To view Benton's Headlines feed in your RSS=20
Aggregator, paste=20
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dtaxonomy/term/6/all/feed into your read=
er.
INTERNET/BROADBAND
Answers Sought for U.S. Broadband Decline
Markey Holds Hearing on International Broadband
Why the U.S. Doesn=92t Measure Up
Bush Administration: U.S. Maintains Telecommunications Technology Leaders=
hip
FCC to unveil auction plan today
Researchers break Internet speed records
BROADCASTING/CABLE
Activists Call For DTV Obligations Before Dual Carriage
Barton, Upton 'Disturbed' By Martin's Cable Agenda
NAB Warns Tower Changes Will Affect Rollout
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
A Host Dials Down, and Bush Speaks Up
China Sets Out to Cut Secrecy, but Laws Leave Big Loopholes
TELECOM
Vonage wins court stay in Verizon patent battle
AT&T Earnings Beat Forecasts Despite Slow Market for Mobile Phones
ACCESS
Expert panel faults U.S. policies on disabled people
QUICKLY -- Don=92t Blame Hip-Hop; XM's Rogue=20
Antennas Amplify Signals, Merger Scrutiny; The=20
Sun Will Set on 50 Jobs in Baltimore
INTERNET/BROADBAND
ANSWERS SOUGHT FOR US BROADBAND DECLINE
[SOURCE: PCMagazine, AUTHOR: Chloe Albanesius]
A U.S. innovation brain drain, coupled with=20
sloppy government handling of subsidy programs=20
and data collection, have contributed to a=20
decline in the country's broadband standing,=20
technology experts told the Senate Commerce=20
Committee on Tuesday. The hearing was held a day=20
after the Organization for Economic Cooperation=20
and Development (OECD) issued new global=20
broadband per-capita penetration data that saw=20
the U.S. fall from 12th to 15th place out of 30=20
countries. Some viewed the results as a sign that=20
the U.S. is falling behind its global=20
counterparts, while others said it was unfair to=20
compare the U.S. against the smaller and more=20
densely populated countries that beat the U.S. in=20
the OECD rankings. The questions that panelists=20
tangled with mainly dealt with issues of=20
geography. In Europe, where per-capita broadband=20
penetration is growing, world powers like the=20
United Kingdom are smaller geographically than=20
California. The person-to-person proximity also=20
allows infrastructure buildouts to serve more=20
people. While this isn't a problem in major=20
cities, serving rural customers with broadband=20
access is still a thorny issue. One of the=20
issues left undefined was the definition of=20
"broadband". Add to that the lack of reliable=20
government data, and the problem becomes even=20
more complicated, witnesses said. Sen. Daniel=20
Inouye (D-Hawaii), who chairs the Commerce=20
Committee, said that he would soon introduce a=20
bill to promote innovation and improve the=20
federal commitment to basic research on=20
communications. He is also penning broadband data=20
development legislation that would call for the=20
collection of broadband data collection at the=20
federal and state levels, a complaint that was voiced by several speakers.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2121582,00.asp
* Statement by Sen Inouye:
"The broadband bottom line is that too many of=20
our international counterparts are passing us=20
by. For this we are paying a price. Some=20
experts estimate that universal broadband=20
adoption would add $500 billion to the U.S.=20
economy and create more than a million new jobs."
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=3DHearings.Statem...
&Statement_ID=3D243
* Statement by Sen Ted Stevens:
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=3DHearings.Statem...
&Statement_ID=3D242
* U.S. Broadband Access Slips Further
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2007/tc20070424_190579...
