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Communications-related Headlines for 9/18/98

INFORMATION FLOW
Flow of Info (ChiTrib)
Iran Closes a Leading Newspaper and Arrests Top Editors (NYT)
Primakov Curbs Access By Media (WP)

MINORITIES
NAACP Urges Boycott of Alltell, Airtouch and Frontier (TelecomAM)

ARTS
Funding American Creativity: NEA's Ivey Pushes for Support (WP)

JOBS
SNET's Labor Union Votes to Approve New Contract (TelecomAM

INFRASTRUCTURE
Network Solutions, Group Reach Pack on Key Internet Functions (WP)
The President's Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Program
(NTIA)

THE FCC'S BIG DAY
FCC Offers Guidelines for Simpler Bills,
Merging Forms (TelecomAM)
FCC Edges Toward Plan for Clearer Phone Bills (ChiTrib)
Heeding the Calls on Phone Bill Confusion (WP)
Plus links to recently released FCC docs including:
modem speed, closed captioning and so much more!

================
INFORMATION FLOW
================

FLOW OF INFO
Issue: Copyright
A look at the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, legislation that
would set rules for information flo across the Internet. The proponents of
the bill are movie studios, record companies, book publishers and the
software industry -- with a combined total worth around $300 billion.
Opponents include 40,000 librarians, colleges and universities, some
consumer groups and academic experts. The proponents believe that the
legislation will unleash digital commerce by tightening prohibitions against
pirating movies and other data from the Internet. Critics don't argue with
that, but claim the new rules would restrict the free flow of information
and create a "pay-for-use" world.
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 1, p.29), AUTHOR: Robert Samuelson, Washington
Post Writers Group]
http://chicagotribune.com/textversion/article/0,1492,SAV-9809180002,00.html

IRAN CLOSES A LEADING NEWSPAPER AND ARRESTS TOP EDITORS
Issue: International/Censorship
Iran has shut down the leading daily newspaper and arrested its top editors
for printing articles detrimental "to the country's national interests and
security." The newspaper, Tous, has challenged accepted policy, infuriating
conservatives. The paper has survived two earlier attempts to close it, but
Iranian political experts believe this incident could mark a permanent shut
down.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A12), AUTHOR: Douglas Jehl]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/mideast/091898iran-press.html

PRIMAKOV CURBS ACCESS TO THE MEDIA
Issue: International/Censorship
Officials under the new Russian prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, have begun
new restrictions for media coverage and media access. Restrictions include
requiring all government interviews to be cleared by a central office and
tightening access to the government's headquarters by reporters. One
Russian reporter called the steps "an absolutely Soviet approach."
Primakov's chief of staff said "the government cannot allow leaks of
classified information containing state secrets" but said that charges that
the government is curbing media freedoms as untrue. Newspaper and
television organizations in Russia are not independent media, but are
largely arms of corporations who use the information for their financial
interests. Press coverage of the Primakov government was not positive prior
to the imposition of the restrictions.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A25), AUTHOR:Daniel Williams ]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/18/141l-091898-idx.html

==========
MINORITIES
==========

NAACP URGES BOYCOTT OF ALLTEL, AIRTOUCH AND FRONTIER
Issue: Minorities
The NAACP has completed its first Telecom Report Card and Consumer Choice
Guide and some companies did not do too well. NAACP CEO Kweisi Mfume is
urging consumers to boycott AllTel, AirTouch and Frontier for receiving
failing grades in the industry review. TelecomAM Reports: The NAACP
evaluated the companies on employment, ad and marketing spending, service
deployment, vendor spending, and charitable giving. The NAACP must be even
more committed to acting as a "watchdog" over the "reciprocal relationship"
between the industry and consumers because of the "mega-mergers... sweeping"
through the telecom industry that could suppress competition, Mfume
said.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

====
ARTS
====

FUNDING AMERICA'S CREATIVITY: NEA'S IVEY PUSHES FOR SUPPORT
Issue: Arts
Bill Ivey, chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts, said that he
needs more money to "fund the creative genius that is America" by reviving
support for individual artists. "There's no more important investment in our
nation than fostering individual creativity," said Ivey in his first
national speech since he took leadership of the NEA in June. In the early
1990s, while the agency was under extreme fire, Congress eliminated most of
its ability to fund individual artists. But now, with the Senate on the
verge of approving the first increase in NEA funding in over 8 years, Ivey
is hopeful that the agency can "get back to the business of supporting those
living artists who have demonstrated excellence in their work."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (C7), AUTHOR: Jacquline Trescott]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/18/087l-091898-idx.html

====
JOBS
====

SNET'S LABOR UNION VOTES TO APPROVE NEW CONTACT
Issue: jOBS
Members of the Connecticut Union of Telephone Workers will return to work
today after agreeing to a new 2.5 year contract with Southern New England
Telephone (SNET). Over the life of the contract, workers will receive six
general wage increases totaling 10.9 percent.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

==============
INFRASTRUCTURE
==============

NETWORK SOLUTIONS, GROUP REACH PACT ON KEY INTERNET FUNCTIONS
Issue: Internet
Two Internet-related groups have reached basic agreement on a structure for
the private sector to take over assignments of the world's Internet
addresses. The U.S. government presently contracts one of the two groups,
Network Solutions, to handle address assignments but in June expressed a
desire to move authority to a private international consortium. Network
Solutions and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority of the University of
Southern California, a research organization, have agreed that a nonprofit
corporation will assume many of the Internet's most critical administrative
functions. A final agreement will have additional input from other Internet
groups and will have to be approved by the Clinton Administration.
Contentious issues in the proposed change include the makeup of the board of
the new corporation and how it is to be selected.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (F03), AUTHOR: Rajiv Chandrasekaran]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/18/206l-091898-idx.html

THE PRESIDENT'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION (CIP) PROGRAM
Issue: Infrastructure
In recently establishing the CIP program, the President called for a
public/private partnership to address the Nation's need for protection of
its critical physical and cyber infrastructures. The President assigned the
Commerce Department as the lead agency with responsibility for the
information and communications (I&C) sectors. Commerce Secretary William
Daley assigned NTIA the lead agency responsibilities under the Presidential
decision directive for the CIP program. Assistant Secretary Larry Irving
will hold a public briefing on the efforts of the U.S. Department of
Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) to implement the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)
program. The meeting will take place: Friday, September 25, 1998; 2:00 -
3:00 p.m. (See URL for more details)
[SOURCE: NTIA]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/newitems/cipinv2.htm

=================
THE FCC'S BIG DAY
=================

FCC OFFERS GUIDELINES FOR SIMPLER BILLS, MERGING FORMS
FCC EDGES TOWARD PLAN FOR CLEARER PHONE BILLS
Issue: Telephone Regulation
The Federal Communications Commission released a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking outlining new rules that are aimed at making phone bills easier
to understand for consumers. Bills would have to: 1) be clearly organized
and highlight new changes and charges; 2) include a full and
"non-misleading" description of charges and service providers; 3)
prominently display a company name and phone number that consumers can call
if they have questions. A long list of recently released FCC documents
appear below.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 3,p.1), AUTHOR: Frank James & Jon Van]
http://chicagotribune.com/textversion/article/0,1492,SAV-9809180389,00.html

HEEDING THE CALLS ON PHONE BILL CONFUSION
Issue: Telephony
"Phone bills are too confusing - it's as simple as that ," said Federal
Communication Commission (FCC) Chairman William E. Kennard in proposing new
rules to revamp the format of telephone bills. The FCC has made several
suggestions including separate categories for separate services, names of
all service providers and descriptions of what consumers are paying for, and
a highlight of any change in service since previous month. The proposal for
changes in the design of phone bills comes as a result of increased consumer
concern over often hard to spot unauthorized fees ("cramming") and general
frustration over interpreting monthly charges.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (F1), AUTHOR: Mike Mills]

FCC Proposes to Make Telephone Bills Clearer, More helpful to Consumers (CC
Docket No. 98-170).
[News Release
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1998/nrcc8063.html
] 9/17/98

FCC Proposes to Eliminate Barrier to Modem Speed (FCC 98-221, CC Docket No.
98-163). [ WordPerfect
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Notices/1998/fcc98221.wp | News
Release
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1998/nrcc8062.html
] 9/17/98

Commission Adopts Modifications to Closed Captioning Rules for Video
Programming. [News Release
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/1998/nrcb8021.html ] 9/17/98

Commission Proposes to Streamline Reporting Requirements for
Telecommunications Carriers (CC Docket No. 98-171). [News Release
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1998/nrcc8064.html
] 9/17/98

Commission Adopts Rules to Implement Universal Licensing System For Wireless
Services. [News Release
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/News_Releases/1998/nrwl8040.html] 9/17/98

Two-Way Digital ITFS and MDS Communications Approved; New Services, Faster
Internet Access Available for Consumers. [News Release
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/News_Releases/1998/nrmm8030.html ]
9/17/98

Commission Proposes to Redesignate Portions of the 18 GHZ Band; Allow
Blanket Licensing of Fixed Satellite Service Earth Stations in the Ka-band;
and Allocate Additional Spectrum for the Broadcast Satellite Service. [News
Release
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/News_Releases/1998/nrin8033.html]
9/17/98

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...and we are outta here. Have a great weekend and GO CUBS!

