July 2011

BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

12th Annual International Symposium on Advanced Radio Technologies continues today and tomorrow in Boulder http://benton.org/node/81060

AT&T/T-MOBILE
   Louisiana approves AT&T/T-Mobile
   FCC, States Cooperate on AT&T/T-Mobile Review - public notice
   Group of state AGs support AT&T deal
   AT&T merger gets static from progressives, Hill

MORE ON WIRELESS/SPECTRUM
   Why spectrum debate is tied to debt ceiling plan
   Sen McCain Slams Plan to Compensate Broadcasters For Spectrum Reclamation
   Incentive Auction Amendment Proposed
   Lieberman praises spectrum plan in Reid's debt-ceiling bill [links to web]
   FAA Says Even New LightSquared Plan Causes Interference
   LightSquared, Sprint in 15-Year, $13.5 Billion Deal
   Sprint Nextel Posts a Wider Loss as More Subscribers Drop Their Contracts [links to web]
   Sen Grassley to FCC on LightSquared: What are you hiding? [links to web]
   Cellphones don't increase cancer risk in kids, study says [links to web]
   Inside The Libyan Rebels' Mobile-Phone Network [links to web]

INTERNET/BROADBAND
   FCC bureau chief: USF reforms will provide 'stable' inter-carrier compensation system
   US Places Fourth Globally For Ultra High-Speed Internet Connections
   Broadband performance study finds huge regional disparities in US
   NTIA's Status Report on the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program - research
   Delivering broadband across the great divide in Massachusetts [links to web]
   Senate GOP seeks cost-benefit analysis of network neutrality
   Telecommunications Projects To Deliver Broadband and Job Opportunities to Rural Communities - Press release
   Getting Out of the Broadband Box - analysis
   Boots on the Ground in Kansas City - press release [links to web]
   Cable companies to give clues on Internet impact

OWNERSHIP
   FCC Releases Final Media Ownership Reports - press release
   Comcast Expands Subscriber Bases For Eight Hispanic Nets By A Combined 14 Million
   Sharpton’s Push for Comcast Raises Issues About Possible MSNBC Job
   Judge Threatens Comcast, NBCU Merger Delay
   Google's Growth Unsettles Mountain View
   Government Seeks More Information on Google’s Admeld Acquisition
   Comcast to FCC: Deny Bloomberg Complaint [links to web]

HEALTH
   Telehealth Could Ease Health Disparities in Rural US

JOURNALISM
   Rachel Maddow, MSNBC Sued For $50 Million Over On-Air Comments [links to web]

ADVERTISING
   Government Seeks More Information on Google’s Admeld Acquisition
   Congress Gets Involved in Fight Over Food Marketing Guidelines [links to web]
   Digitally enhanced ads banned in Britain [links to web]

