For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
TELEVISION
Lawmakers Push Set Aside For =91Public Broadband=92
Cable Faces Multicasting Battle, Seeks Downconversion
S.F. TV Station Opposes Ratings Bill
MEDIA POLICY REFORM
Abernathy Says FCC to Look Broadly at Media Ownership Issues
Creative Artists on Media Reform
Speculation abounds about whether Martin plans to revamp FCC
CONTENT CONTROLS
Media Unite On Parental Control
Banzhaf Targets TV's Over 'Redskin'
QUICKLY -- Phone Rules Address Hearing Aids; Bells Utilize Advocacy Groups=
=20
On Video Franchising Issue; Time for lawmakers to act on Grokster?; Kids=20
and the Internet; Amassing a Treasury of Photography; XM Going Global;=20
Union/Telus dispute Update; Union Occupies a Newspaper in Mexico; Billion=
=20
Cellphone Sales per Year by 2009; Super Speed Cable Internet in 2006;=20
Plugging Into The Hottest Fad Since Blogging; Job opening: APC Information=
=20
Coordinator
TELEVISION
LAWMAKERS PUSH SET ASIDE FOR 'PUBLIC BROADBAND'
The transition to digital television creates a golden opportunity for the=
=20
federal government to set aside spectrum that citizens could use for=20
affordable wireless broadband, lawmakers and consumer advocates said=20
Tuesday. Speaking at an event sponsored by the Future of America Caucus,=20
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) chairman of the group, said it would be "an=20
enormous mistake" for the government to auction portions of the analog TV=
=20
airwaves to the highest bidders without setting aside some of the=20
frequencies for "public broadband." Jim Snider, a senior research fellow=20
with the New America Foundation, noted that the United States is now=20
sixteenth in the world in broadband penetration. "Wireless is the way to=20
deliver broadband to rural America and broadcasters have the best spectrum=
=20
for that purpose," he said. Jim Goodmon, president of Capitol Broadcasting=
=20
Corp., based in Raleigh (NC), drew applause when he said that digital=20
broadcasters should accept a multitude of public interest obligations --=20
such as offering two to three hours a week of locally produced public=20
affairs shows and candidate-centered programs within 45 to 60 days of an=20
election. Goodmon has long supported strong public interest obligations,=20
sometimes putting him at odds with other TV stations. "As broadcasters, we=
=20
need to step up to the plate and accept our responsibilities," he said.
[SOURCE: National Journal's Insider Update, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-WTLR1121814002454.html
CABLE FACES MULTICASTING BATTLE, SEEKS DOWNCONVERSION
The National Association of Broadcasters is making a strong push to get=20
Congress to approve "must carry" rights for all of a digital television=20
station's signals -- called multicast must carry -- and has 60 local TV=20
representatives in Washington this week to =93educate members of Congress o=
n=20
the importance of the issue to our future business,=94 a spokesman said. Th=
e=20
group also has taken out ads in local Hill publications warning consumers=
=20
-- who read these publications all the time -- that =93cable monopolies=94 =
are=20
trying to block local programming on terrestrial digital TV. But pushing=20
back on the NAB is the National Cable & Telecommunications Association,=20
headed by Kyle McSlarrow. The NCTA is trying to convince Congress to allow=
=20
cable operators to "down-convert" digital TV signals into analog ones.=20
McSlarrow predicts that any digital TV bill that passes through Congress=20
this year will include a down-conversion provision. He also says compromise=
=20
between broadcast and cable interests is possible. One solution is for=20
cable operators to voluntarily sign deals to carry broadcasters=92 digital=
=20
and analog signals during the DTV transition. In any case, lawmakers are=20
trying to craft a bill that will have a minimum of controversy because it=
=20
will be part of a larger budget bill.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Jonathan Make, Anne Veigle]
(Not available online)
SF TV STATION OPPOSES RATINGS BILL
Nielsen's Local People Meters have been criticized for undercounting=20
minority viewers, but at least one TV station serving a minority population=
=20
is standing up for Nielsen and against legislation to toughen the=20
government-created Media Ratings Council. KTSF San Francisco, which just=20
signed on with Nielsen at the beginning of the year, has written the=20
co-chairmen of the Senate Commerce Committee to argue that a bill creating=
=20
mandatory MRC accreditation of TV ratings would "diminish entrepreneurial=
=20
opportunities by creating unnecessary and contentious procedures for=20
determining ratings."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA626829?display=3DBreaking+New...
eferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
MEDIA POLICY REFORM
ABERNATHY SAYS FCC TO LOOK BROADLY AT MEDIA OWNERSHIP ISSUES
The FCC's media ownership rulemaking will include discussions on "virtually=
=20
every issue," FCC. Commissioner Abernathy told a Minority Media & Telecom=
=20
Council (MMTC) conference Tuesday, Abernathy including the rules' impact on=
=20
indecency, children's programming, violent programming and on minority and=
=20
women=92s ownership. Commissioner Abernathy's comments on media ownership=
=20
came days before comments are due on Time Warner and Comcast's pending $17=
=20
billion acquisition of Adelphia cable systems. Comments to the FCC, due=20
Thursday, are expected to be more aggressive than usual due to uncertainty=
=20
over the media ownership rules, said Media Access Project President Andrew=
=20
Schwartzman. How FCC Chairman Kevin Martin responds to the deal will be a=
=20
sign of how the Commission could decide media ownership rules, Schwartzman=
=20
said.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
Also see --
Measuring Media Ownership 'Meaningless'
Any attempt to measure media ownership concentration is a "meaningless=20
exercise in the abstract," argues Bruce Owen in a paper published by The=20
Progress & Freedom Foundation. "Confusing Success with Access: 'Correctly'=
=20
Measuring Concentration of Ownership and Control in Mass Media and Online=
=20
Services" is available at http://www.pff.org/issues-pubs/pops/pop12.11owen.=
pdf
[SOURCE: Progress&Freedom Foundation]
http://www.pff.org/news/news/2005/071805owenpop.html
CREATIVE ARTISTS ON MEDIA REFORM
Representatives for musicians, screenwriters, actors and producers on=20
Monday offered different views about the way they are adversely impacted by=
=20
the national's telecommunications laws and potential changes to them. Each=
=20
of four panelists at a forum hosted by two congressional caucuses focused=
=20
on a different problem: consolidation in the radio business, the cable=20
industry's control over programming, laws against "indecency" on=20
television, and television networks' ownership of film production=20
companies. But they all agreed that because "the media is the town square,"=
=20
in the words of Jonathan Rintels of the Center for Creative Voices in=20
Media, it was important to find "the way around the choke-points that the=
=20
conglomerates" seek to control.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.drewclark.com/2005/07/from-national-journals-technology_19.shtml
SPECULATION ABOUNDS ABOUT WHETHER MARTIN PLANS TO REVAMP FCC
Just a rumor? FCC Chairman Kevin Martin may be reorganizing the Federal=20
Communication Commission, a move that could disband the FCC's Wireless=20
Telecommunications Bureau, moving its functions to various other bureaus=20
including a new Homeland Security Bureau. Speculation is that the=20
reorganization would create a Homeland-Security Bureau with the functions=
=20
performed by the public-safety and critical-infrastructure division of the=
=20
wireless bureau and other homeland-security functions scattered about in=20
the agency in the Office of Planning and Policy and the Consumer &=20
Governmental Affairs Bureau. A new Spectrum Bureau would be created with=20
the functions of the wireless bureau licensing division and the FCC's=20
Office of Engineering & Technology. The wireless bureau's policy functions=
=20
would largely move to the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau.
[SOURCE: RCR Wireless News, AUTHOR: Heather Forsgren Weaver]
http://rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=3D23458
CONTENT CONTROLS
MEDIA UNITE ON PARENTAL CONTROL
Veteran media critics Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Joe Liberman (D-CT)=
=20
are lending their support to a new, broad-based coalition that has formed=
=20
to push for parental control of TV and other entertainment content. The=20
Pause Parent Play (PPP) initiative=20
(http://www.PauseParentPlay.orgwww.PauseParentPlay.org) will launch July=
=20
20 on Capitol Hill with a display of parental control tools and=20
technologies for TV, movies, music, and video games. The new coalition=20
includes the same three network corporate parents, NBC Universal, News=20
Corp,. and Viacom, behind the TV Watch online effort promoting the TV=20
ratings and V-chip. But PPP also includes other corporate and industry=20
partners like Time Warner, Comcast, YMCA, Wal-Mart, Microsoft, the Girl=20
Scouts, MPAA, RIAA, ESRB, ESA, Tyco, NCTA, and Interstate Batteries.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA626661?display=3DBreaking+New...
eferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
See also:
* PTC, CWA Push A La Carte
Even as the cable industry announces its participation in a push for=20
parental regulation of content, the Parent's Television Council Wednesday=
=20
will launch a counter-offensive.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA626779?display=3DBreaking+New...
eferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* V-Chip-Setting Contest Planned
The industry-backed group TV Watch is holding a V-chip setting contest on=
=20
Capitol Hill today. The "parental control challenge," which will invited=20
participants to race to set the v-chip device in their TV, is part of an=20
effort to convince legislators that parents have a workable device to block=
=20
unwanted content. See http://www.televisionwatch.org for more info
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA626593?display=3DBreaking+New...
eferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
BANZHAF TARGETS TV STATIONS OVER 'REDSKIN'
Washington attorney John Banzhaf, who helped sue tobacco ads off the=20
airwaves in the late 1960's, is renewing his campaign to remove "Redskin"=
=20
from the nation's broadcast vernacular, or at least limit its use, by=20
threatening to go after station licenses. He has sent registered letters to=
=20
the four biggest stations in Washington, DC advising them of a Friday=20
Federal Appeals Court decision that he says puts the Washington Redskin=20
trademarks in jeopardy by "restoring the unanimous finding by the Trademark=
=20
Trial and Appeal Board that the word 'Redskins' was so racially derogatory=
=20
and offensive that the Washington Redskins=92 trademarks should be invalida=
ted."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA626604?display=3DBreaking+New...
eferral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
QUICKLY
PHONE RULES ADDRESS HEARING AIDS
A problem long designed out of wired phones, electronic interference is a=
=20
common if unevenly experienced problem for the six million Americans with=
=20
hearing aids who use cellphones. But determining which cellphones and=20
hearing aids are most susceptible to the problem has so far been a=20
trial-and-error process. Selecting interference-free mobile phones should=
=20
be easier come Sept. 16, when Federal Communications Commission labeling=20
rules take effect. The rules require the wireless-phone industry to provide=
=20
phones compatible with most kinds of hearing aids. Companies will then rate=
=20
those phones most and least likely to experience interference with certain=
=20
hearing aids. Phones labeled M3 or M4 will cause the least interference for=
=20
hearing-aid users. Under the FCC's new rules, the big five U.S. wireless=20
carriers must offer either four phones or 25% of their total handsets by=20
network technology that are hearing-aid compatible. That is a big=20
improvement: T-Mobile now sells four such phones and Nextel sells one.=20
Sprint PCS, Cingular and Verizon Wireless say they are conducting tests on=
=20
their phones and should meet the September deadline. In 2008, half of=20
carriers' and manufacturers' product lines are expected to be certified to=
=20
work interference-free with hearing aids. Certification won't be required=
=20
of small carriers.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Zachary A. Goldfarb=20
zachary.goldfarb( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112182015644690249,00.html?mod=3Dtoda...
us_personal_journal
(requires subscription)
BELLS UTILIZE ADVOCACY GROUPS ON VIDEO FRANCHISING ISSUE
SBC Communications and Verizon Communications are seeking to bolster their=
=20
bids for nationwide video franchises by funding self-described advocacy=20
groups willing to back their positions on Capitol Hill. The practice is=20
completely legal as well as common in Washington -- but critics charge that=
=20
it is misleading. "Of course they're front groups and it's terribly=20
deceptive," said John Dunbar, a telecommunications and media specialist=20
with the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity. =93It=92s sort of a stealth=
=20
public lobbying campaign."
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-WXAL1121812324045.html
TIME FOR LAWMAKERS TO ACT ON GROKSTER?
Does Congress need to lay down new laws after last month's landmark Supreme=
=20
Court decision on file swapping? Companies that actively promote their=20
products' copyright infringement capabilities (in legal terms, "active=20
inducement") can now be held liable for their users' illicit activities.=20
Justice Stephen Breyer in his concurring opinion on the MGM v. Grokster=20
case noted that "the legislative option remains available." But so far,=20
members of Congress have applauded the court's unanimous opinion and=20
indicated they plan to leave rule-making to the lower courts for now.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
http://news.com.com/Time+for+lawmakers+to+act+on+Grokster/2100-1028_3-57...
14.html?tag=3Dnefd.top
KIDS AND THE INTERNET -- IT'S A GOOD THING
[Commentary] We read a lot of alarmist commentary about the dangers of the=
=20
Internet for youngsters. Yet, from what I've seen, the educational benefits=
=20
of online access are worth it. Yes, parents have to be vigilant. But the=20
opportunities for communication and self-expression the Internet provides=
=20
are bringing benefits to everyone -- especially children.
