June 2005

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

LOBBYING
Washington

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

THE BATTLE OVER PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Public Broadcasters Face 'the Fight of Our Lives'
Opponents On Different Wavelengths
House Commerce Dems Back Noncoms
Republicans Say Restore CPB Funds
Pubcasters Say Funding Cuts Could 'Cripple' Digital Transition
Public Broadcasters' Tightrope Over Funds
Public Broadcasting Under Pressure
Bush's Broadcast Barbarians
Biden's Broadcast Connection

MEDIA
Back to the Drawing Board
Media Industry Poised to Grow
Red and Blue Media

DIGITAL TELEVISION
Generous Converter Box Subsidy Key To Broadcasters' 'Hard Date' Support
Stevens Postpones Hearing On DTV Transition

CABLE
Ending Cable Rate Regulation Top Priority for NCTA
McSlarrow Defends Private Cable Networks
Property-Tax Revision Would Soak Mass. Subs

MUNICIPAL NETWORKS
Phone Giants Are Lobbying Hard To Block Towns' Wireless Plans
Municipal Networks Find Opposition at Chamber Event

QUICKLY -- Martin Announces Staff Chances; Student testing is causing a
shift in ed-tech spending; Too few women and minorities in tech; Brain sees
violent video games as real; How the Web changes your reading habits; Union
launches 'Super-service' campaign; The Movie Theater in Your Pocket; APC
Betinho Prize

THE BATTLE OVER PUBLIC BROADCASTING

PUBLIC BROADCASTERS FACE 'THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES'
On the eve of a vote crucial to its financial health, the public television
system is being buffeted by political and economic forces that have pushed
it into a situation many say is one of the most precarious in its 38-year
history. "In my opinion, this is probably the most tumultuous time that we
have had," said David Hosley, general manager of KVIE, Sacramento's public
television station, who has worked in the field for 18 years. "This is much
more serious, much more divisive, and I'm fearful that it may be more
successful in harming America's public broadcasting system." The House of
Representatives is considering a measure today that would nearly halve
federal funding for public television -- a move that broadcasters predict
would force the closure of small, rural stations and curtail production
money for programming. At the same time, the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting, the private agency that distributes federal funds, is
embroiled in a highly unusual partisan struggle involving allegations of
secret contracts with Republican lobbyists and a consultant who graded
former "Now" host Bill Moyers on political bias. Meanwhile, PBS faces
increased competition from the expanding world of cable, which offers the
very history, arts and children's programs that were once its sole domain.
And its own prime-time audience, at an average age of 61, is nearing
retirement.
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Matea Gold]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-et-pbs23jun23,1,508454...
(requires registration)

OPPONENTS ON DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS
People who work in public television and radio bristle whenever they're
accused of favoring liberal ideas and views over conservative ones. Public
broadcasting, they say, is committed to presenting diverse opinions. Yet as
the House of Representatives prepares to vote on the biggest federal
cutback ever for public broadcasting, there isn't much diversity to be
found among the people on either side. The battle lines over public
broadcasting have been drawn in sharply partisan fashion: Democrats in
Congress and liberal organizations have emerged as public broadcasting's
most visible and vocal supporters, while Republicans and conservatives have
stayed mostly silent. Public broadcasters point out that such nonpartisan
organizations as the National PTA, the American Academy of Pediatrics and
the American Psychological Association have recently joined the fight on
their side. But the inability to find many friends across the aisle has
been a source of frustration to broadcasters because they say it obscures
the breadth of public backing and hardens the partisan lines. "We know
there's Republican support out there, and we, too, are surprised that it
hasn't been more vocal," said Lea Sloan, a spokeswoman for PBS. In a column
in the Wall Street Journal, former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan wrote
that "arguing over whether PBS is and has long been politically liberal is
like arguing over whether the ocean is and has long been wet. Of course it
is, and everyone knows it." Noonan advocated that Washington support public
broadcasting -- but only if it drops its current-affairs programs and
sticks to history and cultural fare. Another Republican, a House aide, said
yesterday that "NPR's liberal bent is obvious. There's a general lack of
sympathy [among Republicans] for that reason." This aide, who asked not to
be identified because his boss is trying to avoid publicly criticizing
public broadcasting, recounted traveling through the South recently and
hearing "six Christian radio stations and NPR. The contrast was obvious.
There's a real cultural dissonance there."
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Paul Farhi]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR200506...
(requires registration)

HOUSE COMMERCE DEMS BACK NONCOMS
The latest salvo in the battle over the future of public broadcasting, the
Democrats on the House Commerce Committee have sent a letter to the
chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, California
Republican Jerry Lewis and Democrat David Obey, asking that full funding be
restored to Public TV and radio. Republican members were not approached
about joining the effort, according to a committee staffer. The Democrats
argue that zeroing out some programs and reducing funds for others will
devastate local stations and communities.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA610110?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

REPUBLICANS SAY RESTORE CPB FUNDS
Ouch! Who touched the 3rd rail? Iowa Republican Jim Leach has officially
joined the Democrat-led push to restore funds to the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting, according to a Democratic appropriations committee staffer.
Another Republican House member, Chris Shays of Connecticut, also supports
restoring the funds and, according to a staffer, expects to support the
amendment, depending on what the offsets will be (to give the money to CPB,
it must be taken from somewhere else in the budget). Wisconsin Democrat
David Obey, whose amendment to the appropriations bill restored CPB funding
for 2008 last week, plans to introduce a second amendment to the bill
either Thursday or Friday to restore the $100 million cut from CPB's 2006
appropriation. The amendment does not call for restoring funds to the Ready
to Learn (RTL) kids programming grant, the digital transition funds, or the
interconnections monies, all of which were eliminated by the same
Republican committee majorities. Why not include those in the amendment?
"Money is just too tight," said the staffer. Restoring the 2008 funds was
relatively easy, since it did not have to offset. But the RTL and other
cuts are from 2006. "You can only add money to one program by taking it
away from another in the same bill. This bill is health, job training,
education, and such, and all the programs face steep cuts.There just isn't
the fat to cut."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA610230?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

