Benton RSS Feed

(Put on your seatbelts for a plethora of Monday summaries - what happened
this wkend?!?!)

Digital TV
B&C: Fox Gets DTV Space in NY
B&C: Digital Cable: When, Not If

Cable:
NYT: Cable Industry Ready to Fight to Offer Internet Access
B&C: Wireless Cable Pins Hopes on Internet
B&C: Washington Advisers
WSJ: Cable Companies May Remove ESPN From Basic Tier
B&C: Cable Having a Capital Time

Radio
B&C: Low-Power Radio Brings High-Intensity Response

Wireless:
B&C: Satellite Rewrite Stalled by Must-Carry Debate
B&C: Washington Watch

Media/News Coverage
B&C: FCC Rejects Denver License Challenge
NYT: Why Today's News Is No Longer What Happened Yesterday

Internet
NYT: U.S. Is Urged to Offer More Data on Line
NYT: Legislation on On-Line Copyrights Advances
B&C: Casting a Narrow Net

Antitrust/Microsoft
NYT: As U.S. Spars With Microsoft, Federal Offices Use Its System
NYT: What Antitrust Is All About
WP: Microsoft Warns Wall St. in Letter
WSJ: Microsoft Warns of Potential Harm from U.S. Action

Telephony
WSJ: MCI Withholds Some Access Payments to Bells
WP: MCI Finds New Life in Old Technology

Lifestyle

NYT: The On-Line Choice for People's Most Beautiful: Angry Hank

** Digital TV **

Title: Fox Gets DTV Space in NY
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p8)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Digital TV
Description: Television broadcasters scrambled last week to make the
Friday, May 1 deadline to file applications for permits to construct
digital broadcasting stations in time for their promised November 1 start
date of broadcasting digital programming. Only slightly more than half of
the 40 stations made the deadline, and several are asking the FCC for
extensions. In the meantime, Fox Broadcasting Stations will join CBS and
King Kong up on top of the Empire State Building for broadcasting digital
to New York City residents.

Title: Digital Cable: When, Not If
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p42,46)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com
Author: Price Colman
Issue: Digital Cable
Description: Most estimates say digital will replace advanced analog within
seven to ten years, indicating a switch in attitude from "if" to "when."

** Cable **

Title: Cable Industry Ready to Fight to Offer Internet Access
Source: New York Times (D9)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/05/biztech/articles/04cable.html
Author: Saul Hansell
Issue: Internet Access
Description: The cable industry today plans to introduce an organization to
promote its own modem technology. The group, called the Cable Broadband
Forum, will be formally presented at the industry's largest conference of
the year in Atlanta. This is the cable industry's attempt to "mass their
forces for a protracted war" over which group, cable or telephone, will
provide high-speed Internet access to people's homes.

Title: Wireless Cable Pins Hopes on Internet
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p60,62)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com
Author: Bob Diddlebock
Issue: Internet Access
Description: The struggling U.S. wireless cable industry, with membership
stalled at the 1 million mark for the past few years, are turning their
attention to providing high-speed Internet access. But the industry needs
about $1.6 billion to fund capital expenditure efforts through 2001,
something which might be difficult in light of DBS' 7 million subscribers
and cable's 70 million.

Title: Washington Advisers
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p16)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/
Issue: Regulation/Pricing
Description: House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Bill Tauzin
(R-LA) asked ABC President Bob Iger and ESPN President Steve Bornstein how
to keep cable rates down without re-regulating cable or forcing operators
to sell subscribers high-priced cable networks "a la carte." No good
answers were forthcoming; they did promise that Disney's $9.2 billion NFL
package will not contribute to rising cable rates, although ESPN *is*
asking cable operators to pay 20% more for ESPN as a result of the NFL
deal. [Huh? Who's going to pay for that 20%? -- See next story!]

Title: Cable Companies May Remove ESPN From Basic Tier
Source: Wall Street Journal (B6)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Leslie Cauley
Issue: Pricing
Description: In a good example of why it pays to read more than one
newspaper, WSJ reports that cable companies, frustrated by continuing rate
increases from cable-sports network ESPN, are considering setting up two
programming tiers-- one with sports and ESPN, and one without-- aiming to
give customers a choice and passing along the higher costs to sports fans
who want the programming. [What's next?] In response to ESPN's claim that
a la carte services increase costs to consumers, cable executives say that
federal legislation is needed to solve the problem conclusively.

Title: Cable Having a Capital Time
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p92,93)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Regulation
Description: Despite rising rates, scarce competition, and screaming
consumer groups, lawmakers show no signs of changing next year's sunset of
cable rate regulation, and attempts to have the FCC even study the root of
increased rates have failed to get off the ground. Despite claims that
there is less concern expressed about rates and service, the FCC released a
report in late December (1997) showing rate hikes of 8-10% during 1996,
followed by another reporting showing the cable industry controls 87% of
the multichannel video market. Rep. Markey's (D-MA) bill to extend cable
regulation beyond the March 1999 deadline imposed by the Telecommunications
Act has gone nowhere fast, and FCC's information-gathering effort has also
been stalled.

