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Communications-related Headlines for 6/5/97

Commercials Tempt Public TV Stations

Hand in Small Hand Around the Internet

Tentative Accord to Sell Monitor Radio

Microsoft Moves to Rule On-Line Sales

TV Industry To Modify Rating Code

Microsoft's Bill, on Capitol Hill

The Airwaves Meet the Airways in New Frequent-Flier Promotion

Telcos File Joint Petition for Stay on FCC's Access Reform, Price Cap Rules

"Bandwidth Crisis" Seen for Online Services Traffic

Rules and Policies on Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications
Market

Not So FAST

Questions and Answers on Universal Service Benefits for Rural Health Care
Providers

Headlines Wonkettes on the Move?
*********************************************
Title: Commercials Tempt Public TV Stations
Source: New York Times (A1)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: Public Television
Description: [Front page headline points readers to article on B1:
Commercials on Public TV? Some Stations Are Tempted] PBS station executives
in Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, St.Louis, Minneapolis-St.Paul, and Miami
are considering broadcasting programs containing commercials two nights a
week. The proposal was developed and written by Lawrence Grossman, a former
president of PBS and NBC News. Mr. Grossman hopes that the revenue would be
used to create new, high-quality programming for the stations. The plan
would have to be approved by the Federal Communications Commission.

Title: Hand in Small Hand Around the Internet
Source: New York Times (C2)
Author: Laurie Flynn
Issue: Internet
Description: "Web publishers have awakened to the idea that they need to
offer not only material appealing to children, but a little supervision as
well." Some sites -- like PBS Kids Backstage -- are designed to make it
difficult, if not impossible, for kids to leave once they've entered. There
is also software to restrict kids from going to sites with violent or sexual
content.

Title: Tentative Accord to Sell Monitor Radio
Source: New York Times (D6)
Issue: Mergers/Public Radio
Description: The Christian Science Church will sell Monitor Radio to World
Times, publisher of The World Newspaper. Monitor Radio supplies news to more
than 200 public radio stations. The agreement is contingent on enough
stations agreeing to continue to carry the programming after the sale.

Title: Microsoft Moves to Rule On-Line Sales
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
Author: David Bank
Issue: Online Sales/Service
Description: Microsoft is positioning itself to be the prime virtual
middleman: bringing sellers and buyers together on the World Wide Web. Last
month Microsoft launched Sidewalk, a series of local guides to regional
arts, entertainment, and culture, in New York and Seattle. Microsoft wants
to use Sidewalk to pull users into other Microsoft-supported commercial
sites: Expedia for traveling, Music Central for CDs, Cinemania for movies,
Carpoint for auto sales, and Pampercity for diapers. "Microsoft plans to win
a major share not only of the $66 billion local advertising market but also
of sales and distribution charges in the markets for airline tickets ($100
billion), automobile sales ($334 billion) and retail goods ($1.2 trillion)."

Title: TV Industry To Modify Rating Code
Source: Washington Post (C1)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Yesterday, representatives from the broadcast and cable
industry told Congress that they would consider adding more content
information to the ratings system, such as using the letters S, V,L, and the
most needed T for significant amounts of sex, violence, language, and the
subversive bean by-product, tofu. At first, Fox and Ted Turned announced
that they would add more content info, and now it looks like the rest of the
industry is following. Child advocacy groups would also like the ratings to
be left visible on the screen longer and for parents to be included in the
show evaluation process.

Title: Microsoft's Bill, on Capitol Hill
Source: Washington Post (D3)
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Microsoft/Industry Trends
Description: Bill Gates and a handful of other high-powered technology
people went lobbying yesterday. They wanted lawmakers to understand just how
much the high-tech industry is helping the national economy, and therefore,
just how carefully lawmakers should listen to the industry's legislative
wish-list.

Title: The Airwaves Meet the Airways in New Frequent-Flier Promotion
Source: Washington Post (D3)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: TV/Disturbing Marketing Trends
Description: ABC and American Airlines have this new deal, see. So if you
are a member of American's AAdvantage club and you can prove you watch ABC
shows by correctly filling out a questionnaire on the inner-plot workings of
"Coach" or other ABC shows, you can get more frequent flyer miles. ABC and
American see this as a great marketing move.

Title: Telcos File Joint Petition for Stay on FCC's Access Reform, Price
Cap Rules
Source: Telecom AM
Issue: Universal Service
Description: Southwestern Bell, PacBell, and Nevada Bell (all part of SBC)
filed a joint petition with the FCC to stay its decision on access charge
reform and price caps. The petition addresses four regulations which order
telecos to 1) exclude unbundled network elements from Part 69 access
charges; 2) reduce price cap indices (PCI) to reflect the completion of
the amortization of equal access non-capitalized costs; 3) reduce their PCIs
by a new productivity factor of 6.5 percent; and 4) reduce their PCIs due to
the use of a 5.3 percent productivity factor in 1996, instead of the new 6.5
percent factor. Interested parties may file comments with the FCC by June 9.

Title: "Bandwidth Crisis" Seen for Online Services Traffic
Source: Telecommunications Reports Daily
Issue: Internet
Description: Mike O'Dell of UUNET says bandwidth demands may be 1,000
today's levels within three years. In the past, carrier infrastructure
planning methods were based on population growth. O'Dell thinks these
methods are obsolete since the new capacity driver is "bandwidth-hungry
communications devices." O'Dell predicts that high-speed access to the
Internet will never become plentiful or cheap.

At the FCC
FCC Initiates Proceeding to Review Rules and Policies on Foreign
Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Market, (IB Docket No. 97-142).
6/4/97

Chairman Hundt's 6/3/97 Speech "Not So FAST" at the Museum of Television and
Radio in New York, NY, is now available online.

Questions and Answers on Universal Service Benefits for Rural Health Care
Providers.

*********
Rumors are flying about Washington speculating that Benton wonkette and
Headlines co-author Susan Goslee is leaving the foundation to a) become a
poetess-in-residence in Alabama, b) switch jobs with FCC Chairman Reed Hundt
[think about it, Mr. Chairman...the hours here are great and you'll get to
work on all the public interest concerns you've already raised], c) take
over as Commiezarette of Baseball, or d) become the author of a new Style
Headlines on the fashion and footware needs of telecom analysts. Mz. Goslee
was unavailable at press. Mr. Taglang
(kevint( at )benton.org), however, is available and longing for spam so email
away.

