MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Commentary: Must-Own TV
E-GOVERNMENT
Don't They Know It's Online?
E-COMMERCE
New Efforts to Fight Identity Theft
21ST CENTURY SKILLS
Microsoft Tackles IT Skills Gap with $1 Billion Initiative
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Cisco to Fund Voice Mail for Poor
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MEDIA OWNERSHIP
MUST-OWN TV
[Commentary] As a potential deal between General Electric's NBC network and
Vivendi Universal's studios inches closer to reality, the impetus behind the
deal becomes more evident. Since 1995, when the federal government lifted
its long-standing financial and syndication (fin-syn) rules preventing a
network from owning its content (or a studio from owning a network), almost
every major network has struck a deal. Disney's purchase of ABC, Viacom's
merger with CBS and the creation of networks such as the WB and UPN evidence
this trend. Thus, the Universal deal makes sense for NBC, who currently pays
the studio exorbitant figures per episode for programs like "Friends" ($10
million), the syndication rights to which Universal can subsequently sell.
In light of this, the New York Times editors contend, it might make more
sense for the FCC to focus less on what they call the "anachronistic"
broadcast ownership cap and draw up new rules for the changed media economy.
In an age in which media giants control both the content and the
distribution methods, a variation on the fin-syn regulations would be a
start.
SOURCE: The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/04/opinion/04THU2.html
E-GOVERNMENT
DON'T THEY KNOW IT'S ONLINE?
When Lord Hutton was appointed head of the inquiry into the death of David
Kelly, the British weapons expert who killed himself this summer, he
expressed a commitment to public access to spoken and documented evidence.
Accordingly, the Web team for the inquiry works swiftly to publish every
twist and turn of the hearing within three hours, creating what has become
the most popular political website in the UK. Advocates of open government
believe this could set a precedent for online government communication.
"Freedom of information is symbolic of honesty in government," said Maurice
Frankel of the Campaign for Freedom of Information. However, he is skeptical
whether the British government can learn the lessons offered by the success
of the Hutton website. Critics warn that calls for total transparency are
misplaced: "Transparency has always been taken to be an unquestionably good
thing - but it's a double-edged sword," said James Crabtree of the Work
Foundation. "If a civil servant knows every memo they send is going to be
published two days later, they'll never get anything done." Officials warn
that the Hutton website is unlikely to mark a change in government strategy,
as maintaining departmental websites is a much different task than running
an inquiry website.
SOURCE: The Guardian; AUTHOR: Bobbie Johnson
http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,1037236,00.html
Hutton Inquiry website:
http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk
E-COMMERCE
NEW EFFORTS TO FIGHT IDENTITY THEFT
In an effort to combat online credit card fraud, companies like Amazon,
eBay, Microsoft and Visa USA are forming the Coalition on Online Identity
Theft. The coalition's goals include educating consumers, serving as a forum
for discussion among technology providers about new defenses against
identity theft, passing on leads to law enforcement agencies and lobbying
for greater government support in pursuing identity thieves. Groups such as
the coalition and the Merchant Risk Council have formed in response to
growing concern among consumers: a survey by the Federal Trade Commission
found that 3.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year.
At a news conference, the FTC said the cases had cost businesses a total of
$32.9 billion and consumers $3.8 billion. Forrester Research's survey of
nearly 40,000 Internet users found that nearly a third of online shoppers
were pessimistic about the security of Internet technology. E-commerce
companies worry about the loss of sales due to customer wariness of buying
online. Robert Leathern of Nielsen NetRatings said the money forgone from
online sales is "clearly in the billions."
SOURCE: New York Times; AUTHOR: Bob Tedeschi
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/08/technology/08ECOM.html
21ST CENTURY SKILLS
MICROSOFT TACKLES IT SKILLS GAP WITH $1 BILLION INITIATIVE
Last week Microsoft announced a $1 billion, five-year initiative to promote
information technology skills worldwide through the work of community
technology centers (CTCs). To kick off its Unlimited Potential initiative,
Microsoft awarded over $8 million in cash and software to 82 nonprofit
organizations. "Narrowing the digital divide means more than simply
providing people with access to technology," said Pamela Passman, head of
corporate affairs at Microsoft. "The real difference is made when people are
equipped with the knowledge and education to put that technology to use. Our
goal is to make computer literacy a reality for under-served communities
worldwide." The program will initially provide funding to help CTCs hire and
train technology instructors. Subsequent phases of the initiative will offer
an online global support network delivering technology curriculum, research,
tools and help- desk services to CTCs worldwide.
SOURCE: Middle East North Africa Financial Network; AUTHOR: Robert Jacques,
VNUNet
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId=Cp1Gkqeiendm1nLjLzg1VBMr...
RBgvZsq
List of grantees:
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/citizenship/giving/overview/UPrecipients...
DIGITAL DIVIDE
CISCO TO FUND VOICE MAIL FOR POOR
Community Voice Mail, a Seattle-based nonprofit, provides free voice mail
for the homeless, poor and jobless around the country. Having a telephone
number at which a message can be left can sometimes be the crucial link
between getting a job -- or finding affordable housing -- and not, said
executive director Jennifer Brandon. A Cisco grant will more than double the
number of people Community Voice Mail assists nationwide, from 25,000 to
65,000 by the end of 2007. Cisco is also donating about $60,000 worth of
equipment to create an Internet-based phone service, which uses "voice over
IP" technology. In addition, Cisco is helping the organization by providing
office space at its Seattle campus, along with several dozen Cisco employees
to assist them. Brandon said that in 2002, 50 percent of the people using
her agency's voice mail to find work found jobs; 65 percent of the homeless
people using the system found housing.
SOURCE: SiliconValley.com; AUTHOR: John Boudreau
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6719943.htm
Community Voice Mail website:
http://www.cvm.org
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