1. Monthly archive
  2. November 2010

November 2010

Comcast, NBC argue against sharing with Internet TV

Comcast and NBC Universal executives met with senior officials at the Federal Communications Commission, urging the agency against conditions to their proposed merger that would require the new company to provide shows and movies to Internet video distributors.

Comcast executive vice president of content acquisition, Matt Bond, and Kathy Zachem, vice president of regulatory affairs, joined NBC general counsel Rick Cotton to argue against conditions. They met, according to an ex parte filing, with the FCC’s senior counsel on the merger, John Flynn, and Chairman Julius Genachowski’s chief counsel, Rick Kaplan. “The program access rules were designed to regulate traditional linear delivery of video programming, a market with an established business model,” Comcast and NBC wrote in their filing. “In the nascent, rapidly-evolving online video market where there is no established business model, it would be difficult as a practical matter to compare distributors for purposes of determining whether a programmer had unreasonably discriminated against a distributor.” The companies said the FCC needs to more clearly define what an online video distributor is if it were to establish program-access rules for the Internet.

Free Press open to backing network neutrality proposal without Title II effort

Free Press is open to supporting a potential network neutrality proposal from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski even if its preferred legal framework is not chosen as the basis of the agency's authority.

If a prospective network neutrality proposal is unveiled, it should be "judged on the merits of net neutrality," while "Title II is a broader" question, Free Press political adviser Joel Kelsey said. With Chairman Genachowski attempting what appears to be a renewed effort to create network neutrality rules, analysts are predicting he will use the weaker Title I, rather than Title II, to stake the agency's authority. Free Press is nevertheless open to backing the potential proposal, even if it is not accompanied by an attempt to place broadband services under Title II.

"The most important component to get correct is the actual policy itself — the actual policy that will govern the rules of the road and determine if there's discrimination over the Internet," Kelsey said. He reiterated that Title II is Free Press's "preference" as a legal framework, and that its needed for agency initiatives beyond net neutrality, such as the National Broadband Plan. But he added that "we're open to looking at any theories the FCC has for its jurisdiction."

Despite seat at table, AT&T outed delicate network neutrality talks

Seeking to weaken potential regulations, AT&T is actively working to complicate the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) renewed effort to broker a compromise on network neutrality.

Industry and Hill sources said that an AT&T official made public last week that the agency has quietly undertaken a new round of negotiation. The sources stressed that they had obtained this information through AT&T channels. The delicate FCC effort is aimed at resolving one of the most fractious issues in tech policy. The hope was to quietly consult with industry and public interest stakeholders while insulating the negotiations from the noisy politicking the question stirs on both sides. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski invited industry and public interest sources to help shape a possible compromise, giving AT&T a major seat at the table. Public advocates are concerned about how much Genachowski appears to be listening to AT&T, with one saying he has practically given them "veto powers." Ex parte filings show that AT&T officials consulted frequently with the agency this month. Policy executive Jim Cicconi met with Genachowski's office the day before the new net neutrality effort became public.

White House condemns latest WikiLeaks release

The White House condemned on Nov 28 WikiLeaks' "reckless and dangerous action" in releasing classified US diplomatic cables, saying it could endanger lives and risk hurting relations with friendly countries.

State Department documents released by whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks provided candid views of foreign leaders and sensitive information on terrorism and nuclear proliferation. The documents show Saudi donors remain chief financiers of militant groups like al Qaeda and that Chinese government operatives have waged a coordinated campaign of computer sabotage targeting the United States and its allies.

"These cables could compromise private discussions with foreign governments and opposition leaders, and when the substance of private conversations is printed on the front pages of newspapers across the world, it can deeply impact not only U.S. foreign policy interests, but those of our allies and friends around the world," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

FCC Published Bill Shock Proceeding

The Federal Communications Commission proposes rules that would require mobile service providers to provide usage alerts and information that will assist consumers in avoiding unexpected charges on their bills. The FCC believes its proposals will allow consumers to understand the costs associated with use of their mobile service plans and take advantage of safeguards against bill shock by providing them with timely information to better manage those costs and thereby avoid incurring unexpected charges on their bills. Comments are due on or before December 27, 2010. Reply comments are due on or before January 25, 2011.

