March 2008

There's a discussion today on "Building a=20
Broadband Strategy for America." See http://www.benton.org/node/9235

BROADCASTING
FCC Adopts Digital Television Consumer Education Order
Real-World DTV Tests
Bill Would Aid Rural Stations with DTV Switch
FCC's Copps wants probe of "60 Minutes" black-out
FCC Won't Deny Nexstar-Mission Fort Smith, Ark., Sale
PBS, APTS Push FCC on Dish Network HD Carriage

ELECTIONS & MEDIA
Press Takes a Harder Look at Obama=97and Itself
In Defense of Lobbying
Study: Clinton's =91Middle-of-the-Night Phone Call=92 Ad Has Little Effect

CABLE/SATELLITE
Small Cable Operators Ask For Dual-Carriage Exemption
NATOA Cries Foul Over FCC's =91Shot Clock=92 Violation

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Wiretap Compromise in Works
A Wave of the Watch List, and Speech Disappears
U.S. and Europe Protest a Chinese News Regulation
BBC Set to Open Its New Arab World TV Channel

QUICKLY -- Broadband Connects With 8.5 Million=20
U.S. Customers In 2007; Internet Gaming Rules=20
Face Long Odds; TPUC Wants Funds Reduction For=20
Largest Telcos; Device helps overweight kids cut TV time

