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Communications-Related Headlines for August 9, 2002

BROADCATING
The F.C.C. Has Voted: A Digital Tuner for Every TV

INTERNET
Microsoft, FTC Deal Tightens Internet Privacy
Tate's Ultra-Modern Visual Access

BROADCATING

THE F.C.C. HAS VOTED: A DIGITAL TUNER FOR EVERY TV
The Federal Communications Commission, concerned that market forces alone
had not assured the transition to digital television, voted yesterday to
require television manufacturers to include digital tuners in all new
television sets by 2007. The requirements will raise the cost of
televisions, though whether the increase will be small or substantial is the
subject of a contentious industry debate. Some television manufacturers said
they would appeal the decision in federal court. In 1997, the commission
ordered the transition to digital television, which can offer crystal-clear
pictures, multiple broadcast streams and has the potential to provide
interactive services to consumers. To that end, the commission lent each
television station an extra channel so the stations could offer digital and
traditional analog television programming simultaneously until digital
becomes the standard. Once the switch to digital television is complete, the
commission is supposed to reclaim the broadcast spectrum used for
traditional television and sell it for $5 billion to $10 billion, according
to Congressional estimates. But under the law, that can happen only after 85
percent of households have digital televisions.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Daniel Altman]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/09/technology/09TUBE.html)
(requires registration)
See Also:
FCC INTRODUCES PHASE-IN PLAN FOR DTV TUNERS
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-225221A1.txt)
FCC MOVES TO SPEED SHIFT TO DIGITAL TV
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A61752-2002Aug8)

INTERNET

MICROSOFT, FTC DEAL TIGHTENS INTERNET PRIVACY
In an agreement reached between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission,
Microsoft will draw up detailed policies about how it will collect and use
the personal information of Microsoft Passport customers. It will also
submit Passport to independent audits for the next 20 years and stop making
exaggerated claims about the security of the Passport service. Marc
Rotenberg, Executive Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center
said, "This is a significant victory for consumer privacy...We hope it'll
bring about higher standards for online privacy and security." The FTC plans
to hold services similar to Microsoft's Passport, like AOL Time Warner's
Magic Carpet to the standards of the Microsoft agreement. Brian Arbogast,
vice president of .Net services said, "We think it'll be a net positive
thing for Microsoft, our customers and partners."
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Bryon Acohido]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2002-08-08-microsoft-passport_
x.htm)

TATE'S ULTRA-MODERN VISUAL ACCESS
London's Tate Modern Gallery has launched i-Map, an online art resource
designed for visually impaired users. Caro Howell, Tate Modern's curator of
special projects said, "Clearly, museums cannot offer tactile access to the
majority of their original artworks...but in the case of modern and
contemporary art, it is often the conceptual content that is of primary
importance." The i-Map project focuses on three pairs of works from the
current exhibition "Matisse Picasso". The project uses text reader software,
image enhancement and animation to help partially sighted and blind people
access the exhibit. For individuals with access to special paper and a
device to raise lines, the museum is offering raised images that can be
printed from the Web site. Visitors can print the raised images, copy them
onto "swell paper", feed them through a device to raise the lines and use
the images to anchor the audio description they can hear through the Web
site. Isabella Murdoch, a museum visitor said, "For the first time I am able
to access pictures without a sighted person."
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Kendra Mayfield]
(http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,54256,00.html)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Communications-Related Headlines forAugust 8, 2002

INTERNET
Italy Sponsors Technology Transfer To Developing Countries
AT&T raises fees for high-speed Net access by as much as 80%

COPYRIGHT
Recording Industry Will Appeal Net Radio Ruling
Lights, Camera, Legislation

WIRELESS
Analog Phones Could Hang It Up;FCC Expected To OK System Shutdown

INTERNET

ITALY SPONSORS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Italy's technology minister, Lucio Stanca, believes that having more
Internet and other information technology may go far in alleviating poverty.
Stanca, a former IBM executive, is now is spearheading Italy's Internet
program for developing countries -- as part of the Group of Eight's efforts
to reduce the so-called digital divide. One of the first projects, to be
implemented in the fall, is creating an electronic database for real estate
in Mozambique. "Of course we must solve the problem of world hunger,
disease, education," Stanca recently told The Associated Press. "But if we
want to move from a phase of assistance to creating development in these
countries, we must first help them create good governance." The idea is
that, by making their public administration more transparent and
accountable, developing countries would also become more attractive
potential recipients of traditional forms of aid, such as loans and
investments.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Alessandra Rizzo (Associated Press)]
(http://www.nj.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?f
0002_BC_Italy-TechnologyTrans&&news&newsflash-financial)

AT&T RAISES FEES FOR HIGH-SPEED NET ACCESS BY AS MUCH AS 80%
Consumer advocates are criticizing AT&T Broadband for raising the price of
high-speed Internet access without explicitly informing consumers. Gene
Kimmelman from Consumer's Union said, "AT&T shortchanged its customers. It
delivered less than they had paid for without offering them a discount. This
is fundamentally a problem of an unregulated cable monopoly taking advantage
of its high-speed customers." AT&T had been charging $46-a-month for the
high-speed service but after taking over the service from Excite At Home
they cut downloading speeds in half without lowering the price. Their
message to consumers was that "the lighting-fast connection" had been
"optimized for all users through a maximum network setting for 1.5 mbps
downstream." What this really meant is that it would now take twice as long
to download files using the service. AT&T vice president of Internet
services acknowledges the rate increase but maintained that at the current
price and speed, "there's nobody close to us in offering that value of
service."
SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/2002-08-08-att-broadband_x.htm)

COPYRIGHT

RECORDING INDUSTRY WILL APPEAL NET RADIO RULING
The Recording Industry Association of America said today that it will appeal
a federal ruling establishing royalty rates that Internet radio stations
must pay to artists and record companies. On June 20, the Librarian of
Congress, James Billington, set Internet royalty rates at .07 cents per
song, per listener, which is half the .14 cents-per-song figure approved
last by an arbitration panel appointed by the U.S. Copyright Office. All
sides of the debate have criticized Billington's royalty rate
recommendation. Small Internet broadcasters say that the .07 cents-per-song
rate will drive them out of business, while the RIAA contends that the rate
undervalues the intellectual property of record companies and musicians.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: David McGuire]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56215-2002Aug7.html)

