EDTECH
Blackboard Chalks Up a Breakthrough (WP)
TELEPHONY
Dollars and Dazzle in '99 (WP)
AT&T Makes Change in Plan For TCI Deal (WSJ)
Bell Atlantic Is in Talks to Buy AirTouch (WSJ)
BROADCASTING
Whither the Tube? (NYT)
Board Pushes Ahead On Minorities (B&C)
Broadcast Network Executives Struggle to Reinvigorate Their Business
(NYT)
INTERNET
2 Industries Unite to Pave Way for High-Speed Web Access (NYT)
FCC
House To Get Dereg Speaker (B&C)
Court Oks FCC Carriage Criteria (B&C)
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EDTECH
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BLACKBOARD CHALKS UP A BREAKTHROUGH (WP)
Issue: EdTech
"I would call this an 'education company' rather than an 'Internet
start-up,'" says one of the founders of 18-month-old Blackboard Inc. The
Washington, D.C. company makes software that helps universities set up
classes online. Presently 50 universities including Yale, Cornell and
Georgetown use Blacboard software for online instruction. Pricing to the
universities is based on how elaborate the software packages are with prices
ranging from $5,000 to $300,000. The products allow faculty members to
create World Wide Web sites to replace or supplement lectures and reading
material. They let students check grades or download assignments from the
Web. The company also runs two Web sites where professors can host classes,
regardless of whether their institutions own Blackboard software.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (F5), AUTHOR: Mark Leibovich]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-01/04/007l-010499-idx.html
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TELEPHONY
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DOLLARS AND DAZZLE IN '99
Issue: Telephony
Consumers, watch for increases in charges for telecommunications services
this year. Examples: An increase, starting this month, of $1.07 in the
"federal subscriber line charge" for all additional phone lines in a
household, bringing the charge to $6.07. An increase, starting in July, of
60 to 75 cents per phone line in the "federal access charge." Some local
phone companies have federal permission, starting in February, to impose a
new charge of as much as $1 a month for technical upgrades. The simpler
"dime-a-minute" trend in long-distance pricing will continue, but watch for
traps such as additional flat monthly fees and minimum calling requirements.
Users of 10-10 "dial-around" numbers should read the fine print because
calls advertised as "20 minutes for $1.90" may also mean $1.90 is the
minimum charge, even if only one minute is used. In March all rate controls
on cable TV will expire for good. High-speed Internet access, particularly
using "digital subscriber line" service, will make big gains as a mass
consumer item. Iridium will begin to get competition in the market for
global hand-held mobile satellite phones. Bell Atlantic is expected to gain
approval to offer long-distance phone service in New York by summertime, the
first Baby Bell to offer long-distance service. Three major mergers are
expected to win final approval and more mega-mergers are likely on the way.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (F18), AUTHOR: Mike Mills]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-01/04/014l-010499-idx.html
AT&T MAKES CHANGE IN PLAN FOR TCI DEAL
Issue: Merger
In an expected filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week,
AT&T is expected to change its blueprint for its merger with
Tele-Communications Inc. AT&T still intends to use TCI cable lines to
provide local telephone and high-speed Internet service, but will keep TCI
cable operations distinct from AT&T's long distance service by grouping the
cable unit as a "tracking" stock with AT&T's wireless operation. Originally
long distance was to be included in the tracking stock. An analyst said
that AT&T won't have as much risk and will be able to insulate parts of the
business that deliver near-term earnings. It will also mean less disruption
to AT&T's core operation. TCI's Liberty Media Group programming arm will
also be handled as a tracking stock. AT&T's bid to buy TCI received
critical approval from the Justice Department and is not expected to receive
much resistance from the Federal Communications Commission. AT&T is
continuing discussions with Time Warner Inc. to use Time Warner's cable
lines to offer local telephone service.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A3), AUTHOR: Rebecca Blumenstein & Leslie Cauley]
http://www.wsj.com/
See also:
MORE CITIES MULL AT&T /TCI MERGER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting and Cable (p16), AUTHOR: Price Colman]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/
BELL ATLANITIC IS IN TALKS TO BUY AIRTOUCH
Issue: Merger
Bell Atlantic Corp. is in talks to acquire wireless carrier AirTouch
Communications Inc. Both companies have confirmed the talks but indicate
key issues remain unresolved. The new company would create a wireless
telephone behemoth with holdings in the U.S., Europe and Asia. With the
added capability Bell Atlantic would be positioned to challenge the national
wireless networks of AT&T, Sprint and Nextel. Bell Atlantic and AirTouch
are already partners in PrimeCo Personal Communications in the U.S. and
Omnitel Pronto Italia, a wireless company in Italy. AirTouch is a spinoff
from Pacific Telesis Group. The merger would face regulatory scrutiny.
Bell Atlantic is already awaiting approval to purchase GTE Corp.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (A3), AUTHOR: Stephanie N. Mehta & Steven Lipin]
http://www.wsj.com/
See also:
Bell Atlantic Continues Talks For Acquisition of Airtouch
[SOURCE: New York Times (A11), AUTHOR: Seth Schiesel]
http://www.nyt.com/
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BRODCASTING
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WHITHER THE TUBE?
Issue: Television
[Editorial] Network television presides over steadily falling audience
share. Network programmers are leaving their jobs in droves. Production
costs of prime-time shows have gone through the roof. Digital television,
now on the horizon, will increase the number of channels to around 1,500,
fracturing the audience into ever smaller shards. "As the bandwidth has
expanded - as the number of channels has increased - TV has begun more
accurately to reflect the diversity of audience markets in the
country