BROADCASTING

FCC ADOPTS DIGITAL TELEVISION CONSUMER EDUCATION ORDER
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Although adopted February 19, the FCC on Monday=20
released an order on digital television=20
transition education efforts. The order requires=20
television broadcasters, cable and satellite TV=20
operators, telecommunications carriers,=20
retailers, and manufacturers to promote awareness=20
of the nation's transition to digital television.=20
The educational efforts of these diverse groups=20
are intended to provide consumers with clear and=20
correct information about the DTV transition. 1)=20
Broadcasters must provide on-air information to=20
their viewers about the DTV transition, and have=20
the flexibility to comply with one of three=20
alternative sets of rules to best serve their=20
widely divergent communities. Broadcasters must=20
report these efforts, on a quarterly basis, to=20
the Commission and the public. 2) Cable and=20
satellite TV operators must provide monthly=20
notices about the DTV transition in their=20
customer billing statements. 3) Manufacturers of=20
television receivers and related devices must=20
provide notice to consumers of the transition's=20
impact on that equipment. 4) DTV.gov partners and=20
winners of the 700 MHz spectrum auction must=20
provide the Commission with regular updates on=20
their consumer education efforts. 5)=20
Telecommunications companies participating in the=20
Low Income Federal Universal Service Program must=20
provide notice of the transition in their monthly=20
customer billing statements to their low income=20
customers and potential customers. 6) FCC will=20
assist the National Telecommunications and=20
Information Agency ("NTIA") in ensuring that=20
retailers are fulfilling their commitment to the converter box program.
* Press release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280586A1.doc
* Order:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-56A1.doc
* Chairman Martin: "The Commission will continue=20
to take whatever actions are necessary to=20
minimize the potential burden the digital=20
transition could impose on consumers and maximize=20
their ability to benefit from it. The next 12=20
months will undoubtedly be=20
challenging. Nevertheless, it is my hope that=20
through the combined efforts of government,=20
industry and advocacy groups American consumers=20
will reap the rewards that the digital transition has to offer."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-56A2.doc
* Commissioner Copps: "Today's Order finally=20
adopts many of the suggestions made nine months=20
ago by Chairmen Dingell and Markey regarding=20
steps the Commission could take on its own=20
authority to compel industry DTV consumer=20
education efforts. Unfortunately, one of the=20
most important steps is not something the=20
Commission can compel-the establishment of a=20
federal Inter-Agency Task Force to oversee and=20
coordinate the government's efforts.... Some=20
broadcasters have told me that, yes, they are=20
launching consumer education programs but, no,=20
they haven't coordinated their efforts with other=20
stations in their market. That's a recipe for=20
continued confusion and for leaving some=20
consumers behind. So I continue to believe that=20
a coordinated, private sector-public sector=20
partnership is absolutely essential-it may just=20
be our last best hope for something resembling a smooth DTV transition."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-56A3.doc
* Commissioner Adelstein: "With disappointment, I=20
dissent in part from this item because the=20
majority of my colleagues have refused to agree=20
to prepare a DTV transition report to Congress=20
and the American people with a detailed plan to=20
reach and assist at-risk, over-the-air reliant=20
communities. The Commission's unwillingness to=20
prepare such a report ignores sound management=20
practices, snubs the recommendations of objective=20
expert observers, and, frankly, defies common=20
sense. It perpetuates uncertainty at a time when=20
everyone needs to know and help execute the=20
game-plan. The quarterback needs to let other=20
players know the play to execute; that's the only=20
way this nation will win on February 17,=20
2009. Unfortunately, the Commission's refusal to=20
prepare a DTV report to Congress is the latest=20
illustration of its stubborn unwillingness to be=20
proactive and to mitigate risks associated with=20
the transition. While oversight hearings and=20
letters from Congress have certainly made us much=20
more engaged, congressional prodding is not a=20
substitute for Commission planning and=20
leadership. The Commission's passive, reactive=20
approach has had real consequences on the DTV=20
transition. It has unnecessarily made the=20
daunting task of executing an under-funded,=20
national transition even more difficult."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-56A4.doc
* Commissioner Tate: "The DTV transition is a=20
unique situation which demands the involvement=20
and attention of the Commission, Congress, and=20
other governmental agencies- federal, state, and=20
local. With only a year to go until the=20
transition, it is imperative that we continue to=20
work together, as industry leaders, regulators,=20
and government officials, to ensure a successful=20
DTV transition. The DTV transition is a massive=20
technological conversion that affects us all. I=20
applaud those broadcasters who are working to=20
ensure that every citizen receives critical news,=20
information, and emergency alerts both before and=20
after the transition, and I encourage others to do the same."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-56A5.doc
* Commissioner McDowell: "When the government=20
mandates speech, as the Commission does today, we=20
must adhere to the principles of the First=20
Amendment and ensure that the requirements are=20
narrowly tailored to advance our=20
interests. Clearly, ensuring a smooth transition=20
from analog to digital broadcasting is a=20
substantial governmental interest. Our order=20
today, however, gives stations a choice between a=20
flexible and creative private sector solution or=20
more regulation. On the other hand, I note my=20
concerns about the First Amendment implications=20
of two parts of our order: first, requiring=20
telephone companies that receive Universal=20
Service funds to provide DTV transition=20
information in the monthly bills of=20
Lifeline/Link-up customers; and second, requiring=20
winning bidders in the currently open 700 MHz=20
spectrum auction to detail what, if any, consumer=20
education efforts they are conducting. In both=20
cases, the nexus between our governmental purpose=20
and the means to achieve that purpose are quite remote."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-56A6.doc
* Dingell, Markey Commend FCC for Releasing=20
Digital Television Consumer Education Plan
Dingell: =93I=92m pleased the FCC approved a=20
comprehensive consumer education plan for the=20
digital television transition. The DTV transition=20
is one of the most important communications=20
matters facing our nation today, and its success=20
is critical not only for the broadcast industry,=20
but also for public safety. I also applaud=20
Chairman Martin for giving broadcasters some=20
flexibility to determine how best to educate=20
their viewers about the transition. I look=20
forward to the implementation of the Commission=92s=20
directive and to working to ensure that all=20
consumers are fully aware of what the transition means for them.=94
Markey: "Too many Americans remain unaware of the=20
fact that television signals are going=20
exclusively digital in just a year. The digital=20
transition promises to bring more television=20
programming with better picture and sound=20
quality, but if consumers aren't ready for it,=20
these benefits will be sidelined by the outcry=20
when analog televisions go dark. I commend the=20
FCC for taking action now and implementing this=20
consumer education and outreach plan."
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr215.shtml
-- More coverage --
* FCC Votes for Government-Mandated DTV Consumer-Education Campaign
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537685.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC Details DTV Education Requirements
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/03/03/daily.18/