LIGHTS, CAMERA, LEGISLATION
CNet writer Jim Hu lays out the history of the media industry's battle to
insert copyright protections into consumer electronic devices. As high-tech
companies are focusing more and more on digital entertainment, the Hollywood
studios are focusing their efforts on controlling the use and distribution
of their work. Michael Eisner, CEO of Walt Disney said, "At least one
high-tech executive has described illegal pirate content as a 'killer
application' that will drive consumer demand for broadband...Unfortunately,
other high-tech companies have simply lectured us that they have no
obligation to help solve what they describe as 'our problem'." Several
studios and TV networks are suing Sonicblue, a manufacturer of digital
recorders for allegedly allowing consumers to pirate movies. The company's
chief technology officer Andy Wolfe, believes, "It's not our job to convince
Hollywood that it's not a threat. It's our job to convince them it's not
illegal. What we've done is try to convince Hollywood it's a new channel for
commerce and to profit from it rather than be afraid of it." The Federal
Communications Commission will be meeting today to discuss digital broadcast
copyright protections.
[SOURCE: CNET, AUTHOR, Jim Hu]
(http://news.com.com/2009-1023-948672.html)

WIRELESS

ANALOG PHONES COULD HANG IT UP FCC EXPECTED TO OK SYSTEM SHUTDOWN
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to grant permission
to wireless carriers to shut down analog networks in the next five years.
Cingular Wireless, along with Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless believe
that analog networks are inefficient and are attempting to reclaim airwaves
for their digital subscribers. Of the USA's 140 million wireless customers,
fifteen percent use analog phones. Losing analog networks could result in
problems for consumers roaming outside their regions and hearing-impaired
consumers who say digital phones interfere with hearing aids. Industry
officials claim they will have built out their digital networks within 5
years and roaming will not be an issue.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
(http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020808/4343670s.htm)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Communications-Related Headlines for August 7, 2002

RESEARCH
Congress Reassesses Tech Office

OWNERSHIP
Murky Water for Clear Channel

INTERNET
The Internet Power Grab
Copyright Law Has Hackers On The Defensive

RESEARCH

CONGRESS REASSESSES TECH OFFICE
In 1995, former House speaker Newt Gingrich lead Congress to dismantle the
Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). These days there is a bipartisan
effort to reinstate funding to the OTA, which was designed to provide
unbiased scientific and technical information to Congress. The Office is
credited with helping congressmen understand the benefits and economic
drawbacks of motor vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, the effect of
greenhouse gases on global warming and the obstacles associated with missile
defense systems. Jack Gibbons, OTA's director from 1979-1992 claims the
current GOP leadership is allowing political agendas to block the benefits
of reinstating the OTA. Matthew Bunn, former assistant director of the
science, technology and public policy program at the Harvard Kennedy School
said, "It [the OTA] could help Congress understand say, the power
infrastructure of the United States, or what would happen if a chemical
plant were attacked." Rep. Rush Holt (D-New Jersey) currently has 86
co-sponsors for a bill that would reinstate funding for the OTA, but the
legislation has yet to make it out of committee
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Dan Mitchell]
(http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,54373,00.html)

OWNERSHIP

MURKY WATER FOR CLEAR CHANNEL
Clear Channel Communications, the dominant force in American radio, has
spread into television, Spanish-language broadcasting, concert promotion,
billboards and even satellite radio, but the behemoths' growth may soon be
slowed. Largely as a result of bad press, Clear Channel's stock price has
slipped from $53.23 on May 31 to less than $28 in late July, a far cry from
nearly $100 in early 2000. But expert agree that legislative efforts are the
biggest threat to Clear Channel. Some predict that congress may soon act to
limit its size. In June, Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold proposed a bill
that would limit the growth of radio companies and stop the alleged practice
of payola in which radio station owners use their power to push around
record companies that want their songs played on the air. But the House has
shown no interest in looking into radio monopolies. Republican, who
currently control the House, have received tens of thousands of dollars in
Clear Channel contributions.
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Randy Dotinga]
(http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,54038,00.html)

INTERNET

THE INTERNET POWER GRAB
[Commentary] John Ellis, a New York writer and consultant, ponders the
transition of free to fee-based Internet services. While he sees charging
for Web content as inevitable, Ellis discusses what he considers to be a
"more ominous development in the Internet arena" where large
telecommunications and entertainment companies are striking out at Silicon
Valley technologies. He says that the lack of interest Silicon Valley
technologists showed in wooing politicians has resulted in real losses on
the political front. He believes that if Silicon Valley does not organize
politically and appeal to the public their businesses and customers will
suffer. He points to the gains made by the Regional Bell Operating Companies
who, when threatened by the advent of high-speed access, lobbied to stall
broadband implementation until they could gain control over high-speed
cables. A recent FCC ruling along with legislation from Tauzin-Dingell
granting the Baby Bells the exclusive right to build-out DSL access appears
to be bringing the Baby Bells close to their goal. Ellis also discusses how
the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 and current legislation called
the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act are an attack on
the Free Software movement.
[SOURCE: Fast Company, AUTHOR: John Ellis]
(http://www.fastcompany.com/online/61/jellis.html)

COPYRIGHT LAW HAS HACKERS ON THE DEFENSIVE
Hacker Adam Bresson recently gave a talk at the DefCon conference that
included a demonstration of how to make copies of copyright-protected videos
and DVDs. These days that demonstration could result in an arrest for
violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA), but Bresson's
message is, "There's a fine line between creating technologies that bypass
copyright protections and demonstrating them". He believes that consumer's
rights to make "fair use" copies are under attack. Hackers have been
particularly concerned about the DMCA since Dmitry Sklyarov was arrested
last year after his talk and demonstration of bypassing Adobe Systems' eBook
Reader anti-piracy technology. Companies have used the DMCA to sue
researchers and programmers at universities and software companies.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2002-08-06-hackers-copyr
ight_x.htm)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Communications-Related Headlines for August 6, 2002

