January 2006

To view Benton's Headlines feed in RSS, paste=20
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er.

INTERNET
Internet, Interrupted
Future Of Television Is Self-Service, P2P Distributed Media Consumption
Free TV with Ads Tops Paid Downloads
Alito Weighs in on Internet Porn

TELEVISION
Few Are Booking Ads on 'The Book of Daniel'
All-News Channels Abroad Look to Their Future in English
Cox to Roll Out Family Package

QUICKLY -- Reaching Low Income Telephone Consumers; FCC Inspector General=
=20
Retires, Acting IG Named; FTC launches site to fight cybercrime; Radio Free=
=20
Brattleboro; German Media Deal Blocked; India misses goal on mobiles

INTERNET

INTERNET, INTERRUPTED
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Telephone companies in the US that provide broadband Internet=
=20
connections are starting to tread on dangerous ground. They are mooting=20
charging companies that provide Internet services such as telephony and=20
video-downloading fees to ensure a speedy and high-quality connection. The=
=20
phone companies such as BellSouth and Verizon Communications say it is=20
expensive to build networks, such as Verizon's new fibre-optic connection=
=20
to homes and offices, and they need to recoup their investment. They also=
=20
say that some services - notably online gaming and video - take up a lot of=
=20
bandwidth and capacity. There are a couple of obvious flaws in the phone=20
companies' case. One is that they are already being paid by customers to=20
provide the network connection. The second flaw is the idea that network=20
capacity is hugely limited. The speed of Internet connections, not only in=
=20
the US but in other countries, has been rising and advances in technology=
=20
will ensure that this continues. Phone companies have already been stopped=
=20
by the Federal Communications Commission from crudely blocking services=20
that do not suit them. The phone companies are now taking a second run, in=
=20
a subtler manner, by proposing to provide a fast-lane for those who pay.=20
That approach would be unfortunate even if there were free competition=20
among broadband providers. At least consumers could then select a provider=
=20
that offered open access. But, in practice, most people at best have a=20
choice between a DSL and a cable Internet connection. The FCC, and other=20
communications regulators, should ensure that utilities do not distort=20
Internet services for their own ends.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9073a884-8248-11da-aea0-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)
* Quest's Quest to Limit Users' Use of the Internet
http://www.saschameinrath.com/node/279/print

FUTURE OF TELEVISION IS SELF-SERVICE, P2P DISTRIBUTED MEDIA CONSUMPTION
[SOURCE: MasterNewMedia Network News, AUTHOR: Robin Good]
[Commentary] Today, 90% of people in the U.S. receive television signals=20
into their homes via cable or satellite transmission. These media=20
distribution services and, to a large extent, the content they distribute,=
=20
are owned by a small and shrinking number of very large companies. However,=
=20
as broadband access to the Internet becomes commonplace in the home and the=
=20
cost of computing devices drops, there is potential for a new type of=20
network to emerge that provides people with access to entertainment,=20
information, and personal connections that could replace and improve upon=
=20
some of the functions of television, while increasing connections to=20
external communities. By utilizing design innovations that provide=20
advantages over the entrenched providers and by keeping the desires of=20
consumers in mind, this technology could become a compelling complement or=
=20
alternative to the portfolios of services provided by traditional media=20
distributors. Television as we know it is going to change dramatically in=
=20
the coming months and years. What used to be the magnet creating a=20
gathering point of people around the tube at specific times of the day,=20
will radically change its communication and content delivery approach to=20
assume many new ones. For those executives that come from the traditional=
=20
broadcasting world I think one short motto I have used before sums up well=
=20
what the future of television will be like: Prime Time Is Anytime and=20
Anytime Is Prime Time.
http://www.masternewmedia.org/television_media/television_future/future_...
evision_as_self_service_distributed_media_20060105.htm

