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Note: Between August 20 and September 2, the CPP
News-Clipping Service may be whacky, inconsistent, and a bit too
serious. Kevin is on vacation and has assigned his minions
the responsibility to get the news out to youse. We'll do
our best.

In today's headlines:

MCI-BRITISH TELECOM MERGER
WashPost: MCI Merger To Be Revised, Sources Say
NYT: British Deal to Buy MCI Is In Disarray
WSJ: BT-MCI Merger Deal's Value Reduced

OTHER MERGERS:
NYT: Knight-Ridder Near Sale of Unit

FIRST AMENDMENT:
WashPost: A National Speech Code From The EEOC

CABLE:
NYT: Of 14 New Cable Channels, Arts And Movies Make the Cut, Homes and
Gardens Do Not
WSJ: Time Warner Cable Picks Programming For New York System

INTERNET BUSINESS:
WashPost: Australian Firm Offers Costly Web Site Rights
WSJ: Amazon Countersues Barnes & Noble, Says Rival Must Assess Tax
Venture Capitalists Open their Wallets for the Internet

MEDIA OWNERSHIP:
WSJ: Vanity Fair's 'Businesses to Watch' Raises Selection, Disclosure
Issues

WEB RESOURCES:
NYT: Moonrise on the Internet

******************************
* MCI-BRITISH TELECOM MERGER *
******************************
Title: MCI Merger To Be Revised, Sources Say
Source: Washington Post (A1)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/22/102l-082297-idx.html
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Mergers
Description: The merger between British Telecom and MCI was altered
yesterday, with some analysts estimating that BT will be paying from 10
to 15 percent less than the $23.5 billion it had originally planned to
pay in its buy out of MCI. MCI announced last month that its
entrance into the local phone market would cost $800 million annually,
which was twice as much as its previous estimates. The merger, which
has come perilously close to collapsing in the last month, has been
approved by the FCC and would create a company with an annual revenue of
$43 billion and 43 million customers in 72 countries.

Title: British Deal to Buy MCI Is In Disarray
Source: New York Times (C1)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/mci-british-telecommunicati
ons.html
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Mergers
Description: 12 hours before MCI won the approval of the FCC for the
$23.4 billion merger with British Telecommunications, MCI disclosed that it
might revise the financial terms of the deal. "There can be no assurance as
to the outcome of the discussions," said an MCI statement. Although many
analysts believe that the deal can still be salvaged, others are not
certain what is to happen next. The only thing analysts agree on is that if
BT buys MCI, it will do so for 10 to 25 percent less
than the original terms of the deal. This soap opera began when MCI
warned shareholders that it could run losses as much as $800 million in 1997
alone as it was trying to break into the local phone business.

Title: BT-MCI Merger Deal's Value Reduced
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://www.wsj.com/
Authors: Steven Lipin & John J. Keller
Issue: Mergers
Description: The BT's aquisition of MCI will cost them 15-20% less than
originally thought, say analysts. The merger, which has been developing
for 10 months probably won't come to a close until the end of the year
because MCI shareholders must vote on it, and BT shareholders may have
another vote as well. The merger would be quite advantageous for both
companies and is supported by the FCC because of its "pro-competitive"
commitments.

*****************
* OTHER MERGERS *
*****************
Title: Knight-Ridder Near Sale of Unit
Source: New York Times (C5)
http://www.nytimes.com/
Author: Bloomberg News
Issue: Mergers
Description: British online provider M.A.I.D. announced that it is close
to acquiring Knight-Ridder Information, Inc. and its 650 specialty
databases, for what analysts believe could cost as much as $500 million.
Analysts
say the buy out would allow M.A.I.D. to halt the decline in its subscription
rate.

*******************
* FIRST AMENDMENT *
*******************
Title: A National Speech Code From The EEOC
Source: Washington Post (A23)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/22/047l-082297-idx.html
Author: Eugene Volokh (Op-Ed)
Issue: First Amendment
Description: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a
lawsuit that proposes to create a "nationwide speech code" which would
make it illegal to say things in the workplace that are "severe or
pervasive" enough to create a "hostile or offensive" environment.
"Disseminating derogatory electronic messages regarding 'ebonics'" to
your co-workers was specifically prohibited in the text of the suit.
The author of this op-ed, a teacher of free-speech law at
UCLA, objects: "Private employers, like private newspaper publishers or
private homeowners are not bound by the First Amendment and may thus
restrict what is said on their property. But the United States
government, which is under a constitutional obligation not to abridge
'the freedom of speech,' can't go to court to insist on 'eradication' of
political speech that it thinks is reprehensible."

