Mergers
WSJ: WorldCom to Launch MCI Bid To Rival British Telecom's Pact
TelecomAM: FCC RELEASES FULL ORDER APPROVING MCI/BT MERGER
FCC
TelecomAM: Speak No Evil: FCC Nominees Don't Say Much During Hearing
FCC: Meet the Presidential Nominees for Members to the FCC
Arts
WSJ: Lawmakers Agree to Continue Funding NEA,
Capping Long Day of Bargaining
NYT: Personal Journey to 'Case' Chinese New-Media Art Scene
Television
WSJ: Hai-Ya! Haim Saban Morphs Into A Major Player In Kids'
Entertainment
WSJ: NBC Wins Top Place In Ratings as Networks Lose More Viewers
FCC: Technical Requirements to Enable Blocking of Video
Programming
Based on Program Ratings
Satellites
WSJ: Satellite Plans Are Registered With the FCC
Campaign Finance Reform
WSJ: Vote Against McCain. Wait, Can I Say That?
Philantropy
WSJ: A Dangerous Alms Race
Encryption
NYT: Police Versus Us: The Encryption Chasm
International
WSJ: Once Again, US Trails Europe in Cellphones
NYT: Japanese Phone Giant Buys a U.S. Stake
Lifestyles!
WSJ: The Internet Generation Taps Into Morse Code
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* Mergers *
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Title: WorldCom to Launch MCI Bid To Rival British Telecom's Pact
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (A3)
Author: Steven Lipin & John Keller
Issue: Mergers
Description: The nation's fourth-largest long distance carrier, WorldCom,
will announce today an unsolicitied bid to takeover MCI. British Telecom
recently restructured its bid for MCI to total $18 billion. WorldCom will
reportedly offer $20 billion. As reported yesterday, WorldCom is close to
closing a deal to buy Brooks Fiber, a local telephone service provider. If
-- a very big IF -- WorldCom is successful in this proposed deal, it would
jump to a solid #2 in long distance assets and would have the broadest
collection of telecommunications assets.
Title: FCC RELEASES FULL ORDER APPROVING MCI/BT MERGER
Source: Telecom A.M.
http://tpg( at )cappubs.com
Author:
Issue: FCC--Merger
Description: The FCC has approved of a merger between MCI and British
Telecommunications PLC (BT). Even though it was approved on Aug 21, the
order was released on Sept. 24. The FCC approval was based on a few
conditions: BT agreed to cut its settlement rate for calls to the UK to 7
cents per min. BT and MCI must now allow customers to presubscribe to
another carrier for UK-bound long-distance and internat'l calls. Both
companies must also make their translatlantic submarine cable avaialble to
competitors. The British Gov't must agree to sever all ownership of BT as
well.
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* FCC *
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Title: Speak No Evil: FCC Nominees Don't Say Much During Hearing
Source: Telecom A.M.--Oct. 1, 1997
http://www.tpgweb( at )cappubs.com
Author:
Issue: FCC-Regulation
Description: Three new commissioners for the FCC were confimed on Sept.
30, 1997: Michael Powell, a scholar of telecommunications, politics and
consensus building, Gloria Tristani, the commission's link to the state
public utility commissions and rural states, and Harold Furchtgott-Roth, who
appears to be the most forthright in adhering to the Telecommunications Act.
These new commissioners did not say much duirng the hearing, which only
perplexed attendees and the media alike. But, what they did say was
definitely noteworthy, if not at all controversial. Powell was noted for
outlining his duties for the public interest. Tristani made evident some of
the issues she is already wrestling with, such as the conflict between the
FCC and state commissions over jurisdiction. Furchtgott-Roth was noted for
saying, "I will advocate a common-sense approach to regualtion at the
commission...common sense regulation is regulation that is within statutory
authority, that reflects the interest and intent of Congress, and that
benefits consumers more than it costs them." Despite the trio's vague
answers at the hearing, it would appear that they are all in good standing
with the Senate.