FREE TV WITH ADS TOPS PAID DOWNLOADS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Tom Steinert-Threlkeld]
By more than a 3-1 margin, consumers would rather watch commercials than=20
pay for TV shows and other programs they can download, according to the=20
results of a survey to be released Wednesday by research firms Points North=
=20
Group and Horowitz Associates. 62% of respondents would prefer to get a=20
favorite TV show they might have missed with commercials, rather than=20
paying $1.99 for the download. Only 17% said they would rather pay the=20
$1.99. =93It always surprises me when people say they are willing to see mo=
re=20
advertising,=94 said Craig Leddy, a contributing analyst at Points North. B=
ut=20
he added that consumers will be reluctant to pay for content they=92re used=
=20
to getting free-of-charge.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6298430.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

ALITO WEIGHS IN ON INTERNET PORN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Saying the courts and Congress have been struggling with the issue, Supreme=
=20
Court Justice nominee Samuel Alito told a Senate Judiciary confirmation=20
hearing Tuesday that the government needs to do more to square existing law=
=20
with the communications technology that has allowed for the distribution of=
=20
pornographic material. Referring specifically to protecting minors from=20
Internet distribution of porn, Judge Alito said that applying rules=20
carefully crafted in a pre-Internet era to today's world is "a real=20
difficult problem," particularly when minors are often more savvy about=20
computers than the parents who are supposed to be restricting their access.=
=20
"The ability of parents to monitor and supervise what they are doing is=20
greatly impaired by this difference in computer aptitude," he said.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6298482?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

TELEVISION

FEW ARE BOOKING ADS ON 'THE BOOK OF DANIEL'
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stuart Elliott]
Many mainstream advertisers have long been skittish about television=20
programs with plot lines deemed contentious or provocative. Still, the=20
paucity of marketers buying commercial time during the debut of "The Book=
=20
of Daniel" was particularly pronounced - despite lower prices for the=20
spots, which reflected a week's worth of media attention devoted to=20
complaints from the American Family Association about the contents of the=
=20
program. The complaints led 5 of NBC's 232 affiliates to pre-empt the=20
series last Friday; in one market, Little Rock, Ark., the local WB=20
affiliate ran it instead. The series "touches on something that our=20
society, and Madison Avenue, are not ready for," said Joe Mandese, editor=
=20
of MediaPost, an online and print trade publication. "Religion is the=20
ultimate taboo topic." NBC is hoping that the eyebrow-raising story lines=
=20
of "The Book of Daniel" will appeal to younger, educated and affluent=20
viewers who prefer their TV programs with an edge. It is part of efforts by=
=20
NBC and the other big broadcast networks to make up for the viewers they=20
have lost to cable networks that present more daring series. "Advertisers=
=20
do have a history of taking a cautious approach to controversial shows,"=20
Kevin Reilly, president of NBC Entertainment, said in a telephone interview=
=20
yesterday. "It's an age-old issue," Mr. Reilly said. "We want to run=20
contemporary programming, and we want to create the best possible=20
environment for advertisers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/business/media/11adco.html
(requires registration)
* NBC's Book of Daniel Had Ad Shortfall
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
8690

ALL-NEWS CHANNELS ABROAD LOOK TO THEIR FUTURE IN ENGLISH
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Doreen Cavajal]
All-news channels are launching around the world -- but in English. "Today=
=20
news channels are part of the global battle in the world," said Ulysse=20
Gosset who is helping to lead a project to create an all-news French=20
channel this year. "It's as important as traditional diplomacy and economic=
=20
strength. If we have a real desire to communicate around the world, we need=
=20
to do it with the right medium, and that's English." Veteran television=20
executives say the burst of all-news channels has been ignited by two=20
critical forces: the falling cost of technology and television's power in=
=20
the international marketplace. "Many communities want to have their voice=
=20
in the global conversation," said Richard Sambrook, director of the BBC's=
=20
World Service and global news division. Many all-news newcomers are drawing=
=20
more inspiration from Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based bane of the Bush=20
administration, which they say has created an influential global voice for=
=20
Arabs that was missing until the channel appeared.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/arts/television/11engl.html
(requires registration)

