INTERNET
Bliley Introduces Bill to Block "Toll Booths" on The Information
Superhighway (House)
Content Vs. Commerce Online (WP)
FCC Seeks Good Way to Separate Cable, Internet (SJ Merc)
World of Choices to Plug In to the Net (NYT)
Writing Their Own Menus (WP)
DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY
Internet Political Donations May Qualify for Matching Funds (NYT)
Mobilizing Online for Gun Control (NYT)
Citizens' Electronic Inquiries Get Governments' Attention (NYT)
Company Proceeds with Government Search Service (NYT)
TELEVISION
Taking A Critical Look at TV (WP)
Study Finds TV Trims Fiji Girls' Body Image and Eating Habits (NYT)
NBC Is Considering Quitting The NAB (WSJ)
CBC Shelves Fall Mob Series As Too Violent (WSJ)
Citizens' Electronic Inquiries Get Governments' Attention (NYT)
DTV Receiver Compatibility with Cable Television Service (FCC)
EDTECH
Helping Children to Navigate Their World (NYT)
WIRELESS TELEPHONY
A Race to the Wireless (NYT)
Report: Wiretaps On Cell Phones, Pagers, E-Mail Tripled Last Year (USA)
INTERNET
BLILEY INTRODUCES BILL TO BLOCK "TOLL BOOTHS" ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY
Issue: Internet/Legislation
Americans will continue to have full access to information on the Internet,
such as stock quotes used for on-line trading, under a bipartisan bill
introduced by Chairman Tom Bliley (R-VA). H.R. 1858, The Consumer and
Investor Access To Information Act of 1999, provides new protection to
publishers of electronic databases, while ensuring that public access to
information will not be limited by publishers' asserting a proprietary right
over facts and information, which historically have been part of the public
domain. The bill also provides database publishers protections against
database theft of their databases. The bill's anti-theft protections will
also protect institutions like the stock exchanges from hackers and pirates
seeking to undermine the integrity of the data they disseminate to the public.
[SOURCE: House of Representatives]
(http://com-notes.house.gov/cchear/hearings106.nsf/47b306c9f0a69f47852567050
069a969/47bc21059822e338852567760076feb4?OpenDocument)
CONTENT VS. COMMERCE ONLINE
Issue: Advertising
Walker brings forth for today's discussion the growing trend in the world of
online publishing to go commercial. She cites the recent friction between two
top online publications, Slate and Web "zine" Salon, and states her concern for
publications that are revamping their Web sites and placing more ads in efforts
to attract more commercial revenue. They are "building a profitable business
around serious online commentary," in efforts to survive the competition she
says. "It's all part of an intense mating dance going on all across the Web
between online content and commerce. The sad fact is that many serious content
sites are drawing in less traffic than corporate sites that amount to little
more than marketing brochures." Ironically, Slate who is a traditional rival of
Salon, is one of the biggest advertisers on Salon's Web site, showing that the
drive to sell can result in strange bedfellows.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E1), AUTHOR: Leslie Walker]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-05/20/086l-052099-idx.html)
FCC SEEKS GOOD WAY TO SEPARATE CABLE, INTERNET
Issue: Broadband
On Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard said
the commission has the right to impose regulations on cable companies offering
Internet service, but added that he has yet to hear an effective proposal
prevent discrimination by operators of cable broadband services. AOL Chairman
Steve Case, who also spoke at the congressional briefing, argued for a law that
prohibits cable companies from bundling content with high-speed Internet
connections for consumers. Many Internet services providers and consumer groups
are concerned that cable companies will soon dominate the high-speed lines into
American households since they are not subject to the same regulations as are
telephone companies that offer Internet access. "We have a disparity -- that's
clear," agrees Chairman Kennard. "The more difficult question, in my view, is
if we assert jurisdiction what do we do?"