PUBCASTERS SAY FUNDING CUTS COULD 'CRIPPLE' DIGITAL TRANSITION
In a press conference on the eve of a House vote on public broadcasting
funding, PBS President Pat Mitchell highlighted the crisis public TV and
radio face if the House approves cuts of nearly 50% proposed by the
Appropriations Committee. Ms. Mitchell called it a "critical moment" for
public broadcasting, whose future would be "weakened" if the House votes
deep cuts, she said. The cuts would mean 50% operating budget drops for
some small and rural stations, she said, with some going dark. And there
would be no new funding for shows like Sesame Street, she added. Public
broadcasters also warned members of Congress that the cuts would also
"cripple" public TV's digital conversion. That would, in turn, delay the
digital transition, pushing back a spectrum auction generating billions in
proceeds for the government.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Dinesh Kumar]
(Not available online)

PUBLIC BROADCASTERS' TIGHTROPE OVER FUNDS
Public radio stations are airing both promotional spots asking for
listeners to oppose cuts in federal support and news coverage/discussions
of those same cuts. That jarring juxtaposition of news programming and
self-interested promotion exemplifies the fine line that public
broadcasters are walking as they mobilize to combat threats to their
financing. It is always a delicate task for a news organization to cover
itself. But when the organization in question is financed in part by the
government, when the news centers on the prospects for that money and when
a station floods its airwaves with spots urging viewers or listeners to
contact their Congressional representatives, the undertaking becomes much
more challenging.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Lorne Manly]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/arts/television/23publ.html
(requires registration)

PUBLIC BROADCASTING UNDER PRESSURE
The House of Representatives is expected to vote by the end of the week on
an appropriations bill that includes a 45 percent cut in federal funding of
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's. The funding fight is just the
latest in a string of debates that have erupted over the tenor and future
of public broadcasting.
[SOURCE: Online NewsHour]
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june05/cpb_6-21.html

BUSH'S BROADCAST BARBARIANS
[Commentary] It's time to defend public television again, but let's demand
something better in return.
[SOURCE: Seattle Weekly, AUTHOR: Knute Berger]
http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0525/050622_news_mossback.php

BIDEN'S BROADCAST CONNECTION
[Commentary] Sen Joe Biden (D-MD) is holding up the nomination of Dina
Habib Powell as the State Department officer named to use public diplomacy
to improve U.S. relations in the Middle East. He wants to trade his hold
for the renomination of radio tycoon Norman Pattiz for the Broadcasting
Board of Governors (BBG). Pattiz, founder and chairman of the Westwood One
radio conglomerate, was a generous Democratic contributor in 2000 ($360,000
for that election cycle alone) and an overnight White House guest.
President Bill Clinton named him that year to the BBG, which oversees the
U.S. government's worldwide radio and television broadcasting services.
Bush reappointed Pattiz in 2002 as part of a conventional package deal to
get the Senate, then under Democratic control, to confirm a Republican
nominee to the board: conservative Kenneth Tomlinson, former editor of
Reader's Digest and the Reagan-era head of the Voice of America. Pattiz and
Tomlinson, now the BBG chairman, are no marriage made in heaven. According
to sources, Tomlinson viewed Pattiz as a Hollywood control freak (it takes
a Washington control freak to know one). Pattiz played a leading role in
establishing a radio music service to the Arab world, but associates say he
was not the dominant force.
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Robert D. Novak ]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/)
(requires registration)

MEDIA

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
The Newspaper Association of America vows to "fill the record with all of
the good data" if the Federal Communications Commission begins a new
proceeding on the newspaper-broadcast crossownership ban. That includes
studies and statistics showing that newspaper-owned television stations
produce more and better quality programs than stations owned by other
operators, says NAA President and Chief Executive Officer John F. Sturm.
Critics, who include interest groups on both sides of the political aisle,
argue that allowing a single entity to own a newspaper and a television
station or radio station in the same market would dangerously limit the
number of news options available to consumers and reduce the amount of
coverage. With the Supreme Court declining to review the case, sending the
media ownership rules back to the FCC, Chairman Kevin Martin has a number
of options before him, according to Howard Liberman, a partner in
communications law at Drinker Biddle's Washington office. Given the
likelihood that any future FCC decision on cross-ownership will be
appealed, Liberman says, Chairman Martin could open the issue up for public
comment, analyze the whole record and, when the matter goes back to the 3rd
Circuit, present further rationalization for the changes. Another option is
adopting a different measurement approach than the Diversity Index. The FCC
could also better articulate how the Internet is contributing to diversity,
and point out the new forms of news distribution -- such as blogging and
podcasting -- that have gained traction since 2003.
[SOURCE: Presstime Magazine, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.naa.org/Presstime/PTArtPage.cfm?AID=7065

MEDIA INDUSTRY POISED TO GROW
A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers released Wednesday provides a broad
look at the media and entertainment industries -- covering everything from
film to newspapers to television to casino gambling, and including
advertising revenue as well as user fees. It predicts spending will rise to
$1.8 trillion in 2009 from $1.3 trillion last year. That would represent an
annual growth rate of 7.3 percent, down slightly from 7.8 percent last year
but up sharply from growth rates of 2.4 percent, 4.7 percent and 5.4
percent from 2001 through 2003, respectively. "The entertainment and media
industry continues to display an extraordinary ability to reinvent itself
and create new revenue streams through innovative offerings that hardly
existed as recently as 2000," said Wayne Jackson, head of
PricewaterhouseCoopers' entertainment and media practice. Indeed, the
report provides plenty of fodder for advocates of new media, predicting
that spending on Internet advertising and access charges will rise at an
annual rate of 16.9 percent globally over the next five years. For the "old
media," however, there are further reasons to fret: Spending on newspaper
subscriptions and advertising will rise at only a 3.3 percent annual rate,
the report predicts, with book publishing doing only slightly better at 3.4
percent.
[SOURCE: International Herald Tribune, AUTHOR: Eric Pfanner]
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/21/yourmoney/media.php

