MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Senate Votes This Week on Reversing Media Ownership Rules
E-GOVERNMENT
Study: Readability is a Problem for State, Federal Govt Websites
Handful of Consumer-Savvy Federal Websites Score Big in New Survey
TELECOM POLICY
FCC: Stern Show Is 'News Interview' Show
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Patent Could Force Web Change
INTERNET
Bringing Broadband Over the Mountain
WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
Info Tech Must be Used to Improve Life in Poor Countries - Annan
Strong Commitment from Heads of State and Government for WSIS
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MEDIA OWNERSHIP
SENATE VOTES THIS WEEK ON REVERSING MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES
This week, the Senate is expected to vote on the FCC's controversial media
ownership rules. The vote, if passed, would effectively block the FCC from
enacting the new rules. Senate critics on both side of the aisle are
concerned the rules would lead to a wave of media mergers that could stifle
diversity and locally-produced content. The White House is threatening a
veto.
SOURCE: WISH-TV; AUTHOR: Associated Press
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1442366
E-GOVERNMENT
STUDY: READABILITY IS A PROBLEM FOR STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
The Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University released the
results of their fourth annual survey reviewing the readability of US
e-government websites. The study examined over 1,600 state and local
government websites, as well as 60 federal sites. The results suggest that
the average government website is written at the 11th grade level, despite
the fact that half of all Americans read at the eight grade level or lower.
Two-thirds of websites reviewed were written at the 12th grade level, while
only 12 percent were at the eighth grade level or lower. Websites with
information presumably geared to less-education populations required some of
the highest reading levels: 83 percent of corrections department websites,
79 percent of economic development sites and 67 percent of health/human
services sites were written at the 12th grade level. Additionally, only 33
percent of state and federal sites satisfied the W3C standard of website
accessibility, while 24 percent met the "Section 508" federal accessibility
guidelines. The Benton Foundation, in conjunction with the New York State
Forum, is funding a policy briefing report from the Taubman Center to
discuss policy recommendations of the research. The report is scheduled to
be released in October.
SOURCE: Taubman Center for Public Policy; AUTHOR: Darrell West
http://www.insidepolitics.org/PressRelease03us.html
Read the survey results:
http://www.insidepolitics.org/egovt03us.html
http://www.insidepolitics.org/egovt03us.pdf
HANDFUL OF CONSUMER-SAVVY FEDERAL WEBSITES SCORE BIG IN NEW SURVEY
Meanwhile, a customer survey report scheduled for release today through
ForeSee Results and the University of Michigan suggests that the development
of user-friendly electronic government is actually on the rise. A handful of
federal websites earned scores on a customer satisfaction index that put
them on par with popular private-sector sites. Twenty-two federal agencies
participated in the survey, which will aid these agencies in their analysis
of user feedback to improve their websites. The top-scoring federal site,
www.4women.gov, is run by the National Women's Health Information Center at
the Health and Human Services Department. This site in particular did a good
job of taking the "government approach" out of its design by creating an
experience which resembles a commercial website, commented Larry Freed,
president of ForeSee Results. Other highly ranked federal sites were
www.nasa.gov, the main site for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, www.ers.usda.gov, run by the Agriculture Department's
Economic Research Service and www.firstgov.gov, the government-wide portal
operated by the General Services Administration.
SOURCE: Washington Post; AUTHOR: Stephen Barr
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11006-2003Sep14.html
TELECOM POLICY
FCC: STERN SHOW IS 'NEWS INTERVIEW' SHOW
Last week the FCC ruled that Howard Stern's radio program is a "bona fide
news interview" program. The ruling makes the widely syndicated Stern show
exempt from equal time requirements for political candidates. Now Stern will
be able to put Arnold Schwarzenegger on the air without having to offer time
to other candidates running for governor in California. The FCC cited other
programs that have qualified for the news interview exemption, including
"Donahue," "Jerry Springer" and "Politically Incorrect." Infinity
Broadcasting Operations Inc., which agreed to pay $1.7 million to settle a
series of indecency charges brought against the show by the FCC in 1995, is
"pleased" with the commission's ruling. Not pleased with the decision is
Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, a
Washington-based media watchdog group. "Howard Stern isn't 'bona fide'
anything," Schwartzman said. He said the decision "mocks that system by
equating Howard Stern with Tim Russert," host of NBC's "Meet the Press."
