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Telephone Industry Seeks Aid In Wiretap Battle With FBI

House Approves Measure To Kill Arts Endowment

Finding Government Profit in Aid to the Arts

Software Piracy Suspected in Advertising Industry

You've Heard of Soundscan, Now Read About Bookscan

Wireless Warfare

Porn Does the Internet

Senators Defend Arts Agency

Telephone Market Probes Planned

Software Leaders Taking Ratings Plans to Clinton

Hundt Wants A task Force To Look At Local Competition Problems

MCI President Outlines "Fair Play Test" For Local-Service Market

Standards for Telehealth Equipment

Network Reliability and Interoperability

Action to Prevent Slamming
*********************************************
Title: Telephone Industry Seeks Aid In Wiretap Battle With FBI
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A13)
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Privacy
Description: In a dispute on "the limits of digital surveillance in the
information age," telephone executives are expected to petition the Federal
Communications Commission for a ruling on the development of wiretapping
equipment. According to the Communications for Law Enforcement Act (1994),
telephone companies must consult the Federal Bureau of Investigation in
setting standards to modify the nation's telephone network for wiretapping.
But the industry is saying that the FBI's requirements -- like being able to
listened in on a conference call after the person under investigation drops
the call -- will be too costly. Modifications must be made by October 1998.

Title: House Approves Measure To Kill Arts Endowment
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A15)
Author: Jerry Gray
Issue: Arts
Description: The House of Representatives passed an Interior Department
spending bill that includes a provision to abolish the National Endowment of
the Arts. The Senate has approved $175 million for the NEA and President
Clinton has promised to veto a bill that kills the Endowment.

Title: Finding Government Profit in Aid to the Arts
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(B1)
Author: Rick Lyman
Issue: Arts
Description: McKinsey & Company will release a new report today called "You
Gotta Have Art." The study found that Federal, state, county and city
spending on the arts in New York in 1995 totaled $197 million. Tax revenues
generated by the arts raised $761 million. "The idea behind the report is to
offer a businessman's approach to this, something that you just could not
quarrel with. If its returning a great benefit to the state, then you can't
argue with it," said a member of New York State's art council. The report
was done at the request of the New York State Council on the Arts and the
City of New York's Department of Cultural Affairs. It is based, in part, on
a forthcoming report by the Alliance for the Arts.

Title: Software Piracy Suspected in Advertising Industry
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D2)
Author: Andrew Ross Sorkin
Issue: Copyright
Description: "Piracy is pervasive in the advertising industry. This sector
should be a little more concerned," says the general counsel for Adobe. The
Business Software Alliance is expected to announce a settlement with an
outdoor advertising company for using unauthorized versions of Microsoft
Word and Adobe Pagemaker.

Title: You've Heard of Soundscan, Now Read About Bookscan
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D5)
Author: Doreen Carvajal
Issue: Publishing
Description: Soundscan brought computerized sales tracking and order to the
nation's pop music charts. Now the same company is preparing a similar
system for books. If successful, it would be a welcome relief in an industry
struggling with declining sales and bloated print runs.

Title: Wireless Warfare
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(A1)
Author: Jon Auerbach
Issue: Competition
Description: The US wireless telephone industry is learning lessons from
Europe. There, cell-phone users don't pay for incoming calls, phones last
for days without recharging, and people can be reached across the continent.
The US wireless industry is about roll out a new, $50 billion digital
cellular system -- the Federal Communications Commission calls it the
largest peacetime investment in any consumer technology in US history. US
companies are importing European rate plans, phone features, marketing
tricks, and executives. [In a related story from Telecom AM, The Cellular
Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) predicts that the number of
wireless phone subscribers will reach 50 million for the first time sometime
during the week of July 27 through Aug. 2, 1997 -- only 14 years after
introduction. By comparison, it took 77 years for 50 million landline phones
to reach consumers.]