Communications-related Headlines for 6/4/97

Street Art Wars

Senator Tells Networks To Revamp New Ratings

A campaign urges gay men and lesbians to resist tobacco ads

Media 'Revolving Door' Spins Faster for Liberals

Cable: Paying Green, Seeing Red

Virtual Anxiety
*********************************************
Title: Street Art Wars
Source: New York Times (A30)
Author: NY Times Editorial Staff
Issue: Arts&Culture/First Amendment
Description: New York City wanted to control street artists by requiring
them to obtain licenses which are so rare they are almost impossible to get.
The City lost the case in court, though.

Title: Senator Tells Networks To Revamp New Ratings
Source: New York Times (B1)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Senator John McCain (R-Ariz), Chairman of the Commerce
Committee, has summoned representatives from the four major networks and
Time Warner to tell them they should revise the TV ratings system to include
content labels. McCain says that if the industry does not change the system,
he will support legislation that does. The FCC will hold hearings on the
system on the system on June 20.

Title: A campaign urges gay men and lesbians to resist tobacco ads
Source: New York Times (D8)
Author: Stuart Elliott
Issue: Public Service Media/Minorities
Description: Public service campaigns that target certain segments of the
population are becoming increasingly prevalent. In California, the Lavender
Smoke-Free Project is introducing a campaign financed by a tax on
cigarettes. Tobacco companies have followed the trend to target the lavender
community and activists are trying to get publishers to reject that ad money.

Title: Media 'Revolving Door' Spins Faster for Liberals
Source: Wall Street Journal (A18)
Author: Brent Bozell III and Brent Baker
Issue: Journalism
Description: This op-ed by the chairman of Media Research Center and the
editor of the organization's Mediawatch newsletter argues that the dividing
line between politics and journalism has been blurry for a long time, and
that many more liberals swing from politics to journalism than
conservatives.

Title: Cable: Paying Green, Seeing Red
Source: Washington Post (A22)
Author: WP editorial staff
Issue: Cable TV
Description: National cable rates have been rising at twice the rate of
inflation. Montgomery County, Maryland will face a 9.5 percent rate
increase. Alexandria, Virginia is going to receive an 11.8 percent increase
next month. Few counties have successfully opposed cable rate increases,
and "until competition can be generated, government attempts to determine
reasonable rates of return or performance standards remain imperfect pursuits."

Title: Virtual Anxiety
Source: Washington Post (A23)
Author: Robert J. Samuelson
Issue: Lifestyles! (soon to be an exciting new informercial)
Description: In this column, Samuelson points out that though Americans
have more free time, we still are anxious about everything and always feel
rushed."We are awash in time-saving devices that, lo and behold, consume
more and more of our time." The GTE Airfone knows how to get to us: "Why
Wait? -- Check Voice Mail -- Call the Office -- Phone the Kids." In the 6
years between 1990 and 1996 (always been real good with numbers), the number
of cell phones rose from 5 million to 44 million. AOL tells us that the
number of emails a day has tripled its size since 1996 to 14 million. 28
percent of households have pagers. "Do one in four Americans need to be
beeped?"
*********

Communications-related Headlines for 6/3/97

Microsoft Takes Aim At Web Site

Sale of FCC Licenses In Several States Nets Budget Pocket Change

Bookstore Survival Stunts Have Scant Literary Merit

Hollings Acts to Block Antitrust Nomination

Landmark Legislation Ushering In The Old World of Telecommunications

Hundt's Successor, New FCC Commissioners Will Face Thicket of Regulatory,
Political Battles

Prospective Successors to Chairman Hundt May Face "Mexican Standoff" of
Presidential Politics
*********************************************
Title: Microsoft Takes Aim At Web Site
Source: New York Times (D8)
Author: Andrew Ross Sorkin
Issue: Internet
Description: A college student bought more than a dozen Internet domain
names related to Microsoft products. Currently he's running his business
through the wesite address . Microsoft plans to
prevent him from using the domain names and his Internet Service Provider
has shut down his account. "We don't need the extra headaches," a US
Internet rep said.

Title: Sale of FCC Licenses In Several States Nets Budget Pocket Change
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
Author: Bryan Gruley
Issue: Spectrum
Description: Some chunks of spectrum are going for under $5 dollars at FCC
auctions. Cellular companies complain that the market is flooded and the
cheap auction prices are devaluing their licenses. Sen. McCain and other
lawmakers want the FCC to establish minimum bids so the licenses won't go so
cheap. Reed Hundt, on the other hand, says that the cheap licenses will
encourage more firms to buy them and provide services in smaller geographic
areas.

Title: Bookstore Survival Stunts Have Scant Literary Merit
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
Author: Barbara Carton
Issue: Publishing
Description: Independent book stores are working hard to hold onto
customers. Barron's, an independent bookstore in Texas, has started selling
department store like items and dinners to compete against the big chain
bookstores. A children's book store in Minneapolis now has a rat
colony residing under its glass floor. Total retail volume in book sales
rose last
year, but independents' slice of sales dropped.

Title: Networks Split Over TV Ratings
Source: Washington Post (A1)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Fox and a few other broadcast and cable networks have decided
to use content ratings for their shows. Fox will use S, V, L, T ratings to
indicate high quantities of sex, violence, language, and tofu in a show.
Ted Turner and ABC may also start using content ratings.

Title: Hollings Acts to Block Antitrust Nomination
Source: Washington Post (A1)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Mergers
Description: Senator Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) has placed a hold on the
nomination of Joel Klein as the chief antitrust enforcer at the Department
of Justice. Hollings is concerned that Klein will not do enough to "ensure
competition in the telecommunications industry" in decisions about telecom
mergers. Klein recently had to answer concerns of Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont)
that he would try to regulate phone companies too much.

Title: Landmark Legislation Ushering In The Old World of Telecommunications
Source: Washington Post (C3)
Author: Allan Sloan
Issue: Telecom Act
Description: The revolutionary Telecommunications Act of 1996 -- which
promised a new era of lean and hungry companies -- simply brought us right
back to where we started -- a world of mega-companies. From seven Baby
Bells, we now have five. Bell Atlantic bought Nynex. SBC just bought
Pac-Tel. And AT&T may merge with SBC -- or leaks of those merger discussions
may be a gimmick to help AT&T purchase GTE.

Title: Hundt's Successor, New FCC Commissioners Will Face Thicket of
Regulatory,
Political Battles
Source: Telecommunications Reports (p.24)
Issue: FCC
Description: The new FCC commissioners will face thorny issues in 1998
including telephone number portability and a new wire-tap law. Also, the
regulatory "trilogy" of pro-competitive rulemakings implementing the Telecom
Act of '96 -- interconnection, universal service, and access charges -- will
probably be revisited.