m?campaign_id=3Drss_daily
MARKEY HOLDS HEARING ON INTERNATIONAL BROADBAND
[SOURCE: Rep Ed Markey (D-MA)]
Rep Edward J. Markey (D-MA) chaired a hearing of=20
the House Commerce Subcommittee on=20
Telecommunications and the Internet Tuesday on=20
lessons the United States broadband industry can=20
learn from international broadband expansion. In=20
his opening statement he said, "It is clearly=20
time for us to look beyond our borders in=20
developing our nation=92s broadband=20
strategy. While U.S. broadband adoption is=20
certainly increasing and deployment continues, in=20
international broadband rankings a nation must=20
essentially run in order to stand=20
still. Relative to other countries, however, it=20
appears as if America=92s broadband penetration is=20
stalling at =93dial up=94 speed while other nations=20
have developed national plans and are moving=20
ahead." ... "Advanced, high speed broadband=20
service is the indispensable infrastructure of=20
the 21st Century. It will be the vehicle through=20
which countless other economic, civic, and=20
cultural activities occur. As we assess where we=20
stand today, I think the way to achieve greater=20
progress is not from more hortatory rhetoric or=20
excuses for poor rankings =AD the U.S. needs a=20
plan. In my view, the United States started out=20
on the right path. The 1996 Telecommunications=20
Act mandated a robust unbundling and=20
interconnection regime designed to jump-start=20
competition both between and among technology=20
platforms. The idea was that competition would=20
reduce prices, improve service, and spur=20
innovation =AD including the deployment of=20
broadband by incumbents and=20
competitors. Gradually, however, we lost our=20
way, as regulators became convinced that=20
competition within a platform actually hindered=20
overall broadband deployment. As a result, we=20
now have a residential broadband duopoly marked=20
by relatively slow speeds and high prices. Many=20
other nations took one look at our broadband=20
situation, learned from our experience, and took=20
the opposite approach. In Japan and the U.K. for=20
instance, they implemented policies such as local=20
loop unbundling and broadband resale that=20
facilitate competition using the incumbent=92s=20
plant, regardless of technology. As a result,=20
Japan and the U.K. today have faster broadband,=20
cheaper broadband, and more broadband choices."
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&task=3Dview&id=3D...
5&Itemid=3D141
* Upton Comments on Broadband
At the same hearing, Rep Fred Upton (R-MI) said,=20
"As a result of ... FCC and judicial actions, we=20
at long last have a semblance of a national=20
broadband policy that promotes competition, is=20
pro-investment not anti-investment, and that=20
imposes minimal government regulation upon=20
broadband services and facilities. I am=20
confident that these long sought pro-broadband=20
policy decisions will greatly accelerate=20
broadband deployment. They are only now taking=20
hold as the regulatory uncertainty that hung over=20
broadband was, as we thought in 2002, an=20
investment stifling factor. We heard last week at=20
the wireless hearing about how the spectrum=20
resulting from the DTV transition will permit=20
wireless providers to provide significant=20
broadband services. So, rather than look for new=20
regulatory solutions, we must continue to promote=20
competition, promote new technologies, promote=20
and foster broadband network investment, and rely=20
on competition and deregulatory not government regulation."
http://www.house.gov/upton/press/press-04-24-07.html
WHY THE US DOESN'T MEASURE UP
[SOURCE: Free Press, AUTHOR: Ben Scott]
In testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee=20
today, Free Press Policy Director Ben Scott urged=20
lawmakers to pursue a comprehensive national=20
broadband policy that will bring more broadband=20
competition to American households. =93Above all,=20
we need competition policy to drive down prices,=20
accelerate speeds, and deliver an attractive=20
value to the consumer,=94 Scott said. =93We must not=20
sacrifice the long-term interests of the country=20
for the short-term interests of incumbents that=20
have long shielded themselves from an open=20
market.=94 =93This isn=92t just a matter of pride at=20
stake,=94 Scott said. =93This is real money. The=20
economic benefits of higher broadband penetration=20
accumulate exponentially. Even a small increase=20
in broadband penetration can generate a consumer=20
surplus measured in the billions of dollars.=20
While we aren=92t capturing these dollars, someone=20
else is.=94 =93This is a paradigm-shifting moment=20
for American telecommunications,=94 Scott=20
concluded. =93It is imperative that we choose wisely.=94
http://www.freepress.net/news/22657
* Read Scott's testimony at:=20
http://www.freepress.net/docs/42407bssentestimony.pdf
* U.S. Falling Behind Further and Faster on Broadband
http://www.consumersunion.org/blogs/hun/2007/04/us_falling_farther_and_f...