Title: Porn Does the Internet
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (A19)
Author: Daniel S. Greenberg, Editor of Science and Government Report
Issue: Internet Content
Description: For all the promises that computer and software companies
make about blocking software and ratings systems, cyberporn is here to
stay. Greenberg points out that it is the leading money maker on the
Internet, and that kids and hackers will always find a way to outwit the
authorities that try to control them.

Title: Senators Defend Arts Agency
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (D1)
Author: Jaqueline Trescott
Issue: Arts
Description: The NEA, threaten with extinction since 1992, has been
promised a new lease on life by the Senate appropriations subcommittee.
The House voted yesterday to end federal support for the arts, but the
Senate plans to save the Arts organization, along
with the National Endowment for the Humanities. A proposal has been
made to reauthorize both the NEA and the NEH for five years and give
them a modest increase over the $99.5 million budget the NEA is
currently funded for. Sen. Slade Gorton, chairman of the Senate
appropriations subcommittee, feels confidant that the proposal will go
through. "I have polled the members of the subcommittee and I don't
find any sentiment on the committee to end the endowment," said
Gorton.

Title: Telephone Market Probes Planned
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (C11)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: Competition
Description: The lack of competition in telephone markets during the 18
months since the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has
prompted both Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Senate Commerce Committee Chair, and the
FCC to launch investigations to find out what the impediments are and
how they can be overcome. Long distance companies who have been trying
to enter local markets complain that regional Bell companies are not
opening their local networks to competitors, who need to "piggyback" on
their lines to avoid the cost of building their own network. The
regional Bells, who have monopolies in many local markets, argue that
such excuses are made by long distance companies because they know that
if they enter the local markets, the Bells, which have "deeper pockets,"
will enter the long distance markets and eventually dominate.

Title: Software Leaders Taking Ratings Plans to Clinton
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (C11)
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Internet Regulation
Description: Representatives from the high technology industry are
meeting President Clinton today to discuss strategies to use Internet
browsing software to allow parents to filter the material viewed by
their children. Two ratings systems will likely be discussed, but not
everyone believes that such systems are the answer. The American
library Association www.ala.org, for example, does not believe that
libraries should depend on filters to screen material for their
patrons. The ALA has posted "a list of more than 50 'great' sites for
children" at their home page. Other groups worry that such
ratings systems could be too restrictive or that they might not have
enough safe guards for children.

Title: Hundt Wants A task Force To Look At Local Competition Problems
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Reed E. Hundt
has convened a panel to investigate claims by MCI and AT&T that incumbent
local exchange carriers are blocking local competition. "The task force will
move quickly to investigate allegations that
certain carriers are impeding competition," Hundt. The panel will consist of
FCC staff and private sector representatives to be named later.

Title: MCI President Outlines "Fair Play Test" For Local-Service Market
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: In a speech to the Economic Strategy Institute, MCI President
Timothy Price called on the Federal Communications Commission to enact a
"Fair Play Test" that would "bring the benefits of competition to consumers
-- higher quality, lower prices, and greater choice." The five principles of
the test are: 1) First Things First: local markets must be open to
competition before local monopolies can sell in-region long distance; 2) The
Price Is Right: regulators must ensure fair pricing of local facilities; 3)
Order, Not Disorder: operation support systems must operate efficiently to
help customers; 4) Do Unto Others: local monopolies cannot discriminate in
favor of themselves and against competitors; and 5) Enforce, as a Matter of
Course: strong, swift and automatic mechanisms to ensure compliance with
regulations.

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
Forum to Promote Standards for Telehealth Equipment to be Held July 17

Opening & Closing Remarks of Chairman Reed Hundt at 7/15/97 FCC Meeting to
Receive the Final Report of the Network Reliability and Interoperability
Council. 7/15/97