Title: Prospective Successors to Chairman Hundt May Face "Mexican Standoff"
of Presidential
Politics
Source: Telecommunications Reports (p.26)
Issue: FCC
Description: Senate presidential hopefuls may muddy the confirmation process
for FCC nominees. Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC) is backing former aid Ralph
Everett. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Robert Kerry (D-NE), and Thomas
Daschle (D-SD) have sent President Clinton a letter asking the Commission
have a "rural voice" and seem to be backing former Sen James Exon (D-NE) aid
Christopher MacLean. But MacLean was the main staffer behind the
Communications Decency Act, so the computer industry may oppose his
nomination. Vice President Gore's office will probably handle the
nominations which gives an inside track to White House policy advisor
Kathleen Wallman who has been endorsed by the Organization for the Promotion
and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies. This standoff may
delay Senate action on White House nominations until next year.
*********

Communications-related Headlines for 6/2/97

LICY( at )periplum.cdinet.com

Reed Hundt's Legacy

Regulatory Hurdles in an AT&T Deal With SBC

With all sound and fury over push technology, it must signify something

Trickle of TV Liquor Ads May Increase

Hanging Up on Competition?

Cellular Phones Help Schools Keep Information Flowing

Bit by Bit, Congress Is Opening Up to the Information Age

Clinton's Talented and Tenacious Regulators

Hordes of Pols Elect to Change Channels

Hundt Closes; Hunt Opens

Hundt enlarges PSA complaint
*********************************************
Title: Reed Hundt's Legacy
Source: New York Times (A26)
Author: NYTimes Editorial Staff
Issue: FCC
Description: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt tried to
lower cable TV rates, helped write regulations to open up local telephone
markets; fought broadcasters to win a computer compatible digital TV
standard & children's educational TV programming; and raised $20 billion in
spectrum auctions. He also pushed through rules that will guarantee
affordable telecommunications services for low-income people and will wire
schools and libraries to the Internet. Whoever succeeds him should be
prepared to fight back industry attempts to roll back these rules: "Mr.
Hundt's legacy deserves protection."

Title: Regulatory Hurdles in an AT&T Deal With SBC
Source: New York Times (D1)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Merger
Description: If last weeks leaks about a possible AT&T and SBC merger were
"an attempt to float a trial balloon, it is fair to say the balloon got shot
down." Lawyers, lawmakers, lobbyists, and antitrust scholars seem to agree
that the merger would not pass regulatory muster because of the threat to
Competition. AT&T and SBC lawyers argue that the merger would *increase*
competition because SBC would bend over backwards to open up its local
markets while seeking regulatory approval.

Title: With all sound and fury over push technology, it must signify something
Source: New York Times (D4)
Author: Seth Schiesel
Issue: Digital Commerce/Info Tech
Description: In Technology column, Schiesel says push technology must be
something big because there's such a big fuss over it. Pointcast is the push
technology leader, but Netscape and Microsoft are about to begin their own
offerings.

Title: Trickle of TV Liquor Ads May Increase
Source: Wall Street Journal (B5)
Author: Sally Goll Beatty
Issue: Advertising
Description: Now that Reed Hundt, vocal opponent of TV liquor ads, is
leaving the FCC, the liquor industry may increase its efforts to advertise
on TV. Most network stations refused to run such ads, but the ads
received a warmer welcome on cable. The liquor industry thinks that the
continued unraveling of network audiences and the rise of cable may help
their efforts.

Title: Hanging Up on Competition?
Source: Washington Post (H1)(6/1/97)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Competition/Mergers
Description: The "urge to merge" is stronger than the urge to compete.
Instead of trying to battle it out with lower prices and better services
[isn't that how the ads went?], large telephone companies and trying to
become larger companies: NYNEX is merging with Bell Atlantic, PacTel merged
with SBC, and now SBC and AT&T are in a marriage dance. Is this what
Congress meant with the Telecom Act of 1996? House Telecom Subcommittee
Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) thinks so: what's the difference between
mergers forming 3-4 companies that compete and 12 companies competing for
awhile until 3-4 winners emerge? But if even AT&T can't compete with the
Baby Bells unless it buys them, then maybe the local market is a natural
monopoly. Article includes summary box on major telecom mergers passage
of1996 Act.

Title: Cellular Phones Help Schools Keep Information Flowing
Source: Washington Post (B1)(6/1/97)
Author: Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Issue: Education Technology
Description: Cellular telephones are the most sought after technology in
schools. Teachers want to be able to contact parents, students and others
more easily. Some wireless telephone companies are donating phones and
service to schools. Teachers and administrators who use the service predict
that many more schools will use the technology soon.

Title: Bit by Bit, Congress Is Opening Up to the Information Age
Source: Washington Post (A17)
Author: Barbara J. Saffir
Issue: Access to Government Information
Description: Members of Congress are getting more active online. Two
hundred twenty five representatives have web sites. There are also about 25
pending bills regarding the Internet that Congress needs to consider.
C-Span started a web site in January so that it could cover government
events not carried on its two TV channels. But citizens want more
information. The Heritage Foundation and a Ralph Nader group,
the Congressional Accountability Project, are demanding
that Congress put more meaty information, like committee reports, online.

Title: Clinton's Talented and Tenacious Regulators
Source: Washington Post (A19)
Author: Robert Kuttner
Issue: Federal Government
Description: In his op-ed, Kutner raises concerns about the exit of a group
of "talented and spirited regulators" who have "insisted on rules that serve
the public interest" -- Reed Hundt from the FCC, David Kessler from the FDA,
and Ann Bingaman, of the Justice Department's anti-trust division. Each
of these people worked in fields with powerful industries. "There is so
much money to be made in the tobacco business, the pharmaceutical business,
the telecom business, that it is easy to forget that abuses often occur."
"Government is now left with one oar -- regulation -- to promoted public
purposes. It would not be smart to throw that oar overboard."

Title: Hordes of Pols Elect to Change Channels
Source: Washington Post (D1)
Author: Howard Kurtz
Issue: Journalism
Description: Susan Molinari's move from politics to Saturday Morning News
Anchor is an indication of the breakdown of the dividing line between
politics and journalism. "Broadcast personalities once used their
prominence as a springboard into politics. How retro. Now it seems
politics has become just another route to becoming sufficiently famous to
land a high paying TV job." Pat Buchanan is on CNN's Crossfire. Oliver
North lost an election and got a radio show. Dee Dee Meyers went to CNBC.
George Stephanopoulous went to ABC.

