DIGITAL DIVIDE
Digital Divide Summit (NTIA)
INTERNET
AT&T Fights to Push to Open Cable Lines To Its Rivals (NYT)
US West to Invade Rival SBC's Territory with Internet Services (WSJ)
Online Contracts Fail In House (WP)
Capital Dispatch: Government Has More Questions for
Internet Board (CyberTimes)
TELEPHONY
U.S. Deals Potential Setback to Bell Atlantic Bid (WSJ)
Global Wireless Groups Move to Ease Travel Calling for Users (WSJ)
Motorola Chip to Connect Markets (ChiTrib)
Local Phone Competition (Senate)
ADVERTISING
How MTV Came to Be James Bond's Latest Ally (NYT)
Web Retailers Empty Wallets On Advertising (NYT)
Shopping for Presence Online (WP)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
DIGITAL DIVIDE SUMMIT
Issue: Digital Divide
On December 9, 1999, the Secretary of Commerce will host a Digital Divide
Summit, focused on expanding access to information technologies for
underserved populations and areas. Secretary Daley will lead the dialogue
among participants from the Federal Government, technology industry, civil
rights and non-profit communities, grassroot community organizations, and
the general public. Participants will examine existing public and
private initiatives aimed at closing the technology gap and will discuss how
to expand upon and coordinate these efforts. Closing the digital divide is
an essential part of President Clinton's New Markets Initiative, which seeks
to bring America's prosperity to economically-underserved areas.
The summit will be held at the Department of Commerce and will include an
address by Secretary Daley; a roundtable discussion with representatives
from the public and private sectors; and six breakout sessions. The topics
of these smaller sessions include Technology and Economic Development in
Underserved Areas; Sustainable Public Access Points; Lowering Barriers to
Access through New Product Development; Marketing to and Content for
Underserved Populations; Rural Communities -- Targeted Solutions; and
Workforce Development -- Training and Education.
For further information, contact Jeffrey Joyner, National Telecommunications
and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 4713, Washington DC 20230; telephone (202)
482-1816; facsimile (202) 501-8013; or electronic mail
digitaldivide( at )ntia.doc.gov.
[SOURCE: NTIA]
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/summit/)
Register online at
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/summit/register.html)
INTERNET
AT&T FIGHTS TO PUSH TO OPEN CABLE LINES TO ITS RIVALS
Issue: Broadband
AT&T argued before a Federal appeals court yesterday that Portland exceeded
its authority when it tried to force the cable company to open its cable
systems to rival Internet service providers. The city and county are arguing
that high-speed Internet access over cable lines should be opened to
competition -- as long distance service is over telephone lines. Under
Portland's plan, AT&T would be compensated by the competitors. The judges
surprised both sides by asking whether the lines were a cable service
anymore. "If we decide that this is a telecommunications service or
facility, either one, this case is over, is it not?" asked one judge on the
three judge panel. The systems would be regulated federally then.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A20), AUTHOR: Sam Howe Verhovek]
(http://www.nytimes.com/)
See Also
ARGUMENTS HEARD IN CASE ON AT&T, INTERNET ACCESS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, (B8), AUTHOR: Kathy Chen]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB941484574788891939.htm)
US WEST TO INVADE RIVAL SBC'S TERRITORY WITH INTERNET SERVICES
Issue: Internet/Competition
Today, US West is expected to unveil plans to begin to compete with rival
SBC Communications' early next year with its high-speed Internet services.
