January 2006

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

POLICYMAKERS
White House Got Early Warning on Katrina
Bush seen Nominating Telecom Lawyer to FCC
FCC To Take On Broad Agenda In 2006
PBS Names Paula Kerger New President/CEO

COMMENTARY
How Would Two-Tier Internet Work?
Creating a Two-Tiered Internet the Old Fashioned Way
Internet: Freedom or Privilege?
See also: New Online Resource on Net Neutrality=20
-- The Struggle for Net Freedom

CONTENT
The Murrow Doctrine
TV fit for Kids
Advocacy groups can challenge limit on =91issue ads'
Canada grapples with elections in the Internet age
U.K. Spends Millions Nagging Its Citizens

QUICKLY -- Internet Access Tax Moratorium;=20
Disney, Pixar Deal Nearing; Conyers Seeks Info=20
From Telco Firms In Probe Of Eavesdropping=20
Program; T-Mobile seeks halt to cell phone record=20
sales; Sprint Nextel Freezes Pension Plans;=20
Verizon Offers TV in the Northeast; Spot Runner=20
Taps Web to Create Ads, Book Airtime;=20
pan-European music rights; Fact Sheets on Media=20
Democracy; Mobile Video; WISPs & Rural Internet=20
Access; Dish to Lifetime: a la Carte?; High=20
Definition Hyped, But Many Consumers Remain Wary;=20
CDT Files Complaints Against Major Adware=20
Distributor; Buying Pattern of Rich Households;=20
Ex-Nader Raider pushes change from the middle

POLICYMAKERS

WHITE HOUSE GOT EARLY WARNING ON KATRINA
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Joby Warrick]
In the 48 hours before Hurricane Katrina hit, the=20
White House received detailed warnings about the=20
storm's likely impact, including eerily prescient=20
predictions of breached levees, massive flooding,=20
and major losses of life and property, documents=20
show. The Department of Homeland Security's=20
National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis=20
Center (NISAC) warned that the initial response=20
and rescue operations would be hampered by=20
disruption of telecommunications networks and the=20
loss of power to fire, police and emergency=20
workers. The documents shed new light on the=20
extent on the administration's foreknowledge=20
about Katrina's potential for unleashing epic=20
destruction on New Orleans and other Gulf Coast=20
cities and towns. President Bush, in a televised=20
interview three days after Katrina hit, suggested=20
that the scale of the flooding in New Orleans was=20
unexpected. "I don't think anybody anticipated=20
the breach of the levees. They did anticipate a=20
serious storm," Bush said in a Sept. 1 interview.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR200601...
1711.html
(requires registration)
* White House Was Told Hurricane Posed Danger
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/national/nationalspecial/24katrina.htm...
r=3D1
* Emergency Communications Breakdowns Left Rescue=20
Teams with Little to do but Watch, Wait
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20060124/d_cover24_communicati...
art.htm

BUSH SEEN NOMINATING TELECOM LAWYER TO FCC
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
President Bush has apparently decided upon Robert=20
McDowell to fill the third Republican seat on the=20
five-member Federal Communications Commission.=20
McDowell is senior vice president and assistant=20
general counsel at Comptel, a lobbying group for=20
companies that primarily compete against the Baby=20
Bells. McDowell failed in a 2003 bid to win a=20
seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he=20
sought to represent an area that includes some=20
suburbs surrounding Washington, DC. He has worked=20
as a communications lawyer for more than a=20
decade. He also served as a lawyer for the=20
Bush-Cheney team during the Florida vote recount=20
saga in 2000 and did advance work for Bush and=20
First Lady Laura Bush in 2004. FCC Chairman=20
Martin served as deputy general counsel for the=20
Bush campaign in 1999 through December 2000.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DpoliticsNews&storyID=
=3D2006-01-23T204128Z_01_N23285963_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-FCC-BUSH.xml&archi=
ved=3DFalse