Title: Hundt Closes; Hunt Opens
Source: Broadcasting&Cable (p.4)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: FCC/Death of Public Interest
Description: The race for the chairmanship is on. Early favorites (all with
odds of about 2-1) are Commissioner Susan Ness, FCC Counsel William Kennard,
White House Policy Advisor Kathleen Wallman, and former Hill staffer Ralph
Everett. Dark horses include Benton Foundation wonk Susan Goslee who's
concerns include the much under represented canine population. [Related
stories include broadcasters' and cable's reactions to Hundt resignation.
"For Once, Broadcasters Cheer Hundt's Move" gives a pretty clear indication
of their response]

Title: Hundt enlarges PSA complaint
Source: Broadcasting&Cable (p.6)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Public Service Media
Description: FCC Chairman Red Hundt is upset that the number of
network-produced public service announcements are dwindling and that local
stations aren't even airing all the PSAs that they receive. Hundt is
considering having the FCC write rules on airing PSAs. A broadcast industry
source said, however, that "Any hope he had of getting pet projects done is
gone now."
*********

Communications-related Headlines for 5/30/97

AT&T Presence In Europe is Questioned

Pac-Tel Launches Wireless Cable-TV On Scaled-Back Basis in California

COMPREHENSIVE MONITORING REPORT ON TELEPHONE SERVICE

Making the Best Call: How to Save Money and Avoid Problems with Your
Telephone Service

..And Miles To Go Before I Sleep

Correction: Yesterday's headline on Freeloader software stated that the
technology will not be incorporated into upcoming versions of Web browsers.
The technology *will be* incorporated -- hence the article about
Freeloader's demise makes a lot more sense, doesn't it?
*********************************************
Title: AT&T Presence In Europe is Questioned
Source: Wall Street Journal (A18)
Author: Kenneth Gordon and Thomas Duesterberg
Issue: FCC
Description: In an op-ed, the senior vice president of the National
Economic Research Associates and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute
argue that Hundt's time as Chairman of the FCC led primarily to
"strengthened central control and micromanagement." The authors believe
that most of Hundt's actions at the FCC have stalled rather than supported
the development of competition in the communications industry. Their
article outlines the needed steps to promote competition including phasing
out universal service, deregulating all advanced service including
telephony, and allowing the markets to set prices for other
telecommunications services.

Title: Pac-Tel Launches Wireless Cable-TV On Scaled-Back Basis in California
Source: Wall Street Journal (B2)
Author: Leslie Cauley
Issue: Info Tech
Description: Los Angeles and Orange County in California will be the
recipients of a very scaled back wireless cable initiative by Pac-Tel and
its new parent SBC.

At the FCC
COMPREHENSIVE MONITORING REPORT ON TELEPHONE SERVICE RELEASED. The staff
of the Federal-State Joint Board on separations has released the
nineteenth in a series of reports which are intended to help
telecommunications policymakers and the general public monitor the impact
of certain decisions adopted by the FCC in 1987 [1997?]. Report No: CC 97-28.
Dkt No.: CC- 87-339. CCB Contact: Alexander Belinfante at (202) 418-0944.

Link to GSA Consumer Information Center Brochure "Making the Best Call: How
to Save Money and Avoid Problems with Your Telephone Service" added to FCC
Consumer Information and CCB Factsheet homepages

Commissioner Ness's 5/29/97 speech "..And Miles To Go Before I Sleep" before
the New England Chapter of the Federal Communications Bar Association in
Boston, Massachusetts

Chairman Hundt's 5/29/97 Speech to the Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC
*********
see ya in June!

Communications-related Headlines for 5/29/97 (up in smoke)

forgrabs-l@cdinet.com

F.T.C. Charges 'Joe Camel' Ad Illegally Takes Aim at Minors

When Tabloids Cross the Line

Radio spectrum sales seem a success. Why the attack?

Book Superstores Bring Hollywood-Like Risks to Publishing Business

Joe Camel Ads Illegally Target Kids, FTC Says

FTC Seeks to Ban "Joe Camel" in Ads

Privacy and the Cookie Pushers

Ad for News Media Museum Dismays Death Penalty Opponents

Curb on Tobacco Ads Proposed, but Would It Snuff Out Sales?

Software Firm Closed After Soaring Briefly

Telecommunications Deals Set Off Antitrust Alarms

*********************************************

Title: F.T.C. Charges 'Joe Camel' Ad Illegally Takes Aim at Minors
Source: New York Times (A1)
Author: William Grimes
Issue: Advertising
Description: The Federal Trade Commission stated that R.J. Reynolds promotes
an addictive and deadly product to youths who can't legally purchase it.
The FTC says it can back up this charge with extensive, internal company
documents and aims to prove that Reynolds developed its cartoon based
advertising campaign in the 80s to increase its shrinking number of teen
smokers. It's estimated that more than 3,000 kids under 18 start smoking
every day.

Title: When Tabloids Cross the Line
Source: New York Times (A29)
Author: Steve Coz
Issue: Journalism
Description: This op-ed by Steve Coz, the senior vice president of the
National Enquirer, admits that scrambling for celebrity affairs and gossip
is what it's all about from a tabloid perspective, but that the Globe has
overstepped what's acceptable with its recent story on a supposed
extra-marital affair by Frank Gifford. The Globe hired a flight
attendant whom Gifford had spoken with, but only spoken with, to lure
Gifford into a hotel room and then secretly videotaped the rendez vouz.
Coz states that this is not covering a story, but creating a story that
wouldn't have existed otherwise. "What's
next? Is someone going to buy a case of vodka and deliver it to a celebrity
who is a recovering alcoholic and then report to readers that the star went
on a binge?"

Title: Radio spectrum sales seem a success. Why the attack?
Source: New York Times (D2)
Author: Peter Passell
Issue: Spectrum
Description: If the FCC's spectrum auctions are bringing in money, why is
this practice under attack? It is partly because lawmakers are thinking more
about the finances than about getting under used spectrum into use, and partly
because Wall Street and spectrum renters like cell phone companies want to
keep the spectrum scarce. Broadcasters also want to discredit auctions so
that they won't ever be asked to pay for their spectrum.