*********
* CABLE *
*********
Title: Of 14 New Cable Channels, Arts And Movies Make the Cut, Homes and
Gardens Do Not
Source: New York Times (A25)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/ny-cable-additions.html
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: Cable
Description: Time Warner Cable of New York City announced yesterday the
first additions to the city's cable system since 1992. There are 11 new
channels for basic service and three new "premium" movie channels. Time
Warner is in the midst of a five-year, $400 million upgrade for its
fiber cable system. The choice of channels was based on a 100,000 customer
survey. "We didn't use channel names in the survey, we used genres, to
try to keep the research pure and not let those who had the largest
advertising budgets carry the day," stated Barry Rosenblum, President of
Time Warner
Cable of New York City.

Title: Time Warner Cable Picks Programming For New York System
Source: Wall Street Journal (B9)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: N/A
Issue: Cable programming
Description: Many are called, but few are chosen. That's the story at
TW's New York City cable system, which will add 14 new cable services as
part of the $400 million upgrade of the system. The new package
includes Animal Planet (a nod to former headliner Susan Goslee), Independent
Film
Channel, Ovation, HBO 2, Cinemax 2, and Starz! (That's their
exclamation point, not mine.) Some critics panned the addition of 4 Time Warner
owned channels to the line-up.

*********************
* INTERNET BUSINESS *
*********************
Title: Australian Firm Offers Costly Web Site Rights
Source: Washington Post (G1)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/22/150l-082297-idx.html
Author: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Issue: Internet Business
Description: InterNIC, the official registry of Web sites which is run
by Network Solutions, Inc. can be found on the web at www.internic.net.
Two-year rights to an Internet address, or domain name, will cost you
$100 to register. All was well at InterNIC until this past June, when
an Australian company called Internic Software, located at
www.internic.com started offering registration for $250 for the same two
years. The FTC is looking into the situation and yesterday stated that
the site likely violates federal regulations against deceptive trade
practices. The people at Network Solutions said that Internic Software
had been taking the domain names, submitting them to InterNIC, and then
kept $150 for each site. Thus far more than 2,000 people have been
lured to pay Internic Software's inflated price. Network Solutions said
that they would not begin the process of revoking Internic's address
until the FTC finished its investigation.

Title: Amazon Countersues Barnes & Noble, Says Rival Must Assess Tax
Source: Wall Street Journal (B8)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: N/A
Issue: Internet Commerce
Description: Online book seller Amazon.com
has charged that Barnes & Noble is competing unfairly by not collecting
sales taxes on books sold over the net. Sales taxes for mail order products
are usually only collected when the buyer lives in the same state as the
seller, and that has been the practice for cybercommerce, too. But
Amazon.com claims that since B&N has over 1000 stores, with a physical
presence in almost every state, they should be collecting sales tax for
any online sale to a customer in a state where there is a B&N store.
Needless to say, B&N disagrees.

Title: Venture Capitalists Open their Wallets for the Internet
Source: Wall Street Journal (B14)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author:David Bank
Issue: Internet
Description: Venture capitalists keep pumping money into net-related
start-ups, although they seem to favor "later stage investments" in
existing companies over brand new ideas. "Technology-based companies
accounted for $2.23 billion in investments in the [second] quarter, up
35% from $1.65 billion a year earlier. Of that, Internet related companies
attracted $561.5 million in funding, more than double last year's $208.8
million." The research was prepared by Price Waterhouse LLP.

*******************
* MEDIA OWNERSHIP *
*******************
Title: Vanity Fair's 'Businesses to Watch' Raises Selection, Disclosure
Issues
Source: Wall Street Journal (B13)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: G. Bruce Knecht
Issue: Media ownership
Description: Vanity Fair is creating a new publication called
"Businesses to Watch," which it describes as "a digest-sized guide featuring
top-line investment information..." The criteria for being featured as a
"business to watch"? That you buy at least two pages of national advertising in
Vanity Fair magazine this fall. The new publication will be sent to
10,000 of VF's most affluent subscribers and to 200,000 subscribers of American
City Business Journals, which, like VF, is part of the Newhouse media
empire. Will the selection criteria be explained to readers? "That's
not actually clear to me," said the magazine's marketing director.

*****************
* WEB RESOURCES *
*****************
Title: Moonrise on the Internet
Source: New York Times (A27)
http://www.nytimes.com/
Author: Jeff MacGregor
Issue: Web Resources
Description: The 205 year old Old Farmer's Almanac is now on the Web
(www.almanac.com).

*********
And in the "life imitates art" department: "Cambodia Hopes to Be Hot
Spot for Vacationers" (WSJ, B12B)

Note: Between August 20 and September 2, the CPP
News-Clipping Service may be whacky, inconsistent, and a bit too
serious. Kevin is on vacation and has assigned his minions
the responsibility to get the news out to youse. We'll do
our best.

