November 2007

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MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Please, please, please, FCC
Bill Moyers' faulty Journal
FCC OKs ABC-FOX Duopoly in Greenville, North Carolina
Are the corporate suits ruining TV?

INTERNET/BROADBAND
OECD Broadband Portal and New Stats: US still 15th
Comcast and Freedom to Obtain Service Plan Information

DIGITAL CONTENT
How Big Media's Copyright Campaigns Threaten Internet Free Expression
Facebook Is Marketing Your Brand Preferences (With Your Permission)
The wrong way to protect online privacy
Republicans Concerned About Google-DoubleClick Merger
Yahoo's Lashing Highlights Risks Of China Market
TV moves to digital age
Newspaper publishers discussing online ad network

TELECOM
Ex-Worker at AT&T Fights Immunity Bill
FCC Poised To Cap USF Service Temporarily
VoIP in America: A Tale of Two States
Sanders wants conditions on Verizon bid for Unicel
The Not-Google Phone

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
Your Ad Here: Web Surprise Hits =9208 Race
Meet The Press

QUICKLY -- GOP Senator Investigates Spending at=20
Several TV Ministries; One Laptop per Child=20
Foundation starts production; Fritts to Lobby on Behalf of MPAA

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, FCC
[SOURCE: Seattle Times, AUTHOR: Lynne Varner]
[Commentary] The FCC wants to change the rules=20
some more so big media can go on another binge.=20
The commission has held public hearings around=20
the country to gauge the public's reaction, but=20
it feels like window dressing on an already done=20
deal. Cementing my suspicion was the FCC's=20
decision late last Friday to hold its sixth and=20
final hearing on media ownership in Seattle this=20
coming Friday. Whoa! What's the hurry? The FCC's=20
Dec. 18 deadline has the effect of moving=20
big-business interests from the fast track to a=20
bullet train. From Oregon, Idaho and Alaska,=20
people with a stake in this fight should be in=20
Seattle on Friday afternoon. The five=20
commissioners want our opinion. Here's mine:=20
Media outlets owned by diverse communities are=20
slowly but surely growing. So is the appetite for=20
these niche markets. Supporting independent media=20
helps outlets like The Seattle Times. Newsrooms=20
have been broadening the kinds of people who help=20
decide what makes news and who is considered=20
news. An added benefit is that when a publication=20
is owned by members of a community, employees are=20
likely to come from within the community, too.=20
The direction the FCC is taking us, one where the=20
media are controlled by a few with goals less=20
about journalism and more about creating wealth=20
and consolidating control, is not where I want to go.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003997845_lynne07.html?sy...
cation=3Drss
* Democracy will be heard
[SOURCE: Seattle Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] The undemocratic tactics of the=20
Federal Communications Commission chairman to=20
blunt public input at a Seattle media-ownership hearing will not work.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003995687_latee...
.html

BILL MOYERS' FAULTY JOURNAL
[SOURCE: hear2.0, AUTHOR: Mark Ramsey]
[Commentary] Some pushback on last week's airing=20
of Bill Moyers Journal... "His program, Bill=20
Moyers Journal, is an example of advocacy=20
journalism, where facts are collected which=20
support a point of view - usually a point of view=20
which is outside the general media=20
conversation.... I think Moyers veered from=20
advocacy into propaganda.... The opposite of=20
more consolidation is, in fact, more ownership by=20
smaller owners who have exactly the same profit=20
motivation as the larger owners. More of the=20
same, in other words. With a different company=20
name on the letterhead.... stations are licensed=20
to serve "in the public interest." But what could=20
be more in the public interest than content which=20
is interesting to the public?"
http://www.hear2.com/2007/11/what-does-it-me.html