** Radio **

Title: Low-Power Radio Brings High-Intensity Response
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p22,26)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Community Broadcasting
Description: Irate radio listeners are intrigued and commercial
broadcasters are horrified by a series of proposals to establish a
low-power radio service. Supporters of the proposals cited media
consolidation and lack of local service as reasons to move the proposals
forward. Comments included "large corporately owned, profit-driven
stations are not interested in the individual towns and geographical areas"
and "radio listeners find increasingly that listening formats decrease in
diversity." Meanwhile, commercial conglomerates made an implied threat
that low-power radio would cause commercial stations to start charging,
claiming it "would have a disastrous impact on full-power stations' ability
to continue to provide free, over-the-air interference-free service to the
public," said Cox Radio. Greater Media challenged whether low-power radio
would improve economic opportunities for minorities or women, and a
collection of state broadcast associations insisted that local communities
are served despite the spate of radio mergers since the 1996 Telecom. Act,
and encouraged supporters of the petitions to seek other outlets for their
viewpoints -- such as seeking out available time on full-power commercial
and noncommercial stations and for expressing their views over the Internet.

** Wireless **

Title: Satellite Rewrite Stalled by Must-Carry Debate
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p20)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/
Issue: Satellite Regulation
Description: Any chance for a rewrite of the satellite law this year could
be killed by broadcasters' demand that satellite TV providers carry all
local broadcast signals in markets they serve. Congress faces a dilemma
because non-basic cable tiers are due to be deregulated next March (1999).
Lawmakers prefer market pressure over re-regulation as a means to set
prices, but two years after the 1996 Telecommunications Act, only DBS is
prepared to compete with cable. Current bills being consider include:
McCain's (R-AZ) which would give DBS companies at least one year before the
FCC writes a rule setting must-carry requirements; Coble (R-NC) and Hatch
(R-UT) both have bills requiring DBS companies to offer all local signals
in all local markets they choose to serve as soon as they enter that
market; Hatch's bill would give satellite TV providers a permanent
copyright license for local broadcast signals, but extends the satellites'
license for imported signals for three years, and it does nothing to change
increases in copyright rates implemented by the US Copyright Office earlier
in 1998.

Title: Washington Watch
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p26)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com
Author: Chris McConnell & Paige Albiniak
Issue: Legislation & Regulation
Description: House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chair Billy Tauzin
(R-LA) plans to introduce his long-awaited public broadcasting bill at the
PBS national conference in Miami June 15. The bill explores ways to create
a public broadcasting trust fund. Tauzin is also working on two other
bills: a cable bill designed to give consumers greater choice in monopoly
markets, and a direct broadcasting satellite bill to resolve the
local-into-local controversy. Direct satellite broadcaster EchoStar is
lobbying Congress that requirements to carry local programming are too
harsh and will hurt consumers. The National Association of Broadcasters
isn't happy with deregulation alone; it now wants a stop to the rising FCC
fees required by television and radio stations. The FCC reported to
Congress on its efforts to make sure that the Year 2000 computer problem
won't disrupt satellite, telephone and broadcasting's Emergency Alert
System. Last week the FCC fined two Chicago stations $10,000 each for
exceeding limits on the amount of commercials aired during children's
programming.

** Media/News Coverage **

Title: FCC Rejects Denver License Challenge
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p20)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: TV Content/First Amendment
Description: The FCC rejected Rocky Mountain Media Watch's contention that
the government should pull four TV licenses because the stations aired too
much violence in local news coverage. The group's study found that stories
about crime, disasters, war and terrorism accounted for up to 55% of each
newscast, under-represented women and minorities as authority figures and
devoted a higher-than-average portion of their evenings newscasts to
commercials. But regulators found the group's analysis irrelevant to a
license renewal application, and also cited First Amendment protection.
Licensees are afforded broad discretion in scheduling, selection and
presentation of programs aired.

Title: Why Today's News Is No Longer What Happened Yesterday
Source: New York Times (D8)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/news-timewarp.html
Author: Dylan Loeb McClain
Issue: Media
Description: A study of the news media in the past two decades conducted by
the Project for Excellence in Journalism, a nonprofit research center, found
that today's media is producing fewer straight news reports of the
traditional "what happened today" variety than 20 years ago, and devoting
less coverage to government and foreign affairs. The project, which is
affiliated with the Columbia Univ. Graduate School of Journalism and finance
by the Pew Charitable Trust, found that features that touch on human
interest, life style, health, crime, entertainment, scandal and celebrities,
are much more prevalent now. Without judging whether this journalistic shift
is for better or worse, the study observed that "the news media are clearly
now covering more of the society, moving away from institutional coverage of
buildings and trying to make the news more relevant to audiences." You can
judge for yourself by accessing this article at the above link and comparing
a sampling of broadcasts and articles from 20 years ago last week.

** Internet **

Title: U.S. Is Urged to Offer More Data on Line
Source: New York Times (D6)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/05/biztech/articles/04database.html
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Internet Content
Description: Last week, Carl Malamud, Internet pioneer and president of the
Internet Multicasting Service, a nonprofit organization that has undertaken
a variety of Internet publishing efforts, sent a letter to Vice President Al
Gore and Commerce Secretary William Daley challenging the federal government
to make the nation's patent and trademark database readily available. If the
government fails to respond, Malamud, who also put data from the Securities
and Exchange Commission online four years ago at no cost to computer users,
has threatened to undertake the project himself as a guerilla effort to make
the database information publicly accessible. "Malamud's crusade throws new
light on a continuing dispute between those who advocate widely distributing
government databases that are created at taxpayer expense and the thriving
private-information industry that remarkets and resells the information to
business customers and libraries."

Title: Legislation on On-Line Copyrights Advances
Source: New York Times (D12)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/yr/mo/biztech/articles/04internet-copyr
ight.html
Author: Jeri Clausing
Issue: Copyright/Internet Regulation
Description: Congress is in the process of completing legislation that would
expand copyright protections to online material in hopes of taking "global
leadership" on the largely disputed issue of protecting creative works
online. The legislation, which is meant "to put into force an international
treaty on digital copyrights, seeks to protect intellectual-property holders
while limiting the liability of Internet access providers that unwittingly
store, transmit or link Web surfers to illegally copied material."