FCC Proposes Further Action to Prevent Slamming (CC Docket No. 94-129)
*********

How NBC Could Gain From Stand On Ratings

Public Information, Business Rates

Mars Landing Signals Defining Moment for Web Use

Chain E-Mail: Heartrending Pleas, but Sometimes Counterfeit

White House Standing Firm On Deadline for TV Switch

Ratings get revamped

Tie goes to the liquor industry

Ornstein on obligations

Beating the drum for campaign reform

FCC Reconsiders Issues in its Universal Service Order

ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
*********************************************
Title: How NBC Could Gain From Stand On Ratings
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(B1)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: V-Chip
Description: By not joining the other networks and adding content warnings
in their ratings system, NBC may benefit from the voluntary ban on
legislation of television content and may gain some viewers that are chased
away by S and V ratings on other networks. Hollywood writers, producers,
directors, and actors are praising NBC for its stand as are the American
Civil Liberties Union and a few other public interest groups. Kathryn
Montgomery, president of the Center for Media Education, said, "When people
see NBC is not going along with the rest, it'll be quite evident their
ratings are not satisfactory. And then people will let them know."

Title: Public Information, Business Rates
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D1)
Author: Iver Peterson
Issue: Access to Government Information
Description: "In the digital age, when information means money, many
agencies have come to recognize they are sitting on gold mines." Many states
are passing freedom of information acts, but freedom does not necessarily
mean free. As newspapers try to do research, state agencies want to charge
millions for access to databases of drivers licenses, tax assessments,
liquor licenses, etc.

Title: Mars Landing Signals Defining Moment for Web Use
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/
Author: Amy Harmon
Issue: Old vs. New Media
Description: As the assassination of John F. Kennedy was the Defining moment
for television as the nation's "information conduit of choice" and the Gulf
War marked CNN's coming of age, the Mars landing may signal the start of "a
new interactive era in the mass consumption of news," media scholars say.
New York University professor Todd Gitlin says, "More and more people are
going to be diving into these great tidal currents of information, and will
assume that's the behavior they should resort to during an emergency or a
ritual of collective amazement....During the next war, will we have
something more like 'click here for some skeptical views?' on network news?
Or will people put up their own?" Article includes "Coming Into Their Own"
graphic: for newspapers, April 13, 1861 the day after the attack on Fort
Sumter; for radio, December 8, 1941 and President Roosevelt's address to
Congress; for TV November 22, 1963 President Kennedy's assassination; for
cable TV, January 17 the attack on Baghdad; and the Internet July 4, 1997
the Mars landing.

Title: Chain E-Mail: Heartrending Pleas, but Sometimes Counterfeit
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D5)
Author: Iver Peterson
Issue: Internet Content
Description: Beware the online pleas for help -- they could just be scams to
get something from you: from cash to simply your email address. "It's very
common to use chain letters or software that strip E-mail addresses off Web
site guest books to get a list of people that can be used as recipients for
unsolicited E-mail," says Philip McKee, coordinator of the Internet Fraud
watch Project at the national Consumers League.

Title: White House Standing Firm On Deadline for TV Switch
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D12)
Author: Deborah Shapley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: "The broadcasters haven't enunciated a reason why seven years
isn't enough for their digital build-out," says a law enforcement official.
But broadcasters have lobbied to add some small print to budget legislation
that would extend their control of two channels of spectrum beyond the 2006
deadline adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. In letters from
the director of the Office of Management and Budget to Congressional budget
leaders, the Clinton Administration is asserting its opposition to any
extension of the 2006 deadline.

Title: Alcoholic-Drinks Marketers Face Scrutiny
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(B2)
Author: Sally Goll Beatty
Issue: Advertising
Description: Beer and spirits companies have torn a page out of
cigarette marketers book, giving free gifts to consumers for showing
brand loyalty. A judgement is expected in California on whether
Anheuser-Bush will be allowed to resume its "Bud Gear" promotional
program, which was launched in May only to receive a temporary
restraining order from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage
Control late last month. Roughly one third of all states have
restrictions on alcohol marketing which prohibit what some are calling
"frequent drinker" programs.

Title: Netscape Airs Its Complaints About Software
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(B10)
Author: David Bank
Issue:
Description: The Netscape Communications Corp. has been complaining to
several Senators that Microsoft is going to use the forthcoming version of
their Web
browser, Internet Explorer, to "lock out rivals and monopolize
distribution of information over the World Wide Web." Netscape claims
that Microsoft will be "tightly linking" Internet Explorer with the
Windows operating system, which would give them an unfair advantage in
promoting their content, and, in turn, give them the further advantage of
getting content providers like Walt Disney and Time Warner to supply
them with programming for the "channels" which will be featured on both
Netscape and Microsoft's new browsers.

