING LEAFLETS AND ELECTRONS, U.S. WAGES INFORMATION WAR
US military officials are hoping that any war in Iraq is primarily a war of
information, as the Pentagon has implemented a coordinated information salvo
with the goal of convincing Iraqi soldiers to surrender. "The goal of
information warfare is to win without ever firing a shot," said James R.
Wilkinson, a spokesman for US Central Command in Tampa, Florida. "If action
does begin, information warfare is used to make the conflict as short as
possible." Communication technology has been part of the assault.
Cyber-warfare experts used email and direct cell phone contact to persuade
Iraqi leaders to abandon the Hussein regime. Meanwhile, radio transmissions
from Air Force Special Ops planes are aimed at impressionable young
soldiers, spreading the message, "Any war is not against the Iraqi people,
but is to disarm Mr. Hussein and end his government."
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: Thom Shanker And Eric Schmitt]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/24/international/middleeast/24MILI.html)
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