RED AND BLUE MEDIA
[Commentary] The New School's Carol Wilder offered a provocative
commencement address this year on "Red and Blue Media." -- If it is true
that,"facts do speak, but not for themselves," who is doing the talking?
We're all familiar with the "red and blue states" designation. Now it seems
we have red and blue "facts." Robert Kennedy Jr. wrote in response to this
that "the Democrats lost the presidential contest not because of a
philosophical chasm between red and blue states, but due to an information
deficit caused by a breakdown in our national media."
[SOURCE: MediaChannel.org, AUTHOR: Carol Wilder, New School University]
http://www.mediachannel.org/views/dissector/affalert398.shtml

DIGITAL TELEVISION

GENEROUS CONVERTER BOX SUMMARY KEY TO BROADCASTERS' 'HARD DATE' SUPPORT
Broadcasters have told members of Congress that the main obstacle hampering
their support for a measure to set a fixed date for the end of analog
television is the lack of a generous subsidy program for converter boxes.
Budgetary issues are clouding the debate on Capitol Hill over how and when
to approve draft legislation by House Energy and Commerce Committee
Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, setting Dec. 31, 2008, as the hard date for
the transition to digital television. Barton initially was reluctant to
allocate more than $500 million for converter boxes, far less than the $2.5
billion sought by committee Democrats. Viewers who do not subscribe to
cable or satellite will need either a new television set or a converter box
to receive digital signals on a traditional analog television set. Until
recently, Barton wanted to hold the subsidy at $500 million by limiting the
program to over-the-air households and to those at 200 percent of the
poverty line or lower. Sources close to the Energy and Commerce panel said
Barton is now prepared to accept a $900 million allocation for converter
boxes, which is seen as sufficient to provide a free or subsidized box to
every over-the-air household. Homes that currently receive cable and
satellite service would not be eligible. The Democrats' $2.5 billion figure
is designed to permit all viewers to receive subsidized boxes. The
Democrats say it would be unrealistically limited and unduly complicated to
administer a system that checks an individual's income or pay-television
subscription status in return for providing a converter box.
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-FPOC1119473307073.html

STEVENS POSTPONES HEARING ON DTV TRANSITION
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has postponed a hearing
originally scheduled for next Wednesday, June 29 on proposals to expedite
the transition to digital television broadcasts, a Commerce Committee aide
said Tuesday. The aide said committee members want to hold a "listening
session" with consumer groups before hearing testimony on the DTV
transition. No new date has been set for that hearing, or for a hearing
originally scheduled for this week on proposed telecom industry mergers.
[SOURCE: CongressDaily, AUTHOR: Molly M. Peterson]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-FUJP1119465581640.html

CABLE

ENDING CABLE RATE REGULATION TOP PRIORITY FOR NCTA
Cable operators, preparing for telecom and franchise law rewrites, have set
rate deregulation on basic cable
and equipment rates as a top legislative priority, NCTA President Kyle
McSlarrow said. Facing potential congressional
action on national franchising later this year, the industry doesn't need
to make concessions that would harm cable
operators to get what it wants, he said.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Jonathan Make]
(Not available online)

McSLARROW DEFENDS PRIVATE CABLE NETWORKS
In comments partly aimed at TV stations looking for a free ride on cable
systems, National Cable & Telecommunications Association president Kyle
McSlarrow said Wednesday that cable's inability to control access to its
facilities directly impacts investment and limits consumer choice. "Every
time someone thinks they can just take a slice of bandwidth here, or a
slice there -- whether it's dual carriage or multicasting or something else
-- you reduce the incentives to invest, you pick winners and losers for
carriage on a pipe that does not have unlimited bandwidth, and you reduce
the real freedom of the consumer," McSlarrow said in a speech to the Media
Institute, an industry-funded First Amendment organization.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA610241.html?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* See McSlarrow's comments, "Cable Freedom" (and who can stand against
freedom?):
http://www.ncta.com/press/press.cfm?PRid=606&showArticles=ok

PROPERTY-TAX REVISION WOULD SOAK MASS. SUBS
Massachusetts consumers could face a substantial increase in their cable
and other telecom bills if the state's legislature passes a property-tax
revision, business leaders testified yesterday. Telephone companies and
cable operators have partnered in an attempt to fight off House Bill 2408,
which would apply property taxes to infrastructure such as poles,
underground conduits and wires. Cities -- especially Boston -- have
spearheaded the proposal, because their revenues have declined as telephone
companies accelerated depreciation of equipment, or transferred ownership
titles out of state, to avoid taxes. The law is needed to close
"loopholes," according to municipal officials.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA610117.html?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