Title: Ratings get revamped
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.4)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Starting October 1, the major networks -- except NBC -- will
use a revised ratings system that will include content warnings: FV for
fantasy violence, V for violence, S for sexual content, L for strong
language, and D for suggestive dialogue. Icons will continue at the
beginning of shows, but will appear larger.

Title: Tie goes to the liquor industry
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.22)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Advertising
Description: "I think today's vote was a big defeat for the hard liquor
industry," said Federal Communications Chairman Reed Hundt after a tie vote
halted a proposed inquiry by the FCC of hard liquor advertising. Chairman
Hundt went on to say that if the industry goes on to crank up broadcast
advertising, "they will be whistling past the graveyard." The Federal Trade
Commission is currently investigating the advertising and will make its
results available to the FCC.

Title: Ornstein on obligations
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.24)
Issue: Digital Television
Description: An interview with the recently named co-chair of the
President's Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital TV
Broadcasters. Mr. Ornstein supports free broadcast time for political
candidates, but is uncertain what other obligations the committee might address.

Title: Beating the drum for campaign reform
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.26)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: Free time for candidates
Description: The Congressional Research Service, the research arm of the
Library of Congress, reported last week that "broadcast media spending
(including radio and TV airtime, production costs and consultant fees)
constitutes 27% of campaign budgets in House races, 40-45% in Senate races,
and at least 50% in presidential races." Twenty-two members of Congress have
asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate free or
reduced-cost broadcast airtime for candidates.

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
FCC Reconsiders Issues in its Universal Service Order (CC Docket No. 96-45)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Orders/1997/fcc97246.txt

ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES BY PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES. Amended Part 68 of the Commission's rules; concluded that
as of January 1, 2000, manufacturers must ensure that all telephones
manufactured or imported for use in the United States contain a volume
control feature consistent with the technical standards; adjusted existing
rules that require workplaces, hotels and motels and confined settings to
provide telephones with volume control as of November 1, 1998, so that
such establishments will not be required to comply until January 1, 2000,
parallel with the manufacturing requirements. Action by the Commission.
Adopted: July 3, 1997. by Ord. on Recon. (FCC No. 97-242). CCB

*********

Groups Strike an Agreement To Add TV Rating Specifics

Tie Vote Blocks F.C.C. Inquiry On Liquor Ads

Tying Schools to Internet Could Cost $2.1 Billion

Blah, Blah, Blah

FCC Votes Against Probing Hard-Liquor Ads on TV

Brought to Your by...

TV Executives, Parents Reach Pact on Ratings

TV Ratings Agreement Reached

The Attention Transaction

Good TV, Bad Law in Kansas City

UDC Chief Is Upbeat About Deal to Sell Radio Station

CC Rejects Inquiry on Liquor Ads

Off the Spectrum

Broadcast Advertisement of Distilled Spirits

Proposal to Reallocate Television Channels to Other Services
*********************************************
Title: Groups Strike an Agreement To Add TV Rating Specifics
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/washpol/tv-ratings.html(A1)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Negotiators for the television industry and family advocacy
groups reached an agreement last night. An expanded television ratings code
will include the letters V for violence, S for sexual content, L for vulgar
language, D for suggestive dialogue, and, on children's programs, FV for
fantasy violence. In the final negotiations, T for tofu and KLGHS for Kathy
Lee Gifford Holiday Special were dropped. Final accord was reached when a
number of members of Congress agreed on a moratorium on
television-programming legislation "for several years." NBC has decided not
to use the new system.