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR:(Reuters)]
(http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/breaking/merc/docs/026102.htm)
A WORLD OF CHOICES TO PLUG IN TO THE NET
Issue: Internet Access
"Based on the correspondence we've received, and its emotional content,
choosing an I.S.P. seems to rank somewhere between selecting a long-distance
phone service and choosing a caterer for a bar mitzvah," Dr. Dawn McGatney,
a Maryland pediatrician and Webmaster, wrote. Dr. McGatney runs a site
called Compleat Guide to an I.S.P. You'll Enjoy Using
(dogwolf.seagull.net/isp.html). "But we hear from many folks who are now on
their fifth or higher I.S.P.," she added. "Once you switch one to two times,
it's obviously easier. There is a bit of fear of the unknown here."
According to the Strategis Group, a Washington-based research company that
studies patterns in telecommunications use, nealy 37% of home Internet users
have changed their ISP since January. There are ~4,500 ISPs available across
the country, this URL
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/circuits/articles/20ispp-side.htm
l) compares the top eight providers (measured by subscribers). A related
article
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/circuits/articles/20hint.html)
highlights seven questions a customer should ask when shopping for a new
provider.
[SOURCE: New York Times (D1), AUTHOR: Tina Kelley]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/circuits/articles/20ispp.html)
WRITING THEIR OWN MENUS
Issue: Broadband
America Online hosted a full-day session yesterday in an effort to tame wild
conversation and "gossip about what the world's largest online service will do
next" with broadband technology. Analysts have been wondering if AOL would be
late in offering high-speed Internet services, especially after its failure to
be included in AT&T's deal to purchase MediaOne Group., a cable company. AOL
spokeswoman Ann Brackbill, eased some concerns with the disclosure of AOLs 5.0,
"the newest version of the online service's access software" to be out later
this year. The AT&T-MediaOne deal, however, was unmentioned. Ulric Weil, an
analyst with investment bank Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc. in Arlington
(VA), said they "downplayed the need for broadband altogether." In the author's
words, they were "consistently referring to it as an 'add-on' while touting
their plans to offer another type of high-speed access: digital subscriber line
service, or DSL."
[SOURCE: Washington Post (E1), AUTHOR: Shannon Henry]
(http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-05/20/023l-052099-idx.h
tml)
DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY
INTERNET POLITICAL DONATIONS MAY QUALIFY FOR MATCHING FUNDS
Issue: Internet & Politics/Campaign Finance
The Federal Election Commission is expected to change rules and make credit
card donations to campaigns eligible for Federal matching funds. Most 2000
Presidential candidates have Web sites that allow credit card donations. The
first $250 of each individual contribution to a Presidential candidate is
matched with taxpayers' money as long as the candidates spend $40 million or
less in the primaries. Some FEC officials had been concerned that credit
card donations do not have the same level of documentation or security as
checks, but these reservations are giving way to a desire to encourage
Internet political activity. "2000 will be a groundbreaking year for
Internet campaigning," said Steve Forbes' press secretary. "The Internet
will be to the 2000 election what television was to the Nixon-Kennedy
election."
[SOURCE: New York Times (A21), AUTHOR: NYT]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/biztech/articles/20fundraising-in
ternet.html)
See also:
ONLINE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS READY TO TAKE CENTER STAGE
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera]
(http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/indepth/docs/online052099.htm)
MOBILIZING ONLINE FOR GUN CONTROL
Issue: Online Activism
Move On, a citizen's advocacy group (www.moveon.org), gathered 500,000
electronic signatures during the impeachment of President Clinton. An
ancillary campaign, We Will Remember, has received pledges of $13 million
and 700,000 volunteer hours for the 2000 political campaigns. Recently, Move
On has turned its attention to gun control and delivered hard copies of
70,000 petition signatures urging Congress to "accept its proper role in
regulating firearms." 100,000 individual email messages have been sent
through the site to senators around the nation. Move On was started, in
part, by Joan Blades and Wes Boyd -- they founded Berkely Systems which
created After Dark, the popular screen-saver program. ""I think this
discrepancy between what is going on inside the Beltway and public opinion
outside the Beltway is the key similarity with the Gun Safety First
petition. Our intention is just to allow people to become involved, become a
five-minute activist if you want to" said Ms. Blades.