Communications-related Headlines for 9/17/98

INTERNET
Administration Announces New Concessions on Encryption Policy
(CyberTimes)
Restrictions are Relaxed on Encryption Exports (WSJ)
U.S. to Relax Encryption Limits (WP)
FCC Allows More Network Power for Modems (TelecomAM)
Netscape and Qwest Plan To Announce Web Alliance (NYT)

COMPETITION
Cutting the Cord (NYT)

ARTS
New Chief of NEA Vows to Support Individual Artists (CyberTimes)

ADVERTISING
Hearst to Promote Mother-Child Literacy (NYT)

JOURNALISM
Washington Events Fuel Disdain for Media, Politics (WSJ)

TELEVISION
NBC is Expected To Unveil Cuts of Up to 250 Jobs (WSJ)

========
INTERNET
========

ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW CONCESSIONS ON ENCRYPTION POLICY
Issue: Encryption
Vice President Al Gore announced that the Administration will abandon its
demand that the export of strong data scrambling technology be accompanied
by a system that guarantees law enforcement agencies access to the keys
needed to unscramble encrypted communications. The Administration will back
the creation of a "Net Center" to boost the technical expertise of law
officers so they can fight technology with technology. "We must ensure that
new technology does not mean new and sophisticated criminal and terrorist
activity which leaves law enforcement outmatched," Vice President Gore said.
"And we must ensure that the sensitive financial and business transactions
that now cruise along the information superhighway are 100 percent safe."
"This does not resolve the issue of encryption policy," said Barry
Steinhardt, president of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit
civil liberties organization. "It's a nod to the corporate community but it
does very little to enhance the capacity of individuals to increase access
to strong encryption to protect our private communications."
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing jeri( at )nytimes.com]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/articles/17encrypt.html

RESTRICTIONS ARE RELAXED ON ENCRYPTION EXPORTS (WSJ)
U.S. TO RELAX ENCRYPTION LIMITS (WP)
Issue: Encryption
Yesterday, Vice President Al Gore announced plans to loose restrictions on
the export of data-scrambling technologies. The Administration also plans to
drop requirements that companies keep a "spare key"- that allows government
officials to read scrambled data -- for more sophisticated software.
Although new regulations have yet to be drafted, both industry executives
and privacy advocates were pleased by the announced changes. "for many
computer users, there is likely to be a significantly higher level of
computer online security than ever before," said Robert Hollyeman, head of
the Business Software Alliance and long time critic of government encryption
policies.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A2), AUTHOR: John Simon and David Bank]
http://wsj.com/
[SOURCE: Washington Post (C4), AUTHOR: Elizabeth Corcoran]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/17/162l-091798-idx.html

FCC ALLOWS MORE NETWORK POWER FOR MODEMS
Issue: Infrastructure
To improve modem speeds and help end "the worldwide wait," the Federal
Communications Commission is proposing to change its rules and allow digital
56 kbps modems to use more network power. If adopted, the new rules would
allow true 56 kbps speeds on the Internet instead of the current 53.6 kbps.
The action is the latest in the Commission's biennial review campaign.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

NETSCAPE AND QWEST PLAN TO ANNOUNCE WEB ALLIANCE
Issue: Convergence
In a deal that may allow consumers to manage voice mail, e-mail, and fax
communications through a single site on the Web, Netscape and Qwest
Communications plan to announce a strategic alliance today. Qwest is a start
up company that is building one of the most advanced fiber optic
communications networks. Qwest's network is based on Internet technology
rather than phone technology.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C2), AUTHOR: Seth Schiesel]
http://www.nytimes.com/

===========
COMPETITION
===========

CUTTING THE CORD
Issue: Competition
More and more telephone customers are trading in their wired phones for
wireless phones. Competition in the cellular phone industry have lowered
prices and improved service. Approximately one million customers sign up for
cellular phone service each month. Some analysts believe that wireless will
displace 25-35% of wired phones in 5-7 years.
[SOURCE: New York Times (D1), AUTHOR: Roy Furchgott]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/circuits/articles/17cell.html

====
ARTS
====

NEW CHIEF OF NEA VOWS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
Issue: Arts
"One of my goals as chairman is to work with Congress and other interested
parties to move the agency back into funding individual artists more
completely than we do now," Bill Ivey, new chairman of the National
Endowment of the Arts http://arts.endow.gov/ said. "We certainly need to
find a way to get back into supporting individual visual artists. And I
think that, in supporting the individual artist, you tend to get a quicker
handle on new technologies because the individual artist tends to take on
these things more quickly than organizations do." In 1996 NEA grants to
individual artists were curtailed as controversial works had some in
Congress calling for the end of the agency. The NEA's guidelines have been
changed so that most grants now go to arts institutions, not-for-profit
organizations and regional arts agencies. Mirapaul reports: The NEA does
subsidize Open Studio http://www.openstudio.org/, a national program to
provide technology tools and Internet access to nonprofit arts organizations
and the artists they serve. Last Friday, [Chairman] Ivey visited Space One
Eleven http://www.bham.net/soe/, an arts center in Birmingham, Ala., that
has received Open Studio grants. While there, he viewed Piotr Szyhalski's
Web-based Ding an sich project, commissioned by the Walker Art Center in
Minneapolis. [Chairman] Ivey described the work as "pretty interesting and
pretty exciting." [Open Studio is a joint project of the NEA and the Benton
Foundation]
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Matthew Mirapaul
mirapaul( at )nytimes.com]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/artsatlarge/17artsatlarg...

===========
ADVERTISING
===========

HEARST TO PROMOTE MOTHER-CHILD LITERACY
Issue: Advertising
Hearst Magazines and the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board are
teaming up on a campaign to encourage children to read -- and to encourage
their mothers to buy milk. It's an example of cause-related campaigns,
"sponsored by advertisers seeking to do well by doing good."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C6), AUTHOR: Stuart Elliott]
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/hearst-milk-adcolumn.html

===========
JOURNALISM
===========

WASHINGTON EVENTS FUEL DISDAIN FOR MEDIA, POLITICS
Issue: Journalism
A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll reported that by almost a 2-to-1
margin, respondents had a negative view of the news media. While there has
been much negative attention paid to the media's coverage of the recent
Presidential scandal, the Brooking Institution's Stephen Hess notes that
criticism of the press is not a new phenomenon. "In 1878, satirist Ambrose
Bierce observed that 'nobody in the United States has ever been hanged for
killing a journalist. Public opinion will not permit it."
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A12), AUTHOR: Albert Hunt]
http://wsj.com/

==========
TELEVISION
==========

NBC IS EXPECTED TO UNVEIL CUTS OF UP TO 250 JOBS
Issue: Television
The nation's most watched television network, NBC, is expected to announce
that it will cut as many as 250 jobs in an effort to combat soaring costs.
Like the other top networks, NBC is spending record amounts in programming,
while viewership continues to slip. Despite the fact that NBC is the only
one of the top four broadcasters expected to turn a profit this year, this
has been one of the most difficult years in recent history for the network.
As a result, there is speculation that the network likely will be sold or
spun off as separate company.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B22), AUTHOR: Kyle Pope]
http://wsj.com/

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Communications-related Headlines for 9/16/98