FCC TO TAKE ON BROAD AGENDA IN 2006
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Some coverage of Friday's FCC meeting. FCC=20
officials outlined a sweeping agenda for 2006,=20
with priorities including high-speed Internet=20
deployment, media ownership, digital television,=20
homeland security, "enhanced 911" service, or=20
E-911, for Internet telephony; improvements to=20
the universal service program that funds=20
telephone service in rural and low-income areas;=20
and changes in inter-carrier compensation, the=20
complex system of payments phone carriers make to=20
each other to complete calls. Chairman Martin=20
said implementation of a congressionally mandated=20
"hard date" to end the transition from analog to=20
digital television will be a key goal for 2006.=20
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, a Democrat,=20
said educating Americans about the "historic=20
transition" is a major responsibility.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CMJK1138048520944.html
* For more coverage see http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/1160

PBS NAMES PAULA KERGER NEW PRESIDENT/CEO
[SOURCE: PBS press release]
Paula A. Kerger, a top executive at New York's=20
Educational Broadcasting Corporation, licensee of=20
Thirteen/WNET and WLIW New York -=AD two of the=20
nation's largest public television stations -=AD=20
will become the Public Broadcasting Service's=20
sixth president and chief executive officer on=20
March 13, the PBS Board of Directors announced=20
today. Ms. Kerger will direct the operations of=20
the nation's largest public broadcasting service,=20
comprised of 348 member stations that reach more=20
than 99 percent of U.S. television households.=20
She will succeed Pat Mitchell, who announced her=20
plan to step down as PBS' president and CEO in February 2005.
http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20060123_newpbsceo.html
* See more at http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/1161/edit
* Kerger Succeeds Mitchell Atop PBS
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6301299?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)
* PBS Taps Public-TV Veteran Paula Kerger as President
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR200601...
1782.html
* PBS Names Its New President, a Well-Seasoned Fundraiser
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/business/media/23cnd-pbs.html?pagewanted=
=3Dall
* Free Press Applauds Appointment of New PBS President
We're excited and relieved to see a committed=20
advocate of the public interest appointed to lead=20
PBS. After the Kenneth Tomlinson controversy, the=20
public is demanding change, and we hope that=20
Paula Kerger will be a strong ally to advance=20
needed reforms. Public broadcasting is at a=20
crossroads. It will continue to suffer partisan=20
attacks and threats to its budget without=20
policies to protect long-term funding and provide=20
political insulation. We look forward to working=20
with the new president to put the public back in public broadcasting.
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D112
* To succeed, Ms. Kerger has to ruffle feathers; not hide behind Big Bird's.
[SOURCE: Center for Digital Democracy]
Ms. Kerger has to quickly articulate a serious=20
public interest vision for non-commercial digital=20
TV. She has to challenge the system--including=20
the stations, independents and other=20
producers--to create content that illustrates=20
that public television is relevant and necessary=20
in the broadband era. Kerger has to also=20
fearlessly defend the mission of public=20
television to produce serious, thought-provoking,=20
and risk-taking programming --especially against=20
the conservative cabal running CPB and much of=20
Congress. She also has to develop a plan that=20
will build financial support to keep public=20
television in business. There's no question that=20
she faces a near impossible task--but one that=20
must be done if PBS is to survive. Kerger also=20
has to reach out to the constituency of those who=20
care about the quality of our media lives and=20
also want to see greater expression of diversity=20
on television. She has to ignore the=20
ever-pressing demands of the producing=20
stations--such as WNET--while reaching out to=20
women, persons of color, independents. These=20
groups are being left out of the media=20
revolution. She needs to harness their energy=20
and support to spearhead a movement to preserve=20
non-commercial TV in the digital age.