In today's headlines:

Television:
WSJ: Hot to Get to (China's) Sesame Street

Telephone:
* Long Distance in Michigan:
FCC News Release: Commission Denies Ameritech's Application
to Provide L.D. in Michigan
Wash. Post: Leaving Long Distance Dangling
WSJ: FCC Rejects Ameritech Bid to Offer Michigan
Long-Distance Phone Service
NYT: FCC Rejects Ameritech's Long-Distance Bid

* Long Distance Slamming
FCC: Commissioner Ness calls for tougher actions against slamming

* Wireless
WSJ: Unfettered but in Touch, Phone Users Go All-Wireless

Telecommuting:
WSJ: Madison Avenue May Need to Alter Image of 90's Telecommuter

Computer Industry:
Wash. Post: Microsoft Aid to Apple is Examined

Internet Commerce:
WSJ: Bookselling's Goliath Taps Lycos to Help Quell Amazon.com
NYT: Bank Fraud on the Internet? Russians in Antigua Scandal

Campaigns & Elections
NYT: New Counsel Joins House Panel Investigating Campaign Finance
NYT: Magnum, G.O.P.

Privacy
NYT: Use of Recognition Technology in Everyday Transactions

************************* TELEVISION *******************************

Title: How to Get to (China's) Sesame Street
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Lily Tung
Issue: Children's Television, International Television
Description: Shanghai Television has decided that the Sesame Street
format won't corrupt Chinese children and has partnered with
Children's Television Workshop to adapt this educational children's
tv program to "Zhima Jie". "Da Niao" (Big Bird) will teach children
their Chinese characters, helped along by a new set of Jim Henson
Production "muppets" including a blue pig and a red monster girl.
Original muppet characters from Sesame Street archival footage will
make guest appearances. General Electric, the show's primary
sponsor, is contributing $3 million over a 3-year period.

************************* TELEPHONE ******************************

**** Long Distance in Michigan ****

Title: Commission Denies Ameritech's Application to Provide Long
Distance Services in Michigan
Source: FCC Headlines (press release)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1997/nrcc7064.html
Author: Rochelle Cohen
Issue: Telephone Regulation / Long Distance
Description: The FCC announced 8/19/97 that it denied the application
of Ameritech Michigan ("Ameritech") to provide long distance services
originating in the State of Michigan. The Commission concluded that
Ameritech has not met the requirements of the Communications Act for a
Bell Operating Company (BOC) to enter the long distance market in a
state within its local service region.

Title: Leaving Long Distance Dangling
Source: Washington Post (D9)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/20/039l-082097-idx.html
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Telephone Regulation/Long Distance
Description: The FCC denied Ameritech's request to offer long distance
service to consumers in Michigan, where the company is the largest
provider of local telephone service. The reason? The Commission
concluded that Ameritech had not yet opened the local telephone market
to competition as required by the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
(Both the Justice Department and the Michigan Public Service Commission
had similarly concluded that the company has not yet met all 14 technical
requirements that the law set forth.) The ruling, while no surprise,
was the Commission's first substantive response to a Baby Bell seeking
to enter the long distance market according to the rules set forth in
last year's law. Ameritech, though disappointed, liked that the
Commission at least spelled out what the remaining steps are. And an
unnamed FCC official noted, "This order is not meant to suggest that
[Ameritech's] not trying."

Title: FCC Rejects Ameritech Bid to Offer Michigan Long-Distance Phone
Service
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Bryan Gruley
Issue: Telephone Regulation / Long Distance
Description: The FCC rejected Ameritech's bid to enter the long distance
market in Michigan yesterday, but has made suggestions how they, and
other Baby Bells can get themselves "up to snuff" to enter the market.
According to the FCC, Ameritech failed to meet 3 of the 14 legal
requirements for competition. FCC Chairman Reed Hundt was quoted as
saying "I recognize and applaud the steps Ameritech and the state of
Michigan have taken to open the local market in Michigan to competition."
Many of the Baby Bells take exception to the fact that the agency's
decision says that they can only charge competitors based on the
"forward-looking" costs of operating the network rather than what it
would cost to build a new network. SBC Communications had filed
"weaker" application to compete earlier this year in Oklahoma, only to
have it rejected by the FCC. SBC is now fighting the long-distance
provision in federal court.

Title: FCC Rejects Ameritech's Long-Distance Bid
Source: New York Times (D3)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/y20bel.html
Author: Bloomberg News
Issue: Telecom Regulation
Description: Federal regulators rejected Ameritech's bid to become the
first Baby Bell to offer its customers long distance telephone service.
The F.C.C. agreed with Michigan regulators that Ameritech had not
adequately put in place a computer system that would allow competitors
to process customer service orders. "Clearly we will refile as soon as
we can," said Sara Snyder, spokesperson for Ameritech.

