A service of the Benton Foundation (http://www.benton.org)
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MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Consumers Union Drums Up Support for Senate Action
SPAM
Study: Children Deluged with Spam
SPECTRUM
Commerce Secretary Evans Announces New Bush Administration Initiative
to Modernize and Improve
Management of the Nation's Airwaves
BROADBAND
High-Speed Internet Growth Slows, FCC Finds
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Technology Preserves Ancient Traditions
HP Investment Promotes East Baltimore Small Business Development
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MEDIA OWNERSHIP
CONSUMERS UNION DRUMS UP SUPPORT FOR SENATE ACTION
Public interest advocate Consumers Union has established an electronic
avenue for the public to influence next week's Senate Commerce Committee
vote on media ownership legislation. Senate bill S. 1046 would revert the
new 45% national broadcast ownership cap to its previous 35% level. The
Committee will also consider an amendment proposed by Senator Byron Dorgan
that would restore newspaper cross-ownership protections. More information
and an opportunity to take action can be found at the link below.
SOURCE: Consumers Union
http://capwiz.com/consumersunion/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=2444056
SPAM
STUDY: CHILDREN DELUGED WITH SPAM
According to a study released Monday by Applied Research, more than 80% of
Web users ages 7-18 receive inappropriate junk e-mail messages each day.
More than half of those surveyed reported that the messages made them feel
uncomfortable and offended. The report confirms the fears of parents and
legislators around the country who have pushed for tough anti-spam
legislation. Project sponsor Symantec, known in tech circles for their
security and anti-virus products, has taken an active role in protecting
Internet users from unsolicited e-mails. Symantec invested in anti-spam
start-up Brightmail in 2000, and the two companies collaborated on a
spam-blocking tool for ISPs.
SOURCE: CNET News; AUTHOR: Paul Festa
http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-1014951.html?tag=fd_top
SPECTRUM
COMMERCE SECRETARY EVANS ANNOUNCES NEW BUSH ADMINISTRATION INITIATIVE TO
MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF NATION'S AIRWAVES
Commerce Secretary Donald Evans announced last week a Bush Administration
initiative to update spectrum use policy for the 21st Century. "Spectrum is
a vital and limited national resource," Evans said. "It is crucial to job
creation, our economic growth and our national defense." Evans will head a
task force that will make recommendations on how to stimulate more efficient
government use of the spectrum. The task force will consist of
representatives from the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, the
FAA, NASA and other government users of the airwaves and is slated to meet
publicly with state and local officials and private sector entities to
solicit input.
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2003/Initiative060503.htm
BROADBAND
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET GROWTH SLOWS, FCC FINDS
The FCC reported yesterday that new high-speed Internet service
subscriptions grew 23% in the latter half of last year, indicating a slow
down in the growth of broadband. The study confirmed recent research from
the Pew Internet and American Life Project suggesting that most people who
have access to broadband and a desire to purchase it have done so. However,
many would-be subscribers find that it is not available in their area. The
FCC's report found that high-speed access is offered in 88% of US zip codes,
though the amount and level of service varies greatly.
[SOURCE: The Washington Post; AUTHOR: Reuters]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40249-2003Jun10.html
DIGITAL DIVIDE
TECHNOLOGY PRESERVES ANCIENT TRADITIONS
Slowly and painstakingly, the entire intellectual system of the various
clans indigenous to northern Australia's Elcho Island is being reconceived
in digital form and shaped into an elaborate, 42-level relational database.
Words, music, and dance-steps will become part of a living archive in the
software and servers of the Galiwinku Knowledge Center. The Northern
Territory Government is funding the pilot project, which opens June 12. The
database, prepared by Graeme Sawyer, is designed to capture the way the
Yolngu people think about the natural world. "They have an integrated
knowledge system," says Sawyer. "The aim was to deliver that from the minds
of the elders to the young." Aboriginal leaders feel their culture is
dying, hence the sense of urgency to record and map ancient knowledge.
"Knowledge preserves culture," says clan leader Joe Neparrnga Gumbula.
"Keeping this knowledge alive brings our young people back to life, people
will breathe again."
[SOURCE: Australian IT; AUTHOR: Nicolas Rothwell]
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,6569260%5E15397%5E%5Enbv
%5E,00.html
HP INVESTMENT PROMOTES EAST BALTIMORE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Baltimore's Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) today unveiled the Small
Business Development Institute (SBDI), part of HP's Digital Village program.
Approximately 15 small businesses selected by the SBDI will receive an HP
Small Business Productivity solution, which includes a notebook PC and
docking station, a monitor, a personal digital assistant and an all-in-one
printer. In addition, the businesses will have the opportunity to
participate in a 12-week training course with the University of Baltimore to
earn a Certificate of Entrepreneurship. "Our partnership with the SBRC will
help provide entrepreneurs with technology solutions and business education
to compete successfully in the digital economy," said Janiece Evans-Page,
director of e-inclusion and global solutions, HP Philanthropy and Education.
The Baltimore Digital Village is part of a growing global network of
communities HP partners with as part of its e-inclusion program, seeking to
provide people access to greater social and economic opportunities by
closing the gap between technology-empowered and technology-excluded
communities.
[SOURCE: Business Wire; CONTACT: Laura Wooster]
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?epi-content=NEWS...
W_POPUP_TYPE&newsId=20030611005121&newsLang=en&beanID=2133606841&viewID=news
_view_popup
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP TO HELP NARROW DIGITAL DIVIDE
The Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA's) Smart Community Initiative
will bring together volunteers from Sprint, the city of Tallahassee, Leon
County Schools and a number of other organizations to provide Internet
access, computer training, and other technology services. CONA uses its
website (econa.org) to inform Tallahassee residents about local government
decisions that will affect the community. CONA is also planning a program
called Neighborhood Link, through which residents can use the Internet to
find information ranging from contact information for community
organizations to garage sales. Travis Potter, newly elected CONA president,
hopes the city of Tallahassee will underwrite the project. Incorporated in
1980, CONA is an umbrella organization for 55 neighborood organizations
representing
10,000 homes.
[SOURCE: Tallahassee Democrat; AUTHOR: Garrett Horne]
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/local/6059599.htm
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