er.html
STATE DEPARTMENT LETTER ON OECD STUDY ON BROADBAND USE
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and=20
Development released new broadband statistics on=20
Monday that worry some in the US as the country=20
fell farther behind in per capita broadband=20
penetration. On Tuesday, the US Department of=20
State responded with concerns about the OECD's=20
methodology. David Gross, US Coordinator of=20
Internatonal Communications and Information=20
Policy, wrote that the OECD underestimates US=20
broadband use because the organization relies=20
solely on broadband subscribership numbers.=20
Ambassador Gross believes the survey should also=20
include Wi-Fi hotspot users -- especially on=20
college campuses -- and people who use broadband=20
at work. He writes: "The United States strongly=20
believes that the world community would greatly=20
benefit from a balanced picture of broadband=20
deployment that accurately reflects and captures=20
the rich variation of how people actually gain=20
access to broadband services, and that provides such information in context=
."
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/State_OECD_042407.pdf
* Fact Sheet: United States Maintains Information=20
and Communication Technology Leadership and Economic Strength
The National Telecommunications and Information=20
Administration focuses on the bright side of the=20
broadband research. It highlights findings from=20
non-OECD research: The US has the most broadband=20
subscribers, the most Internet users and the most=20
Wi-Fi hotspots in the world. Between June, 2001=20
and June 2006, the number of homes with broadband=20
in the United States has increased by 599%, from=20
9.2 million high-speed lines 64.6 million.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/ICTleader_042407.html
FCC TO UNVEIL AUCTION PLAN TODAY
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Rachelle Younglai]
The Federal Communications Commission will take=20
its first stab on Wednesday at defining how a=20
2007 auction of airwave spectrum will take place.=20
The agency plans to auction airwaves later this=20
year that are being returned by television=20
broadcasters as they move to digital signals=20
early in 2009. The sale is touted as the last=20
opportunity for new players to enter the wireless=20
market and is expected to raise billions of=20
dollars. But first the FCC has to define how the=20
auction will work, provide a set of rules on how=20
the spectrum will be divided and say what kind of=20
services can be offered using the airwaves. The=20
FCC is expected to outline a tentative plan at an=20
open meeting of its commissioners on Wednesday --=20
a crucial step that will help potential bidders=20
craft their strategy. The Media Access Project=20
and other consumer advocacy groups such as=20
Consumers Union are pushing for rules they say=20
would increase competition. The groups want half=20
the airwaves up for auction to be designated as=20
"open access" spectrum. That would allow other=20
companies to buy access on established wireless=20
networks so they can offer their own wireless=20
services. The consumer groups also want rules to=20
ensure that broadband providers treat all Internet content in the same way.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2441759420070424
* Wireless tech's high-stakes turf
http://news.com.com/FCC+to+reveal+spectrum+auction+plan/2100-1039_3-6178...
.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede
RESEARCHERS BREAK INTERNET SPEED RECORDS
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Anick Jesdanun]
A group of researchers led by the University of=20
Tokyo has broken Internet speed records -- twice=20
in two days. Operators of the high-speed=20
Internet2 network announced Tuesday that the=20
researchers on Dec. 30 sent data at 7.67 gigabits=20
per second, using standard communications=20
protocols. The next day, using modified=20
protocols, the team broke the record again by=20
sending data over the same 20,000-mile path at=20
9.08 Gbps. That likely represents the current=20
network's final record because rules require a 10=20
percent improvement for recognition, a percentage=20
that would bring the next record right at the=20
Internet2's current theoretical limit of 10 Gbps.=20
However, the Internet2 consortium is planning to=20
build a new network with a capacity of 100 Gbps.=20
With the 10-fold increase, a high-quality version=20
of the movie "The Matrix" could be sent in a few=20
seconds rather than half a minute over the=20
current Internet2 and two days over a typical home broadband line.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070424/ap_on_hi_te/faster_internet;_ylt=3DA...