REAL-WORLD DTV TESTS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
Federal Communications Commission members Michael=20
Copps and Kevin Martin traded letters on Monday.=20
Commissioner Copps wrote to "suggest some ways we=20
could gain critical real-world experience in=20
advance of the digital television transition now=20
less than a year away. Real-world experience is=20
an extremely important step-although only one of=20
many we must take-in order to minimize consumer=20
disruption on February 17, 2009." He proposed,=20
again, switching a small number TV markets to=20
all-digital service before the national=20
transition date. He said the field tests could=20
explore: 1) DTV reception, 2) antenna issues, 3)=20
cable/satellite coordination, 4) DTV equipment=20
installation, 5) equipment functionality, and 6)=20
consumer reactions. He concluded urging the=20
Chairman to convene a working group to explore=20
potential test markets and timing. Chairman=20
Martin wrote back saying he is in favor of pursuing Copps' proposal.
* Copps letter
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280589A1.doc
* Martin response
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-280582A1.pdf
* Martin Backing DTV Transition Trials
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6537705.html?nid=3D4262
* Digital TV shift may get a test drive before=20
going prime time (Associated Press)
http://www.siliconvalley.com/latestheadlines/ci_8446883
* FCC Gives Stations Leeway on Digital Switch Spots
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/03/fcc_gives_stations_leeway_on_d.php
* Copps Continues Push for Real-World DTV Testing
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537709.html?rssid=3D193
* Digital TV shift may get a test drive
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23456326/

BILL WOULD AID RURAL STATIONS WITH DTV SWITCH
[SOURCE: tvnewsday]
Sen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has endorsed Sen=20
Olympia Snowe's "technical correction" of the law=20
government the digital television transition. The=20
purpose of the bill is to better facilitate the=20
digital television transition for rural=20
Americans. It would do so by making funds=20
available sooner for digital upgrades to=20
low-power television stations and translators in=20
rural areas. Under current law, the Department of=20
Commerce is directed to make payments for a=20
program to help low-power TV and translator=20
stations during fiscal year 2009. It is not=20
mandated to disburse reimbursement payments until=20
after October 2010, which is 20 months after the=20
DTV transition deadline of February 2009.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/03/03/daily.17/
* Stevens Backs Snowe Bill for Early DTV Funding for Low-Powers
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537710.html?rssid=3D193

FCC'S COPPS WANTS PROBE OF "60 MINUTES" BLACK-OUT
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
Federal Communications Commission member Michael=20
Copps is seeking an inquiry into the blacking out=20
of a politically charged segment of the CBS News=20
magazine "60 Minutes" by a local television=20
station in Alabama. He says he has asked FCC=20
Chairman Kevin Martin to open an inquiry into the=20
February 24 incident at WHNT, a CBS affiliate in=20
Huntsville, Alabama, in which civil rights=20
footage from the 1960s was blacked out. "The FCC=20
now needs to find out if something analogous is=20
going on here," Commissioner Copps said. "Was=20
this an attempt to suppress information on the=20
public airwaves, or was it really just a=20
technical problem?" Chairman Martin responded by=20
saying he would look into the matter but has not=20
indicated yet whether he would issue a letter of inquiry to the station.
http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN0338745620080303
* Copps Pushes for Investigation of WHNT-TV Outage During 60 Minutes
At a National Press Club forum on local TV and=20
public-interest requirements, Copps said, "The=20
FCC needs to find out if something analogous is=20
going on here. Was this an attempt to suppress=20
information on the public airwaves, or was there=20
really a technical problem?" Sources said fellow=20
Democratic commissioner Jonathan Adelstein "fully supports" the inquiry.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537704.html?rssid=3D193
* FCC Is Urged to Investigate Alabama TV Station
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120460000805909629.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace

FCC WON'T DENY NEXSTAR-MISSION FORT SMITH, ARK, SALE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission's Media=20
Bureau declined to block the sale of KFTA-TV Fort=20
Smith, Ark., from Nexstar Broadcasting Group to=20
Mission Broadcasting, or to hold up the license=20
renewal of KFTA or Nexstar's KNWA-TV in nearby=20
Rogers, Ark. But the commission did admonish=20
Nexstar for making false claims on its=20
application to sell the station, and it will not=20
allow the two stations to air each other's=20
digital-TV signals. A low-power-station owner in=20
the area, Ft. Smith 46, had asked the commission=20
to deny the sale and to deny the renewal of the=20
licenses, saying that the planned joint-sales=20
agreement and shared-services agreement between=20
Nexstar and Mission "went far beyond" the norm=20
and effectively represented Nexstar's continuing=20
de facto control of KFTA, which, it argued,=20
violated FCC local-market-ownership limits. Those=20
limits would not permit actual duopolies (one=20
company owning two stations) in a market as small as Fort Smith.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537502.html?rssid=3D193