Title: Tie Vote Blocks F.C.C. Inquiry On Liquor Ads
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/washpol/tv-liquor.html(A20)
Author: John Broder
Issue: Advertising
Description: A vote at the Federal Communications Commission to investigate
hard liquor advertising on television ended in a 2-2 tie. The inquiry would
have examined how many liquor ads are on television, what times they are on,
and how many children have seen them. "How can anyone justify curtailing
this legitimate inquiry?" asked FCC Chairman Reed Hundt. "No one disputes
that the issues are important. Indeed, the commissioners who oppose this
inquiry publicly proclaim that the introduction of hard liquor ads on
broadcast TV are troubling." The inquiry was blocked by Commissioner James
Quello, a former broadcaster, and Commissioner Rachelle Chong whose
re-nomination to the Commission was backed by the broadcasting industry.
They claim the FCC does not have the authority to investigate these ads and
that the FCC's efforts would duplicate those of the Federal trade Commission.

Title: Tying Schools to Internet Could Cost $2.1 Billion
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/ny-school-computers.
html(A26)
Author: James Barron
Issue: Education Technology
Description: A report from New York City's Department of Education calls for
$2.1 billion in spending on computer hardware on repair to school buildings.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani proposed $150 million in spending on education
technology next year for NYC's public K-12 schools.

Title: Blah, Blah, Blah
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/ (A1)
Author: Cynthia Crossen
Issue: Lifestyles!
Description: With talk radio, TV talk shows, and the Internet, 20th
Century Americans have more ways than ever to express their opinions and
fewer reasons to listen. According to an instructor in conversation courses,
talking is seen as dominant and active and listening is considered boring.

Title: FCC Votes Against Probing Hard-Liquor Ads on TV
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/ (A6)
Author: Dow Jones Newswires
Issue: Advertising
Description: An evenly split Federal Communications Commission rejected
requests for an inquiry on TV advertisements for hard liquor. The Federal
Trade Commission is currently scrutinizing certain alcohol ads to determine
whether they are aimed at TV viewers younger than 21.

Title: Brought to Your by...
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/ (A14)
Author: Albert R. Gamper Jr.
Issue: Public Television
Description: This op-ed -- by the President of the CIT Group who serves on
the boards of two PBS Affiliates -- argues that former PBS President Larry
Grossman's suggestion for airing commercials on public TV isn't such a bad
idea. Since PBS programming is very good and government support is
shrinking, we've got to find alternatives. "With only 150 companies and
foundations providing support now for public broadcasting, corporate coffers
have hardly been tapped." Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and San
Francisco PBS stations have all been experimenting with corporate spots and
viewers have
not been up in arms about it.

Title: TV Executives, Parents Reach Pact on Ratings
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/ (B5)
Author: Kyle Pope
Issue: V-Chip
Description: TV Executives and parent organizations made a deal yesterday
to strengthen the country's TV-ratings system. NBC, however, does not
support the agreement. A program labeled TV-PG in the old system may now
have, with the new system, a S for Sex or a V for violence. Broadcasters
also gave the OK for a stronger oversight board to monitor the system. PBS
and the Black Entertainment Network (BET) so far haven't used the
ratings system.

Title: TV Ratings Agreement Reached
Source: Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/digest/ent1.htm(A1)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Yesterday, TV Industry representatives and parent advocacy
groups came
to an agreement on a revised ratings system which would include content
ratings for television programs. The new ratings, when appropriate, will
flash a S (sex), L (language), D (suggestive language or David Hasseloff),
and FV (fantasy violence) for violent kiddie shows. The ratings should start
October 1, but NBC, the number one network au moment,
has said that it doesn't support the system because it's concerned that "the
ultimate aim of the current system's critics is to dictate content," said
the network. The V-Chip will be included in new sets starting in February of
1998, and, with the technology, parents can block out shows by their ratings.

Title: The Attention Transaction
Source: Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-07/10/030L-071097-
idx.html (A19)
Author: George F. Will
Issue: Advertising
Description: In his op-ed, Will refers to the writings of James Twitchell
published in the Wilson Quarterly. Twitchell points out that Americans pay
twice for goods in this country: once with the cash to purchase and again
with our attention to the advertisements for the product. Will challenges
readers to find a time when their attention is not being "rented" -- from
athletes wearing certain brands of shoes, to announcements of what company
underwrote a museum exhibition. The Home Shopping Network and infomercials
may be the way of the future and advertising is "the democracy of the
marketplace." Maybe books will be next to hold advertisements. Twitchell
reminds us that Dr. Spock had to fight Pocket Books to take ads for
cigarettes out of his book.