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AT&T/T-MOBILE

LOUISIANA APPROVES AT&T/T-MOBILE
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Gautham Nagesh]
The Louisiana Public Service Commission voted 4-1 to approve AT&T's proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA, making it the second state to approve the deal with three other reviews still ongoing. A staff report from last week argues the opposition comments filed by Sprint are largely focused on national issues currently being weighed by the Federal Communications and Department of Justice, not Louisiana-specific issues that would justify the state blocking the merger. "Staff is confident the FCC and DOJ, with their expansive resources and expertise on those matters, will perform a thorough review of Sprints (sic) concerns regarding the impact this acquisition may have on a national level," the report states. The Louisiana Commission is empowered to reject AT&T's filing if it is found to be against the public interest, but the staff report argues the deal will result in at least $8 billion in investments, some of which will be in Louisiana, along with increased rural broadband coverage and new jobs in the state thanks to AT&T's pledge to deploy next-generation wireless broadband nationwide. "While Staff understands that Sprint disagrees with these contentions, the Joint Reply Comments contain a commitment to that affect," the report states. "Staff also notes that the proposed acquisition has received overriding support locally, as is evidence by the diverse number of groups and officials who are in support." Hawaii, California, and West Virginia are still conducting reviews of the merger.
benton.org/node/84274 | Hill, The | Reuters
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FCC AND THE STATES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
On July 13, the Federal Communications Commission released a Public Notice stating that on June 28, Sprint notified the FCC that the company had received civil investigation demands ("CIDs") from various states seeking full, unredacted copies of all materials Sprint has filed (or will file) with the FCC concerning the review of AT&T's purchase of T-Mobile. In connection with the CIDs to Sprint and other carriers, on July 11, 2011, the Offices of the Attorney General of four states, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, sent letters to the FCC stating that they seek to review confidential information in connection with their investigations of the transaction. The letters state that it is the Offices' policy to keep this information confidential. They further state that the information will be used only for legitimate law enforcement purposes and that the Offices will not disclose the information unless it is required by law or is necessary to further a legitimate law enforcement purposes The Offices of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and Texas state that they will not disclose the information without the consent of the affected parties or unless ordered by a court for cause; the Offices of the Attorney General of New York and Washington state that if it is necessary to disclose the confidential information in court filings, they will notify the affected parties as soon as is reasonably practical, seek to file such information under seal, and make reasonable efforts to limit disclosure of the information until the affected parties have had an opportunity to appear before the court and the court has ruled on any request by the affected parties.
The Offices of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and Texas state that the information is exempt from disclosure under their state freedom of information laws, while the Offices of the Attorney General of New York and Washington state that if a request is made under their state freedom of information laws, they will assert all applicable exemptions and use their best efforts to provide concerned parties with notice prior to the release of any information. The Offices of the Attorney General of New York and Washington further state that if the confidential information becomes the subject of discovery in any litigation to which they are a party, they will use their best efforts to ensure that a protective order is entered, and will not voluntarily provide the information until concerned parties have had an opportunity to review and comment on the protective order and to apply to the court for further protection.
Sprint has agreed that it will not provide unredacted materials containing confidential information to these state Offices of the Attorney General earlier than July 25, 2011. The FCC is providing this notice to inform carriers of the requests of the state Offices of the Attorney General to allow carriers the opportunity to contact the state Offices of the Attorneys General or to take any other action they may deem appropriate if they have concerns or oppose disclosure. Comments or objections should not be filed with the FCC.
benton.org/node/84272 | Federal Communications Commission
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AGs BACK AT&T/T-MOBILE
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Brendan Sasso]
Eleven state attorneys general from both parties urged the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department to approve AT&T's $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile. "Our citizens need and deserve the public interest benefits that this merger will generate — expanded LTE deployment to 97% of the population; fewer dropped calls; faster broadband; and expanded and rapid capacity — which will benefit consumers and businesses across the country," the officials wrote in the letter. They said they would support conditions on the merger to protect local competition and ensure the deal was in the public interest.
benton.org/node/84282 | Hill, The
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OPPOSITION TO AT&T-T-MOBILE
[SOURCE: Politico, AUTHOR: Michelle Quinn]
Democratic support for the AT&T/T-Mobile deal appears to be slipping amid allegations that the company effectively bought the endorsement of some liberal interest groups. The Senate’s top antitrust Democrat came out against the deal last week. Three top House Democrats last week also urged the FCC and the Justice Department to conduct “a careful, comprehensive and expeditious review,” warning that it could hamper innovation and hurt consumers.
The Democrats haven't linked their concerns about the deal to the flap over endorsements from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the NAACP and other groups that received contributions from AT&T’s charitable foundation. But some advocates say the connection is there. “There’s no question that AT&T has overplayed its hand,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, policy director of the Media Access Project, a nonprofit public interest communications law firm that has asked regulators to stop the wireless deal. “Some of the groups who have endorsed the merger feel anxious about weighing in, and they aren't going to be pressuring the legislators as much. Those who kept their powder dry feel they are freer to express their opposition.”
benton.org/node/84280 | Politico
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MORE ON WIRELESS/SPECTRUM

