May 2009

The Federal Communications Commission published its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda which is wonk for theoretical work plan. The agenda is a list of major items and other significant proceedings under development or review. The items are categorized by the bureau that is responsible for the work. Timetables provided look backward, not forward. But, hey, if you're in the mood, poor yourself a double espresso, grab hold of your Murphy's Guide to Telecom Jargon, and have at it.

As school leaders ponder the implications of new technologies for their classrooms, one dedicated New Jersey educator has turned theory into practice, using the iPod to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) students. According to Grace Poli, media specialist at Jose Marti Middle School in Union City (NJ) and an Apple distinguished educator, the iPod is more than just a cool gadget, because it helps transform a classroom by: 1) Stimulating and engaging students in the learning process. 2) Enhancing instruction by making it personal. Increasing achievement and motivation. (According to Poli, in her first year of using the iPod, 50 percent of her students went from an ESL program to an all-English program -- a switch that usually takes between three to six years.) 3) Differentiating instruction for diverse learners. (Poli explained that this is important for her students, because some have been in the ESL program for three months--and some for three years.) 4) Accommodating multiple learning styles. 5) Providing anytime, anywhere learning.

When Oregon resident Cecilia Barnes broke up with her boyfriend, he responded by posting a fake profile of her on Yahoo -- and a particularly nasty one at that. He included nude photos of Barnes as well as her name, address and phone number. Barnes complained to Yahoo and a company executive promised to take down the profile. Yahoo allegedly reneged on that promise, spurring Barnes to file suit against the company. Now, in a ruling that could have significant ramifications for Web publishers, a federal appellate court has held that Yahoo could face liability for breach of contract for failing to delete the post. Still, the decision potentially leaves Web publishers more vulnerable to new lawsuits stemming from the posts of users. That's because the ruling appears to carve out a new exception to the federal Communications Decency Act -- a law that many attorneys had long thought immunized Web sites from liability for libelous or offensive user comments. In fact, U.S. District Court, Judge Ann Aiken in Oregon originally dismissed Barnes' lawsuit for that reason. But Barnes appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled last week that the Communications Decency Act created only a "baseline" rule that Web companies need not censor posts. Once a Yahoo employee promised Barnes that the post would be deleted, Yahoo was obligated to do so, according to the court.

Four years ago or so, a handful of big, lumbering old-media companies, desperate to show investors and the technorati alike that they had a clue when it came to the Internet, created the new position of digital strategist-in-chief. Almost in lockstep, companies from ABC to Viacom (VIA) named a round of rising stars to a new position of top interactive honcho. Today the lineup looks considerably different. Some companies - like MTV and NBC - have dropped the role altogether. Others, like News Corp., have elevated it. That the companies no longer are singing from the same hymnal says a lot about the volatile state of "old" media vs. "new." Why the shift? For one thing, old-media executives were far more intimidated by technology four years ago than they are today. Beyond that, many chief digital honchos were hired to do deals - like NBC's joint venture with News Corp. for Hulu.com - that have now either fallen by the wayside in the soft economy or become so core to doing business that they no longer need to be led by a digital chief.