Title: Casting a narrow net
Source: Broadcasting & Cable (p96)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com
Author: Richard Tedesco
Issue: Local Content
Description: Cable's high-speed Internet services are cultivating new
subscriptions with localized content with such services as ( at )Home and
InYourTown.com providing local arts, entertainment, dining, real estate and
education information. [See any public interest content here?]

** Antitrust/Microsoft **

Title: As U.S. Spars With Microsoft, Federal Offices Use Its System
Source: New York Times (D1,D6)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/05/biztech/articles/04microsoft.html
Author: Steve Lohr
Issue: Antitrust
Description: While the Justice Dept. continues in its pursuit of Microsoft
Corp., the government, as a whole, is becoming increasingly dependent on the
software giant's products. The U.S. Army, Navy, Social Security Admin.,
Health and Human Services Dept., Defense Logistics Agency, Postal Service,
Coast Guard, and yes, even the Justice Dept. itself, all use Microsoft
software on their thousands of desktop computers. "Microsoft and especially
Windows NT (Microsoft's "industrial- strength" operating system) are just
taking over the desktop in the federal government," said Robert Dornan,
senior vice president of Federal Sources Inc., a research firm in McLean VA.
"And I don't see anything on the horizon that would undermine its success."
While the mass use of Microsoft products by the government might seem to
fall in direct contradiction to its antitrust confrontation, the Justice
Dept. insists that its not attempting to "hobble" the company but to protect
"competition and innovation" in the software industry.

Title: What Antitrust Is All About
Source: New York Times (A23)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/oped/04bork.html
Author: Robert H. Bork
Issue: Antitrust
Description: The antitrust case against Microsoft Corp. is not " one of
politics or ideology; it is one of law and economics." What is the complaint
of the many companies that are urging action by the Justice Dept? "These
companies -- customers as well as rivals of Microsoft -- challenge some of
Microsoft's business practices as predatory, intended to preserve the
company's monopoly of personal computer operating systems through practices
that exclude or severely hinder rivals but do not benefit consumers.
Microsoft's effort to maintain and expand a market dominance that now stands
at 90 to 95 percent violates traditional antitrust principles...We may not
yet know of all of the exclusionary practices, but we do know
many...Netscape and the other companies seeking an end to these practices
are not asking the Justice Dept. to take any action that would interfere in
the slightest with Microsoft's ability to innovate. The dept is simply being
asked to stop Microsoft from stifling the innovations of others. The object
is to create a level playing field benefitting consumers."

Title: Microsoft Warns Wall St. in Letter
Source: Washington Post (A7)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-05/04/072l-050498-idx.html
Author: The Associated Press
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Last night, Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Greg Maffei sent
a letter to about 150 stock analysts, software companies and venture
capitalists. In the letter Maffei wrote that Microsoft wasn't sure whether
the Justice Dept. or state attorneys general will attempt to interfere with
the launch of Microsoft's Windows 98 personal computer software. He said the
purpose of his letter was to "outline the possible financial ramifications
of such regulatory action." The letter was in the same tone as the one
signed last week by executives at 26 of the nation's top technology companies.

Title: Microsoft Warns of Potential Harm from U.S. Action
Source: Wall Street Journal (A6)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Don Clark
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Microsoft is warning financial analysts about the prospect of
government action against its Windows 98 operating system, predicting "broad,
negative consequences" for the entire personal-computer industry if the new
software is delayed. Despite the warnings, some analysts and economists say
delaying Windows 98 would be more of an annoyance than a disaster because
Windows 98 is not expected to drive new sales as strongly as did Windows
95. Next question: will Microsoft also bundle into Windows 98 (or 99 or...)
its new NetShow 3.0 streaming Internet video technology, in response to the
wild success of "upstart" RealNetworks Inc.?

** Telephony **

Title: MCI Withholds Some Access Payments to Bells
Source: Wall Street Journal (B8)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Stephanie N. Mehta
Issue: Industry
Description: MCI said it analyzed access-charge invoices and alleged that
the local Bell telephone companies frequently overcharged or failed to
provide detailed information on the charges. Until Price Waterhouse
conducts an independent analysis, MCI plans to withhold some 424 million in
payments. (MCI pays $4.5-5 billion in access fees annually; long-distance
carriers pay about 425 billion in access fees annually.)

Title: MCI Finds New Life in Old Technology
Source: Washington Post (Bus-6)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author: Jennifer Files (Dallas Morning News)
Issue: New (and Old) Technology

Description: MCI Communications Corp. engineers say they have successfully
applied 160-year-old technology to their telephone network in a test that
"carried voice and data traffic triple the distance of regular networks" at
much reduced costs. The principle they used is called soliton technology,
which refers to the "narrow waves or pulses of light that retain their shape
as they travel long distances along a cable. In optical fiber
telecommunications networks, the waves' ability to keep their shape helps
overcome the problem of lightwave dispersion," which can result in lost
data. MCI believes that using soliton transmitters will help it carry
signals more accurately with fewer electronic parts. "Reducing the need for
electronic components is an important step toward MCI's goal of engineering
the world's first all-optical network," said Jack Wimmer, executive director
of network technology and planning for MCI. MCI hopes to "deploy" the
technology, which could cut transmission costs by as much as 20 percent, by
year end. [Note: The first solitons were documented by Scottish engineer
John Scott Russell in 1834.]