Title: Meet the Presidential Nominees for Members to the FCC
Source: FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/nominees/welcome.html
Issue: FCC
Description: "One of the top news items during this most exciting year at
the FCC is President of the United States Bill Clinton's, nominations of
four outstanding Americans for Members of the Federal Commmunications
Commission. We present this homepage to introduce to the communications
community William E. Kennard, Harold W. Furchtgott-Roth, Michael Powell, and
Gloria Tristani the President's selections to take the Federal
Communications Commision into the 21st Century and beyond."
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* Arts *
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Title: Lawmakers Agree to Continue Funding NEA, Capping Long Day of Bargaining
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (A4)
Author: David Rogers
Issue: Arts
Description: A House-Senate conference committee agreed to fund the National
Endowement for the Arts with $98 million next year. State arts councils are
to receive 40% of grant funds and no single state may receive more than 15%
of the total assistance allocated by the NEA.
Title: Personal Journey to 'Case' Chinese New-Media Art Scene
Source: The New York Times (CyberTimes Extra)
http://www.nytime.com/library/cyber/week/100197stirfry.html
Author: Matthew Mirapaul
Issue: Information Technology ("virtual museum")
Description: "Stir-Fry" is a new Web project documenting Barbara London's
month-long trip through China's capitals in a search for previously
undiscovered new-media art. The associate curator, of the film and video
dept. at the Museum of Modern Art in N.Y., has relayed her experiences with
audio interviews and clips. This site is the latest collaboration between
MoMA and "ada'web", a Manhattan-based art site that London will maintain
when she returns. The site shows that intellectual property may be as
important a museum asset as a Picasso. London said, "The work I've seen is
naive, fresh, technically primitive for the most part...but the work here
has a pioneering feel. Western video is sophisticated, fully in command of
the media. Here, the work is simple and direct. When it's not puerile, it's
powerful."[For more on the arts online see Open Studio
http://www.openstudio.org/]
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* Television *
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Title: Hai-Ya! Haim Saban Morphs Into A Major Player In Kids' Entertainment
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (A1)
Author: John Lippman
Issue: Children's Television
Description: The man that brought your kids Power rangers TURBO, Saban's
Samurai Pizza Cats, and Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation -- Haim Saban -- is
quickly becoming the "Walt Disney of the 1990s." Mr. Saban produces 21% of
all children's TV programming in the US -- second only to Time Warner (26%),
but ahead of Disney (18%). And Saban's numbers will grow with Fox Kids
Worldwide, a joint venture with News Corp. His formula? Buy a cheap foreign
product, dub it into English or remake it making sure to include "cool"
images that kids love. Many parents don't find them appealing because of the
violent content.
Title: NBC Wins Top Place In Ratings as Networks Lose More Viewers
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (B12)
Author: Staff Reporter
Issue: Television Economics
Description: General Electric's NBC was the most watched network during
premier week, Westinghouse's CBS came in second, and Walt Disney's ABC came
in third. Compared to last year, total viewership of the big four broadcast
networks is down 4% -- only News Coprs Fox gained viewers.
Title: Technical Requirements to Enable Blocking of Video Programming Based on
Program Ratings
Source: FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Notices/1997/fcc97340.txt
Issue: V-Chip
Description: "The proposals contained in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
are intended to
give parents the ability to block video programming that they do not want
their children to
watch. They are also intended to provide a regulatory framework that will
accommodate the
possible development and use of multiple ratings systems, giving parents the
flexibility to
choose the ratings system that best meets their needs." (Comments due ~Nov 14)
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* Satellites *
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Title: Satellite Plans Are Registered With the FCC
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (A10)
Author: Quentin Hardy
Issue: Satellites
Description: Even before they've started making money from their first
global systems, a number of groups are informing the Federal Communications
Commission that they have plans for "second generation" satellite systems.