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Laura Matthews]
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0720/p09s02-coop.html
AMASSING A TREASURY OF PHOTOGRAPHY
The George Eastman House in Rochester and the International Center of=20
Photography in New York City are at work on an ambitious project to create=
=20
one of the largest freely accessible databases of masterwork photography=20
anywhere on the Web, a venture that will bring their collections to much=20
greater public notice and provide an immense resource for photography=20
aficionados, both scholars and amateurs. The Web site - Photomuse.org, now=
=20
active only as a test site, with a smattering of images - is expected to=20
include almost 200,000 photographs when it is completed in the fall of=20
2006, and as both institutions work out agreements with estates and living=
=20
photographers, the intention is to add tens of thousands more pictures.=20
While there are now dozens of growing digital databases of photography on=
=20
the Web, many - like Corbis and Getty Images - are commercial sites that do=
=20
not allow the public unfettered access to their collections. The Photomuse=
=20
site will join others, like the digital collections of the Library of=20
Congress, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Museum of=20
Photography, Film and Television in Bradford, England, that are beginning=
=20
to create what amounts to a huge, free, virtual photography museum on the=
=20
Web. The project, financed in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum=
=20
and Library Services in Washington, is expected to cost $800,000 initially=
=20
and more later as additional images and documentary information are added=
=20
to the site.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/20/arts/design/20east.html
(requires registration)
XM INVESTS $25 MILLION IN RIVAL WORLDSPACE
XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. yesterday said it has invested $25 million=
=20
in WorldSpace Corp., a privately held District-based satellite radio=20
provider in West Africa, the Middle East and India that has said it intends=
=20
to go public. The move could broaden XM's reach, and help turn satellite=20
radio into a global service similar to satellite television, said analysts.=
=20
As part of the deal, the two companies agreed to work together to develop=
=20
products, such as receivers, and to strengthen relationships with=20
distributors such as automakers and sources of programming. WorldSpace,=20
whose initial backers included prominent Saudi investors, programs four=20
channels for XM.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Annys Shin]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/19/AR200507...
1768.html
(requires registration)
UNION CALLS EIGHT WALKOUTS IN TELUS DISPUTE
The showdown between Canadian wireless phone company Telus and the=20
Telecommunications Workers Union over the company's intention to impose the=
=20
terms of its last contract offer escalated Monday with the union calling=20
temporary walkouts in eight locations. TWU president Bruce Bell promised=20
further job action in the coming days before a Friday deadline when Telus=
=20
plans to impose the work terms on its employees.
[SOURCE: Vancouver Sun, AUTHOR: Derrick Penner]
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=
=3Da8257440-35e7-4035-99b3-ec2f531326dbhttp://www.canada.com/vancouver/van=
couversun/news/business/story.html?id=3Da8257440-35e7-4035-99b3-ec2f531326db
UNION OCCUPIES A NEWSPAPER IN MEXICO
Union members wearing masks and carrying clubs broke into the offices of a=
=20
newspaper in Oaxaca where editors and reporters have been besieged for a=20
month, causing the journalists to flee and trying to shut down the=20
publication. About 31 newspaper employees had been holed up in the offices=
=20
for four weeks while an umbrella union with close ties to the Institutional=
=20
Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which controls the state, staged a strike=20
outside, demanding higher wages and more vacation. Many newspaper employees=
=20
have said the union does not represent their interests and have tried to=20
form a new bargaining unit. The publisher, Ericel G=F3mez Nucamendi,=20
meanwhile, has accused the state governor, Ulises Ruiz, of using the strike=
=20
to silence a publication that has been critical of his administration and=
=20
has supported opposition candidates. Union leaders, who admit that most of=
=20
their members belong to the PRI, have denied they are acting at the behest=
=20
of the governor.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: James McKinley Jr & Antonio Betancourt]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/20/international/americas/20mexico.html
(requires registration)
CELLPHONE SALES SEEN AT OVER 1 BILLION PER YEAR BY 2009
Mobile phone sales will exceed one billion handsets a year by 2009 as they=
=20
become the most common consumer electronics device with 2.6 billion people=
=20
using one by then, according to a survey published on Wednesday by research=
=20
group Gartner.
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Lucas van Grinsven]
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2005-07-20T070910Z_01_L19716137_RTRIDST_0_TECH-HANDSETS-GLOBAL-DC.XML
SUPER SPEED BROADBAND SEEN OVER CABLE TV IN 2006
Teleste, whose rivals include big U.S. firms Scientific Atlanta and Cisco=
=20
Systems Inc., said it would early next year bring to the market its=20
"Ethernet to the Home" product which will give consumers access to 100Mb/s=
=20
speed.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2005-07-20T103445Z_01_L20582343_RTRIDST_0_NET-TECH-BROADBAND-TELESTE-DC.=
XML
PLUGGING INTO THE HOTTEST FAD SINCE BLOGGING
Apple's iPod rewrote the rules for digital music. It saved the recording=20
industry from itself -- and from Internet piracy -- by spoon-feeding the=20
way to commercial viability on the Internet. Now, Apple is doing the=20
opposite for radio broadcasting.
[SOURCE: Wired in Washington, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-XMFW1113937467518.html
JOB OPENING: APC INFORMATION COORDINATOR
The Association for Progressive Communications has an opening for an=20
information coordinator to manage its Spanish and English newsletters and=
=20
websites and establish a new APC site and newsletter in French. Excellent=
=20
English writing and editing skills and good writing skills in Spanish and=
=20
French are required. A keen eye for quality control is essential.=20
Application deadline: 24 July
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=3D192619
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=
=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=
=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------