PBS, APTS PUSH FCC ON DISH NETWORK HD CARRIAGE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Noncommercial broadcasters were complaining to=20
the Federal Communications Commission Monday that=20
Dish Network has still not struck a carriage deal=20
for their HD signals. As the FCC prepares to vote=20
on satellite operators' carriage requirements in=20
the switch to digital broadcasting, PBS and the=20
Association for Public Television Stations wanted=20
to make sure it was paying attention to the HD=20
signals of noncommercial stations. In a letter to=20
the commission, the APTS and PBS pointed to the=20
carriage deals it struck with DirecTV and=20
cable-operator associations, adding, "Even after=20
the announcement of public television=92s voluntary=20
agreement with DirecTV, Dish has refused to=20
negotiate in good faith for carriage of local public television signals in =
HD."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537711.html?rssid=3D193

ELECTIONS & MEDIA

PRESS TAKES A HARDER LOOK AT OBAMA -- AND ITSELF
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
If Hillary Clinton last week wanted to work the=20
refs=97or argue with the press to generate more=20
skeptical coverage of Barack Obama and maybe=20
change the subject from her own problems=97the=20
evidence suggests it worked. With no primary=20
contests to consume press attention, Clinton=92s=20
charges of a pro-Obama tilt reverberated in the=20
media echo chamber last week. Obama=92s life and=20
record came under a heightened degree of=20
scrutiny, with everything from his legislative=20
career to his ties to Louis Farrakhan to his=20
African attire getting a public airing. Obama was=20
the top campaign newsmaker and a significant or=20
dominant factor in 69% of the stories from Feb.=20
25-March 2, a period between the Feb 19 Wisconsin=20
primary and the March 4 tests in Texas and Ohio.=20
That was the highest level of coverage for any=20
candidate in 2008. And part of it was news=20
outlets=97from Good Morning America to The New York=20
Times=97engaged in introspective inquiry aimed at=20
answering this headline atop one Feb. 29=20
newspaper story: =93Are the media giving Obama a=20
free ride?=94 Clinton finished second in the derby=20
for media exposure last week, registering as a=20
significant or dominant figure in 58% of the=20
campaign stories, a high water mark for her as=20
well. And after weeks of tough coverage, Clinton=20
may been relieved last week to find the media=20
narrative focused more on her attacks on Obama=20
than her 11-contest losing streak since Super=20
Tuesday. Last week=92s campaign coverage also=20
reflected what has become a one-party nomination=20
fight. With the GOP battle widely considered=20
over, Democrats generated more than four times=20
the coverage of Republicans (68% to 15%).=20
Presumptive Republican nominee McCain was at 28%,=20
his lowest total in five weeks and a 10-point=20
drop from last week. With McCain=92s nomination a=20
virtual certainty, his coverage last week took=20
some strange detours. That included his=20
high-profile repudiation of a conservative talk=20
host who launched a vitriolic assault on Obama=20
and the mini-flap over whether McCain=92s=20
birthplace=97the Panama Canal Zone=97ran afoul of=20
eligibility requirements for a U.S. President.
http://www.journalism.org/node/10004

