How NBC Could Gain From Stand On Ratings
Public Information, Business Rates
Mars Landing Signals Defining Moment for Web Use
Chain E-Mail: Heartrending Pleas, but Sometimes Counterfeit
White House Standing Firm On Deadline for TV Switch
Ratings get revamped
Tie goes to the liquor industry
Ornstein on obligations
Beating the drum for campaign reform
FCC Reconsiders Issues