** Lifestyle **

Title: The On-Line Choice for People's Most Beautiful: Angry Hank
Source: New York Times (D1,D6)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/05/biztech/articles/04people.html
Author: Amy Harmon
Issue: Lifestyle
Description: It should come as little surprise that teenage heart-throb
Leonardo DiCaprio was chosen by People Magazine to grace the cover of its
annual "50 Most Beautiful People" issue. What is less explicable is the fact
that Hank, the Angry Drunken Dwarf, whose "scarbrouse, unfailingly
belligerent persona has made him a popular guest on Howard Stern's radio
show," had garnered nearly 208,000 votes on the magazine's online reader
pole at: www.pathfinder.com. That number was about 17 times those received
by the second-place DiCaprio. Some critics dismiss these numbers as a
reflection of the cult following commanded by Stern, while others suggest
that the Net audience does not necessarily reflect mainstream-America. But
many of the electronic campaigners themselves offer a more sophisticated
explanation -- "an attempt to use the new media to challenge the cultural
hegemony of the old media." These "grass-roots guerrillas" contend that it
is an expression of cultural pluralism, that People's parent, the media
giant Time Warner Inc. may not be especially eager to embrace. "The 'media'
tells us what food to eat, what movies to see, what music to listen to, who
to vote for politically and what kind of people are attractive enough to
have relationships with!" one "Internet iconoclast" wrote is a discussion
forum on People's Web site. "Voting for 'Hank the Dwarf' is a reflection of
how the people really feel about media." People's executive editor, Susan
Toepfer, is unapologetic about the magazine's top-down approach of selecting
beautiful people. "We are in the business of selling magazines. And we put
on the cover people we know the most people are interested in," she said.
The Internet," Toepfer added, has a "wackier sensibility." (after a day like
today - you have to have at least one lifestyle story!)
*********

Antitrust/Microsoft
WP: Microsoft Informed of States' Concerns
NYT: 13 States Plan Antitrust Move Over Microsoft
WSJ: States Rejoin Federal Effort in Case Against Microsoft
NYT: Windows 98, The Tuneup

Minorities
NYT: Senate Panel is Told Disabled May Fall Behind in Information Age
NYT: Microsoft Donates to Senior

Internet/Services
NYT: White House to Release 'Net Plan
WSJ: CybeRx: Getting Medical Advice and Moral Support from the Web
NYT: It Is for You Defective Day of Hats, No? [huh?]

EduTech
WSJ: America Online to Buy Stake in Boston Firm
NYT: Instead of School Desks, A Learn Station for Tykes

Technology
WSJ: Some Firms, Let Down by Costly Computers, Opt to 'De-Engineer'
NYT: Modem 'Lite' Offers Fast Web Access at Low Rates

** Antitrust/Microsoft **

Title: Microsoft Informed of States' Concerns
Source: Washington Post (D1,D2)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-04/30/209l-043098-idx.html
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Last Thursday and Friday attorneys general from over a dozen
states met with top-level executives from Microsoft Corp. to learn more
about the company's latest software package, Windows 98, and to discuss
concerns that the software giant is using its "market clout" unfairly. Both
state and company officials say that the talks were inconclusive but
descriptions of the meetings also demonstrate a "widening chasm" between
state law enforcement officials and Microsoft. "Throughout this process,
we've asked the AGs to tell us their specific concerns," said Mark Murray, a
spokesman for Microsoft. "They haven't provided us with any specific
concerns. We'll continue to work with them, to help [meet] with their
requirements for information." A much different account was offered from
among the state attorneys general. "They don't get it," said one state
attorney general who declined to be identified. He said that the state
officials have given Microsoft "clear indications of their concerns" about
the software giant's business practices.

Title: 13 States Plan Antitrust Move Over Microsoft
Source: New York Times (A1,D20)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/04/biztech/articles/30microsoft.html
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Attorneys general from 13 states are in the final stages of
preparing "a joint antitrust action" against Microsoft. They are "apparently
intent" on blocking the release of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 98 operating
system. "The decision on our action is imminent, and in my opinion some
action is likely," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. "I
think it will be in the next couple of weeks." While several of the state
officials said that they would rather "act in conjunction" with the U.S.
Dept. of Justice, they are prepared to proceed without the federal agency.
The states "intend to work quickly" because Microsoft plans to begin
shipping its software package to computer makers in mid-May and release it
to consumers by late June.

Title: States Rejoin Federal Effort in Case Against Microsoft
Source: Wall Street Journal (B11)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Staff Reporter
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Several states are again coordinating the Dept. of Justice
and are likely to join with the federal government if it files an antitrust
lawsuit against Microsoft. Charges may include "illegal maintenance and
extension" of a monopoly on desktop computer operating software, seeking to
push that monopoly into new markets, through linking Windows software to
its Internet software. Actions might go as far as to seek to block the
release of Windows 98.

Title: Windows 98, The Tuneup
Source: New York Times (E1)
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30windows.html
Author: Peter H. Lewis
Issue: Microsoft
Description: Barring late intervention by Federal or state antitrust
officials, Microsoft will release Windows 98 on June 25, but it's not
expected to attract the legions that lined up in August 1995 for the
release of Windows 95. The article sites January 1998 statistics that say
that 24% of DOS- and Windows-based computers in homes were still running
Windows 3.1, and 10% using the ol' text-based DOS ancestor of Windows.
General sentiment (according to the Times) is that Windows 98 is more an
upgrade than an overhaul of Windows 95.