US West is expected to begin offering digital subscriber line (DSL) services
to business customers in Sacramento. DSL technology boosts the capacity of
traditional copper telephone lines and US West said it plans initially to
provide high-speed Internet service, Internet access, e-commerce solutions
and long-distance calling. Joseph Zell, president of US West's
data-networking unit, said the company plans to use the existing facilities
of proposed merger partner Qwest Communications, a long-distance operator
that has fiber-optic networks and other operations in California. Qwest and
US West have said they will begin offering high-speed Internet services in
25 markets outside US West territory.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, (B8), AUTHOR: Staff Reporter]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB941500017382013163.htm)
ONLINE CONTRACTS FAIL IN HOUSE
Issue: Internet Regulation
A controversial bill that would have given electronic signatures the same
legal weight as their pen-and paper counter parts was narrowly defeated in
the House yesterday. Rep. Thomas J. Bliley (R-VA), sponsor of the
legislation, described it as "one of the most important high-technology
votes that this Congress will undertake." Consumer advocates feared the
bill would undercut federal and state consumer protections by allowing
banks and insurance companies to deliver important legal notices
electronically. Margot Saunders, of the National Consumer Law Center, said
the legislation could permit business to trick consumers into "clicking
away their rights" to receive important information. A similar bill is
currently pending action in the Senate.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E4), AUTHOR: Joh Schwartz]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/feed/a8417-1999nov2.htm)
CAPITAL DISPATCH: GOVERNMENT HAS MORE QUESTIONS FOR INTERNET BOARD
Issue: Internet Regulation
A strongly worded letter from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to
Esther Dyson, interim chairman of the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN) raises concerns that de facto barriers are being
erected to the participation of small businesses and individuals in the
ICANN decision-making process. SBA has asked ICANN to adopt procedures
mandating better public notification of its proposed policies and longer
periods for public comment on those proposals before they are voted on by
the board.
In related news, the Markle Foundation is expected to announce a $200,000
grant to ICANN to help build an international membership base of individual
Internet users, which will then elect half of ICANN's 18 board members.
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing (jeri( at )nytimes.com)]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/11/cyber/capital/02capital.html)
TELEPHONY
U.S. DEALS POTENTIAL SETBACK TO BELL ATLANTIC BID
Issue: Long Distance
Many analysts believed that the Justice Department was going to endorse the
application of Bell Atlantic to offer long distance in New York, but that
did not happen. Baby Bell companies have been prohibited from offering long
distance for many years and the only way the companies can provide the
service is if they prove to the Justice Department and the Federal
Communications Commission that they have opened up their local lines to
competition. The Justice Department says Bell Atlantic needs to further
open its network to local rivals. In yesterday's filing, the Justice
Department said Bell Atlantic should show that it is providing adequate
access to the "local loop" lines that connect consumers to the Bell
Atlantic network. It also said Bell Atlantic's system for handling orders
from rivals is excessively prone to error and delay. Joel Klein, assistant
attorney general for antitrust, said, "These problems cannot be ignored and
must be resolved if we want consumers to receive the full
benefits of competition." Bell Atlantic was quick to point out that the
Justice Department did not reject the application and a spokesman says Bell
Atlantic will address the Justice Department's concerns.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, (B23), AUTHOR: Stephanie Mehta & John Wilke]
(www.wsj.com)
See Also:
SETBACK FOR BELL ATLANTIC IN DRIVE FOR LONG DISTANCE
[SOURCE: New York Times (C2), AUTHOR: Seth Schiesel]
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/bell-longdistance.html)
GLOBAL WIRELESS GROUPS MOVE TO EASE TRAVEL CALLING FOR USERS
Issue: Wireless
The two largest wireless telephone consortiums, GSM Association and the
Universal Wireless Communications (UWCC), have agreed on an international
pact that eventually could allow about 290 million cellular phone
subscribers to use their phones almost anywhere they travel. The consortiums
represent two of the three incompatible digital-wireless standards used in
the U.S. Members of the GSM Association use the global standard for mobile
communications (GSM), which is the single standard in Europe and has an
estimated 220 million cellular customers worldwide. The UWCC represents
companies such as AT&T that use the time division multiple access standard
(TDMA) and those operators serve about 70 million users. The third standard
in wireless, code division multiple access (CDMA), is used by companies such
as Sprint and has 35 million users worldwide -- but is not part of the pact.
