BROADCASTING
The V-Chip Arrives, With a Thud (NYT)
Investment Fund to Boost Women & Minority Ownership (FCC)
Citing 'Whitewash,' NAACP Reaffirms Plan To Boycott Major Network
(USA)
Sparks Fly Over Changes to TV Bill (USA)
News Corp. Plan To Expand Pay-Television, Internet Units (WSJ)
COMPETITION/TELEPHONY
Wise Advice on Bell Atlantic (NYT)
Sprint To Offer Local Phone Service To New York Residential
Customers (WSJ)
Promotions For Cut-Rate Long Distance Draw Fire (WSJ)
Mergers and Consolidation in Communications Industry (Senate)
Fairness in Telecommunications License Transfers Act of 1999 (House)
ECOMMERCE
Van Gogh Print or Original Oil: The Web Has It (NYT)
A Chilly Welcome for Digital Wallets (NYT)
America Online To Invest $30 Million In Blockbuster's
Internet Operations (WSJ)
INTERNET REGULATION
Agreement to End Registrar's Monopoly Meets Resistance (CyberTimes)
Public Workshop on Online Profiling (NTIA)
Spamming: The E-Mail You Want To Can (House)
Barriers Online for Those With Disabilities (CyberTimes)
ANTITRUST
Why Microsoft Should Lose (WP)
BROADCASTING/TELEVISION
THE V-CHIP ARRIVES, WITH A THUD
Issue: V-chip
Since July 1, v-chip technology has been included in new televisions sold in
the US. The technology allows parents to block broadcasts according to a
rating system. But are parents using it? "We're very supportive of it, but
there's very little real media information about it," said Ginny Markell,
president of the National PTA. "There's a huge percentage of the population
that's unaware that it's even available, and unless a family's in the market
for a new TV, it's not on their radar." [Oh, yeah, what % of parents have
purchased new sets since July 1, Ms Greenman?] FCC Commissioner Gloria
Tristani, chairwoman of the V-Chip Task Force, which was put together in
May, acknowledged that lack of awareness was a problem. "It's hard to get
people to use something if they don't know it exists," she said, "so the
major problem is getting information out there." A poll of 1,000 parents
conducted this year by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent
national health care philanthropy, found that 77 percent said they would use
the V-chip if they had one. "Parents are going to have to get used to this
alphabet soup of guides telling them what's in the content," said Jeff
Chester, executive director of the Center for Media Education, "as we enter
the digital age and Internet content becomes available on TV. The V-chip is
the first formal development in what will be a heavily rated media world."
CME publishes a guide to the V-chip (www.vchipeducation.org).
[SOURCE: New York Times (D1), AUTHOR: Catherine Greenman]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/11/circuits/articles/04vchi.html)
See Also:
BOXED IN: THE TELEVISION V-CHIP PUTS UP ELECTRONIC FENCES
[SOURCE: New York Times (D13), AUTHOR: Matt Lake]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/11/circuits/articles/04howw.html)
INVESTMENT FUND TO BOOST WOMEN & MINORITY OWNERSHIP
Issue: Ownership/Broadcasting
Speech From News Release: All too often women and minorities run into a
glass
ceiling when it comes to ownership and management opportunities in the
broadcast industry. Last year, I challenged the broadcast industry to
shatter these barriers and to make equal opportunity a reality in their
businesses. Today, the industry is taking a first critical step to meet that
challenge. The Prism Fund will give women and minorities access to badly
needed capital. At a time of rising prices for radio and TV stations, the
fund will help women and minorities purchase and run their own radio and
television stations, giving them the opportunity to participate more fully
in one of our nation's most important communications mediums. I applaud the
broadcasters for their vision -- and for helping make the communications
industry accessible to all Americans.
[The $175 million fund will provide equity for minorities and women to buy
broadcast properties. It is expected to be "financially rewarding deal, and
also socially responsible."]
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Speeches/Kennard/Statements/stwek965.html)
CITING 'WHITEWASH,' NAACP REAFFIRMS PLAN TO BOYCOTT MAJOR NETWORK
Issue: Television/Minorities
In an effort to promote greater diversity on network TV, NAACP leader Kweisi
Mfume reaffirmed his organization's plan to boycott a major network from
Jan. 1 to the end of February sweeps. The civil rights group said that the
major networks have not done enough to improve diversity since complaints
were first made about the lack of minorities on this fall's prime-time
line-up. Mfume is not satisfied with the networks' "knee-jerk" response to
add minorities to the casts of several shows. "While we appreciate their
apparent genuine concern about this issue, only real results, in the form
of real change, will demonstrate their commitment," he said. The NAACP has
not yet identified which network will be targeted for the boycott.