Dessert Before Spinach?! Yes. When Serving Digital Literacy, Start with Dessert

[Commentary] When it comes to literacy, it may be time to force our children to eat their dessert with, or even before, their spinach.

No one can doubt America has a literacy problem. Too many of us cannot read well. Fourteen percent of the United States' adult population, or 30 million people, read at a "below basic" literacy level while 63 million Americans are just at basic. For many children, the hard work of learning to read and write was like eating spinach -- evil-tasting drudgery one suffered through before being allowed to bite into the tasty dessert. In a way that may seem to make matters worse on the literacy front, some now argue that that with the pervasive use of digital media throughout our economy and culture, we also have to confront a digital literacy problem. If our people lack the skills for using digital tools, this complaint says, our economy and society will suffer. The response by some in the education community is that we shouldn't spend resources on digital literacy until we solve the literacy problem; the ABCs and the 123s must come first. Learn to read a book and do basic math before going on Google, joining Facebook, or playing a multi-player video game. Above all, they say, kids must know how to write to express ideas, and that means mastering the structure and grammar and spelling of their language.

This, in our view, ignores the opportunity created by how children are now growing up. With today's social media, using literacy skills is like a dessert that can motivate kids to go on to the spinach. Why? Children today learn to read and write through games and social media before anything else. Their digital engagement is a reality we should leverage.

Affluent Viewers Love TV, Ads Reach Key Demo

Even with all the media options and wired, frenetic lifestyles, affluent adults are watching the same amount of TV as they did a year ago, according to a new report.

Research shows that individuals in homes with incomes of $100,000-plus watch an average of 17.6 hours a week this year, tied with 2009. However, Internet usage has shown a 12% bump, rising from an average of 22.6 hours a week in 2009 to 25.3 this year, according to the annual Mendelsohn Affluent Survey. The Ipsos Mendelsohn data was culled from surveys of 13,800 respondents -- male and female heads of household in homes with the $100,000-plus incomes. Ipsos estimates that 21% of U.S. homes have household incomes of $100,000-plus. The surveys showed that older, wealthy individuals watch more TV than their younger counterparts. Among the affluents in the 18-to-34 demo, there was an average of 15.4 hours a week, compared to 22.2 for ages 65-plus.

Parties mull options after Rx privacy law struck

In a split decision, a federal appeals court in New York has overturned a Vermont law seeking to restrict the use of prescription drug data in the marketing of pharmaceuticals to physicians.

The ruling by a majority of the three-judge panel in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came in favor of the appellants—IMS Health; Verispan; Source Healthcare Analytics, a subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer Health; and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America -- and found that the 2007 Vermont law constituted "an impermissible restriction of commercial speech." The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston found in favor of similar state laws in Maine and New Hampshire. An appeal to the Supreme Court may not be the next step, according to Vermont Assistant Attorney General Bridget Asay, but it is one possibility.

EU Parliament Resolution Signals Support For ACTA

Share The European Parliament approved a resolution Nov 24 signaling its willingness to support a controversial trade agreement aimed at boosting international cooperation in combating counterfeiting and piracy.

The resolution calls on the commission, the European Union's regulatory arm, to move forward with submitting the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement to the European Council and parliament for a vote while stressing that the agreement "requires parliament's consent and, possibly, ratification by the member states in order to come into force." The parliament called on the commission "to confirm that ACTA's implementation will have no impact on fundamental rights and data protection, on the ongoing EU efforts to harmonize intellectual property rights enforcement measures, or on e-commerce," according to a parliament news release. Despite releasing a finalized text of the agreement last week, lower-level officials with the ACTA negotiating countries will meet next week in Sydney for a "legal scrub" of the document. The parliament's resolution reminded the commission that it must consult with the parliament before accepting or proposing any amendment to the current ACTA text.