**** Long Distance Slamming ****

Title: Commissioner Ness Calls for Tougher Action Against Slamming
Source: FCC Headlines press release http://www.fcc.gov/
Author: Rochelle Cohen
Issue: Long distance telephone regulation
Description: FCC Commissioner Ness called for much more stringent
efforts to eliminate and punish slammers, telephone companies that
switch consumers' long distance services without their knowledge or
permission.

**** Wireless ****

Title: Unfettered but In Touch, Phone Users Go All-Wireless
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Stephanie N. Mehta
Issue: Telephone, wireless
Description: A small but growing number of consumers are canceling
their home phone service, embracing an exclusively wireless telephonic
existence. Wireless phone companies are bringing increased competition
and lower prices to many U.S. markets, especially now that regulations
have increased their numbers from 2 to 9 providers per market. But the
possible threat to land-line phone service could evaporate if wireless
becomes too popular since no one seems to know how well wireless networks
perform under fully loaded conditions.

******************* TELECOMMUTING *********************

Title: Madison Avenue May Need to Alter Image of '90s Telecommuter
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Sue Shellenbarger
Issue: Telecommuting, work and family
Description: Despite statistics to the contrary, advertising companies
continue to promote telecommuting as something done by unshowered women
in bunny slippers, with a bagel in one hand and a baby in the other.
Researcher FIND/SVP's studies indicate that telecommuters are 67% male
and only 46% have children at home. An informal survey by the author
indicates that 11 out of 12 had showered, none was wearing bunny slippers
or holding a baby's arm holding an apple.

************************ COMPUTER INDUSTRY **********************

Title: Microsoft Aid to Apple is Examined
Source: Washington Post (D9)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/20/038l-082097-idx.html
Author: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Issue: Industry Competition/Antitrust
Description: Responding to concerns that Microsoft's much-publicized
bailout of Apple might be described as "this is going to help me a lot
more than it helps you," the Justice Department announced that it is
examining Microsoft's investment in the struggling computer-maker to
consider whether Microsoft could use the new arrangement to stifle
competition in the future. The DoJ is also reviewing three other
investments Microsoft has made recently in companies that are developing
software that allows users to send and receive audio and video over the
Internet.

************************ INTERNET COMMERCE **********************

Title: Bookselling's Goliath Taps Lycos to Help Quell Amazon.com
Source: Wall Street Journal (B9)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Jared Sandberg
Issue: Internet Commerce
Description: Barnes & Noble Inc. has formed an alliance with Lycos Inc.
to use their search engine as B & N's "electronic storefront." In an
attempt to compete with their new rival, Barnes & Noble has entered
into a three-year marketing agreement with the people at Lycos.
Even though Amazon.com is linked to two of the Internet's most visited
sights (America Online and Yahoo), Barnes & Noble remain undaunted
because they have plans to integrate Lycos' search technology into
the B & N Web site in order to distinguish it from it's rivals.

Title: Bank Fraud on the Internet? Russians in Antigua Scandal
Source: New York Times (A4)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/world/antigua-bankfraud.html
Author: Larry Rohter
Issue: Internet Commerce
Description: Three years ago the European Union Bank marketed itself
as the first offshore bank on the Internet. Now all of the bank's
directors and depositors' money have disappeared and Antigua has
issued a fraud alert. With lax banking regulations, Antigua has a
reputation as a haven for dubious businesses and money laundering.
At the European Union Banks now-dormant Internet site (www.eubank.ag),
the bank stated "since there are no government withholding or reporting
requirements on accounts, the burdensome and expensive accounting
requirements are reduced for you."

******************** CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS *******************

Title: New Counsel Joins House Panel Investigating Campaign Finance
Source: New York Times (A17)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/washpol/house-campaign-probe.html
Author: Stephen Labaton
Issue: Campaign Finance
Description: Dan Burton of Indiana and Chairman of the House Committee
investigating Democratic fund-raising selected Richard D. Bennett as
the new chief of counsel. Bennett was a United States Attorney in
Maryland during the Bush Administration, replaced by President Clinton
in 1993. He is a partner at the law firm Miles & Stockbridge.

Title: Magnum, G.O.P.
Source: New York Times (A33)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/oped/20dowd.html
Author: Maureen Dowd
Issue: Op-Ed on Political Strategy
Description: Dowd contends that a Republican strategist was seen trying
to convince Tom Selleck to run against Barbara Boxer next year. She
states that Republicans are looking for another Ronald Reagan, a
Hollywood star from the West Coast. The strategist trying to recruit
Selleck states, "Selleck is kind of exactly where Ronald Reagan was in
1965. He's unsure about leaving the wold of entertainment for the world
of politics."