cVIblS5Gz78AEANj24cA
BROADCASTING/CABLE
ACTIVISTS CALL FOR DTV OBLIGATIONS BEFORE DUAL CARRIAGE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Media activist groups The Campaign Legal Center=20
and Common Cause sent a letter to the FCC=20
commissioners Monday asking them not to expand TV=20
station's carriage rights until they have=20
resolved the issue of TV stations' DTV public=20
interest obligations. =93The FCC's inaction on=20
public interest obligations remains a gaping hole=20
in the fabric of our nation's telecommunications=20
policy," they argued. With at least two of the=20
commissioners, Democrats Jonathan Adelstein and=20
Michael Copps--they were preaching to the choir.=20
They have both pushed for a resolution of a 1999=20
inquiry into DTV public interest obligations. At=20
its April 25 monthly meeting, the commission is=20
scheduled to consider a proposal by FCC Chairman=20
Kevin Martin that cable operators be required to=20
deliver both an analog and digital version of TV=20
station's signals after the conversion to=20
all-digital broadcast TV as a means of insuring=20
viewers get a "viewable signal," as required by law.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6435988.html
-- See also --
* Benton supports Broadcasters' Disclosure rules
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/bentonltr.doc
BARTON, UPTON 'DISTURBED' BY MARTIN'S CABLE AGENDA
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Former House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX)=20
and former House Telecom Subcommittee Chairman=20
Fred Upton (R-MI) have asked FCC Chairman Kevin=20
Martin to lay off the cable industry when it=20
comes to "additional, unnecessary and burdensome=20
regulations." The Congressmen wrote Chairman=20
Martin on Tuesday saying they are "disturbed that=20
with respect to the cable industry, you appear to=20
be making proposals that are leading the=20
Commission precisely down the road of intrusive=20
regulation when it is least justified." Their=20
concerns include Chairman Martin's push for a la=20
carte cable pricing, mandatory cable carriage of=20
TV station's multicast digital signals, a new=20
plan to require cable to carry TV stations in=20
both digital and analog after the DTV transition,=20
his insistence that the FCC hold to its July 1=20
deadline for banning integrated cable set-top=20
boxes, reports he plans to reimpose a 30%=20
national cap on one cable company's subs, and=20
plans to allow stations to lease digital capacity=20
to women and minorities, who would then get=20
mandatory cable carriage for the channels they create.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6436156.html
* House Leaders Back Cable in FCC Fight
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6436192.html
NAB WARNS TOWER CHANGES WILL AFFECT ROLLOUT
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The National Association of Broadcasters warns=20
that changes to tower heights, sites or lights=20
that are driven by concerns over bird collisions=20
could delay the DTV transition, impede the=20
rollout of broadband, jeopardize homeland=20
security, contribute to global warming and even=20
possibly cause planes to crash. [OK, the NAB did=20
not mention global warming.] Broadcasters say it=20
is all for "little, if any, impact on the future=20
ecological viability of migratory birds." NAB=20
and the wireless phone industry argue in comments=20
to the FCC that migratory bird collisions with=20
towers are only a fraction of other "human-caused=20
aviation mortality" which includes "window=20
collisions, vehicle collisions, transmission=20
lines, wind energy facilities, pesticides and oil=20
pollution, hunting and domestic cat predation."=20
Estimates vary from 4 million to as many as 50=20
million tower-related bird deaths annually. Most=20
estimates fall on the lower end of that scale.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6436115.html
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
A HOST DIALS DOWN, AND BUSH SPEAKS UP