This new pact will allow customers whose phones are based on the GSM or TDMA
standards to make and receive calls from country to country. Customers will
need a new multinetwork phone to take advantage of the agreement and phone
networks will need to reach roaming agreements to enable billing of these
calls. The pact will eventually enable travelers to use one phone -- and
one phone number just about everywhere.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Nicole Harris]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB941499320902000891.htm)
MOTOROLA CHIP TO CONNECT MARKETS
Issue: Wireless
Yesterday Motorola announced a technological breakthrough that will allow a
single computer chip to handle a variety of operating technologies working
on disparate radio frequencies. Wireless service providers expect the
development to spawn new services and drive down prices. "I've already
called over to Motorola to get more information," said US Cellular's chief
executive Donald Nelson. "With the capability they're talking about, I can
offer customers new packages for regional calling, nationwide calling and
even international roaming. When you put all these things into a single
phone, it drives down the costs for everyone."
[SOURCE: Chicago Tribune (Sec 3, p.1), AUTHOR: Jon Van & Rob Kaiser]
(http://chicagotribune.com/business/printedition/article/0,2669,SAV-99110202
66,FF.html)
LOCAL PHONE COMPETITION
Issue: Competition
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation, and Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT), Chairman of the
Communications Subcommittee, announced a hearing on local phone competition.
Members will examine how best to increase consumer choice in local telephone
markets. The Full Committee hearing will be on Thursday, November 4, at 9:30
a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. Senator Burns will
preside. Witnesses will be announced at a later time.
[SOURCE: US Senate]
(http://www.senate.gov/~commerce/press/106-119.htm)
ADVERTISING
HOW MTV CAME TO BE JAMES BOND'S LATEST ALLY
Issue: Advertising
MTV viewers are going to see a lot of James Bond over the next few weeks.
Through an arrangement by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and MTV's parent, Viacom,
"The World is Not Enough" will be the centerpiece of some 100 hours of
programming on MTV channels worldwide. The alliance and the programming are
aimed at building a more youthful audience for the Bond movie franchise. MCM
will pay much of the programming costs for the MTV programming. The film
will open worldwide within a two week window (Nov 19 at a theater near you).
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: Bill Carter]
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/financial/mtv-mgm-adcol.html)
WEB RETAILERS EMPTY WALLETS ON ADVERTISING
Issue: Internet Economy
Some ".com" companies are betting the farm on the next eight weeks. "Not
every company is going to survive this Christmas," said Send.com chief
executive Michael Lannon. "We are treating the next eight weeks like an
election campaign. Both we and our investors believe that customers are
going to vote on who the leading gift site is, and only one candidate wins."
Send.com, for example, has committed $20 million for television advertising
even though the Internet gift site has raised on $10 million in venture
capital financing. Send.com has no profits and negligible revenue. For all
of 1998, Amazon.com spent $17 million on TV ads; it will triple holiday
marketing to more than $100 million. Analysts think that in a crowded
market, these companies will not be best served by their expensive race to
get their names in front of consumers.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A1), AUTHOR: Leslie Kaufman]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/11/biztech/articles/02net.html)
SHOPPING FOR PRESENCE ONLINE
Issue: E-Commerce
Jack Staff, chief economist for Zona Research, predicts that this
"Christmas season is going to be the year of the woman." Staff is referring
to the explosive growth of women shoppers on the Internet that is expected
to be especially prominent this holiday season. While white males made up
over 75% percent of Internet users just three years ago, Jupiter
Communications expects that the number of women will equal the number of
men online by next year. "We are in this huge transition in which women are
becoming the dominant force on the Web," explains Edward LaHood, chairman
of Beautyjungle.com. As more women bring their buying power online, Web
retailers are increasingly conscious of the need of female buyers.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (A1), AUTHOR: Stephanie Stoughton and Leslie Walker]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/A7109-1999Nov1.html)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Goodnight, Sweetness.