The filings at the FCC are an effort to secure rights to operate in a
certain section of the radio spectrum.
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* Campaign Finance Reform *
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Title: Vote Against McCain. Wait, Can I Say That?
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (A22)
Author: Jonathan Rauch, editor National Review
Issue: Campaign Finance Reform
Description: For all its good press and good intentions, the McCain-Feingold
bill to reform campaign finance is bad. Private money is a big part of the
political system and if you try to suppress it in one place, it will show up
somewhere else. And you can't limit spending to communicate with voters
without violating the First Amendment.
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* Philantropy *
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Title: A Dangerous Alms Race
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (A22)
Author: Leslie Lenkowsky
Indiana University Center on Philantropy
Issue: Philantropy
Description: Ted Turner's $1 billion pledge to the United Nations is getting
to much attention. Even if Turner gave the entire amount at once (instead of
over the ten year period he has promised), it would amount to far less than
1% of what Americans contributed to charity last year. Most donations come
from individuals who are far from superrich and surveys suggest that
households with below median incomes give larger preportion of their money
than those who are better off. Although a big gift can draw the attention
needed to start a big campaign, "every fund-raiser knows, the bedrock of
support for schools, hospitals, museums, symphonies, social welfare
agencies, and other charitries invariably comes from large numbers of much
smaller gifts."
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* Encryption *
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Title: Police Versus Us: The Encryption Chasm
Source: CyberTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/under/100197under-wayner.html
Author: Peter Wayner
Issue: Encryption
Description: It seems that everyone who backs the Clinton Administration
plan to "rewire" the Internet for easy surveillance works for the government
and everyone who opposes it works in the private sector. "All of law
enforcement is also in total agreement on one aspect of encryption," FBI
Director Louis B. Freeh told a Congressional committee recently. "The
widespread use of uncrackable encryption will devastate our ability to fight
crime and prevent terrorism." Wayner disagrees: "In truth, crime prevention
is a partnership. Law enforcement is only the part that steps in when all
else fails. Prevention is the job of the average person, and in the private
sector, where everyday people live, where a failed deal can destroy a
business, secure encryption is as necessary as a wall safe, a strongbox and
a trustworthy bank." [For a history of encryption see "Of Keys, Decoders and
Persoanl Privacy" by Ashley Dunn
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/surf/100197mind.html; for updates on
the issue see the Center for Democracy and Technology http://www.cdt.org/]
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* Internaltional *
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Title: Once Again, US Trails Europe in Cellphones
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (A15)
Author: Gautam Naik
Issue: Internaltional/InfoTech
Description: The third generation of cellular phones -- available in four or
five years -- will allow you to browse the Web, send a fax, check your
e-mail (where are my Headlines?), or watch a news clip...all while sitting
on a mountain or speeding along in your car (but watch out for that tree!).
In the race to control this emerging market, European companies are taking
the lead. Ericsson, for example, is already running tests on cellular phone
links that allow for video confercing.
Title: Japanese Phone Giant Buys a U.S. Stake
Source: New York Times, D2
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/phone.html
Author: Seth Schiesel
Issue: Telecommunications
Description: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, one of the world's largest
telecommunications companies based in Tokyo, reported yesterday that it has
decided to invest $100 million in Teligent Inc., a small wireless
communications company. N.T.T.'s investment will allow Teligent to increase
competition in local markets. As stated by Alex Mandl, Teligent's chairman,
"by offering high-quality, high-capacity, facility based communications
services to small and medium-sized businesses in the United States, Teligent
will help fulfill the promise of the Telecommunications Act of 1996."
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* Lifestyles! *
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Title: The Internet Generation Taps Into Morse Code
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ (B1)
Author: Anna Wilde Mathews
Issue: Lifestyles!
Description: A morse code renaisance of sorts is under way as hobbyists,
academics, and military officiers try to keep it alive with new uses. One
company sells a 100 copies/month of Morse tutorial software for Microsoft
Windows.
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