DIGITAL VIDEO
F.C.C. Responds to Its Digital-TV Critics (NYT)
Intel Agreement Indicates a Rift With Microsoft (NYT)

ED TECH
Once a Champion of Classroom Computers, Psychologist
Now Sees Failure (CyberTimes)
Kaplan Plans A Law School Via the Web (WSJ)
State's Filtering Effort Comes Under a Critical Eye (CyberTimes)

CONTENT
House Telecom Subcommittee to Mark Up Internet
Porn Law (TelecomAM)
By using Internet, House opened door to charge of
publishing smut (ChiTrib)
A Move to Childproof the Web (WP)
Former TV Executive to Provide Web Content for Women (NYT)
AOL, TV Executives Join Forces (WP)
Clinton Video Could Pose Problem For TV Networks (WP)

JOBS
SNET Reaches Contract Settlement with Striking Union (TelecomAM)

MERGERS
WorldCom Completes Merger with MCI (TelecomAM)

=============
DIGITAL VIDEO
=============

FCC RESPONDS TO ITS DIGITAL-TV CRITICS
Issue: Digital TV
FCC Chairman Bill Kennard is answering the criticism of television industry
executives who are faulting the Commission for not setting clear rules and
standards for digital broadcasts and related equipment. Chairman Kennard
called the criticisms self-serving efforts to "goad the Government by
playing the blame game." Most businesses ask his agency for help, Chairman
Kennard said, "only if they think Government will give them a regulatory
advantage." If not, he added, "They'll try to keep Government out." The
Government should get involved, he added, only "when arguments are distorted
by the prism of self-interest." He addressed concerns about the high cost of
the first digital television sets by comparing them to the first color
television sets: RCA put the first color television on the market in 1953,
and it cost $1,000 -- just over $6,000 in today's dollars. "The entire
history of the introduction and pricing of consumer-electronics equipment
tells us that soon enough, digital-television receivers will be increasingly
affordable. But let's not kid ourselves," Chairman Kennard continued. "The
digital television rollout will be complicated." He urged patience, "for the
transition to digital TV is inevitable." [See full remarks at
http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/spwek827.html]
[SOURCE: New York Times (C2), AUTHOR: Joel Brinkley]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/yr/mo/biztech/articles/16digital-tv....

INTEL AGREEMENT INDICATES A RIFT WITH MICROSOFT
Issue: InfoTech
Computer chip maker Intel will license its advanced video compression
software to Real Networks, developer of software that delivers audio and
video over the Internet. Intel's compression software squeezes more data
into smaller files allowing it to be transmitted faster over the Internet.
The result is fewer lost sounds and smoother videos. "You can use this
technology to scale up to full-screen video," said Pat Gelsinger, Intel's
vice president and general manager of desktop products. Rob Glaser, Real
Networks' chairman and founder and a former Microsoft employee, said of
Microsoft and Intel, "The two companies are becoming more independent as we
move more toward a consumer electronics world."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: John Markoff]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/yr/mo/biztech/articles/16tech.html

=======
ED TECH
=======

ONCE A CHAMPION OF CLASSROOM COMPUTERS, PSYCHOLOGIST NOW SEES FAILURE
Issue: EdTech
Jane M. Healy, an educational psychologist, has written "Failure to Connect:
How Computers Affect Our Children's Minds -- For Better and Worse" (Simon &
Schuster) to encourage parents and educators to begin asking loud and tough
questions about whether the billions of dollars being spent on wiring
schools is a sound investment. "I thought computers would be better than
television," said Healy, who earlier wrote "Endangered Minds," a book about
television and its effects on children. "I had high hopes -- and I came back
with huge disillusionment. In fact, I was horrified with what I saw in
schools and people's homes. We have jumped into [educational technology] way
too soon. It's become an idea that has taken over the public consciousness
-- helped, of course, by the mass promoting of these products to kids as
young as a year-and-a-half." The problems: "constant classroom computer
breakdowns and little technical support; no thought given to arranging
children's computers in a way to reduce the possibility of vision problems,
repetitive motion injuries and other computer hazards; too ready acceptance
of software that is fun but of dubious educational value, and a lack of
research so deep that teachers are unable to agree on such basics as the
best age to teach a child keyboarding.
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Pamela Mendels
mendels( at )nytimes.com]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/education/16education.html

KAPLAN PLANS A LAW SCHOOL VIA THE WEB
Issue: EdTech
Kaplan, the standardized test instruction company, has unveiled plans to
open a new law school - online. Concord University School of Law will offer
video lectures, library materials, and exams all available via the Internet.
The school has authorization to grant Juris Doctor degrees and have students
sit the bar in California. Concord has yet to apply for accreditation from
other states or the American Bar Association. At Kaplan's arch rival in test
preparation, the Princeton Review, the news was met with a parody
announcement that proposed the world's first online medical degree program
"earned wholly by watching reruns of 'Quincy.'"
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1), AUTHOR: William Bulkeley]
http://wsj.com/

STATE'S FILTERING EFFORT COMES UNDER A CRITICAL EYE
Issue: Internet Regulation
The Censorware Project http://censorware.org/, a volunteer group of free
speech advocates, has won the right to examine the electronic files that
contain Internet filtering records. The group wants find out which Internet
destinations students and school employees were prevented from reaching by
SmartFilter, a software program used by many Utah schools to block access to
online pornography and other potentially objectionable material. "Is there
really a need for a program like this on a school computer, and are students
spending all their time looking at Playboy?" a volunteer asked. "Or is this
filter banning a lot of useful information, like safe sex information?" Most
filtering companies keep their lists of blocked sites a proprietary secret
so critics complain that there is no way for taxpayers to know what Internet
material is being censored when public institutions like schools and
libraries install the software. See Censorware Project's background on the
case at http://censorware.org/reports/utah/.
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Pamela Mendels
mendels( at )nytimes.com]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/articles/16filter.html

================
INTERNET CONTENT
================

HOUSE TELECOM SUBCOMMITTEE TO MARK UP INTERNET PORN LAW
Issue: Internet Regulation
On September 17, the House Telecom Subcommittee will mark up HR-3783, a bill
sponsored by Reps. Michael Oxley (R-OH) and James Greenwood (R-PA) that is a
duplicate of the Senate version sponsored by Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) that
passed as part of the Commerce appropriations bill. The Subcommittee may
also consider a alternative bill that would require schools and libraries to
install filtering software. The full House Commerce Committee has scheduled
a mark up session on the bill for Sept 24, so it is possible the bill could
be passed in this session.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

BY USING INTERNET, HOUSE OPENED DOOR TO CHARGE OF PUBLISHING SMUT
Issue: Internet Content
(Maybe now they will grasp the concept) By releasing the unedited Starr
report on the Internet, the House is guilty of making sexual material
accessible for minors via the global computer network. "I was incensed that
the House of Representatives published an unsanitized version of this on the
Internet," said former Nebraska Senator James Exon, author of the
Communications Decency Act of 1996. "The House...should be reprimanded or
censured for" doing it. "This is raunchy pornography that I don't think
should be freely accessible to our kids. I worry as much about this kind of
activity by the House...as I do...about what the president has done to the
nation with his activity." Barry Steinhardt, director of the Electronic
Frontier Foundation said:" It's more than hypocritical. There's a total
disconnect here with many members of Congress. In their haste to get out
this report, they do not see the irony in their equal haste to control
speech on the Internet. It's predictable and sad...that Congress...would go
ahead and publish the most popular piece of sexually explicit material ever
published on the Internet...They themselves have become, in their terms, the
most successful pornographers on the Internet."
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 1, p.15), AUTHOR: Frank James]
http://chicagotribune.com/

A MOVE TO CHILDPROOF THE WEB
Issue: Internet Content
America Online, AT&T, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and the U.S.
Department of Justice are among the more than 40 agencies involved in
America Links Up, a multimillion-dollar campaign to help parents protect
their children online. The educational campaign will include television and
Internet advertisements and over 250 events nationwide. As part of an
industry effort to avoid government regulation of online content, the
campaign offers tips and resources for parents who wish to keep the World
Wide Web Safe for kids though its Internet site at www.americalinksup.org.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (B9), AUTHOR: Leslie Walker]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/16/085l-091698-idx.html