Title: Book Superstores Bring Hollywood-Like Risks to Publishing Business
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
Author: G. Bruce Knecht
Issue: Publishing
Description: The growing number of book superstores is hurting book sales.
Retail space is way ahead of sales -- adult hardcover sales dropped 4.4%
last year, and the number of paperbacks sold declined. Superstores have
lots of books, but prime shelf space is saved for only a few titles. If a
book doesn't become a blockbuster, it gets moved out. Publishers pay
celebrity authors big sums for book contracts, and then if the book doesn't
sell, publishers buy the books back from the stores and end up destroying a
lot of books. Last year bookstores sent back 35% of adult hardcovers.
Book superstores hurt independent book sellers, and independent book sellers
actually sell 80% of the books they order from publishers while superstores
sell less than 70% of what they order. Publishers are paying more and more
for publicity campaigns for fewer titles.

Title: Joe Camel Ads Illegally Target Kids, FTC Says
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
Author: Bruce Ingersoll
Issue: Advertising
Description: The FTC has filed an unfair advertising complaint against R.J.
Reynolds for its Joe Camel Advertising campaign for cigarettes. "The
campaign, the complaint says, has been so successful that Camel's market
share among kids exceeds its share among adults." Reynolds response
stated, in part, that "Joe Camel has become a scapegoat for issues our
society has been unable to resolve."

Title: FTC Seeks to Ban "Joe Camel" in Ads
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (A1)
Author: John Schwartz
Issue: Advertising
Description: The Federal Trade Commission has charged tobacco giant R.J.
Reynolds with trying to entice children to smoke with its "Joe Camel"
advertising campaign. The case will now go to administrative trial. The FTC
regulates advertising and has the power to restrict ads that are "unfair,"
a legal term which means "likely to cause injury that is not reasonably
unavoidable, and which is not offset by a compensating benefit." The FTC's
director said, "Joe Camel must grow up or go away."

Title: Privacy and the Cookie Pushers
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (A22)
Author: Washington Post Editorial
Issue: Privacy/Internet
Description: A group of Internet companies, led by Netscape, say they will
develop privacy standards on the Internet so surfers know when a Web site
is collecting information about them. In the future, they say, Internet
users will get to choose to accept "cookies," small programs that are
deposited on your hard drive so that a site operator can collect
information about your Web habits. "Any help, corporate or other, in
refusing unwanted cookies and junk e-mail is probably worth having. But it
shouldn't be mistaken for a solution to the large and urgent privacy
problems that press on the Net."

Title: Ad for News Media Museum Dismays Death Penalty Opponents
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (D1)
Author: Alice Reid
Issue: Advertising
Description: DC-area ads for the "Newseum," a journalism museum run by the
Freedom Forum, have upset death-penalty opponents. "Think A Museum About
News Is A Bore?" the ads ask with a picture of an electric chair. "You're
In For A Big Shock." Newseum operators defended the ad that portrays an
exhibit on sensationalism in journalism.

Title: Curb on Tobacco Ads Proposed, but Would It Snuff Out Sales?
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (E1)
Author: John Mintz
Issue: Advertising
Description: Proposed bans on tobacco ad campaigns -- as is done in Great
Britain -- have little effect as the companies just come up with new ad
campaigns that get around existing rules. The tobacco industry has $45
billion in sales last year; $7.7 billion in profits.

Title: Software Firm Closed After Soaring Briefly
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (E1)
Author: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Issue: Internet Economy
Description: Freeloader Inc, once a hot Internet property, was shut down by
the company that bought it last year. Freeloader software would search out
websites and download them to an users computer when the user wasn't at
the keyboard. This "off-line" downloading ability is not being incorporated
into new versions of Web browsers.

Title: Telecommunications Deals Set Off Antitrust Alarms
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (E1)
Author: Steven Pearlstein & Mike Mills
Issue: Mergers
Description: Although the government has not challenged many mega-mergers
over the past few years -- AT&T and McCaw Cellular, Time Warner and Turner
Broadcasting, Disney and Capital Cities/ABC, Bell Atlantic and NYNEX to
name a few -- two recently proposed deals may not sail so smoothly. "We
know that some mergers are good for competition and some are bad," said FCC
Chairman Reed Hundt. "But I don't think government has yet drawn a clear
line between them." The rumored marriage of AT&T and SBC and the tentative
deal between Primestar and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp may help draw that
line though.

At the FCC (www.fcc.gov):

FCC RELEASES NEW TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERSHIP REPORT. CCB Contact: Common
Carrier Bureau: Alexander Belinfante at (202) 418-0944.

WFUV-FM, BRONX, NY, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY. Initiated formal consultation with
New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Fordham
University and other commenting parties concerning effects of placing
WFUV-FM tower New York Botanical Gardens. Action by Chief, Audio Services
Division, Mass Media Bureau. Adopted: May 23, 1997. by Letter. (DA No.
97-1110). MMB

*********

Communications-related Headlines for 5/28/97

forgrabs-l@cdinet.com

Nortwestern University takes a lead in using the Internet to add sound and
sight to courses

AT&T and SBC Reportedly Talk of Huge Phone Merger

An Active Chief Is Leaving the FCC

Interpublic invests in an Internet provider aimed at young adults

Murdoch Gets Primestar Stake In Pact With His Cable Rivals

Is a $50 Billion Merger What Deregulation Was Really All About?

FCC Chairman Hundt Will Step Down

AT&T Talking To Bell Firm About Merger

Frappuccino and Fiction to Go?

WWW.Magazine

At the FCC, Hundt Signs Off

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
*********************************************
Title: Nortwestern University takes a lead in using the Internet to add
sound and sight to
courses
Source: New York Times
Author: William Honan
Issue: Education
Description: In Class Notes column, Honan profiles Northwestern University,
the fountain of young, impressionable policy wonks. NWU has invested $5
million in wiring classrooms and other technological aides. Instructors are
using technology enhance classes will historic speeches, compiling resources
via the World Wide Web, and teaching courses concurrently in Illinois and
Manchester, England.

Title: AT&T and SBC Reportedly Talk of Huge Phone Merger
Source: New York Times (D1)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Mergers
Description: In what could be the mother of all mergers (well, at least
until Disney decides to take over the US Government), executives have
confirmed that AT&T and SBC are engaged in merger talks. The proposed merger
would be valued at $50 billion and would result in a company with 90 million
ling distance customers, 30 million local subscribers, and dominance in
California and Texas. "AT&T is acting like Humpty Dumpty, trying to put
itself back together again," said an industry consultant. Call out the
king's horses.