[SOURCE: New York Times (D5), AUTHOR: Kate Hafner]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/circuits/articles/20move.html)
CITIZENS' ELECTRONIC INQUIRIES GET GOVERNMENTS' ATTENTION
Issue: Access to Government Info
Government officials are now receiving -- and answering -- inquires via
email. "Agencies are learning how to use this tool to answer questions and
to provide information," said Greg Woods, an Education Department official
who is chairman of the Government Information Technology Services Board,
part of Vice President Al Gore's initiative on reinventing Government. The
story provides links to many useful Web sites, but admits that the glut of
information may make some human intervention necessary. Agencies' policies
are still inconsistent and some would rather citizens call or write them
instead of using email. "The ideal Web site is to answer as many questions
as possible, so the last option is to send an e-mail which requires a person
to intervene and answer a question," said Rich Kellet, division director for
Emerging Information Technology Policies at the General Services
Administration. "e-mail is a difficult issue because of the volume and the
potential for huge volume. So agencies are still working on how to answer
those issues."
[SOURCE: New York Times (D8), AUTHOR: Rita Beamish]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/circuits/articles/20govt.html)
COMPANY PROCEEDS WITH GOVERNMENT SEARCH SERVICE
Issue: Government Information
Northern Light Technology, the company that partnered with the Department of
Commerce to offer a new fee-based government search engine, has announced that
it will continue to offer the service with, or without the government's
support. Shortly after the service, Gov.Search was launched on Monday, Commerce
Department officials decided to halt the collection of fees and review if it
conflicted with the Administration's policy of unlimited access to government
information. Northern Light is offering the service on a free trial basis for
the next two weeks. The Commerce Department spokesman Morries Goodman, says the
agency "will have to rethink our partnership," if the company begins to
institute fees after two weeks without the Administration's approval. According
to Northern Light President and CEO David Seuss, "the service will remain up.
Commerce doesn't have to be associated with this if they don't want it."
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: ]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/cyber/articles/20search.html)
TELVESION
TAKING A CRITICAL LOOK AT TV
Issue: TV Violence
High schools students at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda recently
participated in a "media session" to discuss the Littleton (CO) tragedy and its
relationship to media violence. They also addressed general issues on violence
and sports and violence and television news. The reactions varied from
amazement to in-depth self-reflection, "Normally you might just block the
violence out because it goes on all the time. But this really made you pay
attention," said William While, 15. "It just showed you what's out there, and
how inundated we are." Sponsored by the Maryland Department of Education and
Discovery Communications, the forums provide opportunities for elementary to
high school students to critically analyze not only the content shown on
television, but their own perceptions of it. Feedback from the sessions in
Maryland will be used for nationwide forums to be presented next year.
[SOURCE: Washington Post (B2), AUTHOR: Manuel Perez-Rivas]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-05/20/196l-052099-idx.html)
STUDY FINDS TV TRIMS FIJI GIRLS' BODY IMAGE AND EATING HABITS
Issue: Media & Society
A new study from the American Psychiatric Association finds that eating
disorders are on the rise in Fiji where they were virtually unheard of
before. The research began one month after satellite television became
available in the region. Girls who said they watched television three or
more nights/wk in the 1998 survey were 50% more likely to describe
themselves as "too big or fat" and 30% more likely to diet than girls who
watched television less frequently, Goode reports. Before television became
available, there was little talk of dieting in Fiji where "You've gained
weight" is a traditional compliment.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A13), AUTHOR: Erica Goode]
see (http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/world/) URL below was not available
this morning
(http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/science/hth-fiji-diet.html)
NBC IS CONSIDERSINF QUITING THE NAB
Issue: Television
Indicative of the growing schism between the television networks and their
affiliate stations, NBC is considering withdrawal from the major lobbying and
trade association of local stations, the National Association of Broadcasters.