November 24, 2010 (Lots of News from the FCC)

BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2010

Headlines is taking a break as we hope you are, too. have a great, safe Thanksgiving Day weekend and we'll see you MONDAY, November 29.

And for those planning ahead, next week's agenda starts slow but heats up with the FCC's meeting on Tuesday (see agenda below) http://bit.ly/hrFwfs


NEWS FROM THE FCC
   Tuesday is Spectrum Day at FCC
   FCC Delays December Meeting
   Genachowski might need to win Title II proponent Copps to pass network neutrality rules
   AT&T: Use Waxman Bill As Model For Network Neutrality
   GOP aide: With industry eyeing profits, Republicans must be 'the adults' on net neutrality
   Texting, Video Streaming, Data Sharing Envisioned for 21st Century 9-1-1
   FCC Extends Deadline for Broadcasters and Others to Comply with Next-Generation Emergency Alert Rules
   FCC Implementing Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act
   Sirius XM to Make Leasing Information Available
   Mediation Fails To Resolve Tennis Channel Complaint Against Comcast

TELEVISION
   Court Seeks FCC Standard for Further Indecency Inquiry
   Parents Television Council Ranks Best, Worst Sponsors

HEALTH
   Groups Urge FTC To Probe Online Health Marketing
   Advisers Balk At National Health Information Network Proposal

CONTENT
   SAP Ordered to Pay Oracle $1.3 Billion
   Commerce Extends Internet and Copyright Comment Period
   NASA, White House Among Most Savvy Social Media Users

PRIVACY
   Shunned Profiling Technology on the Verge of Comeback

POLICYMAKERS
   Minority, Civil Rights Groups Back Rep Rush For House Communications Subcommittee

MEDIA & ELECTIONS
   Media Should Set 'Rules' for 2012: No Interviews, No Coverage
   Midterms cause traffic surge at political websites

INTERNET/BROADBAND
   Use of the Internet in higher-income households
   DHS Cybersecurity Center Promotes Information Sharing

STORIES FROM ABROAD
   EU, US and NATO to Work Together on Cyber Defense
   Gillard Releases Broadband Details to Gain Support for Telstra Laws
   Indian village bans cell phones for unwed women

LIFESTYLES
   Thanksgiving won't keep most Americans away from their work e-mail
   Cars With Wi-Fi Hitting the New Information Highway
   Facebook makes people more social
   Republican-friendly TV shows more likely to be hits
   Unlimited data means more to smartphone users than savings

MORE ONLINE
   Government moves to enforce stimulus reporting
   Apple Patent Case Against Motorola to Get Review by U.S. International Trade Commission
   Private equity expects media asset boost
   Tribune's unsecured creditors can file uncensored suit in bankruptcy case