FCC OKs ABC-FOX DUOPOLY IN NORTH CAROLINA
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
The Federal Communications Commission has=20
approved an ABC-Fox duopoly for the Bonten Media=20
Group in Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.,=20
the nation=92s 105th largest TV market. According=20
to filings at the FCC: 1) Piedmont Television is=20
selling Fox affiliate WFXI along with its WYDO=20
satellite in the market to Esteem Broadcasting=20
for $5.9 million. Esteem is wholly owned by David=20
Bailey of Marshall (IL). 2) At the same time,=20
Piedmont is selling certain tangible assets of=20
the stations to Bonten for $23.5 million. 3)=20
Finally, Bonten has agreements with Esteem that=20
will allow it to operate WFXI-WYDO is tandem with=20
its ABC affiliate in the market, WCTI. In=20
essence, the deals valued WFXI-WYDO at $29.4=20
million and puts Bonten is control of all the stations.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/11/06/daily.10/

ARE THE CORPORATE SUITS RUINING TV?
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Marshall Herskovitz]
A look at how a confluence of government policy=20
and corporate strategy is literally poisoning the=20
TV business. It started in 1995 when the Federal=20
Communications Commission abolished its=20
long-standing "finsyn" rules (that's financial=20
interest and syndication, for those unfamiliar=20
with the term), allowing networks for the first=20
time to own the programs they broadcast. Before=20
that, under classic antitrust definitions, the=20
networks had been confined to the role of=20
broadcaster, paying a license fee to production=20
companies for the right to broadcast programs=20
just two times. The production companies owned=20
all subsequent rights. In the mid-1990s there=20
were 40 independent production companies making=20
television shows. If a particular network didn't=20
like a show -- as famously happened with "The=20
Cosby Show" many years ago -- the production=20
company could take it to another network. Today=20
there are zero independent production companies=20
making scripted television. They were all forced=20
out of business by the networks' insistence --=20
following the FCC's fin-syn ruling -- on owning=20
part or all of every program they broadcast. Over=20
the last few years -- during a time when network=20
profits have been increasing -- salaries and=20
profit participation for the writer-producers who=20
create the shows have been slashed. Fees were cut=20
by one-third to one-half, and profit=20
participation in many cases was effectively=20
eliminated. Within five years there won't be a=20
significant distinction between TV and broadband.=20
As of now, the Internet is just too big for any=20
company to get its hands around, and that's good=20
for all of us. If the large companies -- and the=20
FCC -- cannot come to comprehend the paradox that=20
too much control is destructive to their own=20
ends, they may bring about their own downfall,=20
losing their audience and their workers at the same time.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-oe-herskovitz7nov07...
6072340.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)

INTERNET/BROADBAND

OECD BROADBAND PORTAL
[SOURCE: BroadbandReports.com, AUTHOR: Karl]
The new Organization for Economic Co-Operation=20
and Development (OECD) broadband data portal is a=20
treasure trove of information on broadband=20
statistics among OECD member countries. While the=20
OECD traditionally gets attention for=20
highlighting broadband penetration, they also=20
track broadband prices and other data. The United=20
States continues to be the largest broadband=20
market among OECD countries with 66.2 million=20
connections, comprising 33% of all OECD tracked=20
users. The U.S. also continues to place fifteenth=20
among all OECD countries when it comes to=20
penetration. Denmark, the Netherlands,=20
Switzerland, Korea, Norway and Iceland lead the=20
OECD in broadband penetration. When it comes to=20
broadband speeds, the OECD notes that the average=20
connection offered in OECD countries is 13.7Mbps.=20
The fastest average advertised download speeds=20
are in Japan (93 Mbps), France (44 Mbps), Korea=20
(43 Mbps) and Sweden (21 Mbps). Japan is tops=20
when it comes to fastest residential broadband,=20
offering connections of 1Gbps. The average price=20
of a broadband connection among OECD countries is=20
$49, with FTTH on average being the priciest=20
($51), and fixed wireless being the least=20
expensive ($33). The average price of=20
connectivity per Mbps is $18, with Japan (0.13),=20
France (0.33), Sweden(0.35), Korea (0.38)and=20
Finland (0.42) having the lowest cost broadband=20
per Mbps. FTTH connections are almost five times=20
less expensive per Mbps than DSL, cable or wireless.
* Global Data on Caps, Speeds & Prices
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Global-Data-on-Caps-Speeds-Prices-89161
[SOURCE: Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development]
* OECD Broadband Portal (press release)
http://www.oecd.org/document/54/0,3343,en_2649_34223_38690102_1_1_1_1,00...
ml?rssChId=3D34223
* Broadband Portal
http://www.oecd.org/sti/ict/broadband
* NTIA asks OECD for better numbers
John M.R. Kneuer, Assistant Secretary of Commerce=20
for Information and Communication and National=20
Telecommunications and Information Administration=20
Administrator: "Since President Bush took office,=20
the United States has experienced tremendous=20
growth in high-speed Internet capabilities, with=20
the number of broadband lines increasing by 1200%=20
to 82.5 million as of December 2006. In addition=20
to leading the world with the largest number of=20
broadband lines, the U.S. also leads in total=20
Wi-Fi hotspots, Internet users, Internet hubs,=20
and e-commerce revenues. We appreciate the=20
OECD=92s efforts to look at a broader range of=20
measurements through its new broadband portal and=20
will continue to work with them to improve its=20
methodology to better capture the full range of=20
broadband services in the United States and other OECD members."
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/OECDstudy_110507.html