FORMER TV EXECUTIVE TO PROVIDE WEB CONTENT FOR WOMEN
AOL, TV EXECUTIVES JOIN FORCES
Issue: Internet Content
Oxygen Media, a new venture headed by Geraldine Laybourne the former head of
cable television systems for Walt Disney/ABC, is buying the majority stake
of three women-orientated services from America Online. According to AOL,
51% of its users are women -- up from 16% in 1994. "The traditional media
have missed the boat with modern women," Ms. Laybourne said. "There is
nothing that serves women the way ESPN serves men or Nickelodeon serves
kids. We want to create a brand on both television and the Internet that
brings humor and playfulness and a voice that makes a women say, 'You really
understand me.'" "Eighty five percent of purchases are made by women," Ms.
Laybourne said. "We can be a real facilitator of commerce."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C5), AUTHOR: Saul Hansel]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/biztech/articles/16aol-advertisin
g.html
[SOURCE: Washington Post (B9), AUTHOR:Paul Farhi ]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/16/034l-091698-idx.html

CLINTON VIDEO COULD POSE PROBLEMS FOR NETWORKS
Issue: Television
If President Clinton's testimony to the grand jury regarding the Monica
Lewinsky investigation is released, TV networks are going to have to some
important questions to grapple with. While it would provide an unprecedented
opportunity to air grand-jury testimony, the videotapes would also raise
difficult issues of taste and appropriateness. "The deposition is historic,
yet there's obvious concerns about the content," said NBC spokeswoman Alex
Constantinople. The networks position is complicated by competitive
pressures. Since the testimony would be made available to all the network
though a simultaneous feed, it is unlikely that many stations will take the
time to review and edit and let the others be first with the story.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A32), AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/16/158l-091698-idx.html

====
JOBS
====

SNET REACHES CONTRACT SETTLEMENT WITH STRIKING UNION
Issue: Jobs
Southern New England Telephone (SNET) and the Connecticut Union of Telephone
Workers have reached a tentative agreement that may end the three-week
strike. SNET Chairman and CEO Dan Miglio said that the contract is a "good
compromise that is extremely fair. It addresses the union's
major issues and it satisfies the company's financial and operational
needs." The union went on strike August 23, demanding higher salaries and
better benefits.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

=======
MERGERS
=======

WORLDCOM COMPLETES MERGER WITH MCI
Issue: Mergers
WorldCom and MCI completed their long-planned merger, hours after FCC
approval, creating MCI WorldCom. "We have the right network -- built for the
explosive demand for high-speed data and Internet services -- the right
talent, and the right strategy at the right time," said MCI WorldCom
President and CEO Bernard Ebbers. [Phew! Let's put this story to bed]
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

Communications-related Headlines for 9/15/98

MERGERS
FCC Approves MCI-WORLDCOM Merger with Conditions (FCC)
FCC Approves Merger of WORLDCOM and MCI (Telecom AM)
Purchase of MCI Completed (WP)

INTERNET
US West To Bill Internet Service Providers for Access Fees
(Telecom AM)
NBC Puts Its Firepower Behind Snap! (WSJ)

TELEVISION
CBS, CNN Resume Their Discussions On Possible Pooling of News
Operations (WSJ)

========
MERGERS
========

FCC APPROVES MCI-WORLDCOM MERGER WITH CONDITIONS (FCC)
FCC APPROVES MERGER OF WORLDCOM AND MCI (Telecom AM)
PURCHASE OF MCI COMPLETED (WP)
Issue: Mergers
The FCC conditionally approved WorldCom's purchase of MCI on September 14,
removing the last hurdle for completion of the deal. In an unanimous vote,
with FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani dissenting in part, the FCC placed two
conditions on the merger: (1) MCI must complete the sale of its Internet assets
to Cable & Wireless before completing the merger. (2) The transfer of MCI's
direct broadcast satellite (DBS) license to WorldCom is subject to the outcome
of pending applications for review of the license that was granted to MCI.
The Commission said it approved the merger because the combined company will
be able to enter the local phone market "more quickly than either company
could do on its own." It also said the merger is consistent with the
"pro-competitive, de-regulatory" framework of the Telecom Act and will
produce "tangible benefits to consumers." Tristani said she dissented
because she wanted the FCC to impose "some sort of" reporting requirement to
monitor the company's progress in the local market.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1998/nrcc8061.html
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Orders/1998/fcc98225.txt
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Orders/1998/fcc98225.wp
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
[SOURCE: Washington Post (D3), AUTHOR: Mike Mills]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/15/059l-091598-idx.html

========
INTERNET
========

U S WEST TO BILL INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR ACCESS FEES
Issue: Internet
U S West September 11 told companies that use Internet Protocol (IP) telephony
to complete long distance calls that they must begin paying access charges. The
announcement came two weeks after BellSouth notified IP telephony providers
that it is going to start charging them access fees. U S West said that the
action
will close a "loophole" by requiring IP-based providers to pay their "fair
share." Providing IP-based phone-to-phone long distance service "does not
qualify for the access-charge exemption that currently applies to Internet
service
providers," U S West said. "These companies should pay their fair share, as
required by federal law," said Mark Roellig, U S West's executive vice
president. "These charges are vital for funding local phone service for
people in rural and other high-cost communities."
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

NBC PUTS ITS FIREPOWER BEHIND SNAP!
Issue: Internet
Tonight, during the network news show "Dateline", NBC will launch a major
advertising campaign. The network spot will not promote one of fall season's
new shows, this promo is for NBC's new Internet search engine Snap! NBC,
which owns 19 percent of Snap!, is hopping that it's brand name will go a
long way in helping the little known service compete with better known
engines like Yahoo! and Excite.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR: Sally Beatty]
http://wsj.com/

==========
TELEVISION
==========

CBS, CNN RESUME THEIR DISCUSSIONS ON POSSIBLE POOLING OF NEWS OPERATIONS
Issue: Television/ Journalism
In an effort to cut costs, CBS and Time Warner Inc.'s CNN are considering
the idea of pooling some of their newsgathering resources. Mel Karmazin,
President of CBS, has articulated desire to trim cost from the network's
$400 million annual budget. An alliance with CNN could help defray news
costs in the same way that NBC has spread its news costs over it's MSNBC and
CNBS cable networks.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR: Kyle Pope]
http://wsj.com/

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

Communications-related Headlines for 9/11/98

INTERNET
Cable TV Privacy Law May Protect Web Surfers (CyberTimes)
Internet Taxation System is Mulled By the President (WSJ)
Sports Leagues Profit From Internet Rights (CyberTimes)
Posting of Starr Report May Bring Bottlenecks (CyberTimes)
Fast & Furious (WP)

SATELLITE
Loss of Satellites Hits Globalstar Project Hard (WP)
Loral Satellites for Globalstar Network Lost in Explosion After
Russian Launch (WSJ)

ARTS
NEA's New Initiative (WP)

========
INTERNET
========

CABLE TV PRIVACY LAW MAY PROTECT WEB SURFERS
Issue: Internet/Privacy
"Internet Over Cable: Defining the Future in Terms of the Past," a paper
recently released by the Federal Communications Commission, concludes that
the text and the history of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and other
laws support the view that some cable-based Internet access services could
be regarded as "cable service" -- a legal classification that has
significant consequences. If that is the case, cable Internet users will be
protected by the privacy provisions of the Cable TV Privacy Act of 1984.
"That would be a good thing for consumers," said Barbara Esbin, associate
bureau chief of the FCC's cable division and the author of the report,
"because [these rules] could provide a solution to a very sticky problem on
Net use, which is the ability of ISPs to collect data [about customers]
without user knowledge or user consent." [See the report at
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/OPP/working_papers/oppwp30.txt]
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Carl Kaplan]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/cyberlaw/11law.html

INTERNET TAXATION SYSTEM IS MULLED BY WHITE HOUSE
Ira Magaziner, the president's senior Internet adviser, is examining a
proposal to tax goods sold over the Internet. Governments have become
worried about the potential loss of revenue due the increasing amount of
money spent on the web, most of which is not taxed. The proposal includes
the use of electronic "resident cards" that would allow e-merchants to
identify a consumer's country of residence.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B4), AUTHOR: Wall Street Journal Staff]
http://wsj.com/