IN DEFENSE OF LOBBYING
[SOURCE: Washington Post 2/29, AUTHOR: Charles Krauthammer]
[Commentary] Everyone knows the First Amendment=20
protects freedom of religion, speech, press and=20
assembly. How many remember that, in addition,=20
the First Amendment protects a fifth freedom --=20
to lobby? Of course it doesn't use the word=20
lobby. It calls it the right "to petition the=20
Government for a redress of grievances." What=20
would be an example of petitioning the government=20
for a redress of a legitimate grievance? Let's=20
say you're a media company wishing to acquire a=20
television station in Pittsburgh. You require the=20
approval of the Federal Communications=20
Commission. Now, one of the roles of Congress is=20
to make sure that said bureaucrats are=20
interpreting and enforcing Congress's laws with=20
fairness and dispatch. All members of Congress,=20
no matter how populist, no matter how much they=20
rail against "special interests," zealously=20
protect this right of oversight. Therefore, one=20
of the jobs of the chairman of the Senate=20
Commerce Committee is to ensure that the=20
bureaucrats of the FCC are doing their job. What=20
would constitute not doing their job? A textbook=20
example would be the FCC sitting two full years=20
on a pending application to acquire a Pittsburgh=20
TV station. There could hardly be a better case=20
of a legitimate "petition for a redress" than=20
that of the aforementioned private entity asking=20
the chairman of the appropriate oversight=20
committee to ask the tardy bureaucrats for a=20
ruling. So the chairman does that, writing to the=20
FCC demanding a ruling -- any ruling -- while=20
explicitly stating that he is asking for no=20
particular outcome. This, of course, is precisely=20
what John McCain did on behalf of Paxson=20
Communications in writing two letters to the FCC=20
in which he asked for a vote on the pending=20
television-station acquisition. Which is why=20
what was intended to be an expose turned into a farce
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR200802...
3232.html
(requires registration)
* McCain Sex Scandal Blonde Missing -- Day 12
[SOURCE: Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Chris Kelley]
[Commentary] So what happened to the missing=20
woman in John McCain's lobbying scandal? It's=20
been twelve days. Where on Earth is Vicki Iseman?=20
We've heard from John McCain: "I'm very=20
disappointed in the New York Times..." And from=20
Cindy McCain: "I'm very, very disappointed in The=20
New York Times..." But what about Vicki Iseman?=20
Isn't she disappointed? Until we hear her speak,=20
how can we ever have closure? It's not just that=20
she's vanished, although that should be enough.=20
And it's not just that she's been tied to a U.S.=20
senator with a very real chance of achieving=20
America's highest office. It's that there are=20
still only three pictures of her on Google. She's=20
been a lobbyist for eighteen years, but she's=20
only been photographed three times. And one of=20
those times was with President Bush. Unless she=20
folds up neatly and fits inside Jack Abramoff's=20
hat, it doesn't make sense. Where's Vicki Iseman=20
and where's the cable news coverage of her disappearance?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/mccain-sex-scandal-blonde_b_89...
.html
* Does John McCain need the Fairness Doctrine?
[SOURCE: allvoices.com, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
[Commentary] Is it only a matter of time before=20
Limbaugh returns to falsely accusing McCain of=20
having admitted that torture worked on the=20
Senator during his five year ordeal in Vietnam?=20
Or gleefully predicting that if Mike Huckabee=20
wins any more victories, McCain will go "psycho?"=20
. . . reduced to sitting "in a rocking chair=20
wearing his mother's wig sitting above the Bates=20
Hotel!" ? Say, shouldn't the Republican contender=20
be allowed to respond to all this at its source?=20
Could it be that McCain needs the Fairness Doctrine?
http://www.allvoices.com/user/blog/628

STUDY: CLINTON'S 'MIDDLE-OF-THE-NIGHT PHONE CALL' AD HAS LITTLE EFFECT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to a study by HCD Research, Sen.=20
Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) "middle-of-the-night=20
phone call" ad had only a slight effect on its=20
target voters. According to the study, 33% of=20
respondents favored Clinton prior to watching the=20
ad, while 35% did so afterward. But the ad helped=20
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) a little, as well. While=20
36% said beforehand that they supported Obama,=20
37% said so after watching it. And the ad=20
actually made a handful of Clinton supporters=20
move to the Obama camp, with the 100% likely to=20
vote for Clinton slipping to 98%, although it=20
also had its desired affect on 3% of the Obama=20
voters, with 97% of his supporters saying they=20
were still inclined to vote for him. Among=20
undecided voters, 7% said the ad made them more=20
likely to vote for Clinton, while 5% said it pushed them toward Obama.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537578.html?rssid=3D193