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NEWS FROM THE FCC

SPECTRUM DAY AT FCC
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
With all the talk of the Federal Communications Commission's December open meeting, don't lose sight of the Nov 30 meeting. On Nov 23, the FCC confirmed the agenda for the meeting. The FCC will consider:
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on rules to facilitate the most efficient use of the UHF and VHF TV bands. These proposals, an important step toward the agency's spectrum goals as outlined in the National Broadband Plan, would take steps to enable mobile broadband use within spectrum currently reserved for use by TV broadcasters, including through innovations such as channel sharing and generating increased value within the VHF band.
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on steps to promote innovation and efficiency in spectrum use under Part 5 Experimental Radio Service (ERS).
A Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on promoting more intensive and efficient use of the radio spectrum, thereby potentially enabling more effective spectrum management, through dynamic spectrum use technologies.
The FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will also present an overview of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (Pub. L. 111-260), the FCC's implementation plans, and demonstrate accessibility technologies.
benton.org/node/45450 | Federal Communications Commission
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FCC DELAYS MEETING
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Todd Shields]
The Federal Communications Commission delayed its December open meeting by six days, to Dec. 21. The delay gives the FCC an extra week to prepare its agenda, typically released three weeks prior to the meeting date. Industry insiders had said the meeting was likely to be postponed after reports that the FCC planned to take up network neutrality -- also known as open Internet principles -- at its December meeting spurred Republican opposition.
benton.org/node/45440 | Bloomberg | Reuters | The Hill | MediaWeek | National Journal
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FINDING NETWORK NEUTRALITY VOTES
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Sara Jerome]
As Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski mulls his path forward on net neutrality, analysts are questioning how the votes would break down if he decides to push ahead. Support from Commissioner Mignon Clyburn might be the least difficult vote to get, analysts said. She supports network neutrality rules and has shown openness to compromise. But Chairman Genachowski has two very dissimilar routes he could take to gather the final votes. On the one hand, he could try to win over one or both Republican colleagues with a softly worded compromise proposal. Or, he can try to win over staunch network neutrality supporter Commissioner Michael Copps, who has called for regulating broadband service under Title II of the Communications Act, which industry sees as "the nuclear option."
benton.org/node/45413 | Hill, The
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AT&T WANTS WAXMAN BILL IMPLEMENTED
[SOURCE: National Journal, AUTHOR: Eliza Krigman]
AT&T Senior Executive Vice President Jim Cicconi urged the Federal Communications Commission last week to use House Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman's network neutrality bill as a model for a commission order on the matter, according to a disclosure document. Chairman Waxman (D-CA) led an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to shepherd a net neutrality bill through the House in September. Despite never introducing the bill due to lack of GOP support, he did achieve consensus from industry and some public interest groups on language that would codify some rules to protect the openness of the Internet. On Nov 21 and 22, Cicconi met with Edward Lazarus, chief of staff to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. The pair discussed network neutrality and in addition to noting the merits of the Waxman bill, Cicconi encouraged the agency to explore alternative methods to preserve the Internet's openness. The meeting comes amid intense speculation that the commission is preparing to move forward on a net neutrality order in its December meeting.
benton.org/node/45416 | National Journal
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GOP ON NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Sara Jerome]
A senior GOP aide to the House Commerce Committee said that Republicans will remain opposed to Internet service rules even if Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski can convince Verizon, AT&T and the cable industry to support his plan. "We're supposed to be the adults in the room," the aide said. "We're supposed to be looking out for the interests of the country. Net neutrality is a bad policy and bad for the economy." Republican members would be even more opposed to a prospective FCC plan if it does not get hearings before becoming a federal rule, according to the aide. But he added that "hopefully" Chairman Genachowski will not move ahead with his efforts to broker a compromise so that there "is no need for a next step" from House Republicans.
benton.org/node/45437 | Hill, The
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21ST CENTURY 911
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
At an event with public safety officials, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Genachowski announced that the FCC will take steps to revolutionize America's 9-1-1 system by harnessing the life-saving potential of text, photo, and video in emergencies. Americans place more than 237 million 9-1-1 calls every year -- 650,000 per day:
Seventy percent of 9-1-1 calls come from mobile phones. But increasingly, consumers are using their mobile phones less to make calls, and more for texting and sending pictures and videos. These new technologies have the potential to revolutionize emergency response by providing public safety officials with critical real-time, on-the-ground information.
Today's 9-1-1 system is not equipped to take advantage of new technologies. 9-1-1 call centers lack the technical capability to receive texts, photos, videos, and other data. Many 9-1-1 call centers don't have access to broadband, which makes it difficult to receive incoming data, particularly in large volume. Finally, call center operators have not been trained how to effectively communicate using these new technologies.
The technological limitations of 9-1-1 can have tragic, real-world consequences. During the 2007 Virginia Tech campus shooting, students and witnesses desperately tried to send texts to 9-1-1 that local dispatchers never received. If these messages had gone through, first responders may have arrived on the scene faster with firsthand intelligence about the life-threatening situation that was unfolding.
Bringing 9-1-1 into the 21st century is one of the FCC's key public safety priorities. FCC Chairman Genachowski announced that in December he will launch a proceeding, as recommended in the National Broadband Plan, to get public input on how to transition the current system to broadband-enabled, next-generation 9-1-1. This action builds on the FCC's recent order beefing up 9-1-1 location-accuracy requirements so that first responders can quickly find people who reach out for help on their mobile phones.
The FCC's National Broadband Plan laid out a vision for Next-Generation 9-1-1 that uses cutting-edge technologies to help save lives. 9-1-1, which was established as the national emergency number in 1968, has been a wildly successful lifeline to those in distress.
benton.org/node/45422 | Federal Communications Commission | FCC Chairman Genachowski | LATimes | The Hill
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EAS EXTENSION
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
The Federal Communications Commission recently took action to extend the deadline for broadcasters, cable companies, satellite radio and television operators, and wireline video service providers to implement the new federal common messaging protocol adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the transmission of next generation emergency alerts and warnings to the public. In 2007, the FCC required all Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants to have the capability to receive Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-formatted EAS messages within 180 days of FEMA's adoption of a CAP standard (i.e., March 29, 2011). The new deadline for all EAS participants to implement the new technology was extended to September 30, 2011. The FCC's decision to provide an extension was based on public comment and a specific recommendation by the FCC's Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), a federal advisory committee, calling for an extension of the CAP-compliance deadline. CSRIC and others from the public cited multiple factors in their call for an extension of the deadline, including the need for more time for the development, testing and potential certification of the new equipment and the costs associated with purchasing the CAP-compliant equipments by EAS participants. The FCC took these factors into consideration and extended the deadline from 180 days to 360 days for EAS participants to come into compliance.
benton.org/node/45432 | Federal Communications Commission | read the order | FCC Commissioner McDowell | Broadcasting&Cable
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IMPLEMENTING STELA
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
The Federal Communications Commission issued three Reports and Orders and a Public Notice to implement the new statutory requirements in the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA). One of the Orders provides greater flexibility and choice for satellite subscribers to receive television stations from nearby markets. The remaining Orders update the procedures for subscribers to qualify for satellite-delivered distant television stations if they are not able to get local stations. The last action, a Public Notice, requests comments and data for a report to Congress on the availability of in-state broadcast stations.
benton.org/node/45421 | Federal Communications Commission | Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration | DTV Measurement Standards | DTV Field Strength | Press release - In-state broadcasts
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SIRIUS XM CHANNEL LEASING
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
As a condition of the merger of satellite radio providers XM radio and Sirius Radio, the Federal Communications Commission required the merged company to enter into long-term leases or other agreements to provide Qualified Entities with rights to use four percent of the full-time audio channels on the Sirius platform and four percent of the full-time audio channels on the XM platform. The FCC also required Sirius XM to notify it regarding a public website or similarly accessible source where it would make available information relating to the application process. No later than November 23, 2010, Sirius XM will make the following information available at www.siriusxm.com/qualifiedentity:
1) the definition of Qualified Entity;
2) the deadline and procedures for submitting applications to lease channels capacity;
3) any specific information that it will require applicants to submit; and
4) any specific application criteria that Sirius XM intends to apply in reviewing potential lessees.
benton.org/node/45420 | Federal Communications Commission
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TELEVISION