MUNICIPAL NETWORKS

PHONE GIANTS ARE LOBBYING HARD TO BLOCK TOWNS' WIRELESS PLANS
SBC Communications and other big phone companies say that cities should not
be allowed to subsidize high-speed Internet connections -- even in areas
where the companies don't yet offer the service. Since January, lawmakers
in at least 14 states and the U.S. Congress have introduced bills to
restrict local governments' ability to fill the gap. On the other side of
the fight are cities, Intel, Dell, Texas Instruments and other tech
companies. They stand to gain from the sale of chips, wireless-enabled
laptops and other products that use fast Internet networks. Around the
country, governments are contracting with providers other than the local
telephone or cable companies to build or run the networks using Wi-Fi
technology or fiber-optic cables. Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity,
provides high-speed access to the Web. Traditional telecom providers view
such projects as a threat and are pushing for laws to curtail them. While
the phone and cable companies control the valuable "last mile" wired
connections into homes and offices, the wireless networks use antennas to
bypass those lines and can connect directly to the networks of
long-distance companies or fiber-optic providers. Plans for such
government-coordinated networks are spreading from rural America to larger
cities including Philadelphia and San Francisco, and big phone companies
have stepped up their efforts to stop them. The battle is increasingly
significant as telephone companies like SBC count on their high-speed Web
access businesses -- which generated roughly $5 billion in revenue last
year, nearly double the amount two years earlier -- to offset declines in
their traditional telephone operations. The telecom providers' main tool in
fighting competition from new wireless technologies is an old-fashioned
one: lobbying muscle. The nation's phone companies, which themselves
received more than $5 billion last year in federal subsidies, argue that
government partnerships with telecom providers represent unfair competition.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jesse Drucker jesse.drucker( at )wsj.com
and Li Yuan li.yuan( at )wsj.com]
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111948429964367053,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)
* Should cities be ISPs?
http://news.com.com/Should+cities+be+ISPs/2100-1034_3-5758262.html?tag=n...
* Debate Flares Anew Over Muncipal Broadband Networks
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-LXUG1119473055651.html

MUNICIPAL NETWORKS FIND OPPOSITION AT CHAMBER EVENT
Municipalities should leave broadband networks to the private sector when
competition is healthy, said financial and regulatory consultant Michael
Balhoff in a debate at the Chamber of Commerce Wed. Although the Chamber
had speakers on both sides of the issue, many in the business audience
clearly seemed to oppose municipal networks. Introducing municipal networks
would take significant amounts of business away from telephone companies,
slowing or halting competition in the community, Mr. Balhoff said.
Supporters of the new networks, such as
attorney James Baller, say the issue isn't one of private versus public
sector, but rather a way to push lagging
regions forward. A ubiquitous broadband network would connect a large
percentage of the population unable
to afford Internet services.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tim Warren]
(Not available online)

QUICKLY

MARTIN ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES
On Wednesday, FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin named Samuel Feder as Acting
General Counsel, Matthew Berry as Acting Deputy General Counsel and Emily
Willeford as Special Advisor for International Issues and Deputy Chief of
Staff. Sam Feder most recently served as the Chairman's Legal Advisor for
spectrum and international issues. He previously served as
then-Commissioner Martin's Legal Advisor for common carrier matters and as
a Legal Advisor to Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth. Before joining the
Commission, Mr. Feder worked at Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, and at
Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd & Evans, where he focused on
telecommunications and appellate litigation. He has also served as a trial
attorney in the Federal Programs Branch of the Department of Justice,
specializing in constitutional and administrative law, and as a law clerk
to the Honorable Edward R. Becker of the United States Court of Appeals for
the Third Circuit. Mr. Feder is a graduate of the College of William and
Mary and received his J.D, summa cum laude, from the University of Michigan
Law School. Matthew Berry most recently served as Counselor to the
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy in the U.S.
Department of Justice, where he earned the Department's John Marshall Award
for providing legal advice related to counter-terrorism policy. Ms.
Willeford returns to the Commission after having most recently served as
the Special Assistant in the Office of the Senior Advisor at the White
House. She has previously served as Special Assistant to then-Commissioner
Martin, an Assistant to the Deputy Director of the White House National
Economic Council, and Legal Assistant on the Bush-Cheney 2000 campaign.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259512A1.doc

STUDENT TESTING CAUSES SHIFT IN TECH SPENDING
Public schools pressured to keep up with state and federal testing
requirements are spending millions on high-tech systems to track and
catalog their kids at the same time the federal government is cutting
funding for the very same technology. The result: Instead of buying laptops
for students or updating old hardware, school systems are raiding
technology budgets to pay for data systems that keep track of test scores.
The mammoth systems, which give teachers instant access to student
information and pinpoint weak academic areas, are fast becoming part of the
education landscape nationwide.
[SOURCE: San Antonio Express-News, AUTHOR: Jenny LaCoste-Caputo
jcaputo( at )express-news.net]
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA062105.01A.hi-tech_cl...

STUDY FINDS TOO FEW WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN TECH
The percentage of women in the information technology work force declined
from a high of 41% in 1996 to 32.4% in 2004, according to a report
Wednesday by the Information Technology Association of America trade group.
The shrinking representation of women is due largely to the fact that one
out of every three women in the IT work force falls into administrative job
categories that have experienced significant overall declines in recent
years, the ITAA said. But even after excluding those administrative
categories -- such as "data entry keyer" -- from analysis, the report finds
that women's share of the IT work force has declined, from 32.4% to 24.9%.
The ITAA's study suggested programs to increase the participation of women
and minorities in the computer field are not making much, if any, headway.
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Ed Frauenheim]
http://news.com.com/Study+finds+too+few+women+and+minorities+in+tech/210...

STUDY: BRAIN SEES VIOLENT GAMES AS REAL
The brains of players of violent video games react as if the violence were
real, a study by Klaus Mathiak of the University of Aachen in Germany has
suggested.
[SOURCE: Reuters]
http://news.com.com/Study+Brain+sees+violent+video+games+as+real/2100-10...

HOW WEB CHANGES YOUR READING HABITS
Computers and the Internet are changing the way people read. Thus far,
search engines and hyperlinks, those underlined words or phrases that when
clicked take you to a new Web page, have turned the online literary voyage
into a kind of U-pick island-hop. Far more is in store. A group at the Palo
Alto Research Center (PARC) is developing what it calls ScentHighlights,
which uses artificial intelligence to go beyond highlighting your search
words in a text. It also highlights whole sections of text it determines
you should pay special attention to, as well as other words or phrases that
it predicts you'll be interested in. ScentHighlights gets its name from a
theory that proposes that people forage for information much in the same
way that animals forage in the wild. ScentHighlights uncovers the "scent"
that bits of information give off and attract readers to it.
[SOURCE: Christian Science Monitor , AUTHOR: Gregory M. Lamb]
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0623/p13s02-stin.html

'SUPER-SERVICE' CAMPAIGN STARTED BY TELUS UNION
More than 13,000 Telus unionized employees are escalating a work-to-rule
campaign, launching a so-called "super-service" tactic that means workers
will essentially take longer to do their jobs. Bruce Bell, president of the
Telecommunications Workers, said the "super-service" campaign means workers
will take extra time to make sure customers get great service. Workers will
also obey all safety procedures, including taking the safest but not
necessarily shortest route to a job site, Bell said in an interview. "The
company has been stepping up their job action on us so we've decided to
step some back on them," Bell said Monday. Drew McArthur, Telus
vice-president of corporate affairs, said he's concerned that customers may
be inconvenienced by the campaign if workers spend longer than they need
with some customers to the detriment of others.
[SOURCE: Vancouver Sun, AUTHOR: Fiona Anderson]
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id...