[SOURCE: USAToday (3D), AUTHOR: Gary Levin]
(http://www.usatoday.com/hphoto.htm)
SPARKS FLY OVER CHANGES TO TV BILL
Issue: Satellite
The House and Senate are negotiating a compromise version of a long-awaited
bill that would allow satellite companies to provide subscribers with local
stations. Although satellite broadcasters have been fighting for such
legislation, they are livid about recent conditions added to the bill. The
provisions that most upset satellite providers include: a requirement that
they agree on rights fees before carrying a local station, a measure that
forces them to carry weak stations, and a limit of only being able to
provide
distant signals to 3% of homes in a market, even if additional homes cannot
get clear local signals. The National Association of Broadcasters and the
National Cable Association support the changes to the bill, while satellite
companies say they will "scale back" their plans to offer local TV signals
if this version of the bill is passed.
[SOURCE: USAToday (3B), AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
(http://www.usatoday.com/)
NEWS CORP PLAN TO EXPAND PAY-TELEVISION, INTERNET UNITS
Issue: Television/International
News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch has sketched his plans to develop
Internet-related operations and expand the company's pay-television business
in Europe in the upcoming year. Murdoch described News Corp. as two
companies: one that is developing and extending its established and
profitable businesses, and the other investing in the new technology-driven
media. In light of recent mergers in the media industry, such as the one
proposed between CBS and Viacom, making competitors much bigger, Murdoch
said that "if we found great opportunities which wouldn't be dilutive, we
might make them if we felt they would give us extra strength." One potential
transaction involving News Corp.'s 40%-owned satellite-TV operator, British
Sky Broadcasting Group PLC, would expand its pay-TV interests in Europe by
purchasing a 25% stake in Premier World, a unit of Germany's Kirch Group AG.
Such a move would represent an investment of more than $1 billion. The talks
have been under way for several months and people familiar with the
situation said the conclusion of a deal isn't imminent although no major
obstacles remain. Asked what other markets News Corp. has its eye on,
Murdoch said the best business climate for expansion in the world today is
in the US, particularly for television.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A25), AUTHOR: S. Karene Witcher]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB941656383745630741.htm)
COMPETITION/TELEPHONY
WISE ADVICE ON BELL ATLANTIC
Issue: Long Distance/Competition
[Editorial] The Department of Justice made the right call when it advised
the FCC to reject Bell Atlantic's bid to start providing long distance
service within its own region. Although Bell Atlantic has made great strides
in opening its local markets to competitors, the company continues to fail
in three areas: 1) It makes repeated mistakes switching customer wires from
its network to that of competitors, 2) it also makes repeated errors in
processing orders by competitors to rent its entire network rather than just
its wires, and 3) it often fails to provide competitors the equipment they
need to provide high-speed Internet access. The DOJ says that Bell companies
should be granted entry into long distance when they "cross the finish
line, not merely come within sight of it."
[SOURCE: New York Times (A26), AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/editorial/04thu4.html)
SPRINT TO OFFER LOCAL PHONE SERVICE TO NEW YORK RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
Issue: Telephony/Competition
Sprint, the nation's third-largest long-distance carrier, announced it will
offer local telephone service to residential customers in New York state
beginning this Sunday. The plan will involve Sprint leasing Bell Atlantic'
network to deliver local-calling services throughout much of the state. This
strategy will allow Sprint to reach millions of potential customers and
eventually provide a bundle of local, long-distance, wireless and Internet
services. Initially, Sprint will offer a new plan to be called Sprint Local
Unlimited. The plan will package unlimited local calls with Sprint's
nickel-a-minute regional toll and long-distance calls from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.,
for a monthly rate of $35 a month. The plan also includes nickel-a-minute
calling cards to be used from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Customers may also choose
calling features, such as call waiting, caller ID and call forwarding as
part of their bundled package. Sprint's entrance into New York's local phone
market follows AT&T's and MCI WorldCom's. Sprint recently agreed to be
acquired by MCI WorldCom, the No. 2 long-distance company.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal]
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB941667776370002050.htm)
PROMOTIONS FOR CUT-RATE LONG DISTANCE DRAW FIRE
Issue: Telephony/Competition
Long distance phone companies are facing scrutiny for what some customers
view as misleading or confusing promotions of discounted long-distance
services. The Federal Communications Commission has received nearly 3,000
complaints since January 1998 concerning the promotions of discounted
long-distance services from companies such as MCI and AT&T. The
FCC has launched an investigation into such practices, to culminate in a
joint hearing with the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday.