DIGITAL DIVIDE
HP Marks East Palo Alto Computer Initiative
Emphasizing Computer Skills and Networking in Bhutan's Rural
Districts
Keeping Women in the Tech Industry

INTERNET
Publishers Fight 'Deep Links,' Despite Popularity of Practice
Man Is Sentenced on Charges Of Using Net to Subvert Beijing
In Pakistan, Surfers Worry Anti-Terror Law May Dull Web Experience

DIGITAL DIVIDE

HP MARKS EAST PALO ALTO COMPUTER INITIATIVE
Now in its third year, the Digital Village project seeks to bring =
technology
to small businesses in California's East Palo Alto. A sub-project =
called the
Small Business Development Initiative has provided 50 local businesses =
with
computers, free email, scanners, tech support and more. The project's =
goal
is to help entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses thus increasing the
city's tax base and invigorating the local economy. Hewlett-Packard is
working with Start Up (a nonprofit business incubator), the local =
merchant's
association and the Rainbow/Push initiative.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Thaai Walker]
(http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/local/3807044.htm)

EMPHASIZING COMPUTER SKILLS AND NETWORKING IN BHUTAN'S RURAL DISTRICTS
In the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, the planning commission secretariat =
is
establishing an information network to bridge the digital divide found =
among
and within the nation's administrative districts, or dzongkhags. The
project, known as the Planning Information Network (PIN), will build
technical capacity in local dzongkhag administrations by training =
officials
in the use of computer and Internet applications. Since the project =
began
early this year, basic training has been completed in eight dzongkhags. =
The
project training package was funded through UNDP's Japan Policy and =
Human
Resources Development Fund.=20
[SOURCE: Kuensel Online, AUTHOR: Bishal Rai]
(http://www.kuenselonline.com/article.php?sid=3D1828&KUENSELONLINE_PHPSE=
SSID=3D1
578ef08bf72e8d3d9257cbd29806b30)

KEEPING WOMEN IN THE TECH INDUSTRY
The British government continues to discuss solutions to a definite =
gender
imbalance in the tech industry. While recent publicity about the lack =
of
women in the tech sector has helped recruit more women into the field,
retention continues to be a problem. As jobs become more senior, the =
gender
gap worsens. Dell reports that a scant eight percent of board-level =
tech
positions in Europe are filled by women. The situation, in comparison, =
is
slightly better in the U.S. where 18 percent of directors are women.
Familial obligations are considered the biggest hurdle to recruiting =
and
retaining women. In response, the UK government has made =A31 million
available to tech firms willing to increase job flexibility for women
returning to work after having a family.
[SOURCE: BBC News]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2176108.stm)

INTERNET

PUBLISHERS FIGHT 'DEEP LINKS,' DESPITE POPULARITY OF PRACTICE
One of the defining characteristics of the Web is the ability to link =
pages
and publications easily and take users directly to content. However, =
there
is a growing desire by publishers to control external links to their =
stories
and some have taken their grievances to court. In Denmark, a court =
ruled in
favor of the Danish Newspaper Publishers Association (DNPA) and forced =
the
Newsbooster Web site to stop deep-linking to DNPA news Web sites. From =
the
publisher's perspective, diminishing ad revenues and concerns around =
how
their content is used are increasing the importance of controlling =
access to
their Web sites. Despite these issues, most publishers have an open =
linking
policy and U.S. lawyers do not expect to see many lawsuits around
deep-linking. Additionally, many link-counting search engines such as
Google.com use links to rank search results. A New York Times =
spokesperson
said, "We have no problem with other news sites and Web logs linking to
NYTimes.com -- the more the better."
[SOURCE: The Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Stephanie Miles]
(http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB102807155128762520,00.html)
(Requires subscription)

MAN IS SENTENCED ON CHARGES OF USING NET TO SUBVERT BEIJING
A former Beijing policeman has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for
downloading counter-revolutionary essays and printing them out into 10
books. He was sentenced on charges of subverting state power. The
Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy also reported that =
the man
was accused of using email, the phone and letters to communicate with
overseas colleagues.
[SOURCE: The Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB102856652863413320,00.html?mod=3Dtec=
hnolog
y_main_whats_news)
(Requires subscription)

IN PAKISTAN, SURFERS WORRY ANTI-TERROR LAW MAY DULL WEB EXPERIENCE
Starting this month, cyber cafes in Pakistan will be required to ask =
patrons
for proof of identity and to keep records of users. The previously
unregulated Internet cafes also must start registering with the =
government.
Authorities say the new regulations will help track down terrorists by
making emails easier to trace. But patrons say reporting their names =
will
make them more cautious about visiting certain Web sites. Regulators =
may
also find tracking down Internet cafes as difficult as hunting =
terrorists.
In recent years, the popularity of Internet cafes has soared in this =
poor
country, where the average annual income is barely $400, and even
middle-class youth find computers difficult to afford. Currently, there =
is
no record of how many Internet cafes are in Pakistan because the =
government
has not kept track of them.
[SOURCE: Nando Times, AUTHOR: Martin Fackler, Associated Press]
(http://www.nando.net/technology/story/488801p-3900285c.html)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Communications-Related Headlines for August 5, 2002

DIGITAL DIVIDE
Youth Conference Promotes Rural Technology
Has the Divide Closed?