COURT INDECENCY
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals wants to know what standard of proof the Federal Communications Commission would use to conclude that CBS was reckless in broadcasting most of Janet Jackson's breast during the Super Bowl halftime show. CBS has said it did not know the reveal was coming. The court wants to know whether CBS knew or should have known that Justin Timberlake was going to bare most of Janet Jackson's breast. It also asks, assuming the network was reckless in broadcasting the reveal anyway (given that presumed knowledge is the standard for an FCC penalty for indecency), "is the standard for recklessness the one commonly used in the civil context or the one commonly used in the criminal context?" It is a narrow point of law, but could signal where the court is heading. "[The court] implies that they are going to rule that the FCC has to figure out if CBS knew, or should have known, that Janet Jackson was going to show her breasts," said Andrew Schwartzman, of the Media Access Project, which represented writers, producers and directors in a friend of the court brief.
benton.org/node/45435 | Broadcasting&Cable
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BEST AND WORST SPONSORS
[SOURCE: TVNewsCheck, AUTHOR: ]
The Parents Television Council released its annual list of the "Top 10 Best and Worst Advertisers" for the 2009-10 television season. Companies were ranked based on the content in the television shows they chose to underwrite with their advertising dollars. "Best" companies primarily sponsored programs with positive, family-friendly themes while advertisers that earned the "worst" label commonly appeared on shows that included harsh language, violence and sexual content. The best list includes: J.M. Smucker (Smucker's jam, jelly and preserves, Pillsbury, Folgers, Crisco), Kraft Foods (Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Maxwell House, Oreo), and Coca-Cola. The worst list includes Yum! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver's), Unilever USA (Bertolli, Hellmann's, Lipton, Slim-Fast, Axe, Dove), CKE Restaurants (Hardee's, Carl's Jr., La Salsa, Green Burrito). Also on the worst list are Verizon (#6) and AT&T (#7).
benton.org/node/45411 | TVNewsCheck | PTC
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HEALTH

