Communications-related Headlines for 10/8/97

Arts
NYT: Alexander Plans to Resign As Leader of Arts Agency

Mergers: A New Biggest Deal of All Time
NYT: AT&T Talking to GTE About Teaming Up, Executives Say

Competition
TelecomAM: Consumer Group Blasts BOCs for Lack Of Local Competition

Universal Service
TelecomAM: FCC Rules States Can Impose Universal Service Assessments
on Wireless Firm

Internet
WSJ: Firms File Suits Over Internet Addresses

** Arts **

Title: Alexander Plans to Resign As Leader of Arts Agency
Source: New York Times (A12)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/nea-alexander.html
Author: Judith Miller
Issue: Arts
Description: Jane Alexander, chairwoman of the National Endowment for the
Arts, may resign after Congress approves appropriations for the agency.
Reportedly, Ms. Alexander plans to resume her acting career. Although she
made the decision about a month ago, Ms. Alexander has told only friends and
the White House for fear that her resignation may prompt a fresh assault on
the agency's budget [which seems like an excellent reason for the NYT and
Headlines to cover it now, before approval]. Ms. Alexander has seen the NEA
through its most difficult period, battling the religious right (which says
the agency gives taxpayers money to attack religion and produce pornography)
as well as the left (which says the agency's grants are too restrictive).
[So how well did Alec Baldwin's last movie do?]

** Mergers **

Title: AT&T Talking to GTE About Teaming Up, Executives Say
Source: New York Times (D1)
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/att-gte.html
Author: Seth Schiesel
Issue: Mergers
Description: Another day, another possible "biggest deal of all time." AT&T
and GTE are reportedly in merger talks -- a possible deal is valued at $48
billion (dwarfing WorldCom's $30 billion bid for MCI). AT&T is seeking a
partner that can help its "torpid local telephone strategy." GTE would be
AT&T's third choice after talks with BellSouth and SBC fell apart. AT&T is
also seeking an executive to succeed CEO Robert Allen and GTE's Charles Lee
could fill that slot. GTE offers local and long distance telephone service
in 29 states.

** Competition **

Title: Consumer Group Blasts BOCs for Lack Of Local Competition
Source: Telecom A.M.--Oct. 7, 1997
http://www.tpgweb( at )cappubs.com
Issue: Competition
Description: The Americans For Competitive Telecommunications (ACT) is
blasting Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) for a lack in competition in the
local service market. In a report issued by ACT, it stated, "No BOC in any
state, from California to Michigan to Florida, has fully complied with the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 and no real competition exists for consumers
in any local market." ACT's solution to the "monopoly over local markets" is
more federal regulation. Mark Phigler, president of Calif.-based ACT, said,
"Obviously, the trend has been to return authority to the state level, but
it isn't going anywhere. There will never be any real competition in the
residential local market unless the rates for resale and unbundling reach
levels that open the market up to a lot of players. That's more likely to
happen with regulation coming from the federal level, than from states."

** Universal Service **

Title: FCC Rules States Can Impose Universal Service Assessments on
Wireless Firm
Source: Telecom A.M.--Oct. 7, 1997
http://www.tpgweb( at )cappubs.com
Issue: Universal Service
Description: The FCC has determined that the 1993 law prohibiting states
from regulating rates and market entry of wireless phone services doesn't
bar state legislature from requiring that these services contribute
financially to support state universal service programs. Pittencrieff
Communications brought a petition to preempt the provision of Texas' Public
Utility Regulatory Act, citing the law as a state barrier to wireless market
entry and discriminated against wireless providers. The FCC said that the
Texas provision doesn't create a direct barrier to wireless service entry,
but has requirements that Congress intended to include within other terms
and condition of service.

** Internet **

Title: Firms File Suits Over Internet Addresses
Source: Wall Street Journal
http://wsj.com/ ((B17)
Author: Ann Davis
Issue: Internet
Description: Businesses are dismayed to learn that under new policies
governing Internet domain names, they have to file lawsuits -- often in
federal court -- to defend their "virtual turf." Michael Dever has to take
Sprint to court because Network Solutions Inc revoked his domain name
"spree.com" Mr. Dever runs an online shopping mall at this address, but
Sprint has a trademark for the "Spree Prepaid Foncard" and was convinced
consumers would confuse the online mall and Sprint products. NSI's policy is
to put a domain name on temporary hold if a valid trademark owner challenges
the name. If the current owner has a valid trademark, they get to keep the
name, but will lose it if they don't.

** FCC **

Title: Collegiality Replacing Confrontation at FCC
Source: Washington Post (C13)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-10/08/0541-100897-idx.html
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: FCC
Description: William E. Kennard, general counsel of the FCC, is set to
replace Reed E. Hundt as chairman. Kennard's style has been noted
in comparison with his predecessor. Richard Wiley, who was FCC chairman from
1974 to 1977, said, "He'll get along a lot better with his colleagues. It
will be a lot kinder, gentler, more collegial environment than it is right
now." Kennard has 15 years of experience in Washington's realm of
telecommunications policy, and is said to be a consensus-builder, a top-notch
litigator and dedicated civil servant. He would also be the first
African-American to run the FCC. Toni Cook-Bush, a longtime friend of
Kennard's who lobbies the agency for a local firm, said, "When people meet
with him, they feel they get a fair hearing. He's not one to rush to
judgement, where you feel like it was a waste of time to go see him."
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