COMCAST AND FREEDOM TO OBTAIN SERVICE PLAN INFORMATION
[SOURCE: DrewClark.com]
Comcast=92s terms of service and other consumer=20
broadband service documents make no mention of=20
any restrictions on the use of =93peer-to-peer=94=20
applications like BitTorrent, or of any Internet=20
network management. AT&T and Time Warner Cable,=20
two of the other big broadband providers, do=20
mention restrictions on =93peer-to-peer=94 services=20
in their consumer broadband documents. Verizon=20
Communications does not mention the phrase,=20
according to an analysis of the four broadband=20
providers. Unlike Time Warner Cable, Comcast=20
fails to mention any =93management,=94 =93network=20
management=94 or =93reasonable network management=94 of=20
its consumer broadband service in its documents.=20
Of the four providers, however, Comcast makes the=20
most extensive warning to consumers against the=20
=93excess=94 use of bandwidth. For example, Comcast=20
declares that the consumer =93shall ensure that=20
your use of the Service does not restrict,=20
inhibit, interfere with, or degrade any other=20
user=92s use of the Service, nor represent (in the=20
sole judgment of Comcast) an overly large burden on the network.=94
http://www.drewclark.com/comcast-and-freedom-to-obtain-service-plan-info...
tion/

DIGITAL CONTENT

HOW BIG MEDIA'S COPYRIGHT CAMPAIGNS THREATEN INTERNET FREE EXPRESSION
[SOURCE: InformationWeek, AUTHOR: Cory Doctorow]
[Commentary] When people talk about "creator's=20
rights," they usually mean copyright, but=20
copyright is just a side dish for creators: The=20
most important right we have is the right to free=20
expression. And these two rights are always in=20
tension. The Internet's current, incredible=20
diversity is great news for artists. The=20
traditional artist's lament is that our=20
publishers have us over a barrel, controlling the=20
narrow and vital channels for making works=20
available -- from big gallery owners to movie=20
studios to record labels to New York publishers.=20
That's why artists have such a hard time=20
negotiating a decent deal for themselves. But,=20
thanks to the Web, artists have more options than=20
ever. The Internet's most popular video podcasts=20
aren't associated with TV networks (with all the=20
terrible, one-sided deals that would entail);=20
rather, they're independent programs. And it's=20
not just the indies who benefit: The existence of=20
successful independent artists creates fantastic=20
leverage for artists who negotiate with the=20
majors. More and more, the big media companies'=20
"like it or leave it" bargaining stance is being=20
undermined by the possibility that the next big=20
star will shrug, turn on her heel, and make her=20
fortune without the big companies' help. This has=20
humbled the bigs, making their deals better and=20
more artist-friendly. Bargaining leverage is just=20
for starters. The greatest threat that art faces=20
is suppression. Historically, artists have=20
struggled just to make themselves heard, just to=20
safeguard the right to express themselves.=20
Censorship is history's greatest enemy of art. A=20
limited-liability Web is a Web where anyone can=20
post anything and reach everyone. Artists are in=20
the free expression business, and technology that=20
helps free expression helps artists. When=20
lowering the cost of copyright enforcement raises=20
the cost of free speech, every artist has a duty=20
to speak out. Our ability to make our art is=20
inextricably linked with the billions of Internet=20
users who use the network to talk about their lives.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=3D20280...