CABLE/SATELLITE

SMALL CABLE OPERATORS ASK FOR DUAL-CARRIAGE EXEMPTION
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Small cable companies are seeking a blanket=20
exemption from federal rules that effectively=20
require the duplicative carriage of some local TV=20
stations beginning next February. The American=20
Cable Association Sunday filed the request at the=20
Federal Communications Commission, claiming that=20
it was too costly for small operators to file=20
individually with the agency. =93It would save the=20
[FCC] time and significantly reduce the burden on=20
these operators, sometimes serving as few as 100=20
subscribers, if the FCC cuts the red tape and=20
adopts an exemption,=94 ACA president Matt Polka=20
said. ACA=92s proposed exemption would include=20
systems serving 5,000 or fewer subscribers, or=20
systems with less than 552 MHz of capacity.=20
Exempt systems would be able to carry must-carry signals in analog only.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6537428.html?nid=3D4262
* Small Cable Ops Ask FCC for Blanket Exemption on Dual Carriage
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537417.html?rssid=3D193

NATOA CRIES FOUL OVER FCC'S 'SHOT CLOCK' VIOLATION
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
The National Associations of Telecommunications=20
Officers and Advisors is chastising the Federal=20
Communications Commission for failing to respond=20
to a request the organization made in December to=20
stay implementation of the so-called 90-day shot=20
clock on franchising of new video applicants. In=20
a letter sent March 3, Libby Beaty, executive=20
director of NATOA, asked the FCC for a written=20
response to its Dec. 21 request. NATOA made the=20
stay request along with the National League of=20
Cities, the National Association of Counties, the=20
U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Alliance for=20
Community Media and the Alliance for=20
Communications Democracy. The organizations=20
believe that an order issued by the FCC last=20
March, mandating the 90-window to act on=20
franchise applications, is arbitrary and capricious.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6537706.html?nid=3D4262
* NATOA Pushes FCC for Decision
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6537712.html?rssid=3D193

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

WIRETAP COMPROMISE IN WORKS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Ellen Nakashima and Paul Kane]
House and Senate Democratic leaders are headed=20
into talks today that they say could lead to a=20
breakthrough on legislation to revamp domestic=20
surveillance powers and grant phone companies=20
some form of immunity for their role in the=20
administration's warrantless wiretapping program=20
after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A=20
senior House Democratic aide said a bill could be=20
sent to President Bush as early as next week. But=20
significant issues remain, including those=20
surrounding immunity, said Wyndee R. Parker,=20
general counsel of the House Permanent Select=20
Committee on Intelligence. Parker, who said she=20
hopes the House can take up the compromise=20
legislation as early as this week, said a=20
resolution has been delayed partly by the need=20
for all members of the House Judiciary Committee=20
to gain access to the letters and other relevant=20
documents sent to the phone companies by the=20
administration requesting their assistance. House=20
Democratic leaders demanded such access before=20
they would contemplate immunity, and the=20
administration granted full access last week.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/03/AR200803...
2814.html
(requires registration)

A WAVE OF THE WATCH LIST, AND SPEECH DISAPPEARS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Adam Liptak]
Steve Marshall is an English travel agent. He=20
lives in Spain, and he sells trips to Europeans=20
who want to go to sunny places, including Cuba.=20
In October, about 80 of his Web sites stopped=20
working, thanks to the United States government.=20
It turned out, though, that Mr. Marshall=92s Web=20
sites had been put on a Treasury Department=20
blacklist and, as a consequence, his American=20
domain name registrar, eNom Inc., had disabled=20
them. Mr. Marshall said eNom told him it did so=20
after a call from the Treasury Department; the=20
company, based in Bellevue, Wash., says it=20
learned that the sites were on the blacklist=20
through a blog. Either way, there is no dispute=20
that eNom shut down Mr. Marshall=92s sites without=20
notifying him and has refused to release the=20
domain names to him. In effect, Mr. Marshall=20
said, eNom has taken his property and interfered=20
with his business. He has slowly rebuilt his Web=20
business over the last several months, and now=20
many of the same sites operate with the suffix=20
.net rather than .com, through a European=20
registrar. His servers, he said, have been in the Bahamas all along.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/us/04bar.html
(requires registration)

US AND EUROPE PROTEST A CHINESE NEWS REGULATION
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Steven Weisman]
In a new escalation of trade disputes with China,=20
the Bush administration joined with the European=20
Union on Monday in filing a suit at the World=20
Trade Organization to protest China=92s requirement=20
that foreign financial news services operate=20
through a government-designated distributor. The=20
action, which would affect Dow Jones, Reuters,=20
Bloomberg and other foreign suppliers of stock=20
prices and other financial information, followed=20
months of negotiations by the United States to=20
get China to lift its requirement that these=20
suppliers distribute their data and news reports=20
through Xinhua, the Chinese government news agency.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/business/worldbusiness/04trade.html?ref=
=3Dtodayspaper
(requires registration)