SPECTRUM AND THE DEBT CEILING DEAL
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Marguerite Reardon]
Congressional leaders seem to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the debate over the budget and raising the debt ceiling. Now it looks like the incentive wireless spectrum auctions proposed by the Federal Communications Commission may end up as part of a package that is being hashed out by Republicans and Democrats in Washington (DC). Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) included the sale of wireless spectrum to mobile broadband providers in his proposed package of cuts and revenue-raisers. He said he expects the sale of wireless spectrum to generate $15 billion in revenue for the government, which could be applied to reducing the nation's budget deficit. At first blush it seems rather silly that the issue of auctioning additional wireless spectrum would be caught up in the current budget debate and stalemate over the debt ceiling. But when you take a closer look, it may not be so ridiculous after all. Think of it this way. When a household is looking for some extra cash, the family may start to look at added expenses they can cut. For example, maybe they get rid of cable TV or they stop eating out. Mom may also go back to work. And the family may also consider selling some of its assets, such as dad's coveted sailboat. The proceeds from all of these measures could be used to help pay down credit card debt or fill gaps in the family's budget. For the government, cutting monthly expenses is like slashing spending on entitlement programs, such as Social Security and Medicaid. Creating new revenue streams could mean raising taxes. And getting cash by selling off some assets is similar to the notion of auctioning unused wireless spectrum from TV broadcasters and government entities.
The first two options -- cutting expenses and raising revenue--are already being debated among Democrats and Republicans as they try to figure out a plan to deal with the nation's budgetary and debt issues. So it makes perfect sense that Congressional leaders would also be looking at ways to raise money through the sale of valuable assets.
benton.org/node/84247 | C-Net|News.com | CNNMoney
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MCCAIN OPPOSES SPECTRUM PROVISION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) took to the Senate floor to criticize Sen. Harry Reid's debt ceiling plan for including payments to broadcasters as part of incentive auctions (which are in there because they are predicted to raise billions to help pay down that debt). While giving credit to Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) for at least coming up with a plan, Sen McCain, a former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said he understood that having spectrum auctions in there would provide billions of dollars in auction revenues, but suggested he had heard that before. "I have been in this body for a considerable period of time and I can't tell you the number of times we have called for auctions of spectrum." He called that an annual "cop out" that prevented legislators from making "tough decisions." He said that, "most egregiously," Reid's plan calls for paying a billion dollars for returning unused spectrum. Actually, the bill sets that money aside to compensate the broadcasters who don't sell off spectrum for any channel repositioning or "repacking": required to free up contiguous spectrum for wireless broadband. And even that is far under the $2.5 billion NAB has predicted that relocation might cost. But Sen McCain made his point that it pained him to compensate broadcasters as part of the move. "Television broadcasters got the spectrum for free," said Sen McCain, "now we're supposed to act the taxpayers to give them a billion dollars to give back spectrum that they owe?," he asked before correcting the end of the statement to "that they own," though his original seemed to better capture the tenor of his criticisms.
benton.org/node/84287 | Broadcasting&Cable | Politico
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KIRK AMENDMENT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) has proposed an amendment to the Reid debt ceiling bill that would modify the incentive auction portion of the bill to make sure the Federal Communications Commission did not put too many conditions on winning wireless bidders and making it clear that freeing up spectrum for them is crucial. Kirk's wireless industry-friendly amendment would prevent the FCC from attaching any network neutrality conditions to the auctioned spectrum, prevent it from prescribing rates, terms or service conditions that might be offered, would prevent the FCC from restricting the "number, type, pr specific bidders" from participating in an auction.
benton.org/node/84285 | Broadcasting&Cable
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FAA REPORT ON LIGHTSQUARED
[SOURCE: National Journal, AUTHOR: Juliana Gruenwald]
The Federal Aviation Administration says even a revised proposal from LightSquared to launch a national wireless broadband network will interfere with global positioning systems critical to aviation. LightSquared has come under fire from the GPS industry and its users over concerns that the company's proposal to deploy a wireless broadband network using both land-based transmitters and a satellite would interfere with GPS systems. In response, LightSquared said in June that it will hold off for now on using the spectrum closest to that used by GPS receivers and operate at a reduced power level than it is authorized to use. In an assessment conducted earlier this month but only recently released, the FAA appears to have concluded that even this revised proposal would still interfere with GPS systems used in aviation. "The effects of LightSquared deployment would be far-reaching and potentially devastating to aviation. Proposed LightSquared operations would severely impact the efficiency and modernization of the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world," according to the July 12 report from the FAA's Navigation Services.
benton.org/node/84295 | National Journal | WSJ
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LIGHTSQUARED-SPRINT DEAL
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Devin Banerje]
Billionaire Philip Falcone’s LightSquared struck a 15-year deal with Sprint Nextel to share network expansion costs and equipment in an effort aimed at making both stronger wireless competitors. LightSquared will pay Sprint to build and operate a nationwide wireless network that uses high-speed long-term evolution, or LTE, technology. During an 11-year period, LightSquared will pay Sprint $9 billion in cash and credits valued at about $4.5 billion. Sprint can use the credits to acquire capacity from LightSquared, which plans to offer wholesale wireless service to consumer electronics companies and other telecommunications operators. The deal has potential advantages for LightSquared and Sprint as they attempt to challenge Verizon Wireless and AT&T, the two largest U.S. wireless operators. For LightSquared, the agreement is a way to build out its planned national network more rapidly with lower costs. The company said it now expects to be able to offer service to 260 million people in the U.S. by the end of 2014, a year earlier than required under its licenses with the Federal Communications Commission. For Sprint, the deal will provide a new source of revenue as the third-largest U.S. wireless company struggles to compete with bigger rivals.
benton.org/node/84293 | Bloomberg
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INTERNET/BROADBAND