COMMENTARY

HOW WOULD A TWO-TIER INTERNET WORK?
[SOURCE: Freedom to Tinker, AUTHOR: Ed Felton]
[Commentary] The word is out now that residential=20
ISPs like BellSouth want to provide a kind of=20
two-tier Internet service, where ordinary=20
Internet services get one level of performance,=20
and preferred sites or services, presumably=20
including the ISPs=92 own services, get better=20
performance. It=92s clear why ISPs want to do this:=20
they want to charge big web sites for the=20
privilege of getting preferred service. I should=20
say up front that although the two-tier network=20
is sometimes explained as if there were two tiers=20
of network infrastructure, the obvious and=20
efficient implementation in practice would be to=20
have a single fast network, and to impose=20
deliberate delay or bandwidth throttling on=20
non-preferred traffic. Whether ISPs should be=20
allowed to do this is an important policy=20
question, often called the network neutrality=20
issue. It=92s a harder issue than advocates on=20
either side admit. Let=92s think about the=20
practical aspects of how an ISP would present the=20
two-tier Internet to customers. There are=20
basically two options. Either the ISP can create=20
a special area for preferred sites, or it can let=20
sites keep their ordinary URLs. Either option leads to problems.
http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=3D957

CREATING A TWO-TIER INTERNET THE OLD FASHION WAY -- BURYING IT IN AN FCC TA=
RIFF
[SOURCE: Pulver.com, AUTHOR: Jeff Pulver]
[Commentary] One theory I have been mulling over=20
goes as follows: What if the Bells simply slipped=20
in ever-so-quietly, under cover of night, tariff=20
filings with the Federal Communications=20
Commission to make the "two-tiered" Internet a=20
reality? I suspect that the tariffs would=20
essentially allow for grades of service for=20
Internet access with packet-prioritization, with=20
varying Quality of Service and service=20
management. The unaffiliated Internet application=20
and content providers might be left riding the=20
breakdown lane before they realize it. If the=20
Bells do file tariffs with the FCC, it would be=20
an interesting, seemingly innocuous procedural=20
maneuver to transform the nature of the public=20
Internet. For those of you unversed in the FCC's=20
tariffing process (and why should any of us from=20
the unregulated Internet space have a clue about=20
the arcane tariff process), tariffs could go into=20
affect on almost immediately (on one-day or=20
15-day notice) without a bona fide ability for=20
any of us to weigh in. Whether or not there are=20
legitimate reasons for disparate tiers of=20
Internet access, it is probably important for the=20
industry to be heard before the FCC sanctions a=20
Bell plan to create a fast lane and a breakdown=20
lane on the Internet. It would probably be=20
essential to convince the FCC immediately upon=20
receipt of a Bell tariff to suspend the tariff=20
pending public notice, comment and review. This=20
means that we should all be vigilant, keep alert=20
and notify others if and when such tariffs are=20
filed so that we are not caught off guard and=20
forced to accept the tariffed-creation of a de=20
facto two-tiered Internet. The last thing we need=20
is a covert tariff filing that changes the=20
fundamental character of the Net without any=20
opportunity for critical discourse. Sometimes the=20
revolution occurs under our noses, and we don't=20
notice until it is too late...and this is also=20
known as "hiding in plain sight."
http://pulverblog.pulver.com/archives/003573.html

INTERNET: FREEDOM OR PRIVILEGE?
[SOURCE: isen.blog, AUTHOR: David Isenberg]
[Commentary] Is Internet access a freedom or a=20
privilege? Just as Freedom of Speech means that,=20
with very few limitations, nobody has the right=20
to tell somebody else what to say, so should=20
Internet freedom mean that gatekeepers should not=20
control Internet applications or content. This is=20
essential not just as a matter of freedom, but=20
also as a matter of commerce, because the=20
Internet=92s success is directly due to its=20
content-blindness. If the United States fails to=20
understand this, US Internet leadership will=20
follow US leadership in agriculture, in steel, in=20
autos, and in consumer electronics to other countries that do.
http://isen.com/blog/2006/01/internet-freedom-or-privilege.html