Title: An Active Chief Is Leaving the FCC
Source: New York Times (D1)
Author: John Broder
Issue: FCC
Description: "The best chairman in the history of the Federal Communications
Commission" announced he will step down from as soon as a successor is
named. During Chairman Hundt's tenure, the Commission issued new licenses
for digital television, set rules for children's educational television,
tried to bring greater competition to cable TV, attempted to harness the
explosion in wireless communications, negotiated an international
telecommunications agreement, and began deregulation of the nation's
telephone system.

Title: Interpublic invests in an Internet provider aimed at young adults
Source: New York Times (D5)
Author: Stuart Elliott
Issue: Internet/Advertising
Description: Interpublic, the world's third-largest agency company, is
investing in Tripod which targets "the transition generation, young adults
who are moving from college to the workplace." "The deal is emblematic of
how the huge agency companies that dominate Madison Avenue are staking
claims in cyberspace" by investing in independent companies.

Title: Murdoch Gets Primestar Stake In Pact With His Cable Rivals
Source: New York Times (D5)
Author: Steve Lohr
Issue: Satellite TV
Description: Rupert Muroch's News Corp tentatively agreed to relinquish some
satellite assets in return for a minority, nonvoting share of DBS operator
Primestar Partners, run by cable TV giants Time Warner and TCI.

Title: Is a $50 Billion Merger What Deregulation Was Really All About?
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
Author: John J. Keller and Bryan Gruley
Issue: Mergers
Description: AT&T's merge discussions with SBC "is sparking a hot debate
over whether such a megagiant would simply be too big for the country's --
and consumers' -- good." Even if the two companies reach an agreement,
federal regulators are going to be carefully scrutinizing the merger --
"twice the size of the largest merger in corporate history." Some will
argue that AT&T is trying to recreate a monopoly. The companies will argue
that once strengthened by AT&T, SBC would be more willing to open its local
markets, increasing competition and lowering customer rates. The Telecom Act
was supposed to let companies compete with another giving consumers more
choices and better prices. But in reality, companies don't want to get into
turf wars and would rather merge. Because of AT&T's plans, the newly
formed British Telecom-MCI company could start scoping out its own Baby Bell
to buy.
Many lawmakers, liberals and conservatives alike, are not thrilled with the
proposed deal.

Title: FCC Chairman Hundt Will Step Down
Source: Wall Street Journal (A2)
Author: John. R. Wilke
Issue: FCC
Description: FCC Chairman Reed Hundt will resign and end his four year
tenure as head of the FCC. He'll probably stay around another 6 months
while a successor is found. Some of the finalists for Mr./Ms.
Communications America include: William Kennard, FCC general counsel just
nominated for Commissioner seat by President Clinton; Commissioner Susan
Ness; and
Kathleen Wallman, former head of FCC Common Carrier Bureau and current
policy advisor
at the White House.

Title: AT&T Talking To Bell Firm About Merger
Source: Washington Post (A1)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Mergers
Description: AT&T is talking about merging with SBC Communications, one of
the country's biggest telephone carriers. If the merger talks went through
and the merger was approved, it would reunite a large section of the Ma Bell
system which was broken up in 1984. The merger could cut down on
competition since AT&T has been offering local phone service.

Title: Frappuccino and Fiction to Go?
Source: Washington Post (C1)
Author: David Streifeld
Issue: Lifestyles!
Description: Starbucks, provider of coffee and coffee-affiliated
beverages, is going to start selling Oprah's Book Club Choices. Starbucks
will give the profits from the book sales to charitable foundations.

Title: WWW.Magazine
Source: Washington Post (C1)
Author: Howard Kurtz
Issue: Internet Publishing
Description: Feed Magazine, an online journal covering culture and
technology, has been one of the success stories in online publishing.
The founders envisioned a world of small publications cohabiting the web
with large corporate presences. But instead, today, to stay alive, most
small journals are making deals with big companies. Small online Zines have
a less news oriented, more culture talk kind of focus, dude.

Title: At the FCC, Hundt Signs Off
Source: Washington Post (D9)
Author: Paul Farhi and Mike Mills
Issue: FCC
Description: Hundt is stepping down from his post as FCC Chairman. Reed
Hundt once quoted Jabba the Hud, Star Wars Villain, to describe his time at
the FCC: "Someday you will learn to appreciate me." In this 3 and 1/2
years as FCC Chairman Hundt got "new cable TV price regulations,
"children's educational" TV program requirements, and new rules to guide TV
viewers and
stations into the "digital" broadcasting era." While Hundt was not too
popular among corporate folks, public interest advocates appreciated Hundt's
mantra to establish "private competition in communications and public
benefits from communications." There is a lot of turnover on the 5-member
commission.
Only Commissioner Susan Ness will remain after Hundt leaves. The article
also has small info box about just what the FCC does.

Title: Taking the Initiative to Fill 19,000 Technology Jobs
Source: Washington Post (D9)
Author: Peter Behr
Issue: Education Technology
Description: Forty District of Columbia leaders from business, government, and
community organizations launched a campaign to create
"technology training courses and computer networks in D.C. schools and
community organizations." The plan is to help train qualified candidates
for the 19,000 unfilled technology jobs in the area. The project is using DC's
Ballou High School's technology initiative as one of their models. [see
Headlines 3/7/97]
leaders believe that getting the hardware will be the easy part and getting
principals and teachers to support the effort will be more challenging.

At the FCC
Chairman Hundt's 5/27/97 speech "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"

*********

Communications-related Headlines for 5/22/97

forgrabs-l@cdinet.com

Local Monopolies Still Rule the Local Phone Markets

Study Sees Holes in Internet Security Plan

Broadcast TV's Viewership Fell In Latest Season

Cable Rates Not a Hit in Montgomery

In the Chips Now, But Maybe Not Later

ISPs Form Coalition to Make Internet More "Reliable"

David vs. Goliaths
*********************************************
Title: Local Monopolies Still Rule the Local Phone Markets
Source: New York Times (D1)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Competition (or lack thereof)
Description: A study to be released today by the Yankee Group, a
telecommunications research firm in Boston, finds that less than .5% of
American receive local telephone service from any company other than the
local Bell. The most likely competitors in this market -- long distance
companies -- seem hesitant to enter this market and seem more concerned with
convincing Federal regulators not to let Bells provide long distance. AT&T
seems like the only long distance company planning to build their own
facilities to compete with local Bells. Resale of services, a traditional
avenue into a telecommunications market, seems too unprofitable to spark
competition. The local phone market is $100 billion/year.