FACEBOOK IS MARKETING YOUR BRAND PREFERENCES (WITH YOUR PERMISSION)
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Louise Strory]
Facebook wants to put your face on advertisements=20
for products that you like. In a twist on=20
word-of-mouth marketing, Facebook began selling=20
ads that display people=92s profile photos next to=20
commercial messages that are shown to their=20
friends about items they purchased or registered=20
an opinion about. Facebook says that many of its=20
50 million active users already tell friends=20
about particular products or brands they like,=20
and the only change will be that those=20
communications might start to carry ad messages=20
from the companies that sell them. Facebook is=20
letting advertisers set up their own profile=20
pages at no charge and encouraging companies like=20
Blockbuster, Cond=E9 Nast and Coca-Cola to share=20
information with Facebook about the actions of=20
Facebook members on their sites. Some privacy=20
experts applauded Facebook for letting people=20
choose whether or not to make product=20
recommendations. But they also expressed concern=20
that Facebook might one day change its policy of=20
not sharing data with marketers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/technology/07adco.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)
* Facebook strategy: You're the ad
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-facebook7nov07,1,7136...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

THE WRONG WAY TO PROTECT ONLINE PRIVACY
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Patti Waldmeir patti.waldmeir( at )ft.com]
[Commentary] The Internet promised a world of=20
perfect anonymity, but then along came the=20
advertisers. Internet advertising companies want=20
to track our secret instincts, as revealed=20
online, and use them to sell us products. But=20
now, suddenly, we want the government to protect=20
us from their online prying: US consumer groups=20
are clamoring for a "do not track" list to allow=20
US consumers to bar Internet companies from=20
watching what we do online. But we should be=20
careful what we wish for. The simple fact that=20
technology can pierce our precious anonymity does=20
not mean that our privacy has been irrevocably=20
sacrificed to the gods of cyberspace: advertisers=20
may be able to track what I do online - but they=20
are just not configured properly to gossip about=20
it to the neighbors. I would much rather have a=20
computer spying on me, than the spinster next=20
door. Internet advertisers point out, doubtless=20
correctly, that if they cannot target-bomb us=20
with relevant adverts based on our Internet=20
behavior patterns, they will carpet-bomb us with=20
a deluge of ads that most of us consider totally=20
superfluous. It is hard to see how the average=20
"netizen" will benefit from such indiscriminate=20
commercialism. Privacy has entered a new era, but=20
those of us who care can find the tools to=20
protect ourselves, even online. It is hard to=20
believe that a "do not track" registry will do=20
much to protect the privacy of those who cannot figure that out already.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/175ba6b8-8cd7-11dc-aa10-0000779fd2ac.html
(requires subscription)

REPUBLICANS CONCERNED ABOUT GOOGLE-DOUBLECLICK MERGER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
A dozen Republican members of the House Consumer=20
Protection Subcommittee called on Chairman Bobby=20
Rush (D-IL) to hold hearings on the proposed=20
merger of Google and DoubleClick. They said they=20
are concerned about the privacy implications of=20
combining the mammoth search engine's database=20
with the online behavioral-marketing database of=20
DoubleClick. Chairman Rush already wrote the=20
Federal Trade Commission expressing concerns=20
about online privacy and consumer protection, and=20
the subcommittee held a September hearing on the=20
competitive impact of the merger, but the=20
Republicans want another hearing dealing with the=20
privacy implications, saying that more questions were raised than answered.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6497804.html?rssid=3D193