The hearing will consider new services including 10-10 numbers that let
callers "dial around" their regular carriers for cheaper rates and deeply
discounted calling plans. Regulators say that in the battle to sign up
customers, some phone companies employ ads that don't paint a clear or
complete picture of the offers. "Information that matters to consumers
needs to be disclosed in a clear and conspicuous way," says Eileen
Harrington, the FTC's director of marketing practices. "What we've found is
the ads are all wanting." One source of confusion is that big carriers like
MCI and AT&T, which enjoy a big share of the dial-around market, often
offer these long distance services under different brand names. The goal of
Thursday's forum is to bring industry and regulators together to improve
long-distance advertising. However, regulators say they are prepared to
take enforcement action if needed.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1), AUTHOR: Kathy Chen]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB941675215346352012.htm)
See Also:
PHONEY IMPRESSIONS? FEDERAL FORUM WILL SPOTLIGHT 'DIAL-AROUND' ADS
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E1), AUTHOR: Peter S. Goodman]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/feed/a20295-1999nov4.htm)
MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATION IN COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY
Issue: Mergers
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation, today announced a hearing on mergers and consolidation
in the communications industry. The Full Committee hearing is scheduled for
Monday, November 8, at 9:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office
Building. Senator McCain will preside. Witnesses will be announced later
this week.
[SOURCE: US Senate]
(http://www.senate.gov/~commerce/press/106-121.htm)
FAIRNESS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENSE TRANSFERS ACT OF 1999
Issue: Mergers
In testimony to House Judiciary Committee, FCC Chairman William Kennard said
the Commission has done good job evaluating "megamergers" with which it has
been deluged in recent months. FCC has responsibility to protect public
interest as part of its deliberations on licenses, he said, particularly in
mergers of "breathtaking size and scope" such as SBC-Ameritech. Chairman
Kennard indicated that without any conditions, that merger would have been
rejected. He views his job as advancing competition, goal that's different
from that of Department of Justice, adding: "I don't want my legacy at the
FCC to be that I presided over the reintegration of the Bell System."
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://www.house.gov/judiciary/1.htm)
ECOMMERCE
VAN GOGH PRINT OR ORIGINAL OIL: THE WEB HAS IT
Issue: Arts Online
A dozen or so Web sites now offer visitors the chance to buy art online.
Many of the sites have just started in the last few months.
PaintingsDirect.com allows users to search for paintings in ten different
ways including price, size, color and keyword like "flowers", "vase" or
"bouquet. Mandell writes: The sudden proliferation of these sites alarms
some people in the art world, who question not just what protections buyers
have, but whether what is offered by some of the sites can even be called
art. The sites can be divided into three categories: 1) mass-produced
posters, prints and reproductions, 2) sites trying to put the established
art world online, and 3) sites offering lower-priced original works by
unknown or emerging artists.
[SOURCE: New York Times (D1), AUTHOR: Jonathon Mandell]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/11/circuits/articles/04artt.html)
A CHILLY WELCOME FOR DIGITAL WALLETS
Issue: Ecommerce
You'd think a product that reduced the hassle of buying stuff online would
be a big hit. Not so for digital wallets, software that can automate
the act of payment. Jupiter Communications released a study earlier this
year that said 27% of Web shoppers give up on purchases when faced with
filling out online forms. So why don't shoppers and retailers love the idea
of digital wallets? For shoppers, there's the security issue. The biggest
impediment, however, has been a lack of a commonly accepted standard. Last
spring Microsoft, International Business Machines, Sun Microsystems, Compaq
and America Online (and through it, Netscape) joined with MasterCard, Visa
and American Express as well as several smaller companies to come up with
Electronic Commerce Modeling Language. ECML is not itself a wallet, nor is
it a credit account. It is computer coding -- invisible to ordinary users --
that tags the information typed by consumers into specific boxes at the time
they set up their "wallets." But still, e-retailers are not busting down the
door to use it: "Amazon has eight million customers and so far, to the best
of my knowledge, we've had minimal to no demand for wallets," said Ren