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Reed Hundt's Legacy
Regulatory Hurdles in an AT&T Deal With SBC
With all sound and fury over push technology, it must signify something
Trickle of TV Liquor Ads May Increase
Hanging Up on Competition?
Cellular Phones Help Schools Keep Information Flowing
Bit by Bit, Congress Is Opening Up to the Information Age
Clinton's Talented and Tenacious Regulators
Hordes of Pols Elect to Change Channels
Hundt Closes; Hunt Opens
Hundt enlarges PSA complaint
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Title: Reed Hundt's Legacy
Source: New York Times (A26)
Author: NYTimes Editorial Staff
Issue: FCC
Description: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt tried to
lower cable TV rates, helped write regulations to open up local telephone
markets; fought broadcasters to win a computer compatible digital TV
standard & children's educational TV programming; and raised $20 billion in
spectrum auctions. He also pushed through rules that will guarantee
affordable telecommunications services for low-income people and will wire
schools and libraries to the Internet. Whoever succeeds him should be
prepared to fight back industry attempts to roll back these rules: "Mr.
Hundt's legacy deserves protection."
Title: Regulatory Hurdles in an AT&T Deal With SBC
Source: New York Times (D1)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Merger
Description: If last weeks leaks about a possible AT&T and SBC merger were
"an attempt to float a trial balloon, it is fair to say the balloon got shot
down." Lawyers, lawmakers, lobbyists, and antitrust scholars seem to agree
that the merger would not pass regulatory muster because of the threat to
Competition. AT&T and SBC lawyers argue that the merger would *increase*
competition because SBC would bend over backwards to open up its local
markets while seeking regulatory approval.
Title: With all sound and fury over push technology, it must signify something
Source: New York Times (D4)
Author: Seth Schiesel
Issue: Digital Commerce/Info Tech
Description: In Technology column, Schiesel says push technology must be
something big because there's such a big fuss over it. Pointcast is the push
technology leader, but Netscape and Microsoft are about to begin their own
offerings.
Title: Trickle of TV Liquor Ads May Increase
Source: Wall Street Journal (B5)
Author: Sally Goll Beatty
Issue: Advertising
Description: Now that Reed Hundt, vocal opponent of TV liquor ads, is
leaving the FCC, the liquor industry may increase its efforts to advertise
on TV. Most network stations refused to run such ads, but the ads
received a warmer welcome on cable. The liquor industry thinks that the
continued unraveling of network audiences and the rise of cable may help
their efforts.
Title: Hanging Up on Competition?
Source: Washington Post (H1)(6/1/97)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Competition/Mergers
Description: The "urge to merge" is stronger than the urge to compete.
Instead of trying to battle it out with lower prices and better services
[isn't that how the ads went?], large telephone companies and trying to
become larger companies: NYNEX is merging with Bell Atlantic, PacTel merged
with SBC, and now SBC and AT&T are in a marriage dance. Is this what
Congress meant with the Telecom Act of 1996? House Telecom Subcommittee
Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) thinks so: what's the difference between
mergers forming 3-4 companies that compete and 12 companies competing for
awhile until 3-4 winners emerge? But if even AT&T can't compete with the
Baby Bells unless it buys them, then maybe the local market is a natural
monopoly. Article includes summary box on major telecom mergers passage
of1996 Act.
Title: Cellular Phones Help Schools Keep Information Flowing
Source: Washington Post (B1)(6/1/97)
Author: Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Issue: Education Technology
Description: Cellular telephones are the most sought after technology in
schools. Teachers want to be able to contact parents, students and others
more easily. Some wireless telephone companies are donating phones and
service to schools. Teachers and administrators who use the service predict
that many more schools will use the technology soon.
Title: Bit by Bit, Congress Is Opening Up to the Information Age
Source: Washington Post (A17)
Author: Barbara J. Saffir
Issue: Access to Government Information
Description: Members of Congress are getting more active online. Two
hundred twenty five representatives have web sites. There are also about 25
pending bills regarding the Internet that Congress needs to consider.
C-Span started a web site in January so that it could cover government
events not carried on its two TV channels. But citizens want more
information. The Heritage Foundation and a Ralph Nader group,
the Congressional Accountability Project, are demanding
that Congress put more meaty information, like committee reports, online.
Title: Clinton's Talented and Tenacious Regulators
Source: Washington Post (A19)
Author: Robert Kuttner
Issue: Federal Government
Description: In his op-ed, Kutner raises concerns about the exit of a group
of "talented and spirited regulators" who have "insisted on rules that serve
the public interest" -- Reed Hundt from the FCC, David Kessler from the FDA,
and Ann Bingaman, of the Justice Department's anti-trust division. Each
of these people worked in fields with powerful industries. "There is so
much money to be made in the tobacco business, the pharmaceutical business,
the telecom business, that it is easy to forget that abuses often occur."
"Government is now left with one oar -- regulation -- to promoted public
purposes. It would not be smart to throw that oar overboard."
Title: Hordes of Pols Elect to Change Channels
Source: Washington Post (D1)
Author: Howard Kurtz
Issue: Journalism
Description: Susan Molinari's move from politics to Saturday Morning News
Anchor is an indication of the breakdown of the dividing line between
politics and journalism. "Broadcast personalities once used their
prominence as a springboard into politics. How retro. Now it seems
politics has become just another route to becoming sufficiently famous to
land a high paying TV job." Pat Buchanan is on CNN's Crossfire. Oliver
North lost an election and got a radio show. Dee Dee Meyers went to CNBC.
George Stephanopoulous went to ABC.
Title: Hundt Closes; Hunt Opens
Source: Broadcasting&Cable (p.4)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: FCC/Death of Public Interest
Description: The race for the chairmanship is on. Early favorites (all with
odds of about 2-1) are Commissioner Susan Ness, FCC Counsel William Kennard,
White House Policy Advisor Kathleen Wallman, and former Hill staffer Ralph
Everett. Dark horses include Benton Foundation wonk Susan Goslee who's
concerns include the much under represented canine population. [Related
stories include broadcasters' and cable's reactions to Hundt resignation.
"For Once, Broadcasters Cheer Hundt's Move" gives a pretty clear indication
of their response]
Title: Hundt enlarges PSA complaint
Source: Broadcasting&Cable (p.6)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Public Service Media
Description: FCC Chairman Red Hundt is upset that the number of
network-produced public service announcements are dwindling and that local
stations aren't even airing all the PSAs that they receive. Hundt is
considering having the FCC write rules on airing PSAs. A broadcast industry
source said, however, that "Any hope he had of getting pet projects done is
gone now."
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