YAHOO'S LASHING HIGHLIGHTS RISKS OF CHINA MARKET
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Corey Boles=20
corey.boles( at )dowjones.com, Don Clark, Pui-Wing Tam]
An unusually dramatic congressional hearing on=20
Yahoo Inc.'s role in the imprisonment of at least=20
two dissidents in China exposed the company to=20
withering criticism and underscored the risks for=20
Western companies seeking to expand there. "While=20
technologically and financially you are giants,=20
morally you are pygmies," Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA),=20
who called the hearing on Capitol Hill, told=20
Yahoo's co-founder and Chief Executive Jerry Yang=20
and General Counsel Michael Callahan. "This=20
testimony has been an appallingly disappointing=20
performance." Yang apologized to the mother of=20
journalist Shi Tao, who was jailed after Yahoo=20
China, then a unit of the company, handed=20
information about him to Chinese authorities in=20
2004. She was at the hearing, sitting directly=20
behind Callahan and Yang. Addressing the families=20
of the dissidents, Yang said: "I want to say we=20
are committed to doing what we can to secure=20
their freedom. And I want to personally apologize=20
for what they are going through."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119436469294284018.html?mod=3DdjemTECH
(requires subscription)
* Democratic leader to Yahoo CEO: China policy is 'spineless'
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9811889-7.html

TV MOVES TO DIGITAL AGE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Paul Thomasch]
Americans can watch television shows on anything=20
from a computer to an iPod these days, but media=20
companies and advertisers have yet to figure out=20
how best to take advantage of all the new ways to=20
reach audiences, said representatives from=20
Google, Dow Jones, NBC Universal and TNS Media=20
Research. "Broadcast television is still very=20
powerful, it's still the only way to do certain=20
things," said NBC's Ron Lamprecht. "I think there=20
is always going to be a place for consuming a TV=20
show or movie in a certain environment," like a=20
movie theater or a living room. For all the=20
interest in new ways of broadcasting, he noted,=20
most content is still viewed through the television set.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0641707620071106

NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS DISCUSSING ONLINE AD NETWORK
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Robert MacMillan]
Gannett, Tribune, Cox Newspapers, Hearst and=20
MediaNews are in talks about starting a national=20
online advertising network to make it easier for=20
national advertisers to buy space across a=20
variety of newspaper Web sites, something that=20
would allow them to recoup the ad dollars that=20
their print editions have been steadily losing.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DindustryNews&storyID=
=3D2007-11-06T224321Z_01_N06407808_RTRIDST_0_INDUSTRY-NEWSPAPERS-ADS-DC.XML

TELECOM

EX-WORKER AT AT&T FIGHTS IMMUNITY BILL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: James Risen and Eric Lichtblau]
When Mark Klein, then an AT&T technician in San=20
Francisco, stumbled on a secret room apparently=20
reserved for the National Security Agency inside=20
an AT&T switching center, he hardly expected to=20
be caught up in a national debate over the proper=20
balance between American civil liberties and=20
national security. But four years later, Klein=92s=20
discovery has led to a spate of class-action=20
lawsuits against the nation=92s largest telephone=20
companies. The threat posed to the=20
telecommunications industry by those suits has=20
prompted the Bush administration to push Congress=20
to grant companies legal immunity for their=20
secret cooperation in the N.S.A.=92s program of=20
eavesdropping without warrants. With many=20
Democrats in Congress seemingly willing to grant=20
the legal protection, Klein has come to=20
Washington to fight back. Klein, 62 and now=20
retired, will begin meeting Wednesday with staff=20
members on the Senate and House Judiciary=20
Committees to try to persuade them to put a brake=20
on the immunity legislation. He says the phone=20
companies do not deserve the legal protection.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/us/07nsa.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)
* A Story of Surveillance
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR200711...
0006.html

FCC POISED TO CAP USF SERVICE TEMPORARILY
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
The FCC is poised to impose a temporary cap on=20
the multibillion-dollar universal service fund,=20
with a vote expected this month. The effort is=20
designed to curb the program's growth while=20
substantive changes are pursued. On Oct. 26, FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin circulated three USF=20
proposals among his colleagues. New rules would=20
freeze funding at 2007 levels to "competitive"=20
carriers, mostly wireless firms that receive=20
support in markets where dominant, traditional=20
telephone companies are subsidized. He also=20
recommended that the FCC consider eliminating a=20
rule requiring that assistance to competitors be=20
based on subsidies to dominant firms, even if=20
competitors' costs are lower. In addition, he=20
suggested that the agency consider "reverse=20
auctions," which award universal service funds to=20
carriers agreeing to the lowest subsidies. Both=20
ideas would be outlined in proposed rulemakings=20
subject to public comment. Meanwhile, the=20
federal-state board may issue additional=20
recommendations for long-term changes that reflect Martin's priorities.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/2007/11/fcc_poised_to_cap_usf_temporar.html