COX TO ROLL OUT FAMILY PACKAGE
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Add Cox to the growing list of cable operators offering "family friendly"=
=20
programming tiers. The $32/month package would include 40 channels,=20
combining local TV stations from the basic tier with some well-known names=
=20
from expanded basic like C-SPAN, Disney Channel, CNN Headline News,=20
Nickelodeon and Discovery=92s The Science Channel. Cox added that local=20
systems "have the ability to tailor the package" by adding The Weather=20
Channel, Weatherscan Local, C-SPAN2 or C-SPAN3 and religious and=20
Spanish-language channels. In forming the Family Package, Cox said it=20
sought channels that were effectively G-rated and that would not include=20
"objectionable content or disturbing images.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6298553.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

REACHING LOW INCOME TELEPHONE CONSUMERS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The joint Working Group of staff from the Federal Communications=20
Commission, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners=20
("NARUC"), and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates=
=20
seeks input on the most effective ways to enhance consumer awareness of=20
Lifeline and/or Link-Up telephone services. The formation of the Working=
=20
Group was announced in July 2005 at the NARUC summer meeting. The focus of=
=20
the Working Group is developing targeted outreach materials regarding=20
Lifeline and Link-Up as well as best practices for carrier outreach on=20
these programs. Responses may be submitted by email to=20
lifeline( at )fcc.gov. Please submit information by March 1, 2006. For more=20
information contact Lauren Patrich, Federal Communications Commission,=20
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, at Lauren.patrich( at )fcc.gov or (202)=20
418-7944.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-41A1.doc

FCC INSPECTOR GENERAL FEASTER RETIRES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
FCC Inspector General Walker Feaster, who fought for more resources to=20
probe abuses in subsidized communications to schools and libraries, retired=
=20
last week. He left the agency on January 3 after more than 11 years in the=
=20
position and 38 years of government work. The FCC's inspector general's=20
office already had three vacancies, according to its Web site, the=20
assistant inspector general for the Universal Service Fund (USF), the=20
assistant inspector general for investigations, and a senior auditor. IG=20
Feaster in October clashed with the FCC over its plans to overhaul=20
management and monitoring of the USF, which includes the E-Rate schools and=
=20
libraries program, expressing concerns that his oversight could be impeded=
=20
by changes adopted. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has appointed as acting=20
inspector general Kent Nilsson, who works in the agency's office of=20
engineering and technology.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=3DpoliticsNews&storyid=
=3D2006-01-10T134359Z_01_DIT049398_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-FCC-INSPECTORGENER=
AL.xml
* FCC CHAIRMAN MARTIN ANNOUNCES THE ACTING INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ACTING=20
DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL
Chairman Martin named Dr. Kent Nilsson as Acting Inspector General and Jon=
=20
Stover as Acting Deputy Inspector General. Dr. Kent Nilsson most recently=
=20
served as Special Counsel and Deputy Chief of the FCC's Network Technology=
=20
Division in the Office of Engineering and Technology. Before joining the=
=20
Office of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Nilsson was Deputy Chief of the=
=20
FCC's Network Services Division in the Common Carrier Bureau . While Deputy=
=20
Chief, Dr. Nilsson also served as the Commission's Managing Counsel for the=
=20
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act and managed the Common=20
Carrier Bureau's Y2K initiatives for telephone companies. Before becoming=
=20
Deputy Chief of the Network Services Division, Dr. Nilsson served as Chief=
=20
of the Cost Analysis Branch of the Common Carrier Bureau's Accounting and=
=20
Audits Division. In that capacity, he was responsible for econometric=20
modeling, and the Commission's administration of the Universal Service Fund=
=20
and the Average Schedule Settlements processes in addition to the=20
Commission's administration of rules governing jurisdictional separations.=
=20
Previously, Dr. Nilsson served as a Senior Attorney-Advisor and as legal=20
counsel to former FCC Commissioner Henry M. Rivera (Mr Rivera is the benton=
=20
Foundation's General Counsel ). Jon Stover most recently served as Special=
=20
Advisor to the Director of the FCC's Office of Legislative Affairs after=20
having served as Senior Counsel in the Wireline Competition Bureau and in=
=20
the Office of General Counsel. Before joining the FCC, Jon was a partner=
=20
in an energy litigation firm after having served as Chief of Staff and=20
Chief Counsel to the Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission=20
(ICC). Prior to his service at the ICC, Jon was an Associate General=20
Counsel of Tenneco, Inc (a Fortune 50 energy conglomerate). Before joining=
=20
Tenneco, Jon was the Assistant General Counsel for Natural Gas at the=20
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Jon began his career as an attorney=
=20
with a major natural gas trade association and then became Director of=20
Federal Agency Affairs for El Paso Natural Gas Company.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-263125A1.doc