* See Also: The Struggle for Net Freedom
http://www.freepress.net/deadend/

CONTENT

THE MURROW DOCTRINE
[SOURCE: The New Yorker, AUTHOR: Nicholas Lemann]
Why is Edward R. Murrow's career still important=20
today? He was hired in the aftermath of the=20
debate over the Communications Act of 1934, which=20
created the Federal Communications Commission and=20
adopted language from earlier legislation -- the=20
Radio Act of 1927. That law established a system=20
in which the government owned the airwaves;=20
rather than broadcast itself, however, it would=20
grant licenses for locations on the spectrum to=20
private companies, though only =93if public=20
convenience, interest or necessity will be served=20
thereby.=94 CBS thought it was getting an educator,=20
not a journalist. Murrow came from a nonprofit=20
organization called the Institute of=20
International Education, which set up lectures=20
and student seminars all over the world and=20
helped scholars to leave Nazi Germany. His title,=20
when he joined CBS in 1935, was Director of=20
Talks. Now it looks as if, once again, right-wing=20
politicians are trampling on civil liberties in=20
the name of protecting the country from a=20
terrifying global threat. Commercialism and=20
superficiality seem regnant in broadcast news.=20
Owners avoid controversy, cut budgets, and focus=20
on producing the profits that Wall Street demands=20
-- we=92re back in the fifties. Murrow represents a=20
kind of implacable, heroic journalistic courage=20
that could sweep away all the obstacles in its path.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060123fa_fact1

TV FIT FOR KIDS
[SOURCE: St. Petersburg Times, AUTHOR: Sharon Kennedy Wynne]
The television industry is eager for parents to=20
see it as being part of the solution for=20
childhood obesity instead of just the problem.=20
But skeptics say it has about as much merit as=20
the antismoking ads run by tobacco companies. "I=20
think PBS may be the only network that actually=20
thinks it's a good thing when the child turns off=20
the television and picks up a book or goes out to=20
play," said John Wilson, PBS programming=20
director. Not so fast, say Nickelodeon=20
executives. Though they do have the bottom-line=20
concerns of ratings that public television can=20
ignore, Nick has pledged 10 percent of its air=20
time and $30-million this year to healthy=20
messages and grants for playground equipment. Two=20
years in a row, the network has gone dark for=20
three hours for a national day of play to=20
encourage kids to go outside. "When the=20
most-watched kids' network sends a message that=20
it is important to go outside and play, and turn=20
off the TV for three hours, we expect that to=20
have a significant impact," said Cyma Zarghami,=20
president of Nickelodeon Television. "If all goes=20
well, as it did with the Big Help (Nick's=20
campaign that encourages kids to volunteer in=20
their communities), then we can expect kids to=20
feel informed and empowered to lead healthy balanced lifestyles."
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/24/Floridian/TV_fit_for_kids.shtml

ADVOCACY GROUPS CAN CHALLENGE LIMIT ON 'ISSUE ADS'
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Joan Biskupic]
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday=20
that a Wisconsin anti-abortion group may go to=20
court to challenge a federal ban on=20
issue-oriented ads that mention a particular=20
candidate in the weeks before an election. The=20
group says the ban infringes on its First=20
Amendment right to free speech. The advertising=20
ban, part of a 2002 overhaul of federal=20
campaign-finance law, was intended to ensure that=20
wealthy interests such as corporations and labor=20
unions do not have undue influence on federal=20
elections. But Wisconsin Right to Life, backed by=20
an unusual coalition of conservative and liberal=20
groups, argued that the ban sometimes infringes=20
on legitimate grass-roots lobbying. The Wisconsin=20
group was appealing a decision by a lower court=20
that threw out the group's claim that the =93issue=20
ad=94 blackout violated its speech rights. On=20
Monday, the justices spurned the Justice=20
Department, which argued that allowing individual=20
challenges to the ban on certain ads would force=20
federal judges to assess the political intentions=20
of campaign ads and could lead to disruptive lawsuits just before elections.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060124/a_court24.art.htm