** Minorities **

Title: Senate Panel is Told Disabled May Fall Behind in Information Age
Source: New York Times (CyberTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/04/cyber/articles/30disabled.html
Author: Jeri Clausing
Issue: Minorities
Description: Advocates for the disabled told the Senate Committee on Labor
and Human Resources yesterday that the information technology explosion
threatens to leave the disabled behind and thus Congress must ensure that
the infrastructure now being built will include accessibility features from
the outset. "Just sit down at any computer or walk up to a public
information kiosk, close your eyes, and try to use it," said James Gashel of
the National Federation of the Blind. "Then, think about the fact that
devices such as these are rapidly becoming the centerpiece of information
exchange." Gashel was among a number of witnesses testifying before the
committee about "extending and redefining the Technology-Related Assistance
for Individuals Act, or Tech Act, which has provided grants to states to
improve access to technology, services and information for the disabled. The
committee is now drafting a sequel to the act."

Title: Microsoft Donates to Seniors
Source: New York Times (AP-Breaking News)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/04/biztech/articles/30microsoft.html
Author: The Associated Press
Issue: Minorities
Description: Microsoft Corp. donated $350,00 today to the non-profit Green
Thumb Inc., a group that trains seniors and welfare recipients for high-tech
jobs. The grant will expand three pilot projects in Baltimore MD, Sacramento
CA, and Austin TX that had been funded by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. "The
Microsoft grant is helpful, but certainly won't cover total cost of these
kinds of things," said Allison Ann Toole, a spokeswoman for Green Thumb.
"We're sort of priming the pump a bit." Toole said that the program is
swamped with applicants, proving false that members from these groups aren't
interested in learning about technology. "The problem is, it did bypass some
people," said Toole. "They may have left the workforce and never got
trained. But that doesn't mean they're incapable or don't want to. Many of
them can't afford to just write a check and go take a course." Green Thumb
said it hopes to establish programs in at least 20 cities around the nation.

** Internet **

Title: White House to Release 'Net Plan
Source: New York Times (AP-Breaking News)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-Internet-Management.html
Author: The Associated Press
Issue: Internet Regulation
Description: The Clinton administration plans to release its final proposal
to end the government's role as "data traffic cop" on the Internet within
the next two weeks, said the White House. The plan will hand the majority of
management over to an international non-profit group that has yet to be
formed. The changes will be "virtually transparent" to users but will
radically change how the "burgeoning" Internet is organized. Ira Magaziner,
the White House senior policy advisor responsible for the changeover, told
an Internet conference in NY yesterday that the final proposal is expected
to be finished within two weeks but may be completed as soon as next week.
The government's contract with Network Solutions Inc., the Herndon-VA based
company that is currently responsible for assigning addresses on the Web,
was extended for six months past its March 31st expiration date. There are
no provisions for another contract extension.

Title: CybeRx: Getting Medical Advice and Moral Support From the Web
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://www.wsj.com/
Author: Rebecca Quick
Issue: Health
Description: The article reviews good health- and medical-related services
and resources available on the Web, including:
Medical World Search (http://www.mwsearch.com) and Mental Health Net
(http://www.cmhc.com) both are good starting points and have been screened
by health-care professionals.
Health on the Net Foundation (http://www.hon.ch) provides "seals of
approval" to medical-related sites that meet the Swiss group's guidelines.
Wellness Web (http://www.wellweb.com) provides information on conventional
as well as alternative treatments.
Medline (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) from the National Library of Medicine
offers free abstracts of articles published in 3,800 biomedical journals.
American Hospital Association (http://www.ama-assn.org) offers a
physician-search database with info on doctors' schooling, residencies and
specialties.
The Food and Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov/cder/) includes info
on approval of new products.
RxList (http://www.rxlist.com)provides an online drug index, searchable by
generic or brand name, with side-effects information and more.
MedEc Interactive (http://www.medecinteractive.com) is published by the
folks who produce the Physicians' Desk Reference. No charge for registered
doctors; we lay-folk must pay $99.95 per year.
HealthAtoZ (http://www.healthatoz.com) offers discussion boards where
consumers ask questions and share advice.

Title: It Is for You Defective Day of Hats, No?
Source: New York Times (E1)
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30tran.html
Author: Tina Kelley
Issue: Online Services
Description: Yet another WSJ article (see below) questioning the value of
technology over humans, this one reviews AltaVista's and others' nearly
instantaneous translation services. Example: "I am a reporter for the 'New
York Times'" becomes "I am a journalist during times of New York." And if
you're wondering what the title of the article means, it's a translation of
"She is having a bad hair day" in Italian. See Alta Vista's translation
service at http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/ translate?.

** EduTech **

Title: America Online to Buy Stake in Boston Firm
Source: Wall Street Journal, B9
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Jon G. Auerbach and Jared Sandberg
Issue: Online services
Description: In a push to boost its image among parents, AOL is taking on a
20% stake (for $14 mil in cash) in Family Education Co, an
Internet-oriented company that lets parents connect with their children's
schools for a variety of information. The site has signed partnerships
with about 330 school districts that let schools customize part of the site
for their constituent parents and students.

Title: Instead of School Desks, A Learn Station for Tykes
Source: New York Times, Circuits, E3
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30geek.html
Author: Michel Marriott (News Watch)
Issue: EduTech
Description: IBM and a subsidiary of Rubbermaid are seeking to replace
computers in classrooms and libraries with durable plastic workstations
that seat two or three budding computer jocks. Brightly colored, and with
juice-retardant keyboards, the Young Explorer includes an Intel Pentium
processor, internal CD ROM, and at least 2 gigabtyes of hard drive capacity.