*********************** PRIVACY ****************************

Title: Use of Recognition Technology Grows in Everyday Transactions
Source: New York Times (D1)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/082097biometrics.html
Author: Saul Hansell
Issue: Technology Uses, Privacy
Description: New computers that cash payroll checks after recognizing
the face of the user. Article discusses the use of biometrics to verify
the identities of people in many ways. But what about privacy concerns?

*********

Television (And you thought there was nothing on TV in August)
NYT: A Gulf Develops Among Broadcasters on Programming Pledge
B&C: HDTV Falling Out of Favor
B&C: Crime spree on network news
NYT: In TV's Dull Summer Days, Plots Take Wing on the Net
NYT: Broadcasting: Two Would-Be TV Networks Battling It Out
B&C: TV finds more room for gays

Radio
NYT: A Keen Ear For Stories Behind Stories
B&C: C-SPAN buying Washington FM

New at the FCC
WSJ: Whose Side Is the FCC On?
B&C: Bill Kennard: The "Prince" Who Would Be Chairman
FCC: The Light at the End of the Tunnel vs.
the Fog: Deregulation vs. the Legal Culture

Internet
WP: Digital Flubs
WSJ: Netscape to Offer New Internet Software In Bid
to Head Off Inroads by Microsoft

Education Technology
WP: Wiring and Learning

Wireless
WSJ: Iridium Creates New Plan for Global Cellular Service

Publishing
NYT: Middling (and Unloved) in Publishing Land

*********************************************
* Television *
*********************************************
Title: A Gulf Develops Among Broadcasters on Programming Pledge
Source: New York Times (D1)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/081897hdtv.html
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: Some broadcasters are going back on their pledge to air
high-definition TV (HDTV) on their second, "digital" license. The president
of ABC said last week, that the network is more interested in airing several
subscription channels than one HDTV program. CBS and NBC say they will show
some HDTV programming. But just a few months ago, ABC wrote to the FCC
pleading "The only way for the Commission to assure that enough HDTV
programs are in fact offered is for the Commission to require each
broadcaster to offer a minimum number of hours of HDTV." (This in the age of
de-regulation). [For more info see http://www.benton.org/Policy/TV/#digitaltv]

Title: HDTV Falling Out of Favor
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.4)
Author: John Higgins
Issue: Digital TV
Description: "This is a giant game of five-way chicken going on here," says
media analyst Tom Wolzien speaking of the HDTV vs SDTV debate. "Nobody's got
the model yet. I think it's going take a year for this to shake out." ABC
has announced that it is more interested in multiple standard definition
channels (SDTV) than in one prettier HDTV signal. (And if you had ESPN and
Disney programming to fill the extra stations, wouldn't you, too?) Fox and
NBC seem to be leading to a SDTV-HDTV mix and CBS seems the only network
interested going with all HDTV all the time. (But if you had a hunk like Dan
Rather to show off, wouldn't you?)

Title: Crime spree on network news
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.28)
Author: Steve McClellan
Issue: Journalism/Television Content
Description: Crime coverage on nightly network news has tripled since 1993,
a Center for Media and Public Affairs study reports. Coverage of murders is
up 700%. Excluding the OJ Simpson case, murder coverage is up 356%. Since
1993, these newscasts have also aired 50% more stories on entertainment than
on the environment.

Title: In TV's Dull Summer Days, Plots Take Wing on the Net
Source: New York Times (A1)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/081897fanfiction.html
Author: Amy Harmon
Issue: Old vs New Media
Description: Summer couch potatoes may find it maddening to wait for their
favorite shows to start their new seasons, but if they visit "fanzine" type
websites, they can read new storylines offered by other fans -- or even
write or submit their own. This "reflects the power of the Internet as a
grassroots publishing platform, making every viewer a potential
contributor." See Fanfic Resources
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bentley/fanfic/fanfic.html.

Title: Broadcasting: Two Would-Be TV Networks Battling It Out
Source: New York Times (D7)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/tv-upn-media.html
Author: Bill Carter
Issue: Ownership
Description: In Media column, Carter looks at the fight over station
affiliates for the two newest television networks UPN and WB. The industry
once thought that the most likely course would be for UPN and WB to merge
since there doesn't seem to be enough room in the country for five broadcast
networks. But the merger seems less and less likely so its a fight to the
death for the two upstarts. (No, CBS isn't going anywhere; they still have
Diagnosis Murder to keep them afloat). WB scored big lately by convincing
some UPN affiliates to switch. The deal still has to be settled in court,
though.