USF/ICC UPDATE
[SOURCE: Connected Planet, AUTHOR: Joan Engebretson]
The Federal Communications Commission plans to “quickly” issue a public notice requesting additional information related to Universal Service fund and inter-carrier compensation reform, FCC Wireline Competition Deputy Bureau Chief Carol Mattey told attendees at the OPASTCO convention in Minneapolis July 27. “We’re talking days, not weeks,” said Mattey, who also noted that the FCC’s goal is to issue an order formalizing USF and ICC reforms this fall. Apparently some FCC staffers already have begun to draft portions of the order, which Mattey said she was reading on the plane to Minneapolis.
Mattey several times referenced a USF reform proposal expected this week from the United States Telecom Association with the endorsement of several large carriers, noting that she was looking forward to reading the proposal. Surprisingly, considering the OPASTCO audience, she didn't mention that several rural telco groups, including OPASTCO, also have jointly submitted a reform proposal. She did note, however, that “our job is not to rubber stamp any proposal . . . but to ask if it will benefit consumers.”
Mattey offered some broad comments about the direction toward which the FCC is leaning in its USF and ICC reform plans, including:
The FCC plans to provide a “stable framework” for inter-carrier compensation
The size of the high-cost fund needs to be controlled by putting it on a firm budget
Mobile broadband likely to be supported in a targeted manner, only in areas where it wouldn't be available without support
The identical support rule for competitive carriers is likely to be eliminated
A reverse auction for mobility is “very much on the table”—Mattey emphasized the word “mobility” here, implying that perhaps a reverse auction might not be used to award some other types of funding
Proposed reforms should generate savings to help fund broadband build-out and an access charge recovery mechanism
Changes to the high-cost fund likely to be implemented immediately
There may be ways to improve the rate of return system without ending it altogether- the FCC is “looking at suggestions,” Mattey said
The FCC is “committed to addressing arbitrage opportunities today” but will only address them as “part of comprehensive reform” (Mattey was likely talking about issues such as phantom traffic, traffic pumping and the like.
The FCC’s inter-carrier compensation reform plan is expected to provide a “recovery mechanism” for lost access revenues
While not making any specific predictions about targeting satellite broadband for the highest-cost areas, Mattey said the commission continues to consider the role of satellite service.
benton.org/node/84269 | Connected Planet
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POINT TOPIC BROADBAND REPORT
[SOURCE: Talking Points Memo, AUTHOR: Sarah Lai Stirland]
The United States is behind three Asian nations when it comes to the deployment of ultra high-speed Internet networks, according to a recent report from a British broadband data analysis firm Point Topic.
The U.S. had paltry 6.9 million subscribers to fiber-to-the-home broadband service in the first quarter of 2011, compared to 28.9 million in China, 20.14 million in Japan, and 9.5 million in South Korea, according to Point Topic's global broadband deployment report, which gathers data from both commercial and government sources. The 6.9 million subscriber number in the United States represents nine percent of the total broadband market, with cable and DSL subscribers making up the rest of the wireline broadband market. That penetration percentage is markedly below those of the other Asian nations. Thirty-eight percent of China's broadband subscribers used fiber-to-the-home in the first quarter of 2011, compared to about 26 percent for Japan, and 12.46 percent for South Korea.
Overall, China leads the world in terms of the number of broadband subscribers with 135.23 million subscribers; the U.S. has 88.7 million, Japan has 34.6 million and Germany has 27.16 million.
The most noteworthy number is the fiber-to-the-home number, however, since that's the technology that the experts pinpoint as being the most durable and cost-effective form of information infrastructure that many policymakers think is important to keeping nations competitive.
benton.org/node/84252 | Talking Points Memo
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PANDO NETWORKS STUDY
[SOURCE: ars technica, AUTHOR: Ryan Paul]