** Technology **

Title: Some Firms, Let Down by Costly Computers, Opt to 'De-Engineer'
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Bernard Wysocki Jr.
Issue: Technology in the Workplace
Description: A great article about the costs of today's rush to have
more/better computer technology. Due to the "deadly" combination of a
fast-changing landscape, an increasingly complex array of software, and
technology boosters' can-do mentality (even when they can't), some
companies are abandoning plans for newer -- high-end computing options, and
returning to older -- work-horse systems, searching for better balance
between man[sic]power and computer power. The article describes a failed
collaboration between IBM and Pacific Gas & Electric, in which IBM's new
system couldn't meet the demands of PG&E's changing service environment.
Many companies are refusing costly and complex upgrades as they realize
that employees are using only a fraction of available computing power.
Aeroquip's president calculated that the full cost of upgrading his
company's 50-person research lab from Windows 3.1 to Windows95 was $20,000
per person. The article also cites a 1996 survey that found that 42% of
corporate information-technology projects were abandoned before completion,
and that US companies spend about $250 billion annually on computer
technology. [We selected this story as a heads-up to nonprofit
professionals who may be dealing with similar issues.]

Title: Modem 'Lite' Offers Fast Web Access at Low Rates
Source: New York Times (E3)
http://www.nyt.com/library/tech/98/04/circuits/articles/30modem.html
Author: Ian Austen
Issue: Computer Technology
Description: Northern Telecom, based in Ottawa, Canada, has introduced the 1-meg
modem, half the speed of Assymetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) service,
but 17 times faster than a conventional 56kbps modem. ADSL is traditionally
$40-$80 per month, but the new product will cost as little as $20 per month
(although no one is offering that yet). ADSL is expensive due to the cost of
hooking up special wiring, new equipment and expensive service calls, but
the 1-Meg
modem shares existing voice lines, and requires only the purchase of a
special modem ($200) and a relatively inexpensive network card (cost not
provided).

** Quote of the Day **

"Y2K will not derail corporate America.. while not everything will go
smoothly, common sense should prevail." -- Edward Kerschner, chief
investment strategist at PaineWebber in response to a report of possible
chaos when computers try to deal with the year 2000. WSJ (A1)

And just one more...

According to the NYTimes (E3), Starbucks Coffee Company, hardly
satisfied with conquering every downtown corner, is bringing the "Starbucks
experience" online, so you can buy their beans directly from your desktop.
*********

Education
NYT: Study Shows Students Use Internet Primarily for Research

Campaigns
WP: U.S. Appeals Court Rejects City Campaign Spending Cap
NYT: Limits on Campaign Spending Are Invalid, Appeals Court Says

Computer Technology
NYT: Quantum Computing Is Becoming More Than Just a Good Idea

** Education **

Title: Study Shows Students Use Internet Primarily for Research
Source: New York Times (CyberTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/04/cyber/articles/28education.html
Author: Pamela Mendels
Issue: Internet
Description: According to a study by Quality Education Data, a Denver-based
market research company that studies trends in education, the most popular
use of the Internet in schools is for research. In its third annual survey
of Internet use in schools, QED surveyed about 400 K-12 teachers at public
schools around the nation. The survey, conducted by phone this past
February, found that about "82 percent of schools are connected to the
Internet. Less than half were wired when the study was first conducted in
1996. Increasingly, classrooms -- rather than libraries or computer labs --
are being wired, too, according to Karin K. Hendersin, director of market
research for the company." Of the teachers who responded to the survey: 69
percent said they use the Internet at least once a week as a tool for
research and as a teaching aid; 66 percent use the Internet to get
curriculum material; 46 percent said they use the Internet for professional
development; 44 percent use the Internet for lesson planning; and about 35
percent said they use the Internet as a "presentation tool" to display
material to their students. The complete study is scheduled to be released
in May.

** Campaigns **

Title: U.S. Appeals Court Rejects City Campaign Spending Cap
Source: Washington Post (A5)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-04/28/057l-042898-idx.html
Author: The Associated Press
Issue: Campaign Spending
Description: A Federal appeals court yesterday rejected a Cincinnati
ordinance that was seeking to put spending limits on City Council
candidates, saying that the law violates candidates' right to free-speech.
Monday's decision marks the first time a federal appeals court had ruled on
the issue since "the Supreme Court rejected Congress's attempt to impose
mandatory spending limits on congressional candidates" in 1976. One
appellate judge, Avern Cohn, said that campaign spending laws could be valid
as a way to free office-holders from the pressures of fundraising so they
could spend more time on their elected duties -- but the Cincinnati
ordinance doesn't do that. "This is not the case to change the landscape of
campaign finance," Cohn wrote.

Title: Limits on Campaign Spending Are Invalid, Appeals Court Says
Source: New York Times (A14)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/chicago-campaign-reform.html
Author: Bill Dedman
Issue: Campaign Spending
Description: A ruling on campaign spending by a Federal appeals court in
Cincinnati yesterday, was a blow to those that had hoped to find "a vehicle"
for overturning a 1976 Supreme Court ruling that extended First Amendment
protection to campaign spending. A three judge panel of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit struck down a 1995 Cincinnati ordinance that
would have limited the amount of money a candidate for City Council could
spend to three times the salary of a council member, or about $140,000. "The
suit, Kruse v. City of Cincinnati, was filed by a group led by John Kruse, a
losing candidate in the 1995 election." The case was closely watched by
cities and states around the country, with 33 states filing briefs
supporting Cincinnati's position. "To say it's a stinging rebuke and an end
of the movement is entirely incorrect," said John C. Bonifaz, executive
director of the National Voting Rights Institute, a Boston non-profit group,
hired by the City of Cincinnati to argue the case. "The door has been left
open." But Michael A. Carvin, the lawyer who represented John Kruse and won
the case, said the issue was settled. "Just as it would be blatantly
unconstitutional to say that a candidate can have only five campaign
appearances and make five speeches, so is it unconstitutional to limit
spending," said Carvin.

