BROADCASTING
EchoStar's Gain Could be Cablevision's Gain, Too
Clearing a Path for Digital Radio
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Mobiles Find Right Price for Farmers
Computer Majors Down Amid Tech Bust
BROADCASTING
ECHOSTAR'S GAIN COULD BE CABLEVISION'S GAIN, TOO
Cablevision, the nation's seventh-largest cable television company, could
become the beneficiary of efforts to make the proposed $26 billion
EchoStar-DirecTV merger pass regulatory muster. EchoStar must persuade the
US Justice Department that the new company has a true competitor, and may
have to consider selling some of its spectrum to a third party in order to
do so. Accordingly, Cablevision has proposed to both the FCC and DOJ that it
be allocated some of EchoStar's spectrum, which it would use to start a
competing satellite service. The News Corporation, controlled by Rupert
Murdoch, has begun "an aggressive whispering campaign" against Cablevision's
plan, according to industry insiders. EchoStar and Cablevision have not held
discussions, waiting to take a cue from regulators.
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Ross Sorkin]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/09/business/media/09BIRD.html)
CLEARING A PATH FOR DIGITAL RADIO
The FCC will consider whether to allow radio stations to broadcast digital
signals and whether it will regulate them in proceedings on Thursday.
Insiders expect the commission to approve a national digital radio standard
created by iBiquity Digital Corporation. "At this point, it's a one-horse
race," said Peter Doyle, chief of the audio division of the FCC -- a fact he
says will make the often arduous standard-setting process much easier.
IBiquity's technology would allow broadcasters to send digital and analog
signals simultaneously on their existing airwaves.
[SOURE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Shannon Henry]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63499-2002Oct9.html)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
MOBILES FIND RIGHT PRICE FOR FARMERS
Farmers and market traders in Senegal are using wireless technology to
improve business efficiencies. Manobi, established by French and Senegalese
entrepreneurs, allows farmers to check prices of foods and goods through
mobile phones before going in town to make purchases. Before having access
to the technology to obtain market information, middlemen often took
advantage of farmers, selling them goods at higher prices. The technology
allows mobile phones to dial in to a server, where prices are stored in a
database. Even though Manobi is only being tested, it is already having an
effect on the way farmers grow crops. "For a farmer it is very interesting
to note that price is not something stable," Daniel Annerose, head of
Manobi. The technology is being tested by 150 participants, who also use
mobile devices to load boats and check weather forecasts.
[SOURCE: BBC News, AUTHOR: BBC News]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2290540.stm)
COMPUTER MAJORS DOWN AMID TECH BUST
Colleges and universities are seeing a steady decline in students enrolling
in computer classes and pursuing careers in the technology industry. A weak
job market, the changing nature of technology jobs and the technology bust
are reasons why students are tailing other career options. According to the
Information Technology Association of America, the hiring of high tech
workers dropped 27 percent in the past year. More than 334,000 tech and
telecom workers have lost jobs this year, according to employment firm
Challenger Gray & Christmas. But tech companies are worried that shortages
will arise in the next couple of years as fewer and fewer students get
computer-related degrees.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Michelle Kessler]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2002-10-08-computer-science-majors_x.htm)
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