CANADA GRAPPLES WITH ELECTIONS IN THE INTERNET AGE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Allan Dowd]
A battle over free speech has broken out on the=20
sidelines of Canada's national election campaign=20
with media and federal officials squaring off=20
over the idea that Canada's election laws have=20
become hopelessly outdated in the age of the=20
Internet. With voters spread out over six times=20
zones, Canada faced the issue of whether=20
publishing or broadcasting Monday's election=20
results from the Atlantic provinces could=20
influence voting decisions and turnout on the=20
Pacific Coast. Canada bans the reporting of early=20
election results in areas where polls have yet to=20
close, and media outlets have promised to toe the=20
line in posting Monday's results. But critics say=20
the rule, enacted in 1938 to control radio=20
broadcasts, violates free speech and is=20
unenforceable now that people can post=20
information on the Web for wide distribution.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-01-23T190400Z_01_N22206253_RTRUKOC_0_US-POLITICS-INTERNET.xml

UK SPENDS MILLIONS NAGGING ITS CITIZENS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Aaron O.=20
Patrick aaron.patrick( at )wsj.com ]
The United Kingdom government spent the=20
equivalent of more than $350 million in 2004=20
trying to influence a broad range of societal=20
behavior, from big problems (pornography on the=20
Internet, drunken driving) to smaller problems=20
(chewing-gum litter, improper tax-benefit claims=20
by married couples). The Central Office of=20
Information estimates it is the third-largest=20
advertiser in the country, behind=20
consumer-products giants Procter & Gamble Co. and=20
Unilever. By contrast, the US government ranks=20
25th among U.S. advertisers. There is no central=20
governmental advertising authority, like in the=20
U.K. Instead, charities play a far greater role=20
in creating public-service ads, which run during=20
donated time on TV and radio or in donated print=20
or outdoor space. The Ad Council, a New=20
York-based industry group founded in 1942, has=20
run campaigns for crime prevention, homeland=20
security and energy efficiency. Often, outside ad=20
agencies produce the creative work free of charge=20
for their government-agency clients. The British=20
government spots strike some observers in the=20
U.K. as excessively nannyish. Some question why=20
the government is spending so much money to steer behavior on so many issue=
s.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113807421719854449.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

INTERNET ACCESS TAX MORATORIUM: REVENUE IMPACTS WILL VARY BY STATE (GAO-06-=
273)
[SOURCE: Government Accountability Office]
In 1998, Congress imposed a moratorium=20
temporarily preventing state and local=20
governments from imposing new taxes on Internet=20
access. Existing state and local taxes were=20
grandfathered. In amending the moratorium in=20
2004, Congress required GAO to study its impact=20
on state and local government revenues. This=20
report=92s objectives are to determine the scope of=20
the moratorium and its impact, if any, on state=20
and local revenues. The revenue impact of=20
eliminating grandfathering in states studied by the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) would be small,=20
but the moratorium=92s total revenue impact has=20
been unclear and any future impact would vary by=20
state. In 2003, when CBO reported how much states=20
and localities would lose annually by 2007 if=20
certain grandfathered taxes were eliminated, its=20
estimate for states with grandfathered taxes in=20
1998 was about 0.1 percent of those states=92 2004=20
tax revenues. Because it is hard to know what=20
states would have done to tax access services if=20
no moratorium had existed, the total revenue=20
implications of the moratorium are unclear. In=20
general, any future moratorium-related impact=20
will differ by state. Tax law details and tax=20
rates varied among states. For instance, North=20
Dakota taxed access service delivered to retail=20
consumers, and Kansas taxed communications=20
services acquired by ISPs to support their customers.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-273
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06273high.pdf

DISNEY'S BOARD CLEARS CEO IGER TO SEAL PIXAR DEAL
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Merissa Marr merissa.marr( at )wsj.com]
Walt Disney moved closer to a deal to buy Pixar=20
Animation Studios Inc. in a stock transaction=20
that could be finalized and announced as soon as=20
today. Over the past few days, Disney's board=20
discussed the advanced negotiations and gave=20
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger authority to=20
complete a deal. Pixar's board will meet today to consider the deal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113807853782954539.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)
* Disney thinks Different
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-disney24jan24,0,1...
898.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