Title: Study Sees Holes in Internet Security Plan
Source: New York Times
Author: Steve Lohr
Issue: Internet Security
Description: A study coordinated by the Center for Democracy and Technology
finds that Government plans for unlocking
data-scrambling software to pursue criminals on the Internet could actually
increase security risks and raise the costs of online commerce.

Title: Broadcast TV's Viewership Fell In Latest Season
Source: Wall Street Journal (B5)
Author: Kyle Pope
Issue: TV
Description: Last night the broadcast TV season ended, and broadcast TV
(NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox) viewership has dropped by 1.7 million homes since last
year. This drop is the biggest the broadcast industry has seen in awhile.
Cable viewership is, in general, on the rise.

Title: Cable Rates Not a Hit in Montgomery
Source: Washington Post (A1)
Author: Manuel Perez-Rivas
Issue: Cable Rates
Description: Montgomery County, MD residents are facing a possible 9.5
increase in cable rates that could raise cable bills about $3 a month.
"According to the Labor Department, cable rates outpaced the inflation rate
last year by 2 to 1." County officials are going to appeal with the FCC
about the rate increase.

Title: In the Chips Now, But Maybe Not Later
Source: Washington Post (E1)
Author: Peter Behr
Issue: Economy
Description: At a recent summit, Virginia business and education leaders
argued that unless the state increases its investment in technology
training, the current technology boom may be short lived because of a
shortage of skilled employees. The president of Landmark Communications
said, "We cannot expect technology businesses to locate in Virginia if we
cannot supply qualified workers." According to recent surveys, tech
companies in Northern Virginia have about a dozen job vacancies, and "only
four of every 10 job applicants have the skills employers need."

Title: ISPs Form Coalition to Make Internet More "Reliable"
Source: Telecommunications Reports Daily
Issue: Internet
Description: Nine major US Internet operators formed a coalition "dedicated
to making the commercial Internet more robust and reliable." For more
information se . Founding members are ANS
Communications, AT&T, BBN, Earthlink Network, GTE, MCI, NETCOM, PSINet, and
UUNET.

Title: David vs. Goliaths
Source: The Villi age Voice
Author: Vince Bielski
Issue: Internet
Description: Whole Earth Networks (Wenet) CEO David Holub was fired when
insisted on fighting the Big Five ISPs -- MCI, Sprint, BBN (part of GTE),
ANS (part of America Online), and UUNET -- over new peering policies. The
Big Five control 80% of the market in online traffic. Instead of freely
swapping Internet traffic, the companies are now starting to charge smaller
Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Holub -- and now his staff -- is
protesting not over the money, but because the company's have not made the
criteria for charging public. Holub claims that these companies could apply
peering charges unfairly by refusing to peer with competitors that it wanted
to eliminate -- even if they meet criteria.

*********

Communications-related Headlines for 5/7/97

forgrabs-l@cdinet.com

At This Site, Russian Nerds Get Together, Virtually

Parent Volunteers Give Affluent Schools an Advantage Hard to Duplicate

GTE Discloses 3 Big Deals in Growth Bid

2 Phone Companies Deny Report on 10,000 Job Cuts

FCC Expected to Back Off On Business Phone Line Fee

AT&T Could Lose $350 Million in 2001 To Calls Via Internet

Reaching Out To Pass Over Someone

FCC (Daily Digest)

GTE to Buy Internet Firm BBN Corporation

1 in 6 U.S. Adults Regularly Online, Study Indicates

*********************************************

Title: At This Site, Russian Nerds Get Together, Virtually
Source: New York Times (A4)
Author: Michael Specter
Issue: International
Description: While real world cafes are still slow to catch on in Russia,
cybercafes are tres chic. Virtual World is a popular Internet access point
with big skylights, cold beer, and some cafe lattes. It is frequented by
international students, business people, and kids.

Title: Parent Volunteers Give Affluent Schools an Advantage Hard to Duplicate
Source: New York Times (A28)
Author: Abby Goodnough
Issue: Education/Low-Income
Description: The number of parent-volunteers in schools is rising, but
rising much faster in wealthy districts. Poor districts don't have enough
people to provide the services once covered by government. In New Jersey,
Governor Whitman has put a cap on how much wealthy districts can spend on
education in the hopes that this limit will let poor schools catch up.
Experts argue, however, that suburban parents "will not let that happen
because they will always pitch in to provide the special programs their
school budgets cannot cover." Low-income parents would be more likely to
spend time at schools if the schools provided day care for other children
and free meals. Other experts argue that poorer districts just don't do a
good enough job recruiting volunteers.

Title: GTE Discloses 3 Big Deals in Growth Bid
Source: New York Times (D1)
Author: Seth Schiesel
Issue: Media Mergers
Description: The country's biggest local phone carrier, GTE, is going to
pay $616 million to buy the BBN Corporation, one of the country's biggest
Internet providers. GTE is also buying a chunk of a nation-wide fiber
optic network constructed by QWest and is entering a partnership with Cisco
Systems, a producer of networking equipment.

Title: 2 Phone Companies Deny Report on 10,000 Job Cuts
Source: New York Times (D4)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Media Mergers
Description: Bell Atlantic and Nynex announced that their merger would not
result in loss of 10,000 jobs as reported in news stories yesterday. The
companies said they plan to cut only 3,000 management jobs within three
years of the deal.

Title: FCC Expected to Back Off On Business Phone Line Fee
Source: Wall Street Journal (A2)
Author: Dow Jones News Service
Issue: Universal Service
Description: As part of its reorganization of universal service subsidies,
the FCC is expected to accept a plan that would charge business $2.75 for
each telephone line. Originally, the agency had planned to charge $4 a
line, but pressure from businesses made the FCC back off. The costs of the
$2 fee are supposed to be offset by drops in long distance charges.

Title: AT&T Could Lose $350 Million in 2001 To Calls Via Internet
Source: Wall Street Journal (B7)
Author: WSJ Staff Reporter
Issue: Industry Trends/Internet
Description: Currently there are 12 million US citizens on line. In four
years there should be 44 million, and many of these people could be using
the Internet to make international phone calls. In the year 2001, long
distance companies could lose between $620 and $925 million in
long-distance charges.