THE MOVIE THEATER IN YOUR POCKET
The phone's small screen could perhaps become as big as the Big Screen some
day. With 2 billion subscribers worldwide, mobile phones represent a much
greater market for film than movie theaters or PCs. No wonder studios,
distributors, and independent animators and filmmakers are streaming into
this virtual film genre.
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Olga Kharif]
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2005/tc20050622_9670_t...

THE APC BETINHO COMMUNICATIONS PRIZE IN 2005: Community connectivity for
economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean
In 2005, the APC Betinho Prize will be offered in recognition of community
initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean that use the Internet and
other networks to access markets, skills and opportunities to derive real
economic benefits.
APC is looking for ICT initiatives that:
* make a positive economic contribution to the community
* are driven and developed in Latin America and the Caribbean
* can demonstrate a sustainable use of technology
THE PRIZE IS OPEN TO: Civil society organizations, community-based groups,
networks, and social movements anywhere in LAC. Applications will be
accepted in Spanish, Portuguese and English.
THE PRIZE: USD$ 7,500.00 may be shared amongst up to three winning initiatives.
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: October 16, 2005
MORE ABOUT THE APC BETINHO PRIZE: http://www.apc.org/english/betinho or
write to betinho( at )apc.org
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

THE BATTLE OVER PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Broadcasting Board Delays Vote on CEO
PBS Chairman Cites Partisan Pressure
CPB Chairman's Emails Cite White House Authority
Public Broadcasting Monitor Had Worked at Center
Founded by Conservatives
Slash & Burn
Public Broadcasters Air Ads Against Federal Cutback
Charren, Markey Re-Team to Fight Cuts

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org/calendar.htm

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Media Ownership Case
Early Reaction to Supreme Court Decision

LEGISLATION
McCain Pushes Analog Reclamation Bill
Stevens: Time's Up in '09
NRB Opposes DTV Legislation
Municipal Broadband Bill Draws Consumer Opposition
Public Broadcasting's $20 Billion Pitch

LAST WEEK (...OR, WHY I CAN'T MISS A NEWS CYCLE)
Panel Would Cut Public Broadcasting Aid
Stevens Aide Withdraws As Candidate For FCC
FCC Modifies Digital Tuner Requirements to Advance DTV Transition
FCC Official Vows Tougher Enforcement of DTV Tuner Mandate
FCC Reaffirms Rules for Hearing Aid Compatible Digital Wireless Telephones
FCC Moves Closer to Auctioning Spectrum for Advanced Wireless Services

QUICKLY -- Viewers Want VNR IDs; TV Debates: Still Beyond the Fringe; Who's
a Journalist?; Shapiro, NAB: Almost Strange Bedfellows?

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

SUPREME COURT REFUSES TO HEAR MEDIA OWNERSHIP CASE
The U.S. Supreme Court won't hear broadcaster arguments to appeal a 3rd
U.S. Appeals Circuit, Philadelphia, order remanding FCC media ownership
regulations for agency review. Last June's remand order negated new FCC
rules that would have significantly loosened media ownership restrictions
on TV and newspapers. The Supreme
Court ruling throws those rules back to the FCC. The Tribune Co., News
Corp.'s Fox, Viacom's CBS and GE's NBC asked the high court to review the
case. The networks urged an overturn of Red Lion, a 1969 Supreme Court
decision that is the basis for many radio and TV industry rules. The Media
Access Project (MAP) said it wasn't surprised by the Supreme Court
decision. "Even the Dept. of Justice and the FCC agreed that this case
wasn't worthy of Supreme Court Review," MAP President Andrew Schwartzman
said. But he went on to caution: "I expect difficult fights ahead.
Chairman Martin has signaled that he will try to divide the media ownership
proceeding into several pieces to reduce its visibility."
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Tania Panczyk-Collins]
(Not available online)
* High Court Leaves Ownership Limits In Media to FCC
Chairman Kevin Martin is expected to advocate relaxing media-ownership
limits, particularly for newspaper publishers. Chairman Martin is likely to
seek public comment on the matter next month. Although Chairman Martin
privately had argued against taking a broad approach to overhauling
media-ownership limits in 2003, he is now likely to deal with both
newspaper and broadcast cross-ownership and local-television ownership caps
together, since those are the major issues left to be resolved.
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111868229749458160,00.html?mod=todays...
(requires subscription)
* NAA Undaunted By Supreme Court Cross-Ownership Ruling
The Newspaper Association of America has been one of many organizations and
media companies fighting for the FCC's loosened media ownership rules --
and it will now take that fight back to the FCC. Prudential Equity Research
released a note Monday predicting that it will take nine to 12 months
minimum before the FCC issues new media ownership rules.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
* Supremes Won't Review Ownership Rules
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton & Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA607951?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* High Court Refuses Ownership Cases
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA608128.html?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* Limits on Media Ownership Stand
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/13/AR200506...
* High court won't hear media case
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050614/fcc14.art.htm
* Justices Decline to Hear FCC Media Case
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-fccmedia14jun14,1,538...
* High Court Ruling May Reignite Media Ownership Debate
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-QAVP1118694849326.html