Title: TV finds more room for gays
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.27)
Author: Lynette Rice
Issue: Television Content/Minorities
Description: The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) reports
that the 1997-98 television season will be a banner year for gay roles.
Thirty gay, lesbian and bisexual characters will appear in prime time
broadcast TV shows. "This historic number of characters signals America's
increasing appreciation of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community as part
of their own lives," GLAAD says. On the other hand, Morality in Media says
the its just another sign in the trend of "turning over the public airwaves
to be little more than an instrument of propaganda to promote an agenda.
It's purposely intended to change public attitudes about homosexuality."

*********************************************
* Radio *
*********************************************
Title: A Keen Ear For Stories Behind Stories
Source: New York Times (B1)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/think-radio.html
Author: Ralph Blumenthal
Issue: Radio
Description: A look at the wide variety of "think radio" pieces airing
lately. One reporter, Helen Borten, says that the story behind almost all
her stories have a common thread: "they are all, in one way or another,
about home."

Title: C-SPAN buying Washington FM
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.34)
Author: Elizabeth Rathbun
Issue: Radio
Description: C-SPAN will purchase WDCU from the struggling University of the
District of Columbia and offer simulcasts of its national public affairs TV
programming over the radio station. Salem Communications Corp had won with
it's $13 million bid, but many protested that the commercial Christian
broadcaster was buying a noncommercial license through a nonprofit spinoff.
The Media Access Project http://www.essential.org/map/ is still raising
concerns that C-SPAN will address local needs. "That won't be a problem,"
promises C-SPAN's Brian Lamb. "I think it's going to be a tremendous service
to this town."

*********************************************
* New at the FCC *
*********************************************
Title: Whose Side Is the FCC On?
Source: Wall Street Journal (A14)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Editorial Staff
Issue: Telephone/Internet Regulation
Description: Have you ever made an international telephone call...and
paid a quarter of what most long distance carriers would charge? You
will. No, this isn't an AT&T commercial, it's Internet telephony and if
the FCC supports it, it may just save you a bundle of money in the not
so distant future. The FCC has indicated that it will support such
technology, but there are some well-reasoned skeptics who warn us to
keep the champaign on ice for now. Under President Bush, the FCC was a
champion of what is called "call back." This allows callers from
countries with high calling rates, such as Italy, to call the United
States using U.S. carriers, which saved them $2-3 a minute. In 1995,
the FCC issued an order stating that U.S. carriers could no longer
provide such service in countries that had declared call back illegal.
The editorial suggests that the FCC make a statement that "The U.S. will
not enforce foreign laws antithetical to world wide competition" which
would deter foreign governments from passing laws against Internet
telephony.

Title: Bill Kennard: The "Prince" Who Would Be Chairman
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ (p.16)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Federal Communications Commission
Description: B&C's cover story on President Clinton's choice to head the
FCC, current FCC General Counsel Bill Kennard. "He's the nicest guy
broadcasters may ever want to neutralize," the article begins. A Kennard
Commission will have to address broadcast ownership rules as well the public
interest obligations of digital broadcasters. The Commission will receive
recommendations from a Presidential advisory committee being assembled this
summer. Mr. Kennard is viewed as a more soft-spoken, more collegial version
of Chairman Reed Hundt.

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
Chairman Hundt's 8/14/97 Speech "The Light at the End of the Tunnel vs. the
Fog: Deregulation vs. the Legal Culture"
http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Hundt/spreh741.htmlto the American Enterprise
Institute.
"A year-and-a-half after the President signed a law that replaced a hundred
years of monopoly in communications with a commitment to competition, we
should ask: is it working? Will Congress and the President see their
intentions come true? Will we get competition and deregulation in local
telephone markets -- perhaps the largest remaining monopolized markets in
our economy?"

*********************************************
* Internet *
*********************************************
Title: Digital Flubs
Source: Washington Post (Washington Business p.15)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/18/013l-081897-idx.html
Author: WashTech Staff
Issue: Journalism
Description: The Hong Kong government "accidentally" posted the names,
passport numbers, and identity card numbers of around 1,000 journalists
on the Internet. The journalists were in town to cover the arrival of
Chinese army units in the former British Colony. Such personal
information is supposed to be protected under Hong Kong law, and people
are watching to see if the Chinese government will respect it.