CONYERS SEEKS INFO FROM TELECO FIRMS IN PROBE OF EAVESDROPPING PROGRAM
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Sarah Lai Stirland]
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the top Democrat on the=20
House Judiciary Committee, queried the 20 largest=20
telecommunications and technology companies about=20
their policies for disclosing customer=20
information to the federal government without=20
advance judicial involvement. He spoke during an=20
unofficial Democratic "hearing" on the legality=20
of domestic wiretaps by the National Security=20
Agency. A panel of House Judiciary Democrats and=20
several witnesses explored the legal basis for=20
the wiretaps and methods of redress for what they said are illegal activiti=
es.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-TXXZ1138048684771.html

T-MOBILE SEEKS A HALT TO CELL PHONE RECORD SALES
[SOURCE: Reuters]
T-Mobile, the No. 4 U.S. wireless carrier, said=20
on Monday it asked a Washington state court to=20
prevent companies from allegedly using fraudulent=20
means to obtain and sell T-Mobile customer call=20
records. German-owned T-Mobile said it asked the=20
court for an injunction against Data Find=20
Solutions, 1st Source Information Specialists and=20
related firms and individuals. T-Mobile said the=20
companies ran or owned Web sites such as=20
www.locatecell.com and www.celltolls.com that offered such services
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-01-24T021855Z_01_N23191368_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-TMOBILE-RECORDS.x=
ml

SPRINT NEXTEL FREEZES PENSION PLANS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: J. Kyle Foster]
Sprint Nextel rp. froze pension plans for almost=20
half of its 80,000 employees and won't offer a=20
fixed retirement benefit to new workers as the=20
company cuts labor costs to compete with other=20
wireless carriers. Workers vested in Sprint=20
Corp.'s pension plan prior to the Aug. 12=20
purchase of Nextel stopped earning credits on=20
Dec. 31, spokesman David Gunasegaram said Sunday=20
in a telephone interview. Unvested employees who=20
contributed to the plan will receive benefits=20
earned once they qualify. The 39,000 affected=20
workers were notified in November. Chief=20
executive Gary D. Forsee, 55, who orchestrated=20
the $36 billion merger of Sprint and Nextel, is=20
revamping the retirement plans as he shifts the=20
company's focus to the wireless business.=20
Cingular Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile-phone=20
services company, and No. 2 Verizon Wireless,=20
don't offer defined-benefit plans. Sprint Nextel=20
is No. 3. Sprint, which gets 72 percent of sales=20
from the wireless business, plans to spin off its=20
local telephone division in the second quarter.=20
The pension program will continue for the 20,000=20
employees at the local division, Gunasegaram=20
said. Workers who were at Nextel before the=20
merger didn't have a pension plan. Sprint also=20
bolstered its 401(k) retirement plan for all=20
employees, Gunasegaram said. The company will=20
match employee contributions dollar for dollar up to 5 percent of income.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR200601...
1521.html
(requires registration)

VERIZON OFFERS TV IN NORTHEAST
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Dionne Searcey dionne.searcey( at )wsj.com]
Five months after Verizon Communications Inc.=20
introduced its television service in Keller,=20
Texas, the company is making its foray into TV in=20
the Northeast. Starting today customers will be=20
able to order the TV service, which will compete=20
with cable television and satellite TV in those=20
areas. Verizon's expanded basic-TV plan, which=20
includes 180 video and music channels and more=20
than 1,800 video on demand selections, costs=20
$39.95 a month. Set-top boxes cost as much as=20
$12.95 a month. Mention this ad and save $1!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113807263899354407.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
sonal_journal
(requires subscription)

SPOT RUNNER TAPS WEB TO CREATE ADS, BOOK TIME
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Chris Gaither]
An ad agency seeks to level the TV playing field,=20
offering professional commercials and placement=20
service to small businesses at a low cost.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-tvads24jan24,1,387271...
tory?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

SHAKE-UP FOR ONLINE MUSIC RIGHTS LICENSES
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson]
The prospect of a pan-European one-stop shop for=20
licensing online music rights came a step closer=20
on Monday when EMI=92s music publishing arm agreed=20
that the collecting societies for the UK and=20
Germany could manage the online and mobile rights for its UK and US catalog=
ue.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/3804e62a-8c59-11da-9efb-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