Pando Networks has published the results of a study evaluating the Internet download performance of 4 million users across the country. The data offers some insight into regional bandwidth trends, highlighting significant disparity between US states in the average quality of Internet connectivity. The study found that the Northeastern states and the West Coast had the highest average Internet speed. Rural regions in the Midwest tended to have the lowest average download performance -- a finding consistent with previous reports of broadband availability challenges in rural communities. The highest-performing state was Rhode Island, with an average download speed of 894KBps. The lowest performer was Idaho with only 318KBps. The scores from Pando's tests are quite different from the results of a smaller broadband performance study conducted by Communication Workers of America (CWA) in 2007. The CWA survey identified some similar regional trends, but found uniformly higher performance across the country. Both studies point to Rhode Island as the state with the fastest average broadband speed, for example, but CWA computed average broadband speed in the state at 5MBps. Pando's tests are based on real-world downloads made by users of the company's services, so it's not necessarily an accurate reflection of the user's actual bandwidth capacity.
benton.org/node/84290 | Ars Technica
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BTOP UPDATE
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has reported to Congress progress on the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, focusing on activities from January 1-March 31, 2011. The covers four areas of BTOP implementation and project oversight:
Status and progress of BTOP projects and overall program expenditures -- BTOP is on track to achieve its program goals, and delivered significant progress this quarter in areas such as the environmental and historical preservation clearances needed to begin infrastructure construction, groundbreakings and computer center launches, and delivery of broadband training. This progress can be clearly seen in awardees’ quarterly progress reports made public on June 1, 2011.5
Supporting initiatives, including the SBI mapping and capacity building efforts and the new Digital Literacy Portal -- On February 17, 2011 NTIA, in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), unveiled the National Broadband Map – the first public, searchable nationwide map of consumer broadband Internet availability in the United States. The SBI grants, in addition to funding state efforts to collect data for the map, are also playing a critical role as states and territories identify and address obstacles to broadband deployment and adoption.
Monitoring of BTOP program activity and results from those monitoring efforts -- Recipients are required to report their financial, project performance, and Recovery Act-related activities on a quarterly basis. Three reports – the Federal Financial Report (FFR), BTOP Performance Progress Report (PPR), and Recovery Act report – are reviewed each quarter by the BTOP Program Office and the NIST/NOAA Grants Office to formally monitor project progress against established baselines, expenditure of grant funds, and contribution of non-Federal cost share. NTIA instituted a number of measures to increase the consistency and accuracy of recipient data reporting.
Communications, training, and assistance initiatives that enhance the implementation and sustainability of BTOP projects -- NTIA conducted ongoing communications and outreach to report on BTOP progress to interested stakeholders and to assist grant recipients in achieving project success. The agency used concrete examples from BTOP projects to demonstrate how the Program will benefit communities across the United States and improve access to and use of broadband.
benton.org/node/84250 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration
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NETWORK NEUTRALITY COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Gautham Nagesh]
Eleven Republican Senators wrote to the Federal Communications Commission requesting a cost-benefit analysis of the agency's network neutrality rules, arguing such a review would be in the spirit of President Barack Obama's push to reduce burdensome regulations. The Senators, led by Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), cited President Obama's July memorandum instructing the independent agencies to join executive agencies in eliminating outdated or burdensome regulations. They suggested the FCC's vote on net neutrality might have turned out differently if the memo had come out earlier.