ONLINE HEALTH MARKETING
[SOURCE: National Journal, AUTHOR: Juliana Gruenwald]
Four public interest groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission Tuesday urging the agency to investigate whether those offering online health information and services are engaging in unfair and deceptive advertising practices. In their complaint, the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Watchdog, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and the World Privacy Forum alleged that groups and firms engaged in health marketing have established a "stealth interactive" marketing campaign aimed at promoting the use of specific brand drugs and persuading consumers to seek treatments for possible health conditions. In addition, the groups also claim that these health marketers aim to collect personal information from consumers by offering free e-newsletters on medical issues and discounts for prescription drugs and services. They also claimed that health marketing organizations also are collecting data from consumers about specific health concerns they may seek information about and tracking their other Web activities to target medical-related ads at them. In addition, the groups say there is a not a clear separation between information that is supposed to be editorial content and promotional material by sponsors and advertisers.
benton.org/node/45417 | National Journal
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CONTENT

SAP ORDERED TO PAY ORACLE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Verne Kopytoff]
A clash of technology titans and two of the most powerful executives in Silicon Valley ended on Tuesday with a $1.3 billion federal jury award against SAP for stealing software from Oracle to try to woo away customers. The award, the largest ever for copyright infringement, comes as big technology companies, including Apple, Google and Motorola, have increasingly resorted to the courts to resolve patent and intellectual property disputes instead of quietly working out a deal. Rarely, however, do the lawsuits go to court or attract the attention this dispute did. "This is pretty dramatic," said Robert P. Merges, a technology law professor at University of California, Berkeley. He said it sent a loud message to companies to pay attention to any signs of copyright infringement. "It's a game-ending home run type of result. It will tell people 'Hey, we need to be careful.' "
benton.org/node/45449 | New York Times
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PRIVACY

DEEP PACKET INSPECTION MAKING COMEBACK
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Steve Stecklow, Paul Sonne]
One of the most potentially intrusive technologies for profiling and targeting Internet users with ads is on the verge of a comeback, two years after an outcry by privacy advocates in the U.S. and Britain appeared to kill it. The technology, known as "deep packet inspection," is capable of reading and analyzing the "packets" of data traveling across the Internet. It can be far more powerful than "cookies" and other techniques commonly used to track people online because it can be used to monitor all online activity, not just Web browsing. Spy agencies use the technology for surveillance. Now, two U.S. companies, Kindsight Inc. and Phorm Inc., are pitching deep packet inspection services as a way for Internet service providers to claim a share of the lucrative online ad market. Kindsight and Phorm say they protect people's privacy with steps that include obtaining their consent. They also say they don't use the full power of the technology, and refrain from reading email and analyzing sensitive online activities. Use of deep packet inspection this way would nonetheless give advertisers the ability to show ads to people based on extremely detailed profiles of their Internet activity. To persuade Internet users to opt in to be profiled, Kindsight will offer a free security service, while Phorm promises to provide customized web content such as news articles tailored to users' interests. Both would share ad revenue with the ISPs.
benton.org/node/45448 | Wall Street Journal
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MEDIA & ELECTIONS

