Benton's Communications-related Headlines for 7/29/04
The FCC is speaking French today! See
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-248765A1.doc for
details of the a la carte discussion. For upcoming media policy events, see
http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm
BROADCASTING/TELEVISION
Cable Networks Taking Flak for Show Schedules
Violent Television Programming And Its Impact on Children
CPB Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2005 Operating Budget
NBC, DirecTV Reach Deal on Fees, High-Definition Shows
INTERNET/BROADBAND
The Internet Changes Rules
White House Considers Role in Wine Case
Bush Advisers Tout Broadband Success
$9 Million in Broadband Grant Funds
Cable, DSL Face Threats
FCC Open Meeting Agenda
BROADCASTING/TELEVISION
CABLE NETWORKS TAKING FLAK FOR SHOW SCHEDULES
One of the subplots of this convention has been the approach the broadcast
and cable TV networks have taken toward their evening coverage of the
convention. It was well known before the convention started that the three
old-line broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS and NBC -- would air just three
hours of the proceedings during prime evening hours this whole week, none
of it Tuesday. The cable news networks promised they would fill the void in
coverage. And indeed, the three most-watched cable news networks -- CNN,
Fox News and MSNBC -- are devoting a lot of airtime to reports from inside
and outside the FleetCenter. But it's what they're putting on the air in
the evenings that has some critics talking. Some critics say there's been
too much talk and commentary from pundits and celebrities, too much
promotion of the cable networks' stars and too little coverage of the
speeches, delegates and issues before the nation. The only network with
"true convention coverage" is PBS, says Tom Rosenstiel, director of
Columbia University's Project for Excellence in Journalism. PBS has three
hours of the convention each night and ratings have jumped significantly
compared with the 2000 conventions. Tuesday night, PBS says, an estimated
7.7 million viewers tuned in to some or all of its coverage. Its rating was
up 32% from the second night of the 2000 Democratic convention. PBS says
its number of viewers surpassed those watching CNN, Fox News and MSNBC
combined. Those cable networks together drew 6 million viewers, according
to Nielsen Media Research.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:Mark Memmott]
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040729/6407341s.htm
VIOLENT TELEVISION PROGRAMMING AND ITS IMPACT ON CHILDREN
The FCC is seeking comment on issues relating to the presentation of
violent programming on television and its impact on children. Violent
television programming content has been a matter of private and
governmental concern and discussion from at least the early
1950s. Congress' response, in 1996, was adoption of Section 551 of the
Telecommunication Act 1996, which resulted in the Commission's
implementation of the companion elements of the voluntary television rating
system and associated "V-chip" technology in 1998. More recently, the
Commission has received continuing expressions of Congressional concern
with respect to violent programming. On March 5, 2004, thirty-nine members
of the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
requested the Commission to begin a "Notice of Inquiry on the issue of
excessively violent broadcast television programming and its impact on
children." This proceeding is designed to be responsive to these concerns
and to update the record on issues related to programmatic violence.
The FCC is seeking specific information concerning how much televised
violence there is on broadcast and non-broadcast television, whether the
amount of violent programming is increasing or decreasing and the effects
on children. The Commission also asks, "From a public policy standpoint, is
there a need to define all violence, or simply gratuitous or excessive
violence?" Although the V-chip and rating system is already in place, the
Commission asks, "To what extent is programming in fact rated, using both
the age-based ratings, and the additional content labels for violence? Are
the ratings consistent and accurate?" The Commission also asks if a "safe
harbor," which restricts violent programming to times when children are not
part of the audience would be a more effective solution. There are
Constitutional matters to be addressed, too, of course and the Commission
also asks for comment on the pro-social effects of television programming.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-175A1.doc
CPB BOARD ADOPTS FISCAL YEAR 2005 OPERATING BUDGET
On Tuesday, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board of Directors
unanimously adopted a fiscal year 2005 operating budget of $393 million,
which will strengthen the services that more than 1,000 local public
stations deliver to their communities. The FY05 budget (189K PDF), which
goes into effect on October 1, 2004, focuses on the priorities set out in
CPB's goals and objectives: local services and content; national content
and services; bolstering support for public broadcasting, and long term
system-wide planning. Following the statutorily prescribed formula, CPB
will administer the FY05 funds as follows: Support for Public Television
($263 million) Includes $195 million in Television Community Service Grants
(which go directly to local stations) and $67.5 million for television
programming (support for national programming, including projects for
children and diverse audiences.) Support for Public Radio ($88 million)
Includes: $61 million in Radio Community Service Grants (which go directly
to stations), and $27 million for the Radio Program Fund (direct and
competitively allocated grants for programming and production).