EARLY REACTION TO SUPREME COURT DECISION
At the FCC --
* Chairman Martin: "I am now looking forward to working with all of my
colleagues as we reevaluate our media ownership rules consistent with the
Third Circuit's guidance and our statutory obligations."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259294A1.doc
* Commissioner Copps: "The ball is clearly back in the Commission's
court. The FCC has a fresh opportunity now to come up with a set of rules
to encourage localism, competition, and diversity in our media. If we work
together, conduct outreach to engage the American people, and gather a more
complete record, I am confident of our ability to craft rules that will
withstand judicial scrutiny and the scrutiny of the American people. I am
ready to roll up my sleeves and work with my colleagues to get the job done."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259295A1.doc
* Commissioner Adelstein: "This decision is a rare victory for the public
over some of the most powerful corporations in America. The American
public is concerned about concentration in the media, and our court system
has rightly responded. The court's decision puts the issue of media
consolidation right back in the FCC's hands and gives us an opportunity for
a fresh start, so we better get it right this time. We need to be very
careful because once we allow greater media concentration, we can't put the
toothpaste back in the tube. We can't let a handful of media giants
dominate the discourse in any community. Learning from the backlash against
the rules last time, we now need to involve the public and Congress more
fully in our deliberations. We need to hold public hearings across the
country, and call for more studies from experts and academics. I look
forward to working with Chairman Martin and all of my colleagues on a
bipartisan basis to fix the rules so they comply with the court order. We
need a comprehensive response that recognizes our media ownership rules
work together to prevent a single owner from gaining too much control over
what the American people see, hear and read."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259293A1.doc

From Advocacy Groups --
* Consumers Union: "The Supreme Court today reaffirmed what we already knew
-- the FCC went too far in permitting the mergers between dominant local
newspapers and TV stations, the most important sources of local news and
information. This decision is a clear signal to the FCC that any change in
media ownership rules must reflect today's environment and not a zealous,
overreaching deregulation agenda. Consumers have the right to a diverse and
independent media, covering a range of issues and presenting different
points of view. Today's decision helps ensure that what consumers read in
the morning newspaper isn't verbatim what they see on the 6 o'clock news.
While this decision is good news for consumers, the battle over media
ownership is far from over. We must remain vigilant to ensure efforts to
allow a few companies to dominate the major sources of local news and
information don't succeed. We are extremely hopeful the new FCC chairman
will revisit these issues with a better understanding of how important a
diverse and independent local media is to a community."
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_telecom_and_utilities/002395.html...
* Free Press: "The brazen attempt to loosen media ownership restrictions by
the big media corporations and their cronies at the FCC now has been
definitively rejected by the courts and the American people. Will the FCC
use this rebuke as an opportunity to institute media policy that reflects
the wishes of the millions and millions of Americans who oppose greater
media consolidation? Or will the majority on the commission simply try to
sneak in the same indefensible policies through the back door? The public
will be watching very closely. FCC leadership -- including whoever fills
the vacant seat of the commission -- should heed the call by Commissioners
Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein for nationwide public hearings on
media ownership before taking up these rules again. Decisions on the future
of our media system must reflect the will of the American public -- not
just the whims of the big media moguls. Such monumental decisions should
not be made behind closed doors in Washington."
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=74

LEGISLATION

MCCAIN PUSHES ANALOG RECLAMATION BILL
Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) will unveil today
legislation aimed at reclaiming broadcast TV spectrum and handing it over
to public safety departments and other new users by Jan. 1, 2009. Sens
McCain and Lieberman have titled their bill the "Save Lives Act," short for
Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to Improve
Vital Emergency Services Act. Sen McCain will hold a press conference
Tuesday afternoon to promote the bill. He will be joined by Thomas Kean,
chairman of the 9/11 Commission, which urged Congress to hand more
communications spectrum to local emergency departments after his panel
discovered that crowded emergency radio bands prevented New York City
police and fire personnel from communicating adequately during the 2001
terrorist attacks. The bill will get a hearing June 29, along with
legislation expected to be introduced soon by Sen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
(see following story).
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608133?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

STEVENS: TIME'S UP IN '09
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and House
counterpart Joe Barton (R-TX) apparently agree that the transition to
digital-only television should be completed by January 1, 2009. Sen Stevens
is working on digital television legislation -- and gathering support for
it. He said he expects a DTV bill to reach the White House by October at
the latest. A decade ago, TV stations received digital licenses to provide
HDTV and other advanced services. The federal government wants to reclaim
the analog spectrum for reallocation to public safety groups and to
wireless broadband providers. Analog spectrum auctions could generate
between $10 billion and $30 billion for the U.S. Treasury, according to
private estimates. The imposition of a so-called hard date would replace
current law, which allows TV stations to keep both licenses until 85% of
local households have acquired digital reception equipment. The 85% test
has come under fire as unnecessarily prolonging the transition.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA607843.html?display=Policy&referra...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

NRB OPPOSES DTV LEGISLATION
The National Religious Broadcasters opposes proposed digital television
legislation on three grounds: 1) Dual carriage -- the requirement that
mustcarry stations receive both digital and analog carriage on cable
systems should be extended to 2013, "at a minimum," the group argues, 2)
Multicast must carry -- "We believe a provision for multicast must-carry is
an essential (yet currently missing) component of this legislation" because
without multicasting, carriage opportunities for religious programming are
"marginalized," and 3) Converter box subsidy -- lack of a subsidy provision
will leave many sets dark, a "significant adverse
impact on our programs."
[SOURCE: Communications Daily]
(Not available online)
See also:
* NRB Opposes DTV Draft Bill
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608149?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

