F.T.C. Opens Hearings on Computers' Threat to Privacy and Liberty
Alphabet Soup
Home Box Office Will Offer High-Definition TV Programming Next Year
Without Saying "SBC," AT&T Chairman Applauds a Bell Deal
For AT&T, Building Local Service is Tough Job
FCC Asks Bell Atlantic And Nynex for More Data
Murdoch Sets Satellite-TV And Cable Deals
Slamming: Hold the Phone
House Subcommittee Approves Budget Reconciliation Measure
Telecom Companies: If You Can't Do It, Acquire Someone Who Can
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Title: F.T.C. Opens Hearings on Computers' Threat to Privacy and Liberty
Source: New York Times (A22)
Author: John Broder
Issue: Privacy
Description: The Federal Trade Commission began hearings on the growing
power of computers to collect and spread personal information about
consumers. Hearings include executives from information companies and
consumer advocates. Presentations included information available over the
Internet -- individuals can be searched by name, address, phone number, date
of birth, profession, college or business affiliation, by magazine
subscription, medical condition, and political contribution.
Title: Alphabet Soup
Source: New York Times (B8)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Negotiations continue in Washington to add content warnings to
the TV ratings system. Children advocates are talking to Vice President
Gore; broadcasters and cable operators are talking amongst themselves; Jack
Valenti will be talking to Vice President Gore; everyone's got something to say.
Title: Home Box Office Will Offer High-Definition TV Programming Next Year
Source: New York Times (D2)
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: HBO says it will start offering High Definition programming by
the summer of 1998. HBO plans differ from that of cable operators who seem
more interested in using digital technology to expand their channel capacity
than to offer higher quality transmissions. HBO appears to be putting
pressure on broadcasters to provide HDTV programming instead of multiple
standard definition channels using digital technology.
Title: Without Saying "SBC," AT&T Chairman Applauds a Bell Deal
Source: New York Times (D2)
Author: Mark Landler
Issue: Mergers
Description: AT&T Chairman Robert Allen said yesterday that merging a long
distance and local phone companies is not "unthinkable." Allen said that
partnering with local providers could "tubocharge" AT&T's entry into local
service. Allen restated AT&T's arguments that a possible merger would
actually promote competition because the merging local company would "bend
over backwards" to open its market to competition. An announcement on AT&T's
merger will an unnamed local monopoly serving California and Texas could
come in the next 2-4 weeks.
Title: For AT&T, Building Local Service is Tough Job
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
Author: John J. Keller
Issue: Mergers
Description: AT&T has not made much progress gathering local phone service
customers. It has fewer than 10,000 customers in a couple markets, and this
is why it's so interested in a possible merger with SBC Communications, a
big local carrier. AT&T estimates it would take $30 million to break into
the local market.
Title: FCC Asks Bell Atlantic And Nynex for More Data
Source: Wall Street Journal (B3)
Author: WSJ Reporter
Issue: Mergers
Description: The FCC has asked Bell Atlantic and Nynex for more data on
their impending merger. According to these Baby Bells, this request signals
the last stage of the regulatory agency's review.
Title: Murdoch Sets Satellite-TV And Cable Deals
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
Author: Mark Robichaux and John Lippman
Issue: Satellite TV
Description: News Corp., owned by Rupert Murdoch, will likely announce
that it has formed a partnership with PrimeStar Partners, a satellite TV
company owned by a consortia of cable companies. News Corp. will also
announce that it's going to buy International Family Entertainment, which
owns the Family Channel.
Title: Slamming: Hold the Phone
Source: Washington Post (D5)
Author: Don Oldenburg
Issue: Phone Regulation
Description: "Phone slamming" -- the practice of switching a customer's
long distance carrier without their consent -- is becoming a bigger problem as
more companies compete for long-distance customers. The FCC has
established regulations to protect consumers from slamming and is soon going
to propose that customers pay no phone charges for the time they were
slammed. The article includes a nice list of tips you can take to protect
you and your loved ones from slamming.
Title: House Subcommittee Approves Budget Reconciliation Measure
Source: Telecommunications Reports Daily
Issue: Budget Issues
Description: The House Telecommunications Subcommittee rejected an amendment
to a reconciliation bill that would have required all TV sets sold after
2001 to be capable of receiving a digital signal. FCC digital TV rules call
for a "spectrum giveback" from broadcasters by the year 2006, but Congress
is considering provisions that would allow the FCC to waive the giveback in
any market where more than 5% of the households continue to rely on analog
television broadcasts. The returned spectrum will be auctioned and proceeds
will be used to balance the budget. Rep Ed Markey (D-MA) offered the digital
TV amendment because he is worried that consumers may not make a swift
conversion to digital sets which would delay the spectrum return and
auction. "If we don't do something...we're going to be totally short of the
money needed to balance the budget," Markey said.
Title: Telecom Companies: If You Can't Do It, Acquire Someone Who Can
Source: Telecom AM
Issue: Mergers
Description: "The industry is ripe for consolidation," says a Paine Webber
vice president. "There are companies that are lacking in areas, which makes
them ripe [for a takeover]." Telecom experts expect more mega-mergers in the
next year and beyond. Long distance providers and local exchange carriers
will look to eachother in partnerships to supply a total package to customers.
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