[SOURCE: Corporation for Public Broadcasting Press Release]
(http://www.heritage.org/Research/InternetandTechnology/index.cfm)
NBC, DIRECTV REACH DEAL ON FEES, HIGH-DEFINITION SHOWS
Analysts were waiting to see what would happen in the first major
negotiation between the two entertainment giants since NBC acquired
Universal and Rupert Murdoch took control of DirecTV. Seems like the two
giants can play nicely and agree to make lots of money. NBC Universal and
DirecTV avoided a bruising fight about rising programming costs (for
channels like USA Network, Sci-Fi Channel, Bravo and Telemundo) with a
broad deal that provides more high-definition programming to the No. 1
satellite company. The price increases could set an important precedent as
other cable and satellite providers look at the channels, which cut their
last distribution deals about two years ago. Some cable executives said
they were already overpriced. DirecTV will distribute NBC's HD programming
from the Olympics in Athens, Bravo HD+ and HD broadcasts from NBC-owned
stations.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR:David Lieberman]
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040729/6407189s.htm
INTERNET/BROADBAND
THE INTERNET CHANGES RULES
In this campaign, the Internet has done what decades of efforts at
campaign-finance reform largely failed to do: Diminish the exclusive power
of rich people to finance candidates. Most donations over the Internet are
small, though donors also often are willing to contribute again and again.
The Internet has helped minimize the advantage Republicans have held in
fundraising since the FEC was established in 1975 to track contributions.
Sen Kerry has raised $186 million, more than a third of it on the Internet.
"That's the fundamental difference from what we would have expected," Kerry
pollster Mark Mellman says. "If it had not been for the grass-roots donors,
this campaign would not have been as competitive as it's been."
[SOURCE: USAToday]
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040729/6407100s.htm
WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERS ROLE IN WINE CASE
The Bush administration has until the end of today to decide whether to
take a stand in a Supreme Court case. The administration is not a party to
the case, in which wine producers are trying to overturn state laws
prohibiting Internet wine shipments. But the White House finds itself
caught between two parts of Bush's political base: business interests who
favor freer commerce and religious conservatives concerned about minors
buying wine.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Dana Milbank]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21966-2004Jul28.html
(requires registration)
BUSH ADVISORS TOUT BROADBAND SUCCESS
At a press briefing Wednesday, three top officials in President Bush's
Administration touted the successful rollout of broadband Internet service.
"The take-up rate for broadband is faster than anything we've ever seen,"
said Phil Bond, undersecretary of commerce for technology. He cited
statistics saying that broadband was in more households than color TV or
VCRs at similar times after their introduction. Undersecretary Bond said
the administration's goal was to "make sure that government isn't in the
way or impeding" technological development. A White House fact sheet says
that R&D spending requested for broadband will top $2 billion in 2005, up
14 percent from 2001. Richard Russell, associate director of the White
House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said the president
was eager to sign legislation renewing a moratorium on state taxes singling
out Internet access. The House of Representatives approved a permanent ban,
while the Senate decided on a four-year extension. OSTP Director John
Marburger, said the White House had not taken a position on any of the
bills in Congress related to regulating voice over Internet Protocol services
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
http://news.com.com/Bush+advisers+tout+broadband+success/2100-1034_3-528...
$9 MILLION IN BROADBAND GRANT FUNDS
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman Wednesday announced that $9 million in
grant funds were available for connecting essential community facilities in
rural towns and communities where no broadband service exists. The
Broadband Community Connect program is in its third year, having already
invested $21.3 million in grant funds to connect essential services of
police and fire protection, local government, hospitals, libraries and
schools to broadband service. To date, this program has connected 74
communities to high-speed telecommunications. In return, the communities
will make at least 10 computers available to the public with set hours and
instruction available for use on the Internet. The notice of funding
availability appears in the July 28 Federal Register. All applications must
be received by September 13. Instructions are available at the URL below.
[SOURCE: United States Department of Agriculture]
http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0311.04.html
CABLE, DSL FACE THREATS
A look at next-generation broadband technologies such as fiber, satellites,
wireless networks and electrical lines. As tempting as the potential may
be, these strategies face monumental obstacles. For one, they're competing
against well-established telecommunications and cable players with
widespread brand recognition and seemingly endless resources. The
communications landscape is littered with defunct start-ups that raised
billions of investment dollars during the technology boom of the late
1990s, only to crash along with the stock market a few years later. Cable
and phone companies build, maintain and upgrade elaborate broadband
networks in most cities. Although each municipality has different
regulations, most have provisions that allow one cable and one landline
phone company to offer service to their residents. By the end of 2003,
either cable modem or DSL connections were used in almost all of the 22
million U.S. households with broadband access. But some new technologies
might break through. See more at the URL below.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Jim Hu]
http://news.com.com/Broadband%3A+Cable%2C+DSL+face+threats/2009-1034_3-5...
See also NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/29/business/29place.html
OPEN MEETING AGENDA
The FCC released the agenda for next week's open meeting (note that the
meeting will be held Wednesday instead of the usual Thursday. The
Commission will consider: 1) the Homeland Security Policy Council will
present a report concerning this year's FCC regulatory, outreach, and
partnership initiatives in support of homeland security; 2) a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking and Declaratory Ruling concerning the appropriate legal
and policy framework of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement
Act (CALEA), 3) a Report and Order concerning the reporting of service
disruptions by providers of telecommunications services; 4) a Notice of
Inquiry concerning the examination of the Emergency Alert System as an
effective mechanism for warning the American public during an emergency; 5)
a Fifth Report and Order and Order concerning measures to protect against
waste, fraud and abuse in the administration of the E-rate program; 6) a
Report and Order concerning the conversion of the nation's broadcast
television system from analog to digital television... and more! See URL below.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250222A1.doc
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
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