"We believe that had these Executive Orders been implemented before net neutrality rules were approved by a vote of 3-2 by the FCC on December 21, 2010, the Commission would have made a more informed decision," the Republican senators wrote. "Therefore, we respectfully request that before net neutrality rules go into effect, you honor the intent of the President's Executive Order by applying a retrospective review towards the net neutrality order and pursuing a cost benefit analysis."
benton.org/node/84242 | Hill, The | National Journal
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RUS BROADBAND LOANS
[SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, AUTHOR: Press release]
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that rural telecommunications companies have been selected to receive nearly $192 million in loans for projects that will deliver broadband services to rural customers across eight states. These funds represent the latest investment from The Department of Agriculture's Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program and will add thousands of miles of cable to the telecommunications grid in rural America. The announcement was made by Rural Utilities Service Administrator Jonathan Adelstein on Vilsack's behalf at the summer meeting of the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunication Companies in Minneapolis. Administered by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this financing is part of the $690 million investment during fiscal year 2011 and is in addition to the $3.5 billion in broadband funding RUS awarded for projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The telecommunications infrastructure program funds facilities and equipment to upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural telecommunications networks.
benton.org/node/84236 | Department of Agriculture
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GETTING OUT OF THE BROADBAND BOX
[SOURCE: CircleID, AUTHOR: Kevin Werbach]
[Commentary] Here's why I'm hopeful for GigU, a consortium of universities to facilitate next-generation community broadband opportunities. It is especially difficulty to envision broadband scenarios different than the ones we're used to: commercial access providers like phone and cable companies giving us multi-megabit connections for fast web browsing and media streaming. That limits the scope of innovation, especially the innovations with the most social and business impact. It also feeds into the policy gridlock. We're still playing out a set of regulatory debates that started a decade ago, when Google was still private and Facebook didn't exist. In a sector this fast-moving, how can the landscape of 2001 possibly describe the world of 2021, let alone 2011?
So we need to get out of the box of current thinking. It's next to impossible to do that without examples of different models. The trouble is that alternative broadband approaches and creative applications that take advantage of ultra-fast connectivity have largely been stifled in the U.S. There are many reasons for this. Whichever one focuses on, we're going to have a hard time leading the next wave of broadband innovation without vibrant experimentation outside the mainstream service offerings. That's where Gig.U comes in.
benton.org/node/84234 | CircleID
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CABLE AND THE INTERNET
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Peter Svensson]
Are people really cancelling cable to watch TV and movies from the Internet instead? It's a question that has dogged the pay-TV industry for a year, and a spate of quarterly reports over the next few weeks. Much lies in the balance. If online video really is taking TV service subscribers from cable, satellite and phone providers, it's not just bad news for those companies. Analysts also see it leading to more restrictions and higher prices for online video and broadband access, a trend that has already started.
Time Warner Cable's cable TV rolls shrank in the second quarter by 130,000 -- slightly more than Wall Street anticipated -- while the MSO saw a 35% surge in business services revenue and added 54,000 broadband customers.
benton.org/node/84296 | Associated Press | Multichannel News
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OWNERSHIP