** Computer Technology **

Title: Quantum Computing Is Becoming More Than Just a Good Idea
Source: New York Times (C4)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/042898quantum.html
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Computer Technology
Description: Earlier this month, researchers at IBM Corp., the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, the Univ. of Calif. at Berkeley and Oxford Univ.
announced they have succeeded for the first time in building the first
working computers based on the principles of quantum mechanics, a branch of
physics that describes the "quirky world" of subatomic particles where both
yes and no can "simultaneously" be true. The scientists were able to fashion
a "novel computer in which the processor consisted of atoms of hydrogen and
chlorine and used it to sort an unordered list of items." Their discovery
has created a wave of excitement throughout the scientific community and is
leading research institutes to "embark on similar experiments heralding the
advent of an era of so-called quantum computers, specialized machines that
may one day prove thousands or even millions times faster than today's most
powerful supercomputers." There are still major hurdles to overcome before
quantum computers can be applies to general problems, said Richard J.
Hughes, a physicist who leads a team working in the field of quantum
information at Los Alamos National Laboratory. However, a number scientists
working in this new field believe that "enough progress has been made to
foresee significant applications." According to Stanley Williams, a Hewlett
Packard physicist who is coordinating his company's quantum computing
research, "This will reshape the face of science."
*********

Digital TV
NYT: Broadcast and Cable Interests Debate Rules for Digital TV

Telephony
NYT: Cellular Phone Groups to Sue Over Wiretapping Regulations
WSJ: GAO Delivers Blistering Report on FCC As Enforcer in Stopping

FCC
FCC: Commissioner Tristani Builds Relationships with Latin American
Regulators
WSJ: FCC to Deregulate a Large Portion of Comsat Business

Antitrust
WSJ: Microsoft Subject of New Antitrust Probe
WSJ: In the Microsoft Endgame, a Puzzle
WSJ: FTC Sets Conditions to Support Digital-Intel Agreement on Chip

Technology
WP: A Computer Made for the "Barney" Crowd
WP: U.S. Chamber Is Leaving TV for Internet

** Digital TV **

Title: Broadcast and Cable Interests Debate Rules for Digital TV
Source: New York Times (C4)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/yr/mo/biztech/articles/24hdtv.html
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: At a congressional hearing yesterday, presidents of the largest
companies in the television industry "sparred" over whether cable companies
will be required to carry the digital TV programs that broadcasters will
begin airing this fall. The cable industry is strongly opposed to the idea,
but broadcasters contend that a "must-carry" rule for digital signals is
essential. "A swift and successful transition to digital TV requires that
cable subscribers have easy access to DTV broadcast signals," Scott Sass,
president of NBC Television Stations, told the House Subcommittee on
Telecommunications. Leo J. Hindery, president of Tele-Communications Inc.,
the nation's largest cable company, asked, if cable companies are forced to
make room for digital signals, "Which services should we drop? Th Family
Channel? Black Entertainment Television? C-Span? I cannot stress how
important this is to us." This issue also is important to the Federal
Communications Commission who loaned every television station in the country
a second channel to be used for digital broadcasts. At the end of the
transition period, one of the channels has to be returned at which time it
will be auctioned off. The income generated from those auctions has already
been counted in the balanced budget plan. This helps to explain why Rep.
W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA), chairman of the subcommittee, opened the hearing
by asking, "Will cable take HDTV away from us?"

** Telephony **

Title: Cellular Phone Groups to Sue Over Wiretapping Regulations
Source: New York Times (C2)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/yr/mo/biztech/articles/24phone.html
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Privacy
Description: The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association and the
Personal Communications Industry Association plan to file a lawsuit today in
an effort to "narrow" the Government's interpretation of 1994 legislation
intended "to help law enforcement agencies listen in on the phone calls of
suspected criminals." Civil liberties advocates and cellular telephone
industry executives contend that the FBI is requesting regulations under the
1994 law that would give the agency expanded wiretapping powers while
forcing consumers to pay for the broad new surveillance features through an
increase in rates. The lawsuit comes a month after the FBI and the Justice
Dept. discontinued negotiations with industry executives over wiretapping
capabilities and who would pay for the increased modifications that the
Government contends is necessary to effectively fight criminals in this
digital era.

Title: GAO Delivers Blistering Report on FCC As Enforcer in Stopping
'Slamming'
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Elizabeth Daerr
Issue: Telephone Regulation
Description: Government auditors said that the FCC isn't moving
aggressively enough to crack down on companies that illegally switch
consumers' long-distance phone service, saying that states have been much
better at enforcing anti-slamming regulations. FCC Chairman William Kennard
said that his agency is working to eliminate economic incentives for
slamming including absolving slammed customers from paying the
long-distance carrier if the consumer catches an unauthorized switch within
a certain time period.

** FCC **

Title: Commissioner Tristani Builds Relationships with Latin American
Regulators
Source: FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/News_Releases/1998/nrmc8029.html
Issue: International/Universal Service
Description: At the Fourth Annual Latin American Telecommunications Summit,
in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, Commissioner Gloria Tristani
represented the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by "encouraging
regulatory reform in the transition from monopoly service to privatization
and open competition. Tristani led a discussion among four of the region's
regulatory leaders; Carlos Casasus, Chairman of the Mexican Federal
Telecommunications Commission (COFTEL); Roberto Catalan, Chairman of the
Argentine National Communications Commission (CNC); Jorge Kunigami, Chairman
of the Peruvian Supervisory Agency of Investment in Telecommunications
(OSIPTEL); and Rosella Cominetti, Chief of Economic Regulation for the
Chilean Under Secretariat of Telecommunications (SUBTEL)." Tristani said,
"Privatization, liberalization, and competition are the norm and the
expectation. Consumers in our countries are starting to reap the benefits of
this transformation in thought and in action." Discussing regulatory
reform, Tristani "underscored the opportunity and responsibility of
regulators to promote universal service through explicit and market-based
mechanisms. Tristani praised Peru and Chile, observing that their innovative
approaches 'demonstrate that developing countries can promote universal
service and competition hand-in-hand.'"