Title: Netscape to Offer New Internet Software In Bid to Head Off
Inroads by Microsoft
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Nick Wingfield
Issue: Internet Business
Description: Netscape has changed course and decided to introduce a
stand-alone version of its new web browser. In its ongoing battle with
industry giant Microsoft the company had changed its tactics this year,
developing a "combination program," called Communicator, which included
its Navigator browser, e-mail, and other "groupware" functions that
would facilitate worker collaboration over networks. The new strategy,
which was developed to grab a larger share of the corporate software
market, put Netscape in competition with allies like IBM and Novell.
According to John McCarthy, and analyst at the Forrester Research
firm, the revised strategy should help appease the corporate customers
who disliked Communicator. Netscape's new Navigator 4.0 will include
Netcaster, which will provide news "using broadcast style techniques," a
scheduling program called Calendar express, and a simplified version of
Netscape's current e-mail program.

*********************************************
* Education Technology *
*********************************************
Title: Wiring and Learning
Source: Washington Post (A19)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/18/028l-081897-idx.html
Author: WP Editorial Staff
Issue: Education Technology
Description: This editorial revisits the oft asked question "Does Ed
Tech work?" It sites a study published in the journal "Science," which
looked at how people develop motor skills. Apparently, motor skills
"consolidate" in your brain in the six hours after you first learn them,
leading some to believe that if you try to learn something else during
that time period, the consolidation will be impaired. The study doesn't
really draw these conclusions but one of its authors said that it might
be true. This intellectual roller coaster ride concludes with the warning
that "the search for great new ways to start kids off with computers"
should proceed with some respect for the mystery that is our brains.

*********************************************
* Wireless *
*********************************************
Title: Iridium Creates New Plan for Global Cellular Service
Source: Wall Street Journal (B6)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Quentin Hardy
Issue: Wireless
Description: Up until recently, most cellular phones worked on either an
analog or a digital network. In other words, the phone you bought in New
York would not work if you tried to use it in Tokyo. In order to solve
that problem, Iridium has developed phones with removable cards which
allow customers to easily adapt their phones to the different networks
around the world. All calls go through Iridium's network, which allows
the customer to pay a single bill and keep a single phone number.
Critics claim that Iridium has fundamental design flaws that make its
system more expansive compared to competitors Globalstar LP and
Qualcomm, Inc. One advantage that Iridium has is that it will be ready
to use before its competitors, with a scheduled start up date set on
September 23, 1998. Iridium plans to charge customers $50 a month plus
user fees, with satellite service costing $1.75 a minute, plus long
distance fees.

*********************************************
* Publishing *
*********************************************
Title: Middling (and Unloved) in Publishing Land
Source: New York Times (D1)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/midlist-authors-media.html
Author: Doreen Carvajal
Issue: Publishing
Description: "Midlist" authors -- an industry label denoting writers whose
books sell modestly and names lack the marquee value of a Tom Clancey or a
Stephen King -- are finding it hard get their works published. Major houses
are slowing their acquisitions and reducing their title lists -- squeezing
midlist authors out. Many of them are trying to get published by university
and small presses.
*********

Advertising
WSJ: Nipped in the Bud

Arts
NYT: Across U.S., Brush Fires Over Money for the Arts

Campaign Finance Reform
NYT: Advocacy Groups Near A Showdown With The Senate

Competition
TelecomAM: FCC's Local Competition Task Force Stirs Up Controversy

Information Technology
TelecomAM: Freedom Fantasy: IT "Has Failed to Fulfill Its Promise"
WSJ: Some Shopping Tips for Families Buying a Back-to-School PC

Old vs. New Media
WSJ: Judge Rules Against Free-Lancers In Lawsuit
Over Electronic Rights
WSJ: Web Journalists Are Finding Themselves Out of the Loop

Radio
WP: C-SPAN Buys Radio Station From UDC

Religion
WP: Disney Boycott Escalated by Baptist Group

*********************************************
* Advertising *
*********************************************
Title: Nipped in the Bud
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Sally Goll Beatty
Issue: Advertising
Description: While tobacco and liquor products are attacked, beer still
seems to a "feel-good" image for many Americans. Like RJR Nabisco's Joe
Camel, Anheuser-Busch has used warm, fuzzy characters that are appealing to
children: the "original party animal" Spuds McKenzie, ants, alligators,
penguins, and frogs. There has been no success to ban beer ads even though
surveys show it is more widely abused than distilled spirits. An
Anheuser-Busch spokesman said, "The public understands that beer is
different. Beer is the beverage of moderation" and can be part of a "healthy
lifestyle."