FCC RELEASES THE FINAL THREE RESEARCH STUDIES ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
The Federal Communications Commission released the final three research studies on media ownership:
Consumer Valuation of Media as a Function of Local Market Structure, by Scott J. Savage and Donald M. Waldman
Local Media Ownership and Viewpoint Diversity in Local Television News, by Adam D. Rennhoff and Kenneth C. Wilbur
Diversity in Local Television News, by Lisa M. George and Felix Oberholzer-Gee
benton.org/node/84267 | Federal Communications Commission
Consumer Valuation of Media as a Function of Local Market Structure - research [links to web]
Local Media Ownership and Viewpoint Diversity in Local Television News - research [links to web]
Diversity in Local Television News - research [links to web]
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COMCAST EXPANDS ACCESS FOR HISPANIC NETWORKS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Reynolds, R. Thomas Umstead]
Fulfilling a commitment that is part of its acquisition agreement for NBC Universal, Comcast is expanding the carriage of eight Hispanic networks by a combined 14 million subscribers. Azteca America, Galavision, Hispanic Information & Telecommunications Network, LATV, mun2, Telefutura, Telemundo and Univision will all see their sub bases grow on Comcast systems. Some of the rollouts have begun, while others will occur on a staggered basis in the weeks ahead. These are the latest steps from Comcast to increase the availability of minority-focused fare on its systems. Since April, it has announced plans to boost the reach of Mnet, the English-language Asian pop culture channel, by more than 2 million subscribers. Moreover, two African-American-aimed services, The Africa Channel and TV One, in which Comcast holds an equity position, will gain a combined 2.3 million subs through new system bows. When Comcast acquired the controlling interest in NBCU from General Electric on Jan. 28, the company agreed to increase the distribution of at least three services networks that are American Latino-owned or -controlled or target the Latino community by at least 10 million digital-basic subscribers within six months of the deal close. With these launches, Comcast, which controls broadcaster Telemundo and cable cousin mun2 via NBCU, said it will surpass that goal by 40%. Under another merger stipulation, Comcast also pledged to launch 10 new independent channels over the next eight years, including eight that are Hispanic- and African-American owned or operated. Sources familiar with the situation indicate there were approximately 100 applicants for the first three: a channel that is "American Latino operated and programmed in English" is slated to bow by July 28, 2012, while a pair of majority African-American-owned services will launch by Jan. 28, 2013, the second anniversary of the union.
benton.org/node/84260 | Multichannel News
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SHARPTON'S MSNBC JOB
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Brian Stelter]
Last year, Comcast was lining up the Rev. Al Sharpton to lobby for its bid for NBCUniversal. This year, the cable news channel owned by NBCUniversal, MSNBC, is weighing whether to make him a daily television host. The possible transition for Sharpton — from political influencer to television talent — highlights the complex relationships that can arise when cable news channels employ activists who take sides instead of journalists who don't. Sharpton, the president of the National Action Network, a civil rights organization, was one of the many activists and boldface names who agreed to support Comcast as it sought government approval for its takeover of NBCUniversal. The Comcast chief executive, Brian L. Roberts, and the head of the company’s lobbying effort, David L. Cohen, met with Sharpton and other representatives of minority groups to talk about their bid early last year. That meeting, Mr. Sharpton said later, was the most important factor in his decision to support Comcast and urge the Federal Communications Commission to approve the NBC deal. Comcast then used the support of Sharpton and other civil rights activists to promote the proposed merger to government officials. Rarely, if ever, has a cable news channel employed a host who has previously campaigned for the business goals of the channel’s parent company. But as channels like MSNBC have moved to more opinionated formats, they have exposed themselves to potential conflicts.
benton.org/node/84302 | New York Times
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REVIEW OF COMCAST DEAL
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Stephanie Gleason, Thomas Catan]
A federal judge threatened to hold up court approval of the merger of Comcast Corp. and General Electric's former NBCUniversal unit, criticizing the Obama Administration's antitrust settlement that allowed the merger. The deal was completed in January, but the merger settlement between the companies and the Justice Department is subject to review by a federal court. The court's review -- and approval -- is usually a routine part of merger settlements, but a federal judge has the power to undo an agreement or force changes to it. If the judge were to refuse to sign off on the settlement, the Justice Department could appeal or the parties could renegotiate the settlement to assuage the judge's concerns. Judge Richard Leon, in federal court for the District of Columbia, criticized arbitration terms available to online-content companies that disagree with Comcast about program licensing, noting that the arbitration agreements can't be appealed. "I'm giving you fair notice I'm not sure I'm going to sign this," Judge Leon said. "My concerns are such that because of the arbitration it's not in the public interest."
benton.org/node/84301 | Wall Street Journal
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MOUNTAIN VIEW PUSHES BACK
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amir Effrati]
Google is the single largest contributor to the coffers of Mountain View, where it is based. But as the Web giant expands its physical footprint and seeks to build new offices, housing and infrastructure, the city government is pushing back. Earlier this month several city council members criticized a proposal by Google to build bridges over a creek that separates existing offices from land it leased from a federal agency. Starting in 2013, Google plans to construct up to 1.2 million square feet of buildings on the land, including offices, recreation facilities and corporate housing. The new development will extend the Google campus into the leased land, crossing public trails along Stevens Creek that are used by commuters and outdoor enthusiasts. While the trail will remain public after Google's expansion, council members said at a recent hearing they were concerned about the need to relocate part of the trail due to the construction of the bridges, among other things. The topic will be revisited in future hearings.
benton.org/node/84299 | Wall Street Journal
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HEALTH