MUNICIPAL BROADBAND BILL DRAWS CONSUMER OPPOSITION
More consumer and high-tech advocates spoke out Monday against a bill to
bar municipal governments from offering broadband Internet service except
to remedy market failures. The bill (HR-2726), introduced by Rep. Sessions
(R-TX), a former 16-year executive at SBC predecessor Southwestern Bell
Telephone, is "an outrage" and a "smack in the face" for Texans, whose
state legislature thwarted recent attempts at passing a similar bill, said
Mark Cooper, Research Director for the Consumer Federation of America.
According to Cooper and Free Press, more than 100 telecom lobbyists
bombarded legislators, but defenders of public broadband and legislative
allies held firm against the proposed law in Texas. "[Sessions] wants to
jump in and see if the feds are willing to do SBC's bidding if the state
won't," Cooper said. Backers of measures to keep municipalities from
providing high-speed Internet, like SBC and BellSouth, argue that
government gets special treatment and tax breaks. But Cooper said these
systems won't require subsidies since they provide services in lieu of
taxes. "What they give back to the people is equal to or greater than what
the telephone companies give back," he said. Cooper noted that just as
electricity and roadways are public services, "these are the streets and
highways of the 21st century." He accused private carriers of doing a poor
job of making broadband available to rural and underserved populations.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Andrew Noyes]
(Not available online)
See also --
* Rep. Sessions Lends A Hand To SBC
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-QCTQ1118693221810.html

PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S $20 BILLION PITCH
Budget battles (see following story) and the ongoing political food fight
over the GOP's alleged attempt to stamp out liberal programming on PBS has
left the government's willingness to support public broadcasting in the
future open to doubt. But Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) has gained bi-partisan
support for a bill that would create a $20 billion trust fund that would
support public broadcasting. The legislation, dubbed the Digital
Opportunities Investment Trust, would create monies that could be used to
help stations develop new educational programming and distance-learning
technology as well as for digitizing content in libraries and creating
worker training and educational software. The legislation calls for 30% of
the proceeds from spectrum auctions to be earmarked for the fund.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA607814?display=News&referral=...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

LAST WEEK (...OR, WHY I CAN'T MISS A NEWS CYCLE)

PANEL WOULD CUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING AID
A House Appropriations panel on Thursday approved a spending bill that
would cut the budget for public television and radio nearly in half and
eliminate a $23 million federal program that has provided some money for
producing children's shows that include "Sesame Street," "Clifford the Big
Red Dog," "Between the Lions" and "Dragon Tales." By a voice vote, the
House Appropriations subcommittee adopted a measure that would reduce the
financing of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the organization that
directs taxpayer dollars to public television and radio, to $300 million
from $400 million. The subcommittee also eliminated $39 million that
stations say they need to convert to digital programming and $50 million
for upgrading aging satellite technology that is the backbone of the PBS
network. The cuts in financing went significantly beyond those requested by
the White House and are likely to be approved next week by the full
Appropriations Committee and then by the House. Lobbyists for public
television and radio say they hope to have the money restored in the
version of the bill prepared by the Senate, where they have support from
several senior Republican members. The final legislation will be the
product of negotiations between the House and Senate.
[SOURCE: New York Times (6/10), AUTHOR: Stephen Labaton]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/10/arts/television/10pbs.html?
(requires registration)
See also --
* House Panel Proposes Devastating Cuts in Federal Funding for Public
Broadcasting
"The actions of the House subcommittee are nothing less than a direct
attack on public television and radio. They are also an attack on some of
the last, locally controlled and independent media voices in our country.
This is not how a democracy is supposed to run. Supporters of Public
Broadcasting are marshalling their resources for this fight." (See more at
the URL below)
[SOURCE: Association of Public Television Stations]
http://www.apts.org/

STEVENS AIDE WITHDRAWS AS CANDIDATE FOR FCC
Christine Kurth -- a top aide to Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens
(R-Alaska) who had been widely expected to be offered a seat on the FCC --
Thursday afternoon disclosed that she had withdrawn her name from
consideration for that post. Mrs. Kurth's husband, Timothy Kurth -- a
former policy adviser to House Speaker Hastert -- is currently a lobbyist
for the firm of Lundquist, Nethercutt & Griles. He represents several
telecommunications clients, including Motorola, Sprint and the U.S. Telecom
Association. the Kurths faced a situation that, if she had been nominated
and confirmed for an FCC slot, he would have had to give up his
telecommunications clients -- or she would have been required to recuse
herself from a variety of issues under FCC jurisdiction, even in cases when
her husband was not working on a particular issue. [Apparently, it is OK to
have a conflict of interest when writing telecom laws, just not enforcing
them.]
[SOURCE: National Journal's Insider Update, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CTSU1118360050264.html
See Press Release --
* Christine Kurth Withdraws Name for Consideration to be an FCC Commissioner
http://commerce.senate.gov/newsroom/printable.cfm?id=238697

FCC MODIFIES DIGITAL TUNER REQUIREMENTS TO ADVANCE DTV TRANSITION
On June 9, the FCC denied a request by the Consumer Electronics Association
(CEA) and the Consumer Electronics Retailers Association (CERC) to delay
the date by which 50% of mid-size TV receivers manufactured and imported
must include built-in digital television (DTV) tuners. To further its
efforts to ensure that consumers are able to receive off-the-air digital
broadcast television services, the FCC also moved up the date by which all
mid-sized TV sets must include a digital television (DTV) tuner. The
Commission's rules already provide that all large TV sets (36" and larger)
must have built-in DTV tuners by July 1, 2005. Those rules also provide
that 50% of mid-sized sets (25"-36") must have DTV tuners by that date, and
that all mid-sized sets must have DTV tuners by July 1, 2006. The rules
also provide that all receivers with a screen size 13" or more, as well as
other all other TV receiving devices (such as VCRs, DVDRs, etc.) must have
DTV tuners by July 1, 2007. The CEA and CERC asked the Commission to
eliminate the 50% requirement for mid-sized sets, and to move up the date
for full compliance for mid-sized sets to March 1, 2006 to address certain
difficulties posed by the 50%. In its Report and Order, the Commission
denied the request for elimination of the intermediate 50% compliance
deadline, stating that such an action would delay the wider dissemination
of DTV tuners in products of this size and would be inconsistent with its
efforts to advance the DTV transition as rapidly as possible. The
Commission did move up the date for 100% compliance for mid-sized TV
receivers from July 1, 2006 to March 1, 2006, the earliest feasible date
according to the industry. In the same action, the Commission proposed to
move up the date by which all TV receivers with screen size 13" or larger
and other TV receiving devices, i.e., those without a viewing screen, must
have DTV tuners from July 1, 2007, to a date no later than December 31,
2006, the statutory target date for the end of the DTV transition and the
corresponding end of analog broadcast television transmissions. TV
Interface Devices should be required to meet this timetable. Finally it
asked whether a DTV tuner requirement should be extended to TV receivers
with a screen size smaller than 13." Public comment is sought on these
proposals.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Press Release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259245A1.doc
Order: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-121A1.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Abernathy:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-121A2.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Copps:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-121A3.doc
See also --
* FCC Accelerates a Tuner Mandate
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA607844.html?display=Policy&referra...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* FCC Issues Mixed Verdict On Digital Tuners
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-TGHU1118347732857.html