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Alessandra Stanley]
Charlie Rose is a talk show host known for long=20
and rambling questions. President Bush is famous=20
for his short, Texas-terse answers. On last=20
night=92s show, the two men reversed roles.=20
President Bush spoke forcefully and at length=20
about Iraq. Mr. Rose was succinct. It was the=20
closest President Bush has come to the kind of=20
winding declamations that Richard M. Nixon=20
delivered to the British interviewer David Frost=20
in 1977 and that are now resurrected on Broadway=20
in =93Frost/Nixon,=94 a play by Peter Morgan. Mr.=20
Morgan, who was one of Mr. Rose=92s guests on=20
Monday, told the host that American audiences=20
would see parallels =93between presidents facing=20
the wrath of a country that feels that in their=20
name, bad decisions were made.=94 Actually,=20
President Bush looked more at ease than he=20
usually does in interviews, but he did not offer=20
any revelations about his showdown with Congress=20
over financing for additional troops or his=20
support for his embattled attorney general,=20
Alberto R. Gonzales. He mostly expanded on=20
positions he had staked out in the past. It was=20
his wordiness that spoke volumes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/arts/25teevee.html?_r=3D1&oref=3Dslogin
(requires registration)
CHINA SETS OUT TO CUT SECRECY, BUT LAWS LEAVE BIG LOOPHOLES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Jim Yardley]
China announced new regulations on Tuesday to=20
reduce government secrecy and grant citizens=20
greater access to official information, but the=20
regulations include broad exceptions that raise=20
questions about how much new openness will be=20
tolerated. The regulations, approved in a decree=20
signed by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, were=20
announced with fanfare on Tuesday but will not=20
become effective until May 1, 2008. And the=20
caveats suggest that the new regulations may=20
represent only measured steps in fulfilling=20
promises by top leaders to create a more=20
transparent and accountable government.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/world/asia/25china.html
(requires registration)
TELECOM
VONAGE WINS COURT STAY IN VERIZON PATENT BATTLE
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Internet phone company Vonage Holdings Corp. won=20
a legal victory that sent its shares sharply=20
higher when a U.S. appeals court ruled on Tuesday=20
the company can continue signing up new customers=20
while it appeals a patent infringement ruling.=20
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit=20
granted Vonage's request for an extended stay of=20
a lower court injunction while it appeals a jury=20
finding that it infringed patents held by Verizon=20
Communications Inc. for making calls over the=20
Internet. The federal circuit appeals court,=20
which specializes in hearing patent cases, put=20
Vonage's appeal on a fast-track schedule, with=20
arguments set for June 25. It takes the appeals=20
court more than a year to rule on most cases. But=20
lawyers involved in the Vonage appeal said it=20
could be decided as soon as this summer.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWEN690320070424
* Vonage Injunction Stayed in Patent Case
http://www.latimes.com/technology/ats-ap_technology12apr24,1,5397243.sto...
coll=3Dsns-ap-toptechnology
* Vonage can keep signing up new customers
http://news.com.com/Vonage+can+keep+signing+up+new+customers/2100-1036_3...
78783.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed
* No quick decision in Vonage patent appeal
http://news.com.com/No+quick+decision+in+Vonage+patent+appeal/2100-1036_...
178731.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert.hed
* Appeals Court Allows Net Phone Company to Continue Signing Up New Custome=
rs
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/technology/25vonage.html
* Vonage Wins Stay in Verizon Dispute
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR200704...