TELEHEALTH AND RURAL AREAS
[SOURCE: iHealthBeat, AUTHOR: ]
Americans living in rural areas are less likely to have access to quality health care than people living in urban areas, but telehealth technology could help address the disparity, according to a report by the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform and Modernization. The report suggests that broader adoption of electronic health records and telehealth technology could help address the health disparities affecting rural residents. To achieve these goals, the report recommends:
Expanding rural broadband connectivity to allow for an expansion in telehealth;
Improving health care reimbursement policies to encourage greater use of telehealth;
Increasing the availability of telehealth programs; and
Reducing regulatory barriers to using telehealth
benton.org/node/84238 | iHealthBeat
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ADVERTISING

JUSTICE ASKS FOR MORE INFO ON ADMELD DEAL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Claire Cain Miller]
The Justice Department has asked Google for more information and time as it investigates the search giant’s $400 million acquisition of Admeld, a display advertising company, Google said. The second request “doesn't surprise us, as today’s display advertising industry is very new and highly complex,” Neal Mohan, Google’s vice president of display advertising, wrote in a blog post. “But we'll work to enable this review to be concluded as quickly as possible.” Mohan argued that publishers and advertisers had many options for buying and selling display ads, including three that were new in the last month. In addition to start-ups, Google also competes with big companies like Yahoo and Microsoft in display advertising.
benton.org/node/84283 | New York Times | AP | paidContent.org
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