Title: Good TV, Bad Law in Kansas City
Source: Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-07/10/026L-071097-
idx.html (A19)
Author: Richard Cohen
Issue: Cable/Content
Description: In his op-ed, Cohen critiques "John TV" a local government
run cable TV channel in Kansas City that, at the request of a city council
member, broadcasts photos of men around town who have been arrested for
soliciting prostitutes. On the one hand, shame is a good deterrent. On the
other, broadcasting pictures also punishes the man's wife or kids unfairly,
and these men are being punished after they've been arrested, but before
they've been found guilty.

Title: UDC Chief Is Upbeat About Deal to Sell Radio Station
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (D.C.1)
Author: Valerie Strauss
Issue: Radio
Description: Julius F. Nimmons Jr., the acting head of the University of
the District of Columbia, is happy about selling the school's radio station
for $13 million. Nimmons said, "For the first time in years, the university
has no financial crisis."

Title: FCC Rejects Inquiry on Liquor Ads
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (E3)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: Advertising
Description: FCC Commissioners deadlocked in a two to two vote yesterday
about whether to initiate an inquiry into ads for distilled liquor on TV.
The tie means that the investigation will not move forward. Since the two
commissioners who voted against the inquiry, James Quello and Rachelle B.
Chong, will be leaving soon, it is likely that the FCC will later move
forward on the issue. Currently, the Federal Trade Commission is
investigating TV advertising by Seagrams, Anheuser-Busch, and two other
alcoholic beverage producers. About 50 such ads have run on TV this year.
All the major commercial networks have declined to air them.

Title: Off the Spectrum
Source: Extra! http://www.igc.apc.org/fair/extra/
Author: Robert McChesney, associate professor of journalism and mass media, U of
Wisconsin/Madison
Issue: Digital TV/Television Regulation
Description: The President's Advisory Committee on Public Service
Obligations, to be appointed this summer, may be the only opportunity for
the public to weigh in on the nature of digital television. "The committee
should hold public hearings around the nation and attempt to determine what
the real technological possibilities are for digital broadcasting." The
public should be able to determine how huge communications corporations --
General Electric (NBC), Westinghouse (CBS), Rupert Murdoch's News Corp
(Fox), and Disney (ABC) -- use our public resource. McChensey believes the
President's Committee should examine 1) providing some spectrum for
nonprofit, noncommercial broadcasters, 2) eliminating commercials during
kid's TV shows, 3) eliminating commercials during news broadcasts, 4) taking
control of news divisions and children's programming out of corporate hands
and setting up independent, elected bodies controlled by viewers,
journalists, and programmers, and 5) taxing TV advertisements.

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
Statements on Proposed Notice of Inquiry on Broadcast Advertisement of
Distilled Spirits

FCC Seeks Comment on Proposal to Reallocate Television Channels 60-69
(746-806 MHZ) to Other Services
*********
Happy 50th Arlo!

Tyranny of the Minority

Justice Dept. Clears Takeover Of MCI by British Telecom

Phone Wars Heat Up Over Sponsorship of Ad

Justice Dept. Clears MCI's Sale to BT

Sell Jazz 90? Not So Fast, CPB Warns

FCC Delays Bell Atlantic-Nynex Merger

British Telecom Purchase of MCI Is Cleared by Justice Department

The Computer Delusion

Frequently Asked Questions on Universal Service
*********************************************
Title: Tyranny of the Minority
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A19)
Author: Alec Baldwin, president of the Creative Coalition
Robert Lynch, Americans for the Arts
Issue: Arts
Description: Whether you support the National Endowment for the Arts or not,
we should all agree that the full Congress should get to vote on the matter.
In editorial, Baldwin and Lynch point out that this may not happen as the
House leadership uses parliamentary rules to "block an open and fair vote."
Eliminating the NEA has become a litmus test for conservatives, but opinion
polls show that the public supports the Endowment. Only ~40 of the 112,000
grants the NEA has made have caused any controversy.