SPORTS LEAGUES PROFIT FROM INTERNET RIGHTS
Issue: Internet
With Americans large sports appetite, sports organizations are realizing the
great value of Internet rights to events. "All of a sudden there's a robust
flea market opening up, and these sports organizations have some of the more
popular items," said Mark Hardie, senior analyst at Forrester Research. "So
they're recognizing the increasing value in assets which are less important
to broadcasters, but are infinitely or enormously valuable on the Internet."
The National Football League, for example, received $10 million from ESPN
Internet Ventures for the right to produce NFL.Com for three years. "Now,
sports governing bodies are looking beyond such deals with single providers
and are selling content to multiple sites on the Internet. For example, many
leagues have struck licensing agreements with numerous sports sites to
distribute game scores, and analysts predict other innovative arrangements
in the future," Tedeschi reports.
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Bob Tedeschi]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/articles/11sports.html

POSTING OF STARR REPORT MAY BRING BOTTLENECKS
Issue: Internet
OK, sorry, you can't escape this story even here. Computer experts are
expecting major delays on the Internet today due to the release via the
Internet of the Starr report. [And if my connection this morning is any
gauge, they are right] House officials said that in addition to posting the
445-page summary of Starr's report on three different servers -- the Library
of Congress http://thomas.loc.gov/icreport, the Government Printing Office
http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/icreport, and the House Judiciary
Committee http://www.house.gov/judiciary -- they intended to work with
major news media outlets to ensure they had access to copies for posting on
their Web sites. [And is anyone still arguing that access to the Internet
has nothing to do with citizenship?]
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/articles/11starr.html

FAST & FURIOUS
Issue: Internet/Politics
While the 500-page summary of the independent counsel's report on President
Clinton is expected to appear on the Internet today, online newsgroups have
already been conducting "impeachment hearings" for months. "Regardless of
the outcome of Starr's report: The Internet has been a major factor in this
snowballing scandal," observes Weeks. Sherry Turkle, a sociologist at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, agrees that the Internet in having an
increasingly important impact on the political climate. "The Internet
increases the volatility of opinion," she says, "because not only can you
get the primary document

Communications-related Headlines for 9/10/98

STATE REGULATION
California PUC Proposes Lifeline Program Changes (TelecomAM)
Number of State-Certified CLECs Triples in Year (TelecomAM)

BROADCAST
Salsa Radio Station Stirs Up New York (WSJ)
Finding The New Digital TV Shows (NYT)

HEALTH
Ads for Alcohol and Cigarettes are Restricted in California (NYT)
Places to Check Out the Pills for Your Ills (NYT)

SATELLITE
Iridium Delays Start of Global Network (WP)

INTERNATIONAL
African Telecommunications: A Partnership for Progress (FCC)
German Teleco Warns of Parasitic Competition (NYT)

================
STATE REGULATION
================

CALIFORNIA PUC PROPOSES LIFELINE PROGRAM CHANGES
Issue: Universal Service
"The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) wants to adapt the state
Lifeline program to a competitive local exchange market, conform it to the
federal universal service programs, and improve its ability to provide phone
service to low-income households and opened a year-long rule making to
determine
what changes the program needs," TelecomAM reports (hey, sometimes they
write it better than we can re-summarize it). Comments in the proceeding are
due October 9 and the PUC hopes to issue final rules by September 1999. The
California state Lifeline program currently disburses $254 million in annual
subsidies to support 3.1 million qualifying low-income subscribers. [For
more info, see the PUC's Telecom Division page
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/telecommunications/teledisc.htm and Guide for
Intervenors http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/interven98/index.htm]
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

NUMBER OF STATE-CERTIFIED CLECS TRIPLES IN YEAR
Issue: Competition
The State Telephone Regulation Report reports (oddly enough) that a total of
2,832 certificates authorizing competitive local exchanges carriers (CLECs)
to compete against Bell companies,
GTE and other incumbent telcos for switched local exchange service have been
issued by state regulators as of July 1998 -- 985 certificates had been
issued as of July 1997. Certification is only one of the steps a CLEC must
take to become operational: a CLEC also must obtain an
interconnection/resale agreement with the incumbent telco in its intended
service area and, in many states, must file tariffs.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

=========
BROADCAST
=========

SALSA RADIO STATION STIRS UP NEW YORK
Issue: Radio
WSKQ is one of the two most popular radio stations in the country's biggest
radio market -- New York City. But the ratings haven't translated into the
advertising rates that similar-sized English-language stations command. The
station -- known as Mega -- says there is a tendency on Madison Avenue to
steer blue-chip advertisers away from Spanish-language media. Statistics
back up Mega's claim. Although the station had the fourth largest audience
last year, it ranked 13th in advertising revenues. In Miami, advertisers pay
top dollar for air time on the largest Hispanic station. Hispanic families
in New York have a higher average household income than those in Miami.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1), AUTHOR: Suein Hwang]
http://wsj.com/

FINDING THE NEW DIGITAL TV SHOWS
Issue: DTV
Imagine that you now have one of the first new digital TV sets and the Nov,
1st start date for digital programming roles around -- where are you going
to find the breath taking images of high definition television? The new
broadcasts won't be found on any of the channels you are use to watching.
The second channels given to stations for digital broadcasting are in no way
correspondent to their analog channel number. Another problem is that each
station will be able to broadcast up to four standard quality channels with
their one digital channel. To deal with the confusion of transition to
digital, the Advanced Television Systems Committee has suggested that the
digital channel assignments be invisible. This means that every time you hit
Channel 4 on your digital remote, you will see the old channel your old
familiar Channel 4 - even if the digital channel really has a different
number. The proposal also suggests that if a station spits their signal into
several different channels, each one will use the main station number and an
additional subnumber.
[SOURCE: New York Times (E11), AUTHOR: Eric A. Taub]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/circuits/howitworks/10how.html

=======
HEALTH
=======

ADS FOR ALCOHOL AND Cigarettes ARE RESTRICTED
Issue: Advertisements/Alcohol
Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council passed a law that will ban most
outdoor alcohol advertising in the city. Hundreds of minors attended the
City Council hearing to advocate the elimination of billboards that line
their communities. Also present was Rex Hienke, a billboard company lawyer,
who complained that the laws were discriminatory. "That is government
censorship pure and simple," he claimed. While a similar measure in Chicago
was ruled unconstitutional, laws in Baltimore and Oakland have been upheld.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A21), AUTHOR: New York Times Staff]
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/calif-billboards.html

PLACES TO CHECK OUT THE PILLS FOR YOUR ILLS
Issue Health/Internet
Americans consume more prescription drugs than anyone else in the world. And
the amount of money we spend on prescriptions is rapidly increasing each
year. One reason for the increase is that pharmaceutical companies are
releasing more new products than ever before. How does the consumer keep up
with the rapid advances in pharmaceutical research? According to Dallas
physician Dr. Jeffery Adelglass, the Internet can be a useful tool in
sorting through the avalanche of drug information. "With some of the
pharmaceutical sites now available on the Web, I can get medical information
as fast or faster than anyone in else in the country," says Dr. Adelglass.
Some of the more helpful and reliable on-line drug resources include the
Food and Drug Administration, Centerwatch, National Library of Medicine, and
the RxList.Com Web sites.
[SOURCE: New York Times (E10), AUTHOR: David Morrow]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/circuits/library/10libe.html

=========
SATELLITE
=========

IRIDIUM DELAYS START OF GLOBAL NETWORK
Issue: Satellite
"We have come too far and have invested too much time, money and effort in
this business to go into commercial service with anything less than a
world-class product," said Edward Staiano, chief executive of District-based
Iridium as the company announced a delay in the launch of its global
telephone and data service satellite network. The delay announcement is no
big deal and not a big surprise," said Ann Henry, an analyst for BancBoston
Robertson Stephens Inc. in New York. Iridium had hinted at such a delay in
a July conference call to analysts, she said. The start was scheduled for
September 23 and has been pushed to November 1. In September, 2,000
individual, corporate, and government customers will receive phones for a
free trial.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (C3), AUTHOR: Mike Mills]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1998-09/10/024r-091098-idx.html