*********************************************
* Arts *
*********************************************
Title: Across U.S., Brush Fires Over Money for the Arts
Source: New York Times (A1)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/nea-localgrants.html
Author: Judith Dobrzynski
Issue: Arts
Description: "It's the new battleground," says Meg Phee of Americans for the
Arts. The conflict over financing the National Endowment for the Arts has
spilled to local support arts institutions. Opponents are disturbed by the
content of art that receives local public financing. [For more on the arts
see Open Studio: The Arts Online http://www.openstudio.org/]

*********************************************
* Campaign Finance Reform *
*********************************************
Title: Advocacy Groups Near A Showdown With The Senate
Source: New York Times (A1)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/politics/081497fundraising-subpoenas.html
Author: Katharine Seelye
Issue: Campaign Finance Reform
Description: Twenty-six nonprofit advocacy groups have been subpoenaed by
the Senate committee investigating campaign finance. Many are angry at the
scope of documents the committee is asking for and they are implying that
they may not fully comply. Documents requested include confidential strategy
memorandums, correspondence with candidates, and all material related to
publicly debated issues. Subpoenaed groups include the Christian Coalition,
the National Right to Life Committee, the Heritage Foundation, the Better
America Foundation, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the National
Education Association, the Sierra Club, and Emily's List. Some Congressional
staffers are calling the subpoenas a "fishing expedition," looking for
possible new abuses. [For more information on Campaign finance reform see
Destination Democracy
http://www.destinationdemocracy.org]

*********************************************
* Competition *
*********************************************
Title: FCC's Local Competition Task Force Stirs Up Controversy
Source: Telecom AM http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: The Federal Communications Commission has received comments on
its Local Exchange Competition task Force. Not surprisingly, long distance
carriers and other entrants into the local service market think its a good
idea. But incumbent carriers seem to think its the work of satan: GTE
contends that the task force's mission is well beyond the commission's
jurisdiction because Congress charged the state commissions with the
responsibility for monitoring local competition . "Its creation reflects a
'sentence first, verdict later' prejudgement of the issues," GTE said. [For
more on phone regulation see http://www.benton.org/Policy/96act/#phone]

*********************************************
* Information Technology *
*********************************************
Title: Freedom Fantasy: IT "Has Failed to Fulfill Its Promise"
Source: Telecom AM http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: Information Technology
Description: "The productivity gains of the Information Age are just a
myth," says Stephen Roach of Morgan Stanley. "There's not a shred of
evidence to show that people are putting out more because of investments in
technology." Roach says a failure to re-design the workplace and educate
workers forms the crux of the problem. For computers to bring sustained
gains in productivity, he explained, they must allow employees to
concentrate more on value-added duties, such as product development,
customer relations, and corporate strategy. That hasn't happened.

Title: Some Shopping Tips for Families Buying a Back-to-School PC
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Walter Mossberg
Issue: Info Tech
Description: Advice from Mossberg's Personal Technology column for people
looking for a decent mid-range PC that will last for at least three years.
Processor: Intel Pentium running at 200 MHz with MMX for games and video.
Memory: 32 megabytes. Cache: 512k. Hard disk: at least 2 gigabytes. Monitor:
17". Modem: 56kbps.

*********************************************
* Old vs. New Media *
*********************************************
Title: Judge Rules Against Free-Lancers In Lawsuit Over Electronic Rights
Source: Wall Street Journal (B9)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Frances McMorris
Issue: Copyright/Old vs New Media
Description: A federal judge has ruled that publishers can put free-lance
articles on online and on CD-ROMs without first getting permission from the
writers. A lawyer representing writers said the decision "deprives writers
of a valuable property right that once enabled them to make a living."

Title: Web Journalists Are Finding Themselves Out of the Loop
Source: Wall Street Journal (B5)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Rebbecca Quick
Issue: Journalism/Old vs New Media
Description: Journalists working on the Web have trouble getting press kits
and press credentials to major events despite their growing readership. Many
PR people are waiting for press standards to improve on the Web before they
will give these journalists first-class treatment.

*********************************************
* Radio *
*********************************************
Title: C-SPAN Buys Radio Station From UDC
Source: Washington Post (D1)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/14/155l-081497-idx.html
Author: Valerie Strauss
Issue: Radio
Description: C-SPAN, the cable network that covers Congress, will buy the
University of the District's all jazz station WDCU-FM for $13 million.
C-SPAN plans to change the format of the station to 24 hours/day public
affairs programming by October 1. "There won't be any commercials and there
won't be auctions and there won't be any on-air pitches for money," says
C-SPAN's chief executive Brian Lamb. The Media Access Project's Andrew
Schwartzman says, "This is not a satisfactory resolution." Currently, WDCU
has the fourth-largest black audience of any noncommercial radio outlet in
the country.

*********************************************
* Religion *
*********************************************
Title: Disney Boycott Escalated by Baptist Group
Source: Washington Post (A10)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author: Reuter
Issue: Religion
Description: Protesting Disney's "Christian-bashing, family-bashing,
pro-homosexual agenda," a Southern Baptist Convention leader is asking its
15 million members to "refrain from spending at least $100 on Disney
products or services over the next 12 months."
*********