Title: Reaching Out To Pass Over Someone
Source: Washington Post (C10)
Author: Michelle Singletary
Issue: Low-Income
Description: When NationsBank customers call the bank's toll free service
number, the system assesses which customers are very lucrative for the bank
(lots of accounts, loans, etc.) and passes those callers along to specially
trained service representatives. Regular customers may have to wait a
little bit longer to talk to someone. "Using new technology, bankers are
increasingly gauging customer profitability and are tailoring their service
levels and marketing accordingly. . . Those [customers] with accounts that
don't generate much income or non customers will find it tougher to get
service or may be charged higher fees . ." Other banks think that
Nations tactics are not good for the community and are trying to use
new technologies to serve the average customer better.

Title: FCC (Daily Digest)
Source: Washington Post (C10)
Author: WP Staff
Issue: Universal Service
Description: The FCC is expected to vote today to charge businesses $2.75
per month per phone line as part of its reorganization of universal service
policies.

Title: GTE to Buy Internet Firm BBN Corporation
Source: Washington Post (C10)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Media Mergers
Description: Big telephone company, GTE, is going to buy BBN, "one of the
companies that founded the Internet, having helped develop common software
technology for the network 28 years ago . ."

Title: 1 in 6 U.S. Adults Regularly Online, Study Indicates
Source: Washington Post (C10)
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Internet
Description: Close to 1 in 6 adults, greater than 31 million Americans, use
the Internet regularly. Users rank the Internet as everything from
indispensable to very difficult to use (though those terms are not
necessarily mutually exclusive). "About 35 percent of Internet users said
that they are watching less television. More than 25 percent of Internet
users are spending less time on long-distance telephone calls. Sixteen
percent of Internet users say they spend less time with magazines,
newspapers, and other personal computer applications." Also, using the
Internet seems to make people not get as much sleep.

*********

Communications-related Headlines for 4/25/97

forgrabs-l@cdinet.com

Merger of NYNEX and Bell Atlantic Clears U.S. Hurdle

Political Spotlight Shines on Volunteer Conference

Bell Atlantic-Nynex Deal Moves Forward

Foundation Plans to Leave Internet-Name Oversight

Justice Approves Bell Atlantic, Nynex Merger

Kids and Computers

Chorus of Boos Greets TV Rating System

Witnesses Assail NTIA Infrastructure Grants Program
*********************************************
Title: Merger of NYNEX and Bell Atlantic Clears U.S. Hurdle
Source: New York Times (A1)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Mergers
Description: The US Justice Department announced on 4/24 that it will not
attempt to block the merger of local telephone companies Nynex and Bell
Atlantic. The merger, originally announced a year ago, will create a $22
billion corporation serving 39 million customers in 13 states and the
District of Columbia. The merger was opposed by many consumer advocates
because the size of the new company may deter local competition in the
service area (Maine to Virginia). The deal still needs approval from the
Federal Communications Commission.

Title: Political Spotlight Shines on Volunteer Conference
Source: New York Times (A25)
Author: R.W. Apple Jr.
Issue: Civic Participation
Description: The Presidents' Summit for America's Future opens next week in
an attempt to promote the benefits of volunteerism. "Volunteerism is
becoming a core value in America," says a Democratic pollster. "It is a
response to the need for a rebuilt sense of community. People are waking up
to the fact that they communicate around the world on the Internet and yet
don't know their neighbors." The Summit is seen as a way for President
Clinton to restate smaller government themes and for 2000 presidential
hopefuls to vie for the spotlight. The summit has it critics: one
government official says that on the scale of what they can do to solve
problems volunteers are a 1 and the government is a 10. Rush Limbaugh says
the event is all about "fleecing corporations" in "an incremental little
approach to more socialistic attitude."

Title: Bell Atlantic-Nynex Deal Moves Forward
Source: Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/) (A3)
Author: John R.Wilke and Leslie Cauley
Issue: Media Mergers/Phone Regulation
Description: The Justice Department approved the $23 million merger between
Bell Atlantic and Nynex. This deal is the second largest merger in history
and establishes a communications company with customers from Maine to
Virginia. Critics of the merger believe that the Telecommunications Act,
which was supposed to promote competition, is just leading to the formation
of megacompanies. Other recent large media mergers include: Time Warner
and Turner, Disney and Capital Cities/ABC, US West and Continental
Cablevision, SBS Communications and Pacific Telesis. The Justice
Department's approval of this AT&T deal bodes well for MCI and British
Telecom and their proposed merger.

Title: Foundation Plans to Leave Internet-Name Oversight
Source: Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/) (B6)
Author: WSJ Staff Reporter
Issue: Internet
Description: The National Science Foundation has decided not to renew
Network Solution's contract to register domain names for the Internet.
Network Solutions, a private company, has been awarding domain names for 4
years and contends that it will continue to do so after the contract
expires.

Title: Justice Approves Bell Atlantic, Nynex Merger
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (D1)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Phone Regulation/Media Mergers
Description: The Bell Atlantic - Nynex merger has been approved by the US
Justice Department and the Superfriend's Hall of Justice. The new company
will run under Bell Atlantic and will maintain 39 million phone lines,
greater than a quarter of the nation's total phone lines. Bell Atlantic
will have 138,900 employees -- second in size only to AT&T as far as phone
companies go. After this merger, there will be five Baby Bells.

Title: Kids and Computers
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (Weekend p. 33)
Author: WP Reporters
Issue: Children
Description: Special segment of weekend section on kids and computers --
filtering software, good CD-ROMs, appropriate web sites.

Title: Chorus of Boos Greets TV Rating System
Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) (G2)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: V Chip
Description: In the last month, more than 800 organizations have filed
comments with the FCC protesting the current TV rating system. All twenty
six positive comments came from network affiliated stations. Jack Valenti,
who led the development of the rating system, claims that all the protests
are coming from inside the beltway people.

Title: Witnesses Assail NTIA Infrastructure Grants Program
Source: Telecommunications Reports Daily
Issue: Budget Issues
Description: Testifying at a National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) reauthorization hearing, Washington telecom lawyer
Kenneth Robinson identified 14 other programs in President Clinton's 1998
budget that would fund similar projects as NTIA's Telecommunications and
Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP). Former FCC Chief of
Staff Peter Pitsch said, "it appears unlikely that TIIAP can pass a
cost-benefit test." NTIA Administrator Larry Irving answered the criticisms
by arguing that "only the best of the best" proposals are funded. Mr.
Irving is seeking Congress' blessing of TIIAP: "I think it deserves
authorization and I don't want to have an unauthorized program." House
Commerce Chairman Thomas Bliley (R-VA) and House Telecommunication
Subcommittee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) are considering cutting NTIA's
budget.
*********

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