NBC does not agree with the NAB's opposition to lifting station ownership
limits. Current rules limit companies to owning a number of stations that reach
no more 35% of the nation's homes. While the network are eager to have these
restrictions lifted or erased altogether, most affiliate stations fear that
relaxed ownership rules would only give greater market share to the ABC, CBS,
NBC, and Fox. NBC claims that the desire to save costs would responsible for
any defection from the trade association.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B2), AUTHOR: John Lippman]
(http://wsj.com/)
CBS SHELVES FALL MOB SERIES AS TOO VIOLENT
Issue: Television/Content
As a result of growing concern about the role of violence in the media, CBS has
decided to cut one of the most talked about shows to debut this fall. The
program, "Falcone," is a TV version of an organized crime movie staring Al
Pacino. "It's not the right time to have people whacked in the streets of New
York."
said CBS Television President Leslie Moonves, who screened the pilot just days
after the shooting in Littleton (CO). "It just didn't feel right." The show
might still appear at a later date, according CBS, who stands to make large
profits if it became a hit. In general, crime dramas are seemingly absent from
the networks new fall lineup.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1), AUTHOR: Kyle Pope]
(http://wsj.com/)
DTV RECEIVER COMPATABILITY WITH CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE
Issue: Digital Television/Cable
The Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology, in cooperation with
the Office of Plans and Policy, will host a roundtable to discuss technical
issues and progress towards development of standards related to
compatibility between digital television (DTV) services provided by cable
and other video distribution services and consumer electronics equipment. **
Thursday, May 20, 1999 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (eastern) ** Available on the
FCC Internet Audio Broadcast Home Page at www.fcc.gov/realaudio. See topics
and speakers at
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Public_Notices/1999/pnet9
009.html).
[SOURCE: FCC]
(http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Public_Notices/1999/pnet9
008.html)
EDTECH
HELPING CHILDREN TO NAVIGATE THEIR WORLD
Issue: EdTech
Building social skills through a computer? Slade's article looks at software
that provides the tools for youngsters to try out and try on a range of
responses to real-world social situations. "The computer is nonthreatening,"
said Arthur Pober, an educational psychologist and child and family
counselor who is executive director of the Entertainment Software Rating
Board. "It is not another child on the block who can physically confront
your kid. It is not a parental figure, who mandates certain conduct. It can
be neutral." Basically, the software is storytelling that allows children to
choose between two or more options. The best software includes materials for
parents, as well. "The idea is that parents can act as their children's
counselors," Dr. Pober said, "which in these sticky situations is precisely
what they are supposed to be." Examples reviewed are Roberto Joins In,
Captain Kangaroo: Life's First Lessons, and Choices, Choices: On the
Playground.
[SOURCE: New York Times (D10), AUTHOR: Margot Slade]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/circuits/articles/20libe.html)
WIRELESS TELEPHONY
A RACE TO THE WIRELESS
Issue: Wireless
A look a Psion, a British company that is a major player in the race to
provide the software for "smart phones." Symbian, a consortium that includes
Psion, Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, and Sun
Microsystems, is competing to set the standard against Microsoft's Windows
CE. "It's a market that's just developing, but it's a crucial market," said
Sean Faughnan, a technology analyst with J.P. Morgan in London. "Symbian
looks like a very credible challenger."
[SOURCE: New York Times (C1), AUTHOR: Alan Cowell]
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/biztech/articles/20palm.html)
REPORT: WIRETAPS ON CELL PHONES, PAGERS, E-MAIL TRIPLED LAST YEAR
Issue: Privacy
According to a report by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, wiretaps
on cellular phones and pagers now outnumber wiretaps on conventional
telephones. The report also said that wiretaps placed by state and federal
police on cell phones, pagers, e-mail and other electronic communication
devices nearly tripled last year. Made easier by advances in technology, taps
on wireless communication have increased from 206 in 1997 to 576 in 1998. While
federal and many state laws require police to convince a judge that a wiretap
is necessary, only two requests of 1,329 were turned down last year. Critics
fear that this points to neglect by judges in their roles as overseers.
[SOURCE: USA Today (A1), AUTHOR: Richard Willing]
(http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/ctf213.htm)
--------------------------------------------------------------