=============
INTERNATIONAL
=============

AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS: A PARTNERSHIP FOR PROGRESS
Issue: International
Chairman Kennard's Keynote Address "African Telecommunications: A
Partnership for Progress" to AFCOM '98, Seventh All-Africa
Telecommunications, Information Technology, Trade & Investment Conference.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/spwek825.html

GERMAN TELCO WARNS OF PARASITIC COMPLETION
Issue International/Telephony
Ron Sommer, CEO of Germany's former telecom monopoly Deutsche Telekom, said
that incumbent companies need regulatory protection from the "parasitic"
competition of new operators. Sommer complained that new entrants can
provide cheaper service without making any investments in infrastructure.
European regulators are new to dealing with telecom competition and, at the
same time, are attempting to integrate the diverse regulatory regimes of
different countries. "We all suffer if regulators misunderstand their role -
if they think it is to beat up upon the incumbents and play Robin Hood,"
said Sommer.
[SOURCE: New York Times (Cybertimes), AUTHOR: Andrew Craig]
http://www.nytimes.com/techweb/TW_German_Telco_Warns_Of_Parasitic_Competiti
on.html

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

Communications-related Headlines for 9/9/98

FYI: The President's Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of
Digital television Broadcasters meets today -- listen to the meeting at
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/pubintadvcom/sepmtg/#broadcast

TELEPHONY
Appeals Court Upholds Key Telecom Act Sections (TelecomAm)

INTERNET
The E-Commerce Revolution: The Respective Roles for Industry and
Government (NTIA)
Blind Web Users Campaign to 'See' More of Cyberspace (WSJ)

EMPLOYMENT
SNET Using More Temporary Workers During Strike (TelecomAM)
Technology Affords this Trader Freedom, but also Adds Binds (WSJ)

=========
TELEPHONY
=========

APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS KEY TELECOM ACT SECTIONS
Issue: Telephony
On September 4, a federal appeals court reversed a district court decision
that would have allowed the Regional Bell companies to enter the long
distance phone market without winning FCC approval. The U.S. Appeals Court
overturned an earlier decision by that had found Sections 271-275 of the
Telecom Act to be an unconstitutional "bill of attainder." The appeals court
rejected the Bell companies' bill of attainder argument saying that the
sections "are not punitive because they do not impose a perpetual bar" on
the Bell companies' entry into the long distance market. In arguments,
Justice Department Antitrust Chief Joel Klein
argued for the FCC that the sections could not be considered punishment because
the Bells were better off after the Act than they were under the AT&T consent
decree.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

========
INTERNET
========

THE E-COMMERCE REVOLUTION: THE RESPECTIVE ROLES FOR INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT
Issue: Electronic Commerce
"I've been asked to speak on the relative roles of government and the
private sector in the area of electronic commerce (or e-commerce). This is,
in my mind, as big a task as summarizing the impact of the of the Industrial
Revolution in a few minutes. And, in fact, the rise of Internet and
e-commerce may have as profound an effect. It has enabled us to take part in
a global economy and accelerated, beyond all previous dreams, the way we do
business and communicate."
[SOURCE: NTIA]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/speeches/harbin.htm

BLIND WEB USERS CAMPAIGN TO 'SEE' MORE OF CYBERSPACE
Issue: Internet/ Disabilities
"If you're a blind man, [Internet] interface ain't' meant for you," says
Kelly Ford, a blind teacher from Portland Ore. Mr. Ford is one of many
disabled Internet users who are frustrated by the inaccessibility of much
information on the Wold Wide Web. Less than one percent of Web sites have
taken actions to make their pages accessible to users with disabilities.
Design features that are helpful for the blind include alternative text
versions of sites, informational graphics, image maps, and tables formatted
to be understood by text-to-speech or Braille software.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1, B6), AUTHOR: Nick Wingfield ]
http://wsj.com/

============
EMPLOYMENT
============

SNET USING MORE TEMPORARY WORKERS DURING STRIKE
Issue: Telephony/Employment
Southern New England Telephone (SNET) is using "several hundred" temporary
workers, retirees and relatives to maintain operator, repair and installation
services during the walkout by Communications Workers of America (CWA)-
affiliated Connecticut Telephone Workers Union (CTWU), now in its third week.
Negotiations failed to resolve differences, despite optimism during talks over
the holiday weekend, both sides said. The walkout by 6,300 technicians in
Connecticut has focused on the two-tier pay structure and health insurance
costs, the union said. The key disagreement is over SNET's practice of paying
the same workers at two different levels, depending on when they were hired.
The company has been forced to roll back its Internet service as it was
swamped with increased demand due the return of colleges classes.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

TECHNOLOGY AFFORDS THIS TRADER FREEDOM, BUT ALSO ADDS BINDS
Issue: Technology/Employment
For electronic stock trader Abigal Roitman, her computer gives her the
flexibility of leaving work early to be with her 17 month old daughter, but
it also enables her to work -- and experience stress -- at any hour of the
day or night. For many working parents, technology has diminished the
traditional boundaries been work time and family time. While the freedom to
work from home can be a savoir for many families, it can prove difficult to
leave worries at the office for those who never really leave the office.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1), AUTHOR: Sue Shellenbarger]
http://wsj.com/

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

Communications-related Headlines for 9/8/98

ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY
Santa Monica Seeking a Return to On-line Civic Forum of Yore (NYT)

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Kids and Computers: How Wired Should a
Student's World Be? (WP

TELEPHONE REGULATION
Regional Bells Lose an Appeal Over Service (WSJ)

SATELLITES
News Corp and An Affiliate of TCI Set Tentative Accord to
Control Primestar (WSJ)
News Corp, TCI Close in on Primestar (B&C)
Kennard Wants More Time for Satellite Subs (B&C)
Satellite Home Viewer Act (NTIA)

CABLE
Faced with 'Convergence,' FCC Takes Closer Look at
Internet Access Via Cable (WSJ)

ADVERTISING
Issue Ads to Boost Political Spending (B&C)

RADIO
Digital Radio Services (NTIA)

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
Starting to Click (WSJ)

)

====================
ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY
====================
SANTA MONICA SEEKING A RETURN TO ON-LINE CIVIC FORUM OF YORE
Issue: Electronic Democracy
City officials in Santa Monica are trying to rekindle the enthusiasm that
surrounded the city's Public Electronic Network (PEN) when it started back
in 1989. The city of 90,000 lost a major public forum when Copley Newspapers
shut down the city's only newspaper. "Everyone in Santa Monica politics got
up first thing in the morning and read [the paper's] letters to the editor,"
said a City Councilman. But 50% of the households in Santa Monica have
Internet access and 10% of the population is registered on PEN. Starting
September 1, the League of Women Voters has agreed to moderate PEN's forums
on candidates and issues in the November election. The hope is that
moderators can save PEN's forums from the rants that drove many users of old
away.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A17)]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/biztech/articles/08internet.html

====================
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
====================

KIDS AND COMPUTERS: HOW WIRED SHOULD A STUDENT'S WORLD BE?
ISSUE: Education Technology
President Clinton has pledged that "every single child must have access to a
computer, must understand it, must have access to good software and good
teachers and to the Internet, so that every person will have the opportunity
to make the most of his or her own life." Schwartz asks, "Will the
cornucopia of computers, Internet connections and more improve education? Or
will it turn out like so many other technologies that have been thrust on
students over the years, one more attempt to come up with a machine that can
do the work of a teacher?" There appear to be two 'school' of criticism in
regards to wiring schools: 1) ed tech is a costly fad that wastes class time
and educational funds and 2) since this is such a powerful tool, the
students who do not get access will be doomed to failure. [Can you spell
contradiction?] The long article examines the "failed promise" and the
"digital divide." [For more on wiring schools, see the Learning Connection
http://www.benton.org/Library/Schools/. For more on the digital divide see
Losing Ground Bit by Bit http://www.benton.org/Library/Low-Income/]
[Source: Washington Post (Z7-Z9), AUTHOR: John Schwartz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/08/051l-090898-idx.html