NO INTERVIEWS, NO COVERAGE
[SOURCE: The Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Paul Abrams]
[Commentary] For 2012, how about the media actually doing something honest, and show a tincture of integrity? That is, state that it will no longer cover anyone or their activities if they do not sit down for interviews with that individual organ of media, and actually answer questions. If they just recite their talking points, it does not count. They have to engage and answer follow-up questions for it to be a real interview. 2010 was an experiment. Radical righties running for Congress avoided questioning, preferring to put out their lies. The media complained... but covered. So, these righties got the best of both worlds -- no difficult questions but lots of free press and airtime. The media provided them legitimacy without having to demonstrate anything.
benton.org/node/45428 | Huffington Post, The
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POLITICAL WEBSITES TRAFFIC SURGE
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Gautham Nagesh]
The weeks leading up to the midterm elections saw traffic spikes at most online political sites, according to a new report from ComScore. Traffic to political news sites was up 12 percent in October over September, thanks to the approaching November elections. The category drew 27.4 million visitors last month; online gambling sites also saw strong growth thanks to the closing of the World Series of Poker. CNN was the leader among political sites with 7.8 million visitors in October, followed by PoliticsDaily and RealClearPolitics, which saw a 79 percent jump in traffic over September. BarackObama.com also saw traffic increase dramatically, capturing the No. 4 slot in the rankings. The Economist's website rounded out the top five with 2 million visitors.
benton.org/node/45412 | Hill, The
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INTERNET/BROADBAND

INCOME AND INTERNET USE
[SOURCE: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, AUTHOR: Jim Jansen]
Those in higher-income households are different from other Americans in their tech ownership and use. Analysis of several recent surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Projects find that there are key differences between those who live in households making $75,000 or more relative to those in lower-income households. Some 95% of Americans who live in households earning $75,000 or more a year use the Internet at least occasionally, compared with 70% of those living in households earning less than $75,000. Even among those who use the Internet, the well off are more likely than those with less income to use technology. Of those 95% of higher-income Internet users:
99% use the Internet at home, compared with 93% of the Internet users in lower brackets.
93% of higher-income home Internet users have some type of broadband connection versus 85% of the Internet users who live in households earning less than $75,000 per year. That translates into 87% of all those in live in those better-off households having broadband at home.
95% of higher-income households own some type of cell phone compared with 83% in households with less income.
benton.org/node/45444 | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
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STORIES FROM ABROAD

EU CYBERSECURITY
[SOURCE: IDG News Service, AUTHOR: Jennifer Baker]
A range of new plans to tackle cyber-crime has been approved by the European Union, the US and NATO over the past three days. The European Commission announced its proposals to develop three systems to raise the level of security for citizens and businesses in cyberspace. An E.U. cybercrime center to be established by 2013 will coordinate cooperation between member states, E.U. institutions and international partners, while an European information sharing and alert system, also planned for 2013, will facilitate communication between rapid-response teams and law-enforcement authorities. The Commission also wants to create a network of Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) by 2012, with a CERT in every E.U. country. However, Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström was keen to play down concerns that these systems would lead to the creation of yet another citizens' information database, saying that no such database would be set up and that the aim of the new bodies is to manage the flow of information to prevent cyber-attacks, not to store it.
benton.org/node/45410 | IDG News Service
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AUSTRALIA'S BROADBAND PLAN
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Gemma Daley]
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard released confidential details on the government's planned high-speed Internet plan to try to gain support for a related law to split Telstra Corp.'s businesses. Gillard released part of NBN Co.'s corporate plan, boosted consumer protection in the planned national network and established a committee to oversee its rollout as part of an agreement with independent Senator Nick Xenophon. This clears the way for a vote on the Telstra law in the Senate. Telstra's retail business needs to be split from its copper-wire network to make way for a national plan to provide Internet services to Australia's remotest corners. The plan is the nation's biggest infrastructure project, with A$35.7 billion ($34.9 billion) in capital expenditure including a A$9 billion deal with Telstra.
benton.org/node/45442 | Bloomberg
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UNWED WOMEN BANNED FROM USING CELL PHONES
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Biswajeet Banerjee]
northern Indian village has banned unmarried women from using cell phones for fear they will arrange forbidden marriages. The Lank village council decided unmarried boys could use mobile phones, but only under parental supervision, council member Satish Tyagi said. Local women's rights group criticized the measure as backward and unfair. Marriages between members of the same clan are forbidden under Hindu custom in some parts of north India, where unions are traditionally arranged by families. In conservative rural areas, families sometimes mete out extreme punishments, including so-called honor killings, for those who violate marriage taboos. In some cases, village councils themselves have ordered the punishments, though police often intervene to stop them. The Lank village council feared young men and women were secretly calling one another to arrange forbidden elopements.
benton.org/node/45441 | Associated Press
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LIFESTYLES