BBC SET TO OPEN ITS NEW ARAB WORLD TV CHANNEL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Pfanner]
A new Arabic-language television news channel=20
from the British Broadcasting Corporation will=20
cover events in the Arab world =93without fear or=20
favor,=94 as it seeks to set itself apart from=20
other government-financed broadcasters in the=20
region, Nigel Chapman, director of the BBC World=20
Service, said Monday. The channel, BBC Arabic TV,=20
plans to start broadcasting 12 hours a day of=20
news and current affairs programs to the Middle=20
East, the Persian Gulf region and North Africa on=20
March 11, followed by round-the-clock programming=20
by the end of the year, the BBC said. It will=20
have a $50 million annual budget. As satellite=20
broadcasters have proliferated across the Arab=20
world, new ventures financed by Western=20
governments =97 including Al Hurra, which is=20
financed by the United States, and France 24=20
Arabic =97 have struggled to compete against=20
channels with stronger regional roots, like Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/world/middleeast/04bbc.html?ref=3Dtoda...
aper
(requires registration)

QUICKLY

BROADBAND CONNECTS WITH 8.5 MILLION US CUSTOMERS IN 2007
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Moss]
The 19 largest U.S. cable and telephone providers=20
-- representing about 94% of the market --=20
acquired more than 8.5 million high-speed=20
Internet subscribers in 2007, according to=20
findings from Leichtman Research Group. Annual=20
broadband additions were down compared to the=20
record 10.4 million in 2006, and 9.9 million in=20
2005, and marked the fewest since 2003, according=20
to Leichtman Research. The top broadband=20
providers now account for over 61.9 million=20
subscribers, with cable companies counting 33.5=20
million broadband subscribers, and telcos tallying 28.4 million subscribers.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6537478.html?nid=3D4262
* Leichtman Research press release
http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/press/030308release.html

INTERNET GAMING RULES FACE LONG ODDS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cindy Skrzycki]
It's not easy making rules for a U.S. law=20
intended to deter illegal Internet gambling by=20
choking off the flow of funds to offshore sites.=20
That's because no one seems to agree on what the=20
law covers. Officials at the Treasury Department=20
and the Federal Reserve found that out after=20
sifting through more than 200 comments from=20
banks, gamblers, church groups and members of=20
Congress on recommendations for the Unlawful=20
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The=20
basic sentiment was that their Oct. 4 proposal,=20
which depends on financial institution=20
enforcement, won't work. The outcome will affect=20
23 million online gamblers, some 2,500 Internet=20
sites and the growth of an industry with an=20
estimated $15 billion in annual global revenue.=20
The law bars financial institutions from=20
processing payments involving Internet gambling=20
-- with the notable exceptions of Indian gaming, state gaming and horse rac=
ing.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/03/AR200803...
2932.html
(requires registration)

TPUC WANTS FUNDS REDUCTION FOR LARGEST TELCOS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
The staff of the Texas Public Utility Commission=20
is recommending a reduction in the amount of the=20
state telephone universal service fund portioned=20
to the largest providers, such as Verizon=20
Communications Inc. The state's cable operators=20
have been lobbying for such a reduction, arguing=20
that the fund is a tax subsidy for large,=20
well-funded corporations. The "large carrier"=20
beneficiaries of the fund have argued that their=20
portion of the USF should be doubled, to help=20
cover the cost of lowly penetrated, remote=20
communities in the state. The state PUC staff=20
recommends that the large carrier USF share be=20
cut by $230 million, a 60% decrease in the amount=20
now paid by consumers into the fund, then=20
portioned to telephone carriers. Consumers=20
currently pay a 4.4% tax on their phone bills into the USF.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6537717.html?nid=3D4262

DEVICE HELPS OVERWEIGHT KIDS CUT TV TIME
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Julie Steenhuysen]
A monitoring device that cut TV and computer time=20
in half helped young, overweight children eat=20
less and lose weight, U.S. researchers said on=20
Monday. And it worked without creating a lot of=20
conflict between parents and their kids, they said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0338624720080303
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------