FACT SHEETS ON MEDIA DEMOCRACY
New online resource from the Free Expression Policy Project.
http://www.fepproject.org/factsheets/mediademocracy.html

VIDEO: MOVE IT OR LOSE IT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John M. Higgins]
It will be years before the hype generated by=20
cellphone TV and other mobile video will be=20
matched by its financial payoff. But the biggest=20
mistake media companies could make is hesitating=20
until the market fully develops. That=92s the=20
consensus of industry executives speaking at=20
Natpemobile, a mini-conference held in Las Vegas=20
Monday in advance of the NATPE programming convention there.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6301436?display=3DBreaking+Ne...
referral=3DSUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

GETTING UP TO SPEED
[SOURCE: Sacramento Bee, AUTHOR: Clint Swett]
Increasingly, small wireless Internet service=20
providers -- known as WISPs -- are providing=20
broadband Internet access where telecos and cable=20
operators fear to tread. By zipping data via=20
radio waves from transmitters to small antennas=20
mounted on top of their customers' homes or=20
businesses, WISPs like Winters Broadband can=20
provide speedy Internet service without the=20
back-breaking expense of stringing miles of phone lines or TV cables.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/14106454p-14936145c.html

DISH TO LIFETIME: A LA CARTE?
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
EchoStar Communications Corp. said Monday that it=20
would immediately restore Lifetime Television if=20
the service agreed to be offered on an a la carte basis on Dish Network.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6301473.html?display=3DBreaking+News
(requires subscription)
* Lifetime Quits Carriage Talks With EchoStar's DISH Network
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
3130

HIGH DEFINITION HYPED, BUT MANY CONSUMERS REMAIN WARY
[SOURCE: Ipsos Insight press release]
While 90% of all Americans have heard of high=20
definition television (HDTV), only 47% say they=20
know anything substantial about it, and just 15%=20
say they are somewhat or very likely to get HDTV=20
-- all reflecting basically unchanged levels over=20
the past year, according to the latest research=20
from Ipsos Insight. =93Advertisers and marketers=20
clearly have to take the initiative to expand the=20
base of consumers who understand HDTV=92s features=20
and benefits, in order to convert them into=20
buyers,=94 said Todd Board, leader of Ipsos=20
Insight=92s Technology & Communications practice.=20
=93Especially when you consider that the number of=20
people who are substantially aware of HDTV hasn't changed since 2004.=94
http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3D2947

CDT FILES COMPLAINTS AGAINST MAJOR ADWARE DISTRIBUTOR
[SOURCE: Center for Democracy and Technology]
CDT asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to=20
put an end to the illegal and deceptive practices=20
of 180solutions Inc., one of the world=92s largest=20
developers of Internet advertising software. In a=20
detailed complaint, CDT outlines a pattern in=20
which 180solutions, through a complicated web of=20
affiliate relationships, repeatedly duped=20
Internet users into downloading unwanted,=20
intrusive software. In addition to the=20
=93pattern-of-practice=94 complaint against=20
180solutions, CDT also filed a specific complaint=20
with the FTC detailing the unfair installation=20
practices of 180solutions affiliate CJB.NET.
http://www.cdt.org/

THE BUYING PATTERNS OF RICH U.S. HOUSEHOLDS
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Bradley Johnson]
So, just who is all that advertising-supported=20
media targeted to, anyway? Well, think of it this=20
way... the top 20% of U.S. households by income=20
collectively spend more than the bottom 60% on=20
goods and services. That means the top fifth of=20
households do nearly 40% of the nation=92s consumer=20
spending. These households accounted for 41% of=20
the increase in spending from the recession year of 2001 through 2004.
http://adage.com/news.cms?newsId=3D47509

EX-NADER RAIDER PUSHES CHANGE FROM THE MIDDLE
[SOURCE: Houston Chronicle, AUTHOR: Gebe Martinez]
A profile of reputed sellout Sam Simon and his 20=20
year-old company Issue Dynamics Inc.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3602288.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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