Lobbyists for TV Angle to Elude Rules to Return Free Channels
TV Ratings Are Mired In Demand By Industry
Another Broadcast Giveaway
British Digital TV Licenses Are Awarded
Netscape and Microsoft Are Cleared on Exports
Software Moguls Suddenly Compete To Be Nice Guys
Netscape, Microsoft Get Export Permits For Software With Strong Encryption
Nonprofit Group Will Inherit NSF's IP Number Duties
Buyer Sought for District Cablevision
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Title: Lobbyists for TV Angle to Elude Rules to Return Free Channels
Source: New York Times (A1)
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: Each of the country's 1600 TV stations were loaned a second
channel for the transition to digital television. In response to criticism
that stations were getting a "multi-billion dollar gift of public property,"
the FCC passed a rule demanding that the TV stations return their old analog
channel by 2006 so that this spectrum could be auctioned off. "But now
lobbyists for the television broadcasting industry have managed to work two
provisions into Senate and House budget bills that could allow
broadcasters to evade the most significant commitments they accepted in
exchange for the additional channels." One provision lets broadcasters keep
the channels past 2006 and the other extends the deadline by which stations
have to be
showing digital programming. Reed Hundt contemplated what would happen if
these two provisions became law. Hundt said, "what a result that would be:
Give the digital television licenses to broadcasters so no competitors could
get them; tell broadcasters they don't really have to build the digital
television systems and then tell broadcasters their reward for not using
this incredibly valuable public property is that they never have to give back
the analog licenses." Broadcasters claim that extended deadlines ensure
that all consumers will have purchased the necessary equipment to receive
digital programming and will not be left behind.
Title: TV Ratings Are Mired In Demand By Industry
Source: New York Times (A10)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Negotiations between parent-advocacy groups and the
television industry on revising the fledgling TV rating system stalled
yesterday around TV representatives' position that "the groups and
Congressional leaders must pledge to keep the issues of violence and sex on
television out of the political arena for at least two years." Earlier in
the day the groups had been so close to an agreement that press conferences
had been scheduled. Negotiators had agreed to add the S,V,L ratings as
well as a D for suggestive dialogue and an FV for fantasy violence for the
Y-7 (must be seven to watch, or if you're a dog, one year) category.
Title: Another Broadcast Giveaway
Source: New York Times (A26)
Author: NYT Editorial Staff
Issue: Digital Television
Description: Now that broadcasters have their second frequency for free,
which they lobbied so hard to get, they are changing their tune about what
they intend to do with the licenses. They are not planning to offer the
highest quality type of programming and they don't want to return their old
spectrum anytime in the near future. There are two provisions on these
issues in Congress right now. "Congress was wrong to give away valuable
airwaves. It should not now compound the mistake by perpetuating it."
Title: British Digital TV Licenses Are Awarded
Source: New York Times (D3)
Author: Bloomberg News
Issue: Digital Television
Description: Britain awarded three licenses for ground based digital
television broadcasts.
Title: Netscape and Microsoft Are Cleared on Exports
Source: New York Times (D8)
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Encryption
Description: The Commerce Department gave Microsoft and Netscape the OK
to "export more secure versions of their software to banking customers."
"This is a positive step, but it does not resolve the large question of
whether we will be able to sell products based on strong cryptography,"
stated a lawyer from Netscape. The US government has been imposing tight
limits on what types of encryption programs US companies could export
because of the government's security concerns.
Title: Software Moguls Suddenly Compete To Be Nice Guys
Source: Wall Street Journal (A3)
Author: --
Issue: Libraries/Philanthropy
Description: Bill Gates pledged $200 million of his personal fortune to
help public libraries get online. Now a day later, Lawrence Ellison,
Chairman of Oracle, has announced that his company will give $100 million to
schools to "place inexpensive computing devices called network computers on
every child's desk." "The unusually large donations appear to be
coincidental examples of a new wave of corporate giving. Though both are
setting up new nonprofit foundations, Mr. Gates and Mr. Ellison are
stressing projects that bring, quick measurable results, and can also bring
business benefits to contributors."
Title: Netscape, Microsoft Get Export Permits For Software With Strong
Encryption
Source: Wall Street Journal (B6)
Author: Dean Takahashi and David Bank
Issue: Encryption
Description: The Commerce Department will allow Microsoft and Netscape to
export Internet banking programs with more powerful encryption codes (128
bits) than have been previously allowed. Therefore, the corporations don't
have to maintain two different Internet software programs -- one for use in
the US and one for international use. "More significantly, it puts them on
an even playing field with foreign competitors, some of whom have won
customers simply by adding stronger encryption to U.S.-made products."
Financial institutions don't have to provide the government with "key
recovery" plans as other organizations are being asked to do.
Title: Nonprofit Group Will Inherit NSF's IP Number Duties
Source: Wall Street Journal (B6)
Author: Rebecca Quick
Issue: Internet
Description: The National Science Foundation will turn over the
responsibility for Internet Protocol numbers to a nonprofit coordinating
group called the American Registry for Internet Numbers. Every Internet
address has two identifiers. While people use domain names to find Internet
addresses, computers find information with the IP numbers.
Title: Buyer Sought for District Cablevision
Source: Washington Post (C11)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: Cable
Description: Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) is seeking a buyer or a
partner to handle the management for District Cablevision, DC's cable
provider. TCI has been losing money on the system and has received many
complaints about quality of service from customers. TCI is trimming down on
the cable stations it owns or runs directly.
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