VOIP IN AMERICA: A TALE OF TWO STATES
[SOURCE: Jeff Pulver Blog]
Last week two states -- New Jersey and Missouri=20
-- took radically different approaches to VoIP=20
regulation that could have far reaching=20
consequences for the future of Internet=20
communication. New Jersey adopted a new law=20
prohibiting state regulation of many aspects of=20
VoIP. Meanwhile, the Missouri Public Service=20
Commission (PSC) took a starkly different=20
approach. After a year-long proceeding, the PSC=20
found that Comcast=92s fixed VoIP service, unlike=20
Vonage=92s service, is offering a=20
telecommunications service in Missouri and=20
therefore it is requiring Comcast to get=20
certified by December 10th, or stop offering=20
their VoIP service. Even though in the FCC=92s=20
landmark =93Vonage decision=94 the Commission found=20
that Vonage and Vonage like services should not=20
be subject to state jurisdiction, the Missouri=20
PSC has found otherwise. Unfortunately, while the=20
Missouri Senate proposed legislation similar to=20
New Jersey=92s to prevent the Missouri PSC from=20
regulating VoIP, the Senate adjourned before completing work on the bill.
http://pulverblog.pulver.com/archives/007628.html

SANDERS WANTS CONDITIONS ON VERIZON BID FOR UNICEL
[SOURCE: Burlington Free Press, AUTHOR: Dan McLean]
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) picked up support in=20
his effort to require the Federal Communications=20
Commission to impose four conditions on Verizon=20
Wireless' bid to buy Rural Cellular Corp., known=20
as Unicel. Verizon Wireless and Unicel are=20
Vermont's largest cell phone providers; Sprint=20
Nextel and U.S. Cellular are the state's only=20
other providers, according to the Public Service=20
Department. Without certain guarantees, giving=20
Verizon Wireless control of Unicel would be=20
"extremely dangerous for the economic=20
development" of Vermont, Sen Sanders said. "We=20
would have a monopoly. I'm not a great fan of=20
monopolies," he said; the monopoly-effect would=20
be greatest in Vermont, compared to the other 14=20
states that are included in the deal, Sen Sanders=20
said. The conditions are: 1) 100 percent cell=20
phone coverage in Vermont within 2 years; 2)=20
indefinitely maintain, upgrade and expand the=20
current GSM network -- or sell the system to a=20
company that will; 3) offer existing Unicel=20
customers equivalent phones that will operate on=20
Verizon's CDMA network; and 4) provide roaming=20
services at reasonable rates for voice, data and=20
broadband service to customers of other cell phone carriers.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D/20071106...
SINESS/71106006/1003

THE NOT-GOOGLE PHONE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] Two of the biggest technology=20
stories of 2007 have been stories about phones =97=20
the solid achievement of Apple=92s iPhone, released=20
during the summer, and the news, announced on=20
Monday, that Google will help orchestrate,=20
develop and fund a new open software standard for=20
mobile phones. Some people were disappointed by=20
Google=92s announcement, if only because there was=20
no actual gadget to hold in their hands. But it=20
was possibly as groundbreaking in its own way as=20
the iPhone itself. This new model could benefit=20
Google enormously because it would promote use of=20
the Web on cellphones, and the Web is where the=20
company makes its ad dollars. Google=92s move poses=20
a direct challenge to Microsoft, Apple, Nokia and=20
other companies that have strong stakes in the=20
cellphone status quo. Another winner is likely to=20
be innovation. Google=92s new model is betting that=20
more minds are better than fewer, and that the=20
future of the cellphone lies less in the phone=20
itself than in its role as a tiny computer=20
capable of connecting in any number of ways to=20
the world =97 real and virtual =97 around it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/opinion/07wed4.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