====================
TELEPHONE REGULATION
====================

REGIONAL BELLS LOSE AN APPEAL OVER SERVICE
Issue: Long Distance/Telephone Regulation
The US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans voted 2-1 on
Friday to reverse a ruling that would have allowed SBC, US West, and Bell
Atlantic to enter the long distance market. The Regional Bell Operating
Companies (RBOCs or Baby Bells) argued that provisions in the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 were a "bill of attainder" or a specific
punishment for past behavior without a trial. "First and foremost, we think
that the [provisions of the law] are not punitive because they do not impose
a perpetual bar," the court wrote. The FCC has not approved any RBOC bids to
enter the long distance market -- the Commission continues to try to use
approval as a way to open to competition the $110 billion local phone market.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A14), AUTHOR: John Simons]
http://wsj.com/

==========
SATELLITES
==========

NEWS CORP AND AN AFFILIATE OF TCI SET TENTATIVE ACCORD TO CONTROL PRIMESTAR
NEWS CORP, TCI CLOSE IN ON PRIMESTAR
Issue: Satellite/Ownership
News Corp and the United Video Satellite Group have tentatively agreed to
pay $700 million to gain control of Primestar. The deal would remove four
big cable company investors who currently control 60% of the
satellite-to-home broadcaster. Earlier this year the Department of Justice
sued to block a deal that would have sold some of News Corp's satellite
holdings to Primestar.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B3), AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley & John Lippman]
http://wsj.com/
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable (p.7), AUTHOR: John Higgins]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/

KENNARD WANTS MORE TIME FOR SATELLITE SUBS
Issue: Satellites/Television
About 1 million satellite TV subscribers are receiving illegal network TV
feeds and a judge has set October 8 as the deadline for ending these
signals. The FCC, Congress and the competing industries are trying to broker
an agreement that would delay the cut off date by at least six months. The
FCC would review its definition of a subscriber eligible to receive the
network signals. Currently, only households that do not get clear pictures
more than 50% of the time are eligible to receive such signals.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable (p.), AUTHOR:]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/

SATELLITE HOME VIEWER ACT
Issue: Satellite/Television
"In a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman William
Kennard, Commerce
Assistant Secretary Larry Irving urged the FCC to expeditiously review a
recent federal court decision which could result in millions of households
in America losing access to satellite-delivered network programming. The
letter also urges the FCC to undertake a rulemaking to define which
households can receive satellite delivered network programming under current
law."
[SOURCE: NTIA]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/090498dbs.htm
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fccfilings/9498shva.htm

=====
CABLE
=====

FACED WITH 'CONVERGENCE,' FCC TAKES CLOSER LOOK AT INTERNET ACCESS VIA CABLE
Issue: Cable/Regulation
Is Internet over cable a "cable service," a "telecommunications service" or
an information service"? A working paper released by the FCC last week
begins to address this question and how the agency should approach
regulation. The paper is meant to begin a discussion between branches of the
government and industry. "The whole point," said the paper's author, "is to
say, hey, we've got this problem, and it's a big problem. When you have the
capability the Internet provides -- now you can do almost anything over one
medium -- you have to start thinking which rules are applicable, or whether
any of our rules are applicable at all." [Get a copy of the paper at
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/OPP/working_papers/oppwp30.wp]
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR: John Simons]
http://wsj.com/

===========
ADVERTISING
===========

ISSUE ADS TO BOOST POLITICAL SPENDING
Issue: Advertising
Issue advertising for this election may boost broadcasters' revenues to 1996
Presidential election levels. The Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB)
estimates that some $400 million may be spent on issue ads this year. "We're
going to see more advocacy advertising than we did in 1996," says Penn's
Kathleen Hall Jamison. Since it's unaccountable money, it's going to be
used. Parties will tacitly encourage its use because it will benefit them."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable (p.11), AUTHOR: Richard Tedesco]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/

=====
RADIO
=====

DIGITAL RADIO SERVICES
Issue: Radio
The United States and Canada have reached agreement on conditions for
implementing digital radio services.
[SOURCE: NTIA]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/090498digitalradio.htm

===================
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
===================

STARTING TO CLICK
Issue: Electronic Commerce
The WSJ has a special section on online trading today. Stories include looks
at investment advice available on the Web, choosing the right online trading
firm, where to direct complaints, and security.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (Section R)]
http://wsj.com/

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A big welcome to all our new indiana.edu subscribers.

Communications-related Headlines for 9/4/98

ADVERTISING
Giant Sponsors Plan to Clean Up TV (WSJ)

INTERNET
Internet Over Cable: Defining the Future In Terms of the Past (FCC)
New Web Resource Packages Campaign Data for the Voter (CyberTimes)

LONG DISTANCE
FCC Consumer Alert: Don't Hang Up on Dial-Around (FCC)

RADIO
Keeping the Local in Local Radio (FCC0

MERGERS
Indiana Opens Investigation of SBC-Ameritech Merger (TelecomAM)

ANTITRUST
Microsoft Ordered to Provide More Antitrust Evidence (NYT)

============
ADVERTISING
============

GIANT SPONSORS PLAN TO CLEAN UP TV
Issue: Television/Advertising
Madison Avenue has embarked on a crusade to clean up network TV programming.
Some of the world's biggest advertisers have joined together in hopes of
influencing the networks to air more family-oriented shows. The Forum for
Responsible Advertisers, which includes Procter & Gamble Co., Johnson &
Johnson, Coca-Cola Co., Sears, Roebuck & Co., and Ford Motor Co., plans to
hold its first meeting in New York later this month. While advertisers claim
to be in search of more wholesome programs, adult-oriented shows like "Friends"
and "Just Shoot Me" continue to draw more advertising dollars than network
shows with strong family or religious themes.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1, B5), AUTHOR: Brian Stenberg and Tara
Parker Pope]
http://wsj.com/

========
INTERNET
========

INTERNET OVER CABLE: DEFINING THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF THE PAST
Issue: Cable/Internet
FCC Staff Working Paper on Regulatory Categories and the InternetThe FCC's
Office of Plans and Policy (OPP) today released a staff working paper
analyzing the policy issues raised by the delivery of Internet-based
services over cable television systems. OPP Working Paper No. 30, "Internet
Over Cable: Defining the Future in Terms of the Past," was written by
Barbara Esbin, Associate Bureau Chief of the Cable Services Bureau, in
conjunction with OPP. Periodically, OPP issues working papers on emerging
areas in communications; these papers represent individual views and are not
an official statement by the FCC or any FCC commissioner.[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/OPP/News_Releases/1998/nrop8001.html
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/OPP/working_papers/oppwp30.wp,
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/OPP/working_papers/oppwp30.pdf

NEW WEB RESOURCE PACKAGES CAMPAIGN DATA FOR THE VOTER
Issue: Internet
The Center for Responsive Politics http://www.crp.org has launched a new
resource on the Web that makes it easier to find detailed campaign finance
info on any congressional candidate in the country. "The real idea here is
to spread the power, on the assumption that information is power and there
is too much of it in Washington and not enough everywhere else" said Larry
Makinson, executive director of the organization. "Every contribution that
comes in to a candidate or political party, we try to categorize it by
industry. Then we try to translate that," Makinson said. "We try to see what
the patterns are. Because if you really want to understand what politicians
are going to do after they are elected, find out who is paying for their
campaign."
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/articles/04campaign.html

=============
LONG DISTANCE
=============

FCC CONSUMER ALERT: DON'T HANG UP ON DIAL-AROUND
Issue: Long Distance
As of September 1, 1998, the transition to expanded access codes will be
complete. Consumers are reminded that, to make a "dial around" call, they
must dial an additional "10" before the access code (i.e. 10-xxx is now
10-10-xxx). Access codes enable callers to use a long distance company other
than the company the phone is programmed to use automatically for placing
long distance and local toll calls.
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Factsheets/da981736.html

=====
RADIO
=====

Keeping the Local in Local Radio
Issue: Radio
"Certainly when the 1996 Telecommunications Act was passed, most of the
focus was on telephone and video. But while those markets haven't changed as
much as people predicted, radio is another story. In radio, the '96 Act has
had a clear and dramatic impact. The '96 Act made two key changes: it
eliminated the cap on the number of radio stations companies could own
nationally, and it raised the limit on the number of stations that could be
owned in local markets. Those two changes set off an unprecedented wave of
consolidation that has dramatically reshaped the radio industry."
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Tristani/spgt811.html

=======
MERGERS
=======

INDIANA OPENS INVESTIGATION OF SBC-AMERITECH MERGER
Issue: Mergers
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will open an investigation of the
proposed merger of Ameritech into SBC Communications. Competitors and
consumer interest groups are concerned about the effects of the deal on
telephone competition, employment levels, service quality and rates.
September 14 is the deadline for intervening parties to register and file
questions they want the companies to answer, and a September 30 deadline for
questions from the commission staff. All three of the Ameritech states with
jurisdiction over the merger -- Illinois, Ohio and Indiana -- have formal
investigations underway.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

=========
ANTITRUST
=========

MICROSOFT ORDERED TO PROVIDE MORE ANTITRUST EVIDENCE
Issue: Antitrust
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson has ordered Microsoft to
give the Department of Justice additional evidence in the antitrust case.
The software giant threatened to ask for a six-month delay if it was forced
to defend itself against the new evidence. The DOJ countered by saying it is
common and only natural to come upon new evidence during pretrial discovery.
[SOURCE: New York Times (C4), AUTHOR: Joel Brinkley]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/yr/mo/biztech/articles/04microsoft.html

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We are outta here. Have a great holiday weekend and we'll see you *Tuesday*.
Any bets Mark gets the recond by then?

Communications-related Headlines for 9/3/98

DIGITAL TV
Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of
Digital Television Broadcasters (NTIA)

INTERNET
Internet Child Porn Ring Raided (WP)
Internet Child Pornography Ring is Raided in the U.S. and
Abroad(NYT)
U.S., 13 Countries Launch Crackdown on Alleged Internet
Pedophile Group (WSJ)
Child porn fighters bust Internet ring (ChiTrib)
Don't Unleash the Cyber-Censors on Libraries (ChiTrib)
Desperately Seeking Susan OR Suzie NOT Sushi

ARTS
Seeking Revolutionaries at Digital Art Conference (CyberTimes)

MERGERS
Connecticut Regulators Approve SBC's Purchase of SNET (TelecomAM)

NEWSPAPERS
Newspapers in Detroit are Ordered to Rehire Workers From
Strike (WSJ)

=========
DIGITAL TV
==========

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INTEREST OBLIGATIONS OF
DIGITAL TELEVISION BROADCASTERS
Issue: Digital TV
The location and a preliminary agenda for the September 9 meeting of the
Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television
Broadcasters are now available. The meeting will be broadcast via the Internet.
[SOURCE: NTIA]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/pubintadvcom/sepmtg/

========
INTERNET
========

INTERNET CHILD PORN RING RAIDED (WP)
INTERNET CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OPERATION IS RAIDED IN U.S. AND ABROAD (NYT)
U.S., 13 COUNTRIES LAUNCH CRACKDOWN ON ALLEGED INTERNET PEDOPHILE GROUP (WSJ)
CHILD PORN FIGHTERS BUST INTERNET RING (ChiTrib)
Issue: Internet/Content
Yesterday, law enforcement agents in the U.S. and 13 other countries
launched a massive crackdown on an alleged international Internet pedophile
ring. U.S. custom officials served warrants to 32 of the 200 suspected
members of "Wonderland", an online club where pornographic material is
distributed and traded. Agents say that the "digital age has made it much
easier to commit crimes like child pornography, money-laundering and
intellectual property theft, while erasing traditional borders between
nations."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A1), AUTHOR: Michael Grunwald ]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1998-09/03/071r-090398-idx.html
[SOURCE: New York Times (A21), AUTHOR: David Stout]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/biztech/articles/03porn.html
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B8), AUTHOR: John Simons ]
http://wsj.com/
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec1, p.3), AUTHOR: Naftali Bendavid]
http://chicagotribune.com/textversion/article/0,1492,ART-14077,00.html

DON'T UNLEASH THE CYBER-CENSORS ON LIBRARIES
Issue: Libraries/Internet Regulation
The successful politician knows how to pick enemies. Senators voting for the
Internet School Filtering Act might have thought they were picking a fight
with Larry Flint or Bob Guccione -- what they're getting is Carolyn Anthony,
director of the Skokie Public Library and president-elect of the Illinois
Library Association. The bill requires schools and libraries receiving
federal Internet subsidies to install filtering software to block children's
access to inappropriate material. But lawmakers seem unaware that librarians
have been dealing with this problem for years. ALA opposes the legislation
because it will censor material that is constitutionally protected. Chapman
writes in his column that the rise of the Internet does not diminish the
wisdom of local control. "What gives [Sen] John McCain [the bill's chief
sponsor] the idea that he's better able to handle this problem than Carolyn
Anthony? And why would anyone
believe him?"
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 1, p.25), AUTHOR: Steve Chapman]
http://chicagotribune.com/textversion/article/0,1492,SAV-9809030094,00.html

DESPERATELY SEEKING SUDAN *OR* SUZIE *NOT* SUSHI
Issue: InfoTech
Of Internet search engines Danny Sullivan, editor of the Search Engine Watch
newsletter www.searchenginewatch.com, says "They've gotten better, faster
and easier to use, but search engines have got a long way to go. They're
poor for people who are doing really basic searches. Enter 'Disney' or
'travel,' and it's a crapshoot whether they'll get the Disney site or any
good travel sites." No two search engines are the same. There are three
components to each one: the index of Web sites it searches, how often that
index is updated and the algorithm used to sort results. The article
examines 11 search sites and provides tips for getting the best results for
searches. [Try searching "Taglang" and see if you find the 1999 CRH-staff
calendar]
[SOURCE: New York Times (D1), AUTHOR: Matt Lake]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/circuits/articles/03sear.html

====
ARTS
====

Seeking Revolutionaries at Digital Art Conference
Issue: Arts
At a time when electronic art is struggling to penetrate the fortress of the
cultural establishment, the theme of the International Symposium on
Electronic Art is "Revolution." (Well, you know, everyone wants to paint the
world) About 700 artists and academics, plus the occasional capitalist tool,
are expected to attend the ninth ISEA, where they will hear dozens of
lectures on topics such as "Computer-Generated Photography and the
Neoclassical Sensibility," "Why Bring the Virtual World Onto the Classical
Stage?" and "Things That Go Ping." "If there is a revolution happening, it's
a much less visible and celebrated revolution" than the social revolutions
of the 60's, Eddie Berg, director of Liverpool's Foundation for Art &
Creative Technology said. "I think we're living through a period of
self-doubt and questioning and uncertainty, which is reflected by artists as
well. People say this is pre-millennial tension, but it's been there for a
while." Some related URLs: http://www.isea98.org/,
http://www.fact.co.uk/, http://www.net-art.org/, and
http://www.isea.qc.ca/
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Matthew Mirapaul
mirapaul( at )nytimes.com]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/09/cyber/artsatlarge/03artsatlarg...

=======
MERGERS
=======

CONNECTICUT REGULATORS APPROVE SBC'S PURCHASE OF SNET
Issue: Mergers
On September 2, the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (PUC)
unanimously approved SBC's $4-billion purchase of Southern New England
Telephone (SNET). The agency said SBC meets the criteria to run a utility in
the state and accepted promises the company made to "serve the interests of
its customers, it employees and its community." Regulators rejected
objections by the state's attorney general. Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal urged regulators to require SBC to
reduce rates to reflect merger synergies. But regulators said they "can find no
requirement that rates must be a consideration." AG Blumenthal had told the
PUC that requiring the companies to pass on the merger's synergies to
consumers would decrease basic local phone rates by $4 per month.
Connecticut is the only state in the country whose consumers will not share
the cost savings associated with an SBC takeover of a local phone company,
he said.
[SOURCE: Telecom AM]
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/

===========
NEWSPAPERS
===========

NEWSPAPERS IN DETROIT ARE ORDERED TO REHIRE WORKERS FROM STRIKE
Issue: Labor/Newspapers
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ordered the Detroit News and
Detroit Free Press to rehire hundreds of striking workers and pay them back
wages. In the ruling announced on Tuesday, the NLRB found that the papers
had not bargained in good faith and helped cause the walkout. Nearly 2,500
workers, belonging to six different unions, walked off the job in July after
the break down of negotiations about company plans to reduce the number of
union jobs at the two papers.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A6), AUTHOR: Wall Street Journal Staff
Reporter ] September 2
http://wsj.com/

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