OWNERSHIP
Big Deals Looming In Wireless World

TELEVISION
A Decision on Digital Television

JOURNALISM
Identity Crisis for Journalist Group=20

DIGITAL DIVIDE

YOUTH CONFERENCE PROMOTES RURAL TECHNOLOGY
Students from 44 states and several U.S. territories came to the =
University
of Minnesota at St. Paul for the first annual 4-H Youth Tech =
Conference.
Each state delegation to the conference will return to their =
communities
with an action plan to jump-start the introduction of technology to =
rural
residents. The hundred-year-old 4-H Club is emphasizing youth and =
technology
as a way to diversify the group's focus. At the conference, delegations
shared their experiences with local partnerships and mentoring =
programs.
[SOURCE: Star Tribune, AUTHOR: Jackie Mah]
(http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/3138192.html)

HAS THE DIVIDE CLOSED?
For years, studies have suggested that minorities are less likely to =
use
computers. Now, as research shows that minorities are increasingly =
using
computers and the Internet, experts are debating the concept of a =
digital
divide and its relevance. A 2002 Tom=E1s Rivera Policy Institute report =
shows
that while Hispanics have made strides, there is still not parity with
overall population computer use. The report finds that 40 percent of
Hispanic households have computers, compared with 25.5 percent in 1998.
Additionally, 32 percent are online, compared to 12.6 in 1998. In
comparison, nearly 62 percent of white non-Hispanic households have
computers and 55.4 percent have Internet access. Meanwhile, Department =
of
Commerce (DOC) figures indicate much larger growth rates within the =
Hispanic
community for a shorter period of time. Elsa Macias, director of =
information
technology research at Tom=E1s Rivera, says the DOC report only shows a =
part
of the story, as government figures for Internet usage are based on =
computer
use from any location, not household computer ownership. Thus, says =
Macias,
the DOC report may be inflating computer and Internet usage by the =
Hispanic
community.
[SOURCE: Hispanic Business Magazine, AUTHOR: Teresa Talerico]
(http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=3D7098)

OWNERSHIP

BIG DEALS LOOMING IN WIRELESS
Industry observers believe that the next year may bring major =
consolidation
in the wireless industry. With close to half of all Americans already =
signed
up for a wireless plan, the market does not seem to be growing fast =
enough
to support six major carriers. The Federal Communications Commission =
will be
lifting limits on the amount of cellular airwaves controlled by a =
single
carrier, and analysts expect the action to trigger a number of mergers.
"It's the law of the big three," said Phillip Redman, a Gartner Group
analyst. "You see it in the auto industry. You see it in long distance. =
And
you're going to see it in wireless."=20
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Joelle Tessler]
(http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/3801124.htm)

TELEVISION

A DECISION ON DIGITAL TELEVISION
The Federal Communications Commission will vote on a regulation =
requiring
consumer electronics makers to include digital tuners in new TV sets by
2006. They will also debate whether manufacturers should be required to
embed anti-piracy technologies into computer devices and digital =
recorders.
The Consumer Electronics Association has argued against forcing
manufacturers to add digital tuners to TVs, saying it will increase =
prices
by close to $250. They have asked for a regulation that will require =
cable
companies to carry all local digital TV broadcasts signals. The cable
companies feel that such a regulation will restrict their ability to =
carry
varied programming. As for embedding anti-piracy technologies, computer
industry executives feel that hackers would be able to break any =
anti-piracy
measures, and it is not worth the added expense to manufacturers and
consumers.=20
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: Amy Harmon]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/05/technology/05DIGI.html)

JOURNALISM

IDENTITY CRISIS FOR JOURNALIST GROUP
The National Association of Black Journalists Annual Meeting this year =
drew
about 2,000 participants, down 25 percent from last year. The =
association,
founded 27 years ago to promote the careers of black journalists and =
open
the profession's blinkered outlook on issues involving ethnic =
minorities,
has reached an awkward maturity. Some of the most popular workshops at =
this
year's convention focused not on becoming better at journalism, but on
leaving it. There were sessions on how to become a Hollywood =
screenwriter,
how to get into marketing and how to produce daytime talk shows. The
popularity of such sessions point to the organization's challenge to =
sustain
itself at a time when its membership is increasingly excited by the =
idea of
leaving journalism.=20
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Felicity Barringer]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/05/business/media/05MEDI.html)
(requires registration)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for August 2, 2002

JOURNALISM
Israeli Cable Outlets Get Permission to Remove CNN

INTERNET
Cautious Kabul Dabbles With Net
Britain's Great Digital Empire
Government 'A Long Way Off' E-Voting Target

CYBERSECURITY
Bush Advisor Encourages Hacking

JOURNALISM

ISRAELI CABLE OUTLETS GET PERMISSION TO REMOVE CNN
Three Israeli cable companies have received permission from Israel's =
cable
television commission to remove CNN International from their services. =
The
cable stations point to financial difficulty as the primary reason to =
drop
the service saying the prices they have been paying CNN have become
untenable. While the stations have not made a decision on dropping CNN, =
they
recently started offering Fox News Channel as an alternative to CNN. =
The
recent negotiations have been affected by Israeli government claims =
that CNN
coverage is biased towards Palestinians. While a CNN international =
executive
has stated that CNN is willing to cut their prices, the acting CEO of
Israeli cable provider Golden Channels said, "We gave them a proposal =
of the
maximum we are able to pay. If they meet it, we will not take them off. =
But
so far it looks like they don't want to meet it."
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: Jim Rutenberg]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/02/business/media/02TUBE.html)

INTERNET

CAUTIOUS KABUL DABBLES WITH NET
The first Internet caf=E9 in Afghanistan opened this week. Although the =
caf=E9
marks a techno-cultural step for the country, the effects of having an
Internet caf=E9 are not likely to affect the local population for some =
time to
come. The caf=E9, located in Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, is used =
mostly by
hotel guests, including foreign journalists and wealthy Afghan =
=E9migr=E9s. Few
Afghanis can afford $5 an hour for Internet surfing when their average
salary is about $1 a day. Additionally, the caf=E9 owners, Afghan =
Wireless
Communication Company, censor content. "We're very sensitive to both =
the
culture and religious aspects of the environment we're working in," =
said
director Gavin Jeffrey. "We installed the blocking program on our own
initiative; there's not legal framework requiring us to do it." Afghan
Wireless also provides mobile phone services in the country and is =
currently
the only reliable telecommunication system in the Afghanistan. Afghan
Wireless is a joint venture of U.S.-based Telephone Systems and the =
Afghan
Ministry of Communications.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Julia Scheeres]
(http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,54285,00.html)