MEDIA & ELECTIONS

YOUR AD HERE: WEB SURPRISE HITS '08 RACE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jim Rutenberg]
Political campaigns are still trying to get a=20
handle on the power of the Internet to=20
communicate with and motivate voters. Candidates=20
and their supporters are using the Web more than=20
ever to reach out frequently to visitors of sites=20
who they believe will probably be interested in=20
their promises and positions. On Monday, backers=20
of Representative Ron Paul, Republican of Texas,=20
raised more than $4 million on behalf of his=20
presidential campaign through an appeal on a site=20
created to appeal to libertarians. But on the=20
Web, campaigns are also venturing into unruly=20
territory where they risk losing the thing they=20
crave most: control. When it comes to television,=20
politicians, like all marketers, have decades of=20
experience and reams of research to help guide=20
them toward the audience they are seeking and to=20
shape messages that will push the proper buttons.=20
But for all the promise of the Web to allow=20
sophisticated microtargeting of messages, it=20
remains to many campaigns a bit of a Wild West=20
where the rules are still being written and=20
politicians by and large are newly arrived=20
settlers. Television is still the primary means=20
by which the campaigns reach voters by the=20
millions, and even now, Internet advertising=20
makes up a small fraction of the candidates=92=20
advertising budgets. But campaign strategists=20
say the Internet provides unrivaled opportunity=20
to draw volunteers and donations for mere=20
pennies, through Web sites that often make their=20
interests and affiliations clear.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/us/politics/07ads.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

MEET THE PRESS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Ruth Marcus marcusr( at )washpost.com]
[Commentary] But by some important measures,=20
George W. Bush is more accessible to the=20
reporters who cover him than are some of the=20
leading candidates to succeed him -- most notably=20
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Through the end=20
of September, the president had given 25 news=20
conferences this year and answered questions from=20
reporters in 19 less-extensive sessions. By=20
contrast, Clinton and Obama have only=20
occasionally held the kind of "press avail" that=20
for other candidates, and in previous years, has=20
been a common, often daily, occurrence.=20
Politicians, with the possible exception of John=20
McCain, don't subject themselves to reporters=20
because they enjoy it -- they do it because it's=20
in their self-interest. Candidates eager,=20
desperate even, for coverage are happy to make=20
themselves available to reporters who have an=20
interest in questioning them. Those in a stronger=20
position don't want to risk veering off message.=20
This election isn't the first, and won't be the=20
last, in which the inevitable tensions surface=20
between the media's clamor for constant and=20
instant access and the campaigns' desire to maintain control.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/06/AR200711...
1806.html
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

GOP SENATOR INVESTIGATES SPENDING AT SEVERAL TV MINISTRIES
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Jacqueline L. Salmon]
Some of the nation's biggest televangelists --=20
including faith healer Benny Hinn and=20
best-selling Christian book author Joyce Meyer --=20
are targets of an investigation by Sen. Charles=20
E. Grassley (R-Iowa), the Ranking Member on the=20
Senate Finance Committee. After receiving reports=20
of lavish spending at the ministries, Sen=20
Grassley said yesterday that he has requested=20
detailed documents on the finances of the=20
organizations, which bring in hundreds of=20
millions of dollars in donations annually. The=20
other televangelists under investigation include=20
Randy and Paula White of Without Walls=20
International Church, based in Tampa; Kenneth and=20
Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries,=20
based in Newark, Tex.; and from Georgia, Bishop=20
Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist=20
Church and Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/06/AR200711...
2079.html
(requires registration)
* Senator Questioning Ministries on Spending
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/us/07ministers.html?ref=3Dtodayspaper

ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD FOUNDATION STARTS PRODUCTION
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jim Finkle]
The One Laptop per Child Foundation said on=20
Tuesday production of a new laptop computer for=20
children in developing countries had begun, a=20
milestone that could shake up the PC industry by=20
ushering in a new era of low-cost computing. The=20
group has already announced orders for children=20
in Uruguay and Mongolia. It also plans to offer=20
the laptops to Americans and Canadians through a=20
$399 holiday charity program that covers the cost=20
of providing a second machine to a child overseas.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0642272220071106

EDDIE FRITTS TO LOBBY ON BEHALF OF MPAA
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Motion Picture Association of America hired=20
the Fritts Group to lobby the federal government=20
on intellectual property issues. The firm is=20
headed by former NAB President Eddie Fritts.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/11/06/daily.12/
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------