THANKSGIVING E-MAIL
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Nathan Olivarez-Giles]
Most Americans will be checking their work e-mails over Thanksgiving and other holidays this year, according to a new survey conducted by research firm Harris Interactive. Harris found that 79% of U.S. working adults say they have been sent work-related e-mails over a holiday and 59% say they will be checking their work e-mail this holiday season. Of those 59% e-mail checkers, 55% said they peek in their In Box ox for work messages at least once a day, while 28% admitted to checking e-mails multiple times a day. 15% said they were thankful or relieved to have the distraction of work e-mail during the holidays, the survey said. Others don't view work messages in their In Box so happily -- 41% who get work-related e-mails over a holiday say it frustrates or annoys them. Younger adults, ages 18 to 34, are most likely -- 56% -- to be irritated by work e-mails on their off-days. Even worse, about 12% of those surveyed said they actually "dread" getting any work e-mails during a holiday.
benton.org/node/45438 | Los Angeles Times
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WI-FI CARS
[SOURCE: GigaOm, AUTHOR: Kevin Tofel]
Consumers don't want to leave home without their wireless devices, allowing connectivity to be offered in places today that seemed unheard of just a handful of years ago. The trend will only accelerate as car makers see an "option-tunity" for Wi-Fi in automobiles; research firm iSuppli predicts integrated Wi-Fi systems in 7.2 million cars by 2017, a more than forty-fold increase from the 174,000 connected cars expected to hit the roads this year. Wi-Fi by itself is less useful than mobile broadband, however, and the auto industry is taking different routes to accomplish full connectivity to the cars of tomorrow. ISuppli suggests that automotive companies embracing Wi-Fi enjoy a competitive advantage over those that forego offering a wireless option. There's one road hazard with these connected cars, however: additional distractions to drivers who may find it easier to check Facebook, read email or engage in some other web-based activity.
benton.org/node/45429 | GigaOm
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REPUBLICAN-FRIENDLY TV
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: James Hibberd]
TV viewers who vote Republican and identify themselves as conservative are more likely than Democrats to love the biggest hits on TV. Of the top 10 broadcast shows on TV in the spring, nine were ranked more favorably by viewers who identify themselves as Republican, according to data compiled by media-research company Experian Simmons. These include "NCIS," "The Big Bang Theory," "American Idol," and "Modern Family." Liberals appreciate many of the same shows, mind you. But their devotion typically is not quite as strong as right-wingers, and Dems are more likely to prefer modestly rated titles like "Mad Men." That show scores through the roof with Democrats, but it has one of the weakest scores among Republicans. The same is true for FX's "Damages," Showtime's "Dexter," HBO's "Entourage" and AMC's "Breaking Bad." And it's not as if Republicans have something against cable shows: The GOP has plenty of love for "White Collar," "Pawn Stars" and "American Chopper."
benton.org/node/45433 | Reuters
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SMARTPHONERS WANT UNLIMITED DATA
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Jacqui Cheng]
A Sanford Bernstein survey finds that mobile customers want unlimited data and unlimited data may be the most important criteria for users as a whole -- even more than sticking with their favorite device. "The new conventional wisdom is that carrier loyalty has been replaced with loyalty to the device. But high inclination to switch carriers and phones to maintain an unlimited plan suggest that perhaps the plan itself is more important than either one," equities analyst Craig Moffett wrote.
benton.org/node/45419 | Ars Technica
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