BRITAIN'S GREAT DIGITAL EMPIRE
An ambitious project in Britain is turning heads around the world. New
Opportunities Fund-Digitize (NOF-Digitize) is funding 150 digitizing
projects involving 500 organizations. The goal is to digitize large =
segments
of Britain's social, political and cultural life. Working with =
government
and private partners, NOF-Digitize hopes to provide all of its =
information
for free, with the exception of high-resolution images. Although the
long-term impact of the online library is impossible to forecast, the
program is already having an impact. NOF-Digitize employs an =
open-source
approach to the technologies and formats used in the project, providing =
an
accessible set of tools for others interested in building online =
libraries.
The project has also created a pool of digital expertise in somewhat
isolated sectors: libraries, archives, most museums and local =
government
offices.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Daith=ED =D3 hAnluain]
(http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,54196,00.html)

GOVERNMENT 'A LONG WAY OFF' E-VOTING TARGET
The British parliament watchdogs warned that more tests are needed =
before
the government offers electronic general elections in 2006. While the
e-voting pilot tests in May's local elections worked well, there still
remain a number of technical and political issues to work out. For =
instance,
political parties in most areas have not yet adapted campaign =
techniques to
address new voting methods. Studies of the May tests indicated that of =
the
new techniques used -- including all-postal, Internet, telephone and =
text
message voting -- postal voting showed the most improvement in voter =
turnout
over conventional ballots.
[SOURCE: The Guardian, AUTHOR: Simon Parker]
(http://society.guardian.co.uk/internet/story/0,8150,767499,00.html)

CYBERSECURITY

BUSH ADVISOR ENCOURAGES HACKING
Computer security advisor Richard Clarke told a group of hackers at the
Black Hat conference "Some of us, here in this room, have an obligation =
to
find the vulnerabilities" in software programs. He stressed that =
hackers
should report programming mistakes directly to the software =
manufacturer and
go to the government if the software manufacturer does not respond in a
timely manner. Clarke also stated that the common practice of sharing
security hole information on email lists or Web sites could be =
"extremely
damaging" if published before the problem is fixed. While some software
companies encourage and reward hackers, others have brought civil and
criminal charges against hackers. Clarke believes that when acting in =
good
faith, hackers should be protected from lawsuits: "If there are legal
protections they don't have that they need, we need to look at that."=20
[SOURCE: Salon.com, AUTHOR: D. Ian Hopper]
(http://www.salon.com/tech/wire/2002/08/01/hacking/index.html?x)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for August 1, 2002

DIGITAL DIVIDE
Virtual People Help Bridge Digital Divide
Bhutan Gets a Taste of Windows

INTERNET
Internet Privacy: The Danger of Good Intentions
Survey: Half of Japan's Population Online
A Shift Registers in Willingness to Pay for Internet Content
South African Govt 'Hijacking the Internet,' Say Critics

DIGITAL DIVIDE

VIRTUAL PEOPLE HELP BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Computerized avatars may soon be helping residents of London find out about
government benefits how to gain access to them. The avatars, which are
currently being tested, will provide a human face and voice to the Web. This
is especially important to the people who either do not have the computer
skills to use complicated Web forms or are uncomfortable with a "machine"
interface. For the time being, users will have to ask questions and respond
to the avatar's voice by typing. Eventually, it is hoped that people will be
able to talk directly to the avatar. The project is being developed in three
European cities with partial funding by the European Commission.
[SOURCE: BBC News]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2163652.stm)

BHUTAN GETS A TASTE OF WINDOWS
For the citizens of Bhutan, computer connectivity in their native language,
Dzongkha, has been a remote dream. But now, fonts for around 4,500 Dzongkha
words, letters, characters and religious symbols have been developed for a
Bhutanese version of Microsoft Windows. The new Windows operating system
represents the first time the language will be displayed in a standard way
on a PC. Currently, there are at least seven different Dzongkha computer
systems in Bhutan, all using different character codes and all incompatible
with each other. The new fonts, based on characters drawn by Bhutanese
calligraphy artists and monks, will allow the creation of digital libraries
and applications in Dzongkha. The Orient Foundation, Dzongkha Development
Commission and Microsoft have collaborated on the project with major funding
from the Swiss Development Corporation.
[SOURCE: BBC News]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2164186.stm)

INTERNET

INTERNET PRIVACY: THE DANGER OF GOOD INTENTIONS
(Commentary) A lot of attention has been focused this year on passing
legislation to deal with privacy issues posed by new technology. Senator
Fritz Hollings' Online Privacy Protection Act is one piece of legislation
that misunderstands why privacy protection is needed. Policymakers will
achieve little by singling out the online world because technological
progress makes data sharing virtually effortless. Rather than passing
legislation that targets just online privacy issues, policymakers should
take a careful approach to information collection as a whole.
[SOURCE: ZDNet, AUTHOR: Sumir Meghani]
(http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-947161.html)

SURVEY: HALF OF JAPAN'S POPULATION ONLINE
According to a Japanese government survey, nearly half of Japan's population
now uses the Internet via computers, cell phones or other devices. The
number of Internet users totals 56 million. The most common use of the
Internet is to exchange emails (64.8 percent), followed by searches for free
coupons and shopping information (45.9 percent). In 2001, Japan ranked 16th
in the world for Internet users. The United States, by comparison, ranked
fourth with 166 million users.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Associated Press Online]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2002-08-01-japan-net_x.h
tm)