Title: FCC to Deregulate a Large Portion of Comsat Business
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: John Simons
Issue: FCC Regulation
Description: The FCC is expected to declare Comsat Corp. a "nondominant"
telecommunications carrier in most of its markets, essentially deregulating
a large portion of the satellite company's business. The company
successfully argued that its status as sole satellite middleman didn't
really give it market advantages because many other forms of competition
exist. The FCC will continue to regulate Comsat's activities in those
developing nations where few alternatives to satellite-based communications
exist.

** Antitrust **

Title: Microsoft Subject of New Antitrust Probe
Source: Wall Street Journal (A2)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: John R. Wilke
Issue: Antitrust
Description: The battle between Netscape and Microsoft has reached the
Department of Justice yet again. Netscape is claiming that high level MS
executives attended a May 1995 meeting in an effort to invest in Netscape
or threaten to withhold the necessary information the company would need to
build a Windows-compatible version of its browser. In addition, Netscape
claims Microsoft sought to convince Netscape to market their browser
software only
for non-Windows operating systems. Microsoft claims they were just on a
fact-finding mission. Quotable quotes: "It was like a visit from Don
Corleone; I expected to find a bloody computer monitor in my bed the next
day," Marc Andressen, EVP & Co-Founder, Netscape. "I can categorically say
that we did not at any time suggest dividing up any market, period."

Title: In the Microsoft Endgame, a Puzzle
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: David Bank
Issue: Antitrust
Description: The net impact of the Department of Justice's case against
Microsoft for requiring PC makers to include Internet Explorer in operating
systems may indeed be zero unless the federal government decides to get
into price setting, something it wants to avoid. Because Microsoft intends
to charge the same price for its Windows 95 (and upcoming Windows 98)
operating system with or without Internet Explorer, a law suit that doesn't
address the pricing issue wouldn't do much to curtail Microsoft's marketing
power.

Title: FTC Sets Conditions to Support Digital-Intel Agreement on Chip
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://www.wsj.com
Author: Jon G. Auerbach
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Citing concerns over Intel Corp.'s control of the
microprocessor market, the Federal Trade Commission required Digital
Equipment Corp. to find other partners to make its speedy Alpha chip as a
condition for approving a patent settlement between Intel and Digital.
Digital confirmed it had reached a memorandum of understanding with
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and is in negotiations with IBM. Intel controls
about 90 percent of the processor market. Another wrinkle is Compaq Computer
Corp.'s proposed purchase of Digital. Compaq is the world's largest
personal computer maker, and most of its products run on Intel chips.

** Technology **

Title: A Computer Made for the "Barney" Crowd
Source: Washington Post (F1,F3)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-04/24/077l-042498-idx.html
Author: Paul Farhi and Frank Swoboda
Issue: Computer Technology
Description: Toymaker, Little Tikes Co. and International Business Machines
Corp. have teamed up to offer a $2,399 personal computer system made into a
child-sized purple-and-yellow plastic disk. In addition to "age-appropriate
software titles" such as "Millie's Math House," the PC comes with a keyboard
able to withstand apple- and grape-juice spills. The "Young Explorer" is
apparently the first computer created for the "Barney" crowd. It is
introduced at a time, however, when the scientific community is just
beginning to study "the long-term health effects on children who use
keyboards from an early age." There is growing concern about the possible
physical harm to children in using keyboards, specifically repetitive stress
injuries, said Daryl Alexander of the American Federation of Teachers -- to
date, most injury information is "anecdotal." IBM spokeswoman Stacey Pena
points out that the Young Explorer was designed with kids in mind and the
keyboard was developed at a child's level, minimizing arm strain. Michele
Riggs, the IBM executive who dreamed up this idea after watching her son
play with computers at his preschool, said, "We see a real market
opportunity for this anywhere kids go to have fun and play."

Title: U.S. Chamber Is Leaving TV for Internet
Source: Washington Post (F4)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-04/24/073l-042498-idx.html
Author: Beth Berselli
Issue: Internet Use
Description: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday that "it is
leaving broadcasting for cybercasting in an effort to better inform and
rally its members and influence government officials on their behalf." Carl
Grant, a senior vice president of the nation's most powerful lobbying group,
said the Internet will play a key role in their "beefed-up" advocacy effort.
Grant said that the Washington-based group plans to quickly expand its
online programming. For example, next month, the group will offer live
audio-video broadcasts of a global climate conference. Chamber officials
said that money previously used on television programs will now be
redirected to other areas of the organization, where it will be used "to
support the groups primary mission of legislative advocacy for its
approximately 200,000 members."
*********
TV Turnoff Week is April 22-28. This is a national, collective attempt to
save our most precious resource: the sanctity of our own minds. Why not
rebel against internal brain-drain and unplug the box (or boxes) for a week?
To learn more about accessing your imagination and not some media moguls
idea of what that should be, check out TV-Free America's, National TV
Turnoff Week site at: http://www.tvfa.org/turnoff.html