1034.html
AT&T EARNINGS BEAT FORECASTS DESPITE SLOW MARKET FOR MOBILE PHONES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtel]
AT&T, the world=92s largest telephone company,=20
reported first-quarter earnings on Tuesday that=20
handily beat Wall Street expectations. But some=20
investors and telecommunications industry=20
analysts said they were not sure that AT&T could=20
continue its pace, particularly as growth is=20
slowing in the mobile phone business. The=20
earnings show the potential for growth but also=20
the steep challenges facing AT&T and other=20
telephone companies that are turning into=20
multifaceted telecommunications providers=20
offering landline, mobile, Internet and=20
television services. Industry analysts said that=20
a crucial question facing AT&T was whether the=20
company, now that it has wrapped up a series of=20
major acquisitions, can find growth by expanding=20
its underlying businesses. AT&T, like other major=20
telecommunications companies, continued to see a=20
decline in its traditional telephone business. In=20
the first quarter, it lost 285,000 primary=20
consumer lines, compared with declines of 251,000=20
in the first quarter of last year and 331,000 in=20
the fourth quarter. The company said that it also=20
lost 130,000 secondary phone lines in the latest=20
quarter. But it continued to see gains in its=20
high-speed Internet business, adding 691,000=20
subscribers to reach 12.9 million over all.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/technology/25phone.html
(requires registration)
* Takeover savings help AT&T's earnings soar
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070425/earn25.art.htm
ACCESS
EXPERT PANEL FAULTS US POLICIES ON DISABLED PEOPLE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Will Dunham]
Outdated U.S. policies are keeping many disabled=20
Americans from getting help they need, an expert=20
panel said on Tuesday in a report faulting=20
government inaction toward the needs of this=20
growing population. The report looked at a wide=20
range of issues affecting the disabled such as=20
accessibility of buildings and other places, gaps=20
in public programs such as those paying for=20
wheelchairs and scooters and health insurance=20
coverage. The panel said younger and middle-aged=20
people face increasing risk for future disability=20
due to factors such as diabetes, obesity and a=20
sedentary lifestyle. The report concludes that=20
immediate action is essential for the nation to=20
avoid harm and to help people with disabilities=20
lead independent and productive lives. Report=20
includes a chapter on "Assistive and Mainstream=20
Technologies for People with Disabilities" and an=20
appendix on "Access to Telecommunications=20
Technology by Americans with Disabilities: Key Laws and Policies."
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2441044520070424?pageNu...
r=3D1
* The Future of Disability in America (Committee on Disability in America)
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=3D11898
QUICKLY
DON'T BLAME HIP-HOP
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Kelefa]
Hip-hop has been making enemies for as long as it=20
has been winning fans. It has been dismissed as=20
noise, blamed for concert riots, accused of=20
glorifying crime and sexism and greed and=20
Ebonics. From Run-D.M.C. to Sister Souljah to=20
Tupac Shakur to Young Jeezy, the story of hip-hop=20
is partly the story of those who have been=20
irritated, even horrified, by it. Even so, the=20
anti-hip-hop fervor of the last few weeks has=20
been extraordinary, if not quite unprecedented.=20
Somehow Don Imus=92s ill-considered=20
characterization of the Rutgers women=92s=20
basketball team =97 =93some nappy-headed hos=94 =97 led=20
not only to his firing but also to a discussion=20
of the crude language some rappers use. Mr. Imus=20
and the Rev. Al Sharpton traded words on Mr.=20
Sharpton=92s radio show and on =93Today,=94 and soon=20
the hip-hop industry had been pulled into the=20
fray. Unlike previous hip-hop controversies, this=20
one doesn=92t have a villain, or even a villainous=20
song. The current state of hip-hop seems almost=20
irrelevant to the current discussion. The genre=20
has already acquired (and it=92s fair to say=20
earned) a reputation for bad language and bad behavior.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/arts/music/25hiph.html
(requires registration)
* The Imus Test: Rap Lyrics Undergo Examination
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR200704...
2496.html
XM's ROGUE ANTENNAS AMPLIFY SIGNALS, MERGER SCRUTINY
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Christopher Stern]
XM Satellite Radio became the nation's largest=20
satellite broadcaster with a network of hundreds=20
of antennas that were built and operated in=20
violation of Federal Communications Commission=20
rules. At least a third of the 800 antennas that=20
beam XM's radio channels to millions of customers=20
were placed in unapproved locations or emitted=20
signals that were too strong, according to a=20
review of FCC filings. XM says some now comply=20
with the rules, though it doesn't know how many.=20
The misplaced antennas may result in fines or a=20
shutdown of part of the company's network.=20
Lawmakers including Rep Edward Markey (D-MA) say=20
regulators should take the violations into=20
account when they consider XM's plan to combine with Sirius Satellite Radio.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601204&sid=3DazdBm8rw6BmU
THE SUN WILL SET ON 50 JOBS IN BALTIMORE
[SOURCE: Editor&Publisher]
Following on the heels of Tribune Co. stablemates=20
the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune,=20
Baltimore's The Sun announced internally a plan=20
to cut 50 positions by buyouts or layoffs.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...
t_id=3D1003575874
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------