A SHIFT REGISTERS IN WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR INTERNET CONTENT
According to a survey released by the Online Publishers Association,
Internet users are beginning to show more willingness to pay for content
online, such as subscribing to news sites or paying fees to send e-greeting
cards. Extrapolating the online transactions of 1.1 million consumers, the
survey found that consumers spent $675 million for digital goods and
services in 2001 -- nearly double the $350 million they spent the year
earlier. But the survey also shows that a relative handful of businesses
benefit from these purchases, and that advertising remains the overwhelming
source of income for supporting digital content. The survey found that of
the 1,700 sites charging for content, the top 50 sites drew 85 percent of
the revenue. A big chunk of the spending accrued to business and financial
news sites. "It's where people need information the fastest that influences
their livelihood," said Michael A. Zimbalist, executive director of the
Online Publishers Association.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtel]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/01/technology/01ONLI.html)

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVT 'HIJACKING THE INTERNET,' SAY CRITICS
South Africa's Internet professionals have accused the government of trying
to hijack the Web. The professionals -- who include Internet service
providers and lawyers -- have petitioned President Thabo Mbeki not to sign a
new bill that would allow the government to take control of the registration
and administration of internet domains, and give it free access to
information stored on the Web. "We are opposed to creating a huge
bureaucracy to control an industry that has been fine as it is," said Edwin
Thompson, co-chairman of South Africa's Internet Service Providers
Association, "and we have said that this amounts to hijacking the
cyberspace."
[SOURCE: BBC]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2164227.stm)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for July 31, 2002

DIGITAL DIVIDE
Groups Lobby on Funding to Bridge U.S. Digital Divide

TELECOM
FCC Chief Urged to Shift View

INTERNET
ACLU Pushes for Open Access
ICANN Board Member Wins Ruling
White House Sounds Call For New Internet Standards
Saudis block 2,000 Web Sites

DIGITAL DIVIDE

GROUPS LOBBY ON FUNDING TO BRIDGE U.S. DIGITAL DIVIDE
Representatives of civil rights and educational groups gathered at a
congressional briefing in Washington D.C. last week to argued against the
proposed elimination of two federally funded programs that help provide
technology in underserved communities. At Friday's briefing -- co-sponsored
by the Congressional Hispanic, Black and Asian Pacific Caucuses on Capitol
Hill -- the groups discussed a recent report by the Benton Foundation and
the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR).
The report, "Bringing a Nation Online: The Importance of Federal
Leadership," found that a lack of technology skills plays a significant role
in furthering economic and social divisions across the country. While 55
percent of white Americans have Internet access in their homes, only 32
percent of the Hispanic population and 31 percent of African Americans are
connected at home. The report quotes statistics from a U.S. Department of
Commerce report issued in February. "This issue of access [to internet
technology] is a major one, and it is a matter of civil rights and economic
development," said Johnny Villamil-Casanova, executive vice president of the
Aspira Association, a nonprofit organization devoted to the education and
leadership development of Latino youth.
[SOURCE: Yahoo.com, AUTHOR: Jeffrey Allen, OneWorld US]
(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/oneworld/20020729/wl_onewor
ld/1032_1027972881)

TELECOM

FCC CHIEF URGED TO SHIFT VIEW
Several Democrats on a Senate panel yesterday urged Federal Communications
Commission chairman Michael Powell to take a more active role in guiding the
telecommunications industry out of financial turmoil. Senator Max Cleland
(D-GA) and others urged Powell to reassess his view that less regulation of
the marketplace, not more, would be in the best interest of consumers.
Powell stood by his approach, telling senators that the consolidation of key
players is inevitable and would relieve the competitive pressure that has
caused marginal-cost pricing. Gene Kimmelman, director of the Washington
office of Consumers Union, expressed frustration at Powell's continued
deregulatory path. "His solution for the current telecommunication implosion
was to raise consumers' telephone rates, allow more mergers and continue
deregulation. It's a recipe for disaster."
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Christopher Stern]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23447-2002Jul30.html)

INTERNET

ACLU PUSHES FOR OPEN ACCESS
While a recent study by The Yankee Group indicated that cable Internet
providers are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of broadband growth,
the FCC has voted to allow cable companies to keep their networks closed to
smaller competitors -- while at the same time the cable industry is becoming
more consolidated. "We're at a pivotal moment here," American Civil
Liberties Union associate director Barry Steinhardt said. "I think it's
inevitable that as the choice (of Internet providers) decreases, it will
limit the choices of content that people can access."
For the short term, the suggested solutions would require only minor repair
and maintenance and not any major upgrading or building. Cable companies
have claimed that immense technical and financial burdens make it unfeasible
to open networks to competitors. A report commissioned by the ACLU, however,
examines current cable network systems and offers technical solutions for
cable companies to open their networks to competing Internet service
providers. The report finds that opening the networks is both feasible and
low-cost. The ACLU and consumer advocacy groups are concerned that if cable
companies are not forced to open their networks, American consumers may face
fewer ways of getting to the Internet -- and once on the Internet may find
that their content is limited.
[SOURCE: CNET News, AUTHOR: Troy Wolverton]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1033-947274.html?tag=fd_top)

ICANN BOARD MEMBER WINS RULING
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs ruled Monday that under
California law, a board member of ICANN must be granted access to sensitive
information about how it operates. Karl Auerbach, who is on the board of
ICANN, went to court to gain access to private ICANN documents. Auerbach was
one of five at-large board members chosen through an online voting process
and sees his role as prompting more openness and disclosure in the future,
even after he's no longer on the board. Fellow board member Andy
Mueller-Maguhn welcomed the court ruling, although somewhat cautiously. "It
looks like transparency at ICANN is going to improve," he said. "After
everything that has happened in the last months, indeed I am surprised to
hear about a decision that sounds reasonable coming from a U.S. court."
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Steve Kettmann]
(http://wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,54199,00.html)