FTC LAUNCHES SITE TO FIGHT CYBERCRIME
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Byron Acohido and Jon Swartz]
Responding to the rising cybercrime threat, the Federal Trade Commission on=
=20
Tuesday unveiled an online tool designed to help consumers avoid becoming=
=20
victims of Internet scams. At the website, www.onguardonline.gov, consumers=
=20
can take interactive quizzes designed to enlighten them about ID theft,=20
phishing, spam and online-shopping scams. If the user selects a wrong=20
answer, the program explains why that particular misconception about=20
Internet security can lead to trouble. Elsewhere on the site, consumers can=
=20
find detailed guidance on how to monitor their credit histories, use=20
effective passwords and recover from identity theft.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060111/ftc_11.art.htm

RADIO FREE BRATTLEBORO
[SOURCE: Rutland Herald (VT), AUTHOR: Daniel Barlow=20
daniel.barlow( at )rutlandherald.com]
Negotiations on a possible settlement between radio free brattleboro and=20
the Federal Communications Commission recently collapsed and an attorney=20
for the former 10-watt community station plans to ask a local judge for a=
=20
new hearing. Station lawyer James Maxwell said that negotiations on a=20
possible settlement in the nearly three-year-old case between the=20
unlicensed radio station and the Commission have ended without a=20
resolution.The controversial radio station launched in 1998 and broadcasted=
=20
throughout the town of 12,000 without any problems until a Guilford=20
resident lodged a complaint with the FCC in early 2003 that its signal was=
=20
interfering with a Massachusetts public radio station. Members of the=20
station claimed the FCC, which at the time was not issuing any low-power FM=
=20
licenses, served only large media corporations. Attorneys for the station=
=20
have argued that a successful town meeting question and resolution of=20
support from the Brattleboro Select Board comprised its authority to=20
broadcast in the region. Brattleboro Community Radio, a new group formed by=
=20
another local nonprofit group, plans to begin broadcasting at 107.7 FM this=
=20
spring after the FCC issued it a 100-watt license last year.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D/20060110/NEWS/...
100355/1024

WATCHDOG BLOCKS SPRINGER'S PROSIEBEN BID
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Gerrit Wiesmann]
Axel Springer, the German newspaper publisher, was on Tuesday night=20
scrambling to save its planned takeover of ProSiebenSat.1, the country=92s=
=20
second-largest private broadcaster, after the first of two public watchdogs=
=20
blocked the move. media committee of Germany=92s states turned down the=20
planned =804.2bn ($5bn) deal, arguing that the combination of Bild, the=20
top-selling tabloid, and four TV channels would give Springer sway over=20
public opinion. The controversial bid looks set to usher in a new era of=20
foreign media involvement in the country =96 either through concessions by=
=20
Springer or a renewed auction for ProSieben.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9fed3916-820b-11da-aea0-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

INDIA MISSES GOAL ON MOBILE PHONES
[SOURCE: Financial Times, Times, AUTHOR: Anita Jain]
India's mobile phone subscriber base at the end of 2005 was estimated at 76=
=20
million, significantly lower than the 100 million goal set by the Telecom=
=20
Authority of India in March 2003. The government has revised the goal to=20
200 million subscribers by the end of 2007.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4ded3798-81f1-11da-aea0-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service=20
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday through=
=20
Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments,=
=20
policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are=20
factually accurate, their often informal tone does not always represent the=
=20
tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang=20
headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
--------------------------------------------------------------