SOURCE: ABC News; AUTHOR: Associated Press
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20030909_2779.html
DIGITAL DIVIDE
BRINGING BROADBAND OVER THE MOUNTAIN
Roadstar Internet Inc. is using wireless technology to bring broadband
service to more than 150 customers in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, where cable modems and DSL do not reach. Roadstar uses an
unlicensed portion of the spectrum that is beamed in from Equinox Inc.,
something of a "flea market" for bandwidth. The signal travels 18 miles from
the Equinox facility to a 1,200-foot crest in the mountains, where
Roadster's receiver is perched on a barn. From the barn, the signal is
retransmitted to a dozen repeater stations, which pass the signal on to
homes and offices. Martin Dougherty, Roadster's chief executive, said the
company would need more unlicensed spectrum to grow the business.
"Eventually I'm going to run out of spectrum and I'm going to have to tell
customers, 'I can't help you,'" said Dougherty. Last week the FCC voted to
propose several regulatory amendments intended to help entrepreneurs like
Dougherty bring wireless broadband to rural America. Although wireless is
one of the few options available to many rural residents today, other
technologies such as satellite and cable, are entering the market.
SOURCE: Washington Post; AUTHOR: Griff Witte
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9955-2003Sep14.html
For a similar story in Appalachia, see
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2003-09-12-digital-divide_x...
INTERNET
PATENT COULD FORCE WEB CHANGE
Web developers are anxiously awaiting a Microsoft announcement of changes to
the Internet Explorer browser in response to a court ruling against the
company. A Chicago district court ruled in favor of Eolas, a small company
holding the patent for the technology that allows Web hyperlinks to activate
external software applications. This would include, for example, clicking on
a link to load a Flash movie or a video player. Last month, the court
awarded $521 million in damages to Eolas and ordered Microsoft to remove all
infringing technology from its browser and other programs. This presents a
puzzling problem for not only Microsoft but for other browser companies such
as Netscape and Opera. "We are evaluating our options and may take
precautionary steps in terms of any changes we may need to make to Internet
Explorer," admits Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler. Microsoft plans to appeal
the decision, but it could be 18 months before the Federal Circuit Court of
Appeals makes its final decision.
SOURCE: BBC; AUTHOR: Bill Thompson
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3109180.stm
WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
INFO TECH MUST BE USED TO IMPROVE LIFE IN POOR COUNTRIES - ANNAN
At the fifth meeting of the United Nations Information and Communications
Technologies (ICT) Task Force in Geneva, UN Secretary-General Annan said
that ICT should be used to improve the quality of life in developing
countries. "New technologies and applications continue to emerge. Current
technologies are maturing, and old ones are finding new uses," Annan said in
his videotaped statement. "We must ensure that the poor are not left further
behind by all these dramatic changes, but can join in, and benefit from
them." Annan went on to urge the task force to take advantage of this
December's World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Approximately
1,500 leaders from government, civil society and the private sector are
meeting in Geneva this week and next to finalize the agenda and goals of the
summit (see story below).
SOURCE: United Nations
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=8227
Transcript of Annan speech:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/sgsm8867.doc.htm
STRONG COMMITMENT FROM HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT FOR WSIS
At the start of meetings in Geneva to finalize the agenda for WSIS, the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) announced that over 40 heads of
state from around the world have committed to taking part in the summit.
"The interest expressed by leaders from both the developed and developing
world is evidence of how information and communication technologies are
transforming the global economy and society," said Mr Yoshio Utsumi,
Secretary-General of the ITU. "there is widespread recognition among leaders
that collective action is required to address the digital divide and its
implications for broader social and economic development." Among the goals
being considered for the summit's action plan: all villages to be connected
to the Internet by 2010; all universities to be connected by 2005, secondary
schools by 2010 and primary schools by 2015; and all hospitals to be
connected by 2005, and health centers by 2010.
SOURCE: International Telecommunications Union
http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/press_releases/itu/2003/prepcom3opens.html
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