WHITE HOUSE SOUNDS CALL FOR NEW INTERNET STANDARDS
The Bush administration's cyber security czar, Richard Clarke, said it might
be time to replace the "creaky, cranky" 20-year-old protocols that drive the
Internet with standards better able to accommodate a flood of new wireless
devices. Wireless devices, it is feared, may introduce large security holes
to the network. The White House is working with the private sector to draft
a national plan to secure the country's most vital computer networks from
cyber attack. The plan, expected to be released September 18, will include
several policy recommendations for wireless security. Clarke stated that the
administration had an obligation to take an active role in ensuring the
security of the Internet, especially since nearly 81 percent of major
businesses today use, or plan to use, wireless networks.
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Brian Krebs]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22535-2002Jul30.html)

SAUDIS BLOCK 2,000 WEB SITES
A Harvard Law School report has found that the Saudi government has blocked
approximately 2,000 Web sites. Most of the blacklisted sites were sexually
explicit or about religion, but the government also blocked sites about
women, health, drugs and pop culture. "We found blockage of quite a bit of
content beyond political content and pornography," said researcher Ben
Edelman. Unlike other countries the researchers tested, Saudi Arabia was
willing to allow tests of their proxy servers. Different, too, from many
other countries, is the Saudi openness about their censorship of the Web. If
a site is blacklisted, the user is directed to a page that explicitly states
that access to the site has been denied. "It comes as no surprise that the
same countries that would be concerned about certain books and newspapers
crossing their borders would also be concerned to find similar information
crossing their borders electronically over the Internet."
[SOURCE: BBC News, AUTHOR: Alfred Hermida]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2153312.stm)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Communications-Related Headlines for July 30, 2002

INTERNET
Excess Haunts Internet Sector
Reality Bytes
Independent Label Waives Web Radio Fees

DIGITAL DIVIDE
Digital Age Reaches Melbourne's Poor

TELECOM
Chairman Powell's Testimony to Senate Commerce Committee

INTERNET

REALITY BYTES
The global non-profit, One World International, has just launched it's own
version of reality TV. OneWorld TV, available on the Internet, features
short contributions from film-makers, from around the world. Subjects range
from Aids and global warming to the conflict in the Middle East. In a unique
twist to the reality genre, OneWorld TV also allows visitors to upload their
own films to the site, either beginning new strands or adding to other
people's stories. "Our aim was to reinvent television for the web," explains
OneWorld International director, Peter Armstrong. "There is no point in
trying to broadcast 30-minute documentaries over the web, and we didn't just
want to drop clips into a database, which would have been really boring.
Because it's interactive, people can take the story in whichever direction
they want, and can even become part of the storytelling process themselves."
Like an internet bulletin board, contributions to the site are overseen by a
moderator.
[SOURCE: The Guardian]
(http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,764719,00.html)

INDEPENDENT LABEL WAIVES WEB RADIO FEES
Artemis Records said on Monday that it would waive Internet radio station
fees for music played from the independent label's catalog for one year.
"We're a small company with a lot of music that doesn't get played on
commercial radio," Artemis chief executive Danny Goldberg said. "I
appreciate the Webcaster. In terms of the future, the diversity they offer
is valuable to a label like ours. I wanted to make a gesture of support."
Johathan Potter, director of Digital Media Association praised Artemis,
saying that "Danny Goldberg is ahead of his time in every way. He recognizes
that Internet radio listeners are more intense music fans and they buy more
music than traditional music fans." The Recording Industry Association of
America has no objection to Artemis' move.
[SOURCE: CNET News, AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1023-947055.html?tag=fd_top)

EXCESS HAUNTS INTERNET SECTOR

[Comentary] The crisis now facing the Internet sector, with the bankruptcies
of giants like WorldCom, and Global Crossing, has been compared to the fate
of the road industry following it's boom in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. But the scope of overbuilding in the Internet sector far
surpasses the railroads. In the past four or five years, telecom companies
easily built 20 times the capacity of what could be economically sustained.
In the 1990s, it was predicted that millions of Americans would upgrade to
''broadband'' home Net connections, but today only about 13 million homes
have signed up. With Hollywood and the music industry failing to figure out
how to sell movies and music over the Net without engendering massive
piracy, millions of Americans see no compelling reason to spend the $40 or
$50 a month for broadband - leaving the prospect of a near-term,
consumer-driven solution to the Net glut remote.
[SOURCE: Boston Globe, AUTHOR: Peter J. Howe]
(http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/210/business/Excess_haunts_Internet_secto
r+.shtml)

DIGITAL DIVIDE

DIGITAL AGE REACHES MELBOURNE'S POOR
Thanks to a local initiative called Reach For The Clouds, things are
changing for residents in a Melbourne, Australia public-housing estate. The
project is hoping to deliver to each of the 770 homes a free refurbished
computer and the chance to get online. Residents will be able to use e-mail
and a community intranet service free, but will pay to connect to the Web.
The project, run by the nonprofit, Infoxchange, has already wired the entire
community with an ADSL broadband system. Although the Linux operating system
was considered for the computers, Microsoft won out in the end for long-term
practicality. Microsfot's operating system handles human languages better
than Linux and it ties in with what residents are likely to encounter
elsewhere. Two massive hurdles for the project are the A$4 million
(approximately US$2 million) price tag and the complications arising from
the fact 38 languages are spoken in the community. Infoxchange is hoping to
use the lessons learned from this first project to tackle Melbourne's 13
other public-housing developments.
[SOURCE: BBC News, AUTHOR: Andrew Webster]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2153643.stm)

TELECOM

CHAIRMAN POWELL'S TESTIMONY TO SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Today, FCC chairman Michael Powell has issued a statement before the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The statement, "Financial
Turmoil in the Telecommunications Marketplace: Maintaining the Operations of
Essential Communications," outlines the FCC's six-step program for recovery
from the recent telecommunications crisis. Chairman Powell's six steps are:
1) protect service continuity, 2) root out corporate fraud, 3) restore
financial health, 4) acknowledge prudent industry restructuring, 5) provide
new revenue through new services, and 6) reform economic and regulatory
foundations. In the statement, Powell requests that "Congress also assist us
in our efforts by providing the Commission with more tools to protect and
promote the public interest." Specifically, Powell asks Congress to "extend
and clarify [the FCC's] section 214 discontinuance authority" which he feels
is "at best unclear and, at worst, does not extend to certain critical
services such as the Internet backbone." Secondly, Powell asks for an
increase in the maximum allowable fines for illegal activity. Lastly, Powell
urges Congress to implement the "right regulatory environment" for broadband
services as broadband, he states, is very likely to be the key for long-term
recovery of the telecommunications industry and for national economic
growth.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
(http://www.fcc.gov/)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Communications-Related Headlines for July 29, 2002

INTERNET
Dot-Org Decision Looms Large For Noncommercial Speakers=20
U.K. Libraries Jump Into the Net

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Pirate This, Go To Jail
Movie Studios Press Congress in Digital Copyright Dispute
New Bill Would Save Small Webcasters

INTERNET

DOT-ORG DECISION LOOMS LARGE FOR NONCOMMERCIAL SPEAKERS
This October, "dot-org" is slated to get a new landlord when VeriSign
relinquishes its hold on the domain. Dot-org is indispensable to =
consumer
advocates, public interest groups and political dissidents, who see the
dot-org domain as the "only place on the Internet devoted to =
noncommercial
speech." Initially, officials at the Internet Corporation for Assigned =
Names
and Numbers (ICANN) planned to open bidding only to nonprofit groups, =
but
they later decided to open the contract to all comers in an effort to =
gather
as many qualified bids as possible. ICANN president Stuart Lynn said =
the
first priority is to find a stable operator to replace VeriSign. ICANN =
plans
to award the contract in September 2002.
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: David McGuire]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12982-2002Jul28.html)

U.K. LIBRARIES JUMP INTO THE NET
By the end of this year, the U.K. hopes to have all the country's more =
than
4,000 libraries linked to the Internet. The project, dubbed People's
Network, is expected to cost over 100 million pounds and will result in
30,000 installed terminals "stuffed with digital delights." Libraries =
have
proven to be the natural place to get people online. More than 60 =
percent of
the population holds a library card and book borrowing is five times =
more
popular than going to a professional soccer match. To help patrons get
familiarized with the technology, many libraries are offering starter
courses, like Internet for the Terrified, and online clubs. Thus far, =
the
project has been controversy-free, unlike similar library projects in =
the
U.S. which have been "dogged by the three F's: filtering, free speech =
and
filth." The United Kingdom does not have a guarantee of free speech and =
is
thus letting local discretion decide the issue.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Daith=ED =D3 hAnluain]
(http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,54151,00.html)

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

PIRATE THIS, GO TO JAIL
This past February, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-DE) released a =
report
written by his aides and titled "Theft of American Intellectual =
Property:
Fighting Crime Abroad and At Home." A few weeks later, the Senator
introduced a bill targeting large-scale pirates who manufacture fake =
Windows
holograms. This month, in a little-noticed move, the legislation was
rewritten to encompass technology used in digital rights management. =
The
original bill covered only "physical features" such as holograms or =
special
boxes used to certify software. Biden's new bill covers "any feature" =
used
to guarantee authenticity and would make it a federal felony to trick
devices into playing music or running computer programs. Breaking the =
law
could result in up to five years in prison and cost civil penalties of =
up to
$25,000. Biden's additions to copyright law come as Congress is under
increasing pressure from Hollywood and the music industry to curtail =
digital
piracy.=20
[SOURCE: CNET, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
(http://news.com.com/2010-1071-946732.html?tag=3Dfd_lede)

SEE ALSO:

THE DARK SIDE OF HACKING BILL
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Michelle Delio]
(http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,54153,00.html)

MOVIE STUDIOS PRESS CONGRESS IN DIGITAL COPYRIGHT DISPUTE
The entertainment industry's campaign to raise Congressional support =
for
copyright enforcement is finally yielding results. In a flurry of =
activity,
several digital copyright protection bills are making the rounds. "The
debate about copy protection has clearly been joined in Washington," =
said
Alan Davidson, associate director of the Center for Digital Democracy =
(CDD).
CDD and other consumer advocacy groups worry that Congress and the FCC =
have
not fully examined the long-term and unintended consequences of the =
various
bills. The sudden attention to digital copyright protection has been =
fueled
largely by a conviction among lawmakers that broadband Internet and =
digital
television would be more widely adopted if consumers knew they could =
get
movies digitally. Others contend that the slow growth in broadband =
adoption
rates has little to do with unavailability of mainstream entertainment =
and
more to do with overstated expectations. Gigi Sohn, president of Public
Knowledge, suggested that the lack of copy protection was just a minor
reason why Hollywood has not as yet offered digital material. "It's
expensive," she said, "and they haven't figured out a business model." =
Sohn
suggests that legislators should insist on agreements from studios that =
they
would actually deliver product in return for additional laws. She noted =
that
the studios had already promised to do so in 1998 after the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act was passed, but so far there has been little =
to
show for that agreement.
[SOURCE: The New York Times, AUTHOR: Amy Harmon]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/29/technology/29DIGI.html)
(Registration required)

NEW BILL WOULD SAVE SMALL WEBCASTERS
A trio of federal lawmakers introduced a bill Friday that would =
eliminate
steep royalty payments for small Internet radio stations. Dubbed "The
Internet Radio Fairness Act," the bill would exempt from royalties any
business that makes less than $6 million in annual revenue. "Small Web =
radio
stations are bearing an unfair burden under the (copyright panel's)
decision, and the public stands to lose access to these useful services
unless the law is changed," said Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), one of the =
bill's
co-sponsors. The legislation "provides reprieve from bankruptcy for
thousands of small Internet radio companies...and corrects significant
problems with the royalty arbitration process that imposed a =
devastatingly
high cost on the nascent Internet radio industry," said Jonathan =
Potter,
executive director of the Digital Media Association, a group =
representing
Webcasters.
[SOURCE: CNET, AUTHOR: John Borland]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1023-946642.html?tag=3Dcd_mh)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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