Title: Justice Dept. Clears Takeover Of MCI by British Telecom
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D2)
Author: AP
Issue: Mergers
Description: The Justice Department has approved the acquisition of the
nation's second largest long distance carrier, MCI, by British
Telecommunications. The deal must also be approved by the Federal
Communications Commission and a number of state regulators. MCI and British
Telecom "remain confident that the merger can be completed as expected by
fall." The new company will be called Concert.

Title: Phone Wars Heat Up Over Sponsorship of Ad
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D3)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Telephone Regulation
Description: AT&T sponsored an ad in the New York Times and other NY papers
claiming that NYNEX has the highest local phone bills in the country. But
AT&T was not mentioned anywhere in the ad and the omission has prompted
protests from consumer groups and the NY State's Attorney General, Dennis C.
Vacco.

Title: Justice Dept. Clears MCI's Sale to BT
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (C1)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Mergers
Description: The Justice Department yesterday gave the ok for British
Telecommunications to purchase MCI, the country's second biggest long
distance company, for $21 billion after the companies adopt "safeguards to
ensure competitors are not unfairly hurt by the deal." The FCC now has to
decide about the merger.

Title: Sell Jazz 90? Not So Fast, CPB Warns
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (E1)
Author: Marc Fisher
Issue: Radio
Description: Since 1991 the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has given
the University of the District of Columbia's radio station $1 million in
grants. Now that UDC is planning to sell Jazz 90 to a religious broadcaster,
CPB wants the money back. CPB's head Robert Coonrod wrote that the
District's financial control board should reimburse "CPB and the American
taxpayers for the investment in WDCU so that we can allocate the money to
further the interests of public broadcasting." Coonrod referred to the
proposed sale as a "one-time only benefit and causes the loss of a major
cultural asset, forever." CPB found that the radio station has the
forth-largest black audience of any public radio station in the country.
Again Coonrod, "The sale of the station would obviously leave this minority
population underserved." Some public radio advocates are concerned that the
sale for such a large sum ($13 million) could set a precedent for colleges
to sell their stations for quick cash to wealthy religious broadcasters.

Title: FCC Delays Bell Atlantic-Nynex Merger
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/ (A3)
Author: Bryan Gruley and John R. Wilke
Issue: Mergers/Competition
Description: Officials at the FCC are delaying approval of the Bell
Atlantic-Nynex merger until the companies do more to open their local
markets to competition. The FCC is considering requiring that Bell Atlantic
and Nynex combo open its "operational support systems" to competing
companies. Access to this mongo complicated computer connection mabobby,
would allow other companies to connect customers to the Bell network.

Title: British Telecom Purchase of MCI Is Cleared by Justice Department
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/ (B4)
Author: John R. Wilke
Issue: Merger
Description: The Justice Department has approved the $24 billion buy out
of MCI by British Telecommunications. This deal represents the biggest-ever
purchase of a US company by a foreign one. The Justice Department has
imposed some conditions on the merger partly to ensure an open telecom
market in Britain. The company-to-be will have an annual revenue of $43
billion, greater than 40 million customers in 72 customers, and look great
in fall colors.

Title: The Computer Delusion
Source: The Atlantic Monthly
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97jul/computer.htm
Author: Todd Oppenheimer, Associate Editor of Newsweek Interactive
Issue: Education Technology
Description: Atlantic Monthly's cover story this month examines the
enthusiasm surrounding the introduction of computer technology to K-12
schools. Oppenheimer takes a critical view of the efforts of technology
advocates, school districts, and the Clinton Administration to get computers
into every classroom, an endeavor which may cost $40-$100 billion over the
next five years.
.
At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
Frequently Asked Questions on Universal Service and the
Snowe-Rockefeller-Exon-Kerrey Amendment Released July 2, 1997
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