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MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Mad As Hell
PRIVACY
Court Rulings Weaken Privacy of Email
INTERNET
2003 Webby Award Winners Announced
The Man Pushing America to Get on the Internet Faster
Netizens, Prepare to Pay More
DIGITAL DIVIDE
ICT Empowers Lives in Rural India
MEDIA OWNERSHIP
MAD AS HELL
[Commentary] Dan Kennedy offers a full review of the media ownership
landscape. Almost unthinkably, Clear Channel Communications criticized last
week's FCC ruling due to the commission's move to slightly increase
oversight over the radio industry. While Clear Channel received attention
for its perceived pro-war news slant in the spring, Kennedy argues that
American culture has suffered from radio consolidation as well, noting that
30 years ago unknown bands could find airtime by simply sending their record
to locally-owned stations. As radio consultant Donna Halper put it, "If I
were a music director doing my job today, I couldn't do what I did in 1974."
Kennedy also discusses the myth that all big media are bad, pointing out
successful markets with grandfathered cross-ownership arrangements as well
as some independent stations that deliver poor news products. Citizens must
change the way in which they choose their news sources, the piece suggests,
quoting Steve Provizer of the Commonwealth Broadband Collaborative in
Massachusetts. "Will people choose their media on the basis of the fact that
it's an independent rather than a group owner?" he asks. "They never have."
SOURCE: The Boston Phoenix; AUTHOR: Dan Kennedy
http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/top/features/documents...
31075.htm
PRIVACY
COURT RULINGS WEAKEN PRIVACY OF EMAIL
Several recent US and Canadian court cases indicate that email accounts are
not nearly as private as many people believe. In New Brunswick, Canada, the
court ordered Aliant Telecom to give Loblaw Cos. Ltd. all information about
an email account that was allegedly used to send salary information about
senior managers in the company. Verizon Communications was recently forced
to give a US record industry trade group the names of online subscribers
accused of illegally copying music over the Internet. "I think you will find
more and more lawyers are quite comfortable seeking electronic evidence,"
said Michael Power, an Ottawa lawyer specializing in privacy issues.
Internet service providers and telephone companies "are faced on a global
basis with a deluge of requests from law enforcement and independent
watchdogs for the names of subscribers," said lawyer Mary Kirwan. Both
lawyers noted that a new federal privacy law requiring all companies to
secure confidential information comes into effect in January. Said Mr.
Power, "if you don't follow [security] benchmarks, you may be considered
negligent and then could suffer damages" under the new law.
SOURCE: globeandmail.com; AUTHOR: Paul Waldie
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030606.waliant0606/...
ory/Technology
INTERNET
2003 WEBBY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The International Academy of Digital Arts & Science honored the 2003
recipients of the Webby Award last week in its first completely online
awards ceremony. Among the winners were MoveOn.org (Best Politics),
AlterNet.org (Print+Zines) and indieWIRE (Best Film). All winners can be
viewed by category from the URL below.
SOURCE: WebbyAwards.com
http://www.webbyawards.com/main/press/press_releases/pr_060503.html
THE MAN PUSHING AMERICA TO GET ON THE INTERNET FASTER
As the top lobbyist for Intel Corporation, Peter K. Pitsch and a coalition
of technology companies seek financial incentives and other measures to
mitigate the risk of investing in high-speed networks. According to a recent
report, about one-third of American households with Internet access have
high-speed service, an increase of 50 percent from a year ago. In a February
2002 report, the FCC found that technology adoption was on pace. But
Brookings scholar Charles H. Ferguson disagrees. "The broadband story is a
general disaster," Mr. Ferguson said. Broadband access to homes is still too
limited, he added, "but the business broadband picture is just as important,
and even more disastrous." Aside from increased American productivity, the
technology industry sees much of its future growth connected to the
deployment of high-speed access. The topic of national broadband policy will
be a central point of discussion at the annual conference and trade show of
the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. The conference, which
ends June 11, attracts executives such as Microsoft's Bill Gates, AOL Time
Warner's Richard Parsons and Viacom's Mel Karmazin.
SOURCE: nytimes.com; AUTHOR: Matt Richtel]
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/09/technology/09PETE.html?ex=10
NETIZENS, PREPARE TO PAY MORE
[COMMENTARY] The FCC is considering levying an additional 9.1 percent tax on
the revenue of cable Internet service providers, with a ruling coming as
soon as the end of the summer. While the issue has not received much
attention in light of the high-profile media ownership and broadband
proceedings, the issue is a priority for Chairman Michael Powell and the
commission. The debate stems from the Universal Service Fund (USF) provision
of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which draws tax revenue from long
distance phone providers as well as DSL providers. Since cable modems are
considered "information services" as opposed to "telecommunications
services," the cable industry has been exempt from the tax, setting the
stage for a showdown between broadband competitors. While the commission
struggles to find a way to tax the cable providers without sweeping all
other information services under the USF carpet, Congress ought to consider
alternative means of bridging the rural telephony divide. With the
popularity and sinking costs of cellular phones, writer Declan McCullagh
argues that perhaps a different model is in order.
SOURCE: CNET News; AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh
http://news.com.com/2010-1071_3-1014229.html
DIGITAL DIVIDE
I.C.T. EMPOWERS LIVES IN RURAL INDIA
The year has seen many notable successes for information and communications
technology in rural India. Akshaya, a project of the Kerala government, has
established 565 technology centers with five computers each across the
Mallapuram district. The aim is to familiarize at least one person in each
family with computers and provide access to online content in the local
language. According to the mission coordinator, the plan is to set up 9,000
such centers all over Kerala. Mitra Technologies has been working on a
handicrafts e-trade center that would connect artisans in Orissa with
wholesale and retail buyers through an extranet B2B network. Another
innovative project is eSwasthya, launched by Bihar Institute of Economic
Studies. The pilot project is aimed at allowing the poor in Madhubani
district to gain access to better health at lower cost. Smart health cards
contain the patient's entire health history and can be accessed at local
community health centers.
SOURCE: Cyber India Online; AUTHOR: Nanda Kasabe
http://www.ciol.com/content/news/2003/103060511.asp
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