FCC OFFICIAL VOWS TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT OF DTV TUNER MANDATE
Contrary to what many believe, the FCC does have "an enforcement plan in
place" for compliance with the its new digital television tuner mandate,
said Alan Stillwell of the Commission's Office of Engineering & Technology.
With Commission rejection of a consumer electronics industry petition to
scrap the 50% compliance deadline on 25-36" sets, "we're going to continue
that same plan -- probably a little more aggressively," Stillwell said. The
Commission has many ways to enforce the mandate that haven't been
publicized, he said.
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Paul Gluckman]
(Not available online)

FCC REAFFIRMS RULES FOR HEARING AID COMPATIBLE DIGITAL WIRELESS TELEPHONES
On June 9, the Federal Communications Commission reaffirmed the timetable
for the development and sale of digital wireless telephones that are
compatible with hearing aids, and also sought comment on whether additional
rule changes are necessary to ensure that people with hearing loss have
reasonable access to digital wireless technologies. The Commission
originally adopted rules in 2003 to make digital wireless telephones
compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Press Release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A1.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Copps:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A3.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Abernathy:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A2.doc
Statement of support from Commissioner Adelstein:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259248A4.doc

FCC MOVES CLOSER TO AUCTIONING SPECTRUM FOR ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES BY
IMPLEMENTING COMMERCIAL SPECTRUM ENHANCEMENT ACT
Last Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission sought comment on rule
changes needed to implement the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA),
which was signed into law on December 23, 2004. A key element of CSEA is
the establishment of a "Spectrum Relocation Fund" to reimburse the
relocation costs of federal agencies currently operating on spectrum
reallocated from federal to non-federal use. The spectrum covered by CSEA
includes 216-220 MHz, 1432-1435 MHz, 1710-1755 MHz, and 2385 MHz-2390 MHz,
as well as other spectrum bands that may be reallocated from federal to
non-federal use. The 1710-1755 MHz band accounts for half of the spectrum
the Commission plans to auction as early as June 2006 for Advanced Wireless
Services, including so-called "3G" services. Under CSEA, an auction of
eligible frequencies may not conclude if the total cash proceeds of the
auction are less than 110 percent of the total estimated relocation costs
of the federal users. As the statute does not define "total cash
proceeds," the Commission determined that, for purposes of CSEA, "total
cash proceeds" should be defined as winning bids net of any applicable
discounts, such as small business bidding credits. The Commission also
sought comment on a number of prospective modifications designed to
implement CSEA and update its spectrum auction rules.
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Press Release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-259249A1.doc

QUICKLY

VIEWERS WANT VNR IDs, POLL FINDS
Eight out of 10 viewers would not be turned off if news programs always
disclosed the source of third-party video -- i.e., video news releases.
That's according to a phone poll of 1000 respondents conducted by VNR
distributor D S Simon Productions. Four out of 10 respondents (42%) said
they would be even more likely to watch a program that disclosed video
sources, while 39% said such disclosures would not make them any less
likely to watch. Only 16% said they would be less likely to watch.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608087?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

TV DEBATES: STILL BEYOND THE FRINGE
According to a new ruling by Federal Election Commission lawyers, the
Commission on Presidential Debates may continue to require candidates to
show that they have substantial support among voters before allowing them a
seat in televised debates. Currently, the Commission permits only
candidates who demonstrate in recognized polls that they have the support
of 15% of registered voters.
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Bill McConnell]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA608143?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

WHO'S A JOURNALIST? IT DEPENDS.
A new Annenberg Public Policy Center poll released Monday finds a split on
the perceived goals of big media corporations. While 48% of the public said
their first priority is to generate high profits for the owners, 46% said
it is to deliver high-quality news coverage. Among journalists, only 12%
said the top priority of corporate owners is to provide factual and timely
coverage. 49% say that the owners do try to provide quality coverage but
that business realities sometimes prevent this from happening. Ask members
of the press whether Rush Limbaugh and Bob Woodward are journalists and the
answers are somewhat predictable. But the public has a different view.
About the same percentage considers the radio talk show host and the author
and Washington Post editor to be journalists, says the survey by Annenberg.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, the center's director, said the findings provide
"disturbing evidence that the public defines the word very differently from
the way that most journalists do, a conclusion buttressed by the fact that
40 percent said Bill O'Reilly... was a journalist and only 19 percent said
that George Will, the columnist and commentator, was one."
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/13/AR200506...
(requires registration)

SHAPIRO, NAB: ALMOST STRANGE BEDFELLOWS?
Apparently, the National Association of Broadcasters has had some interest
in replacing outgoing President Edward Fritts with Consumer Electronics
Association President Gary Shapiro.
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: ]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA607849.html?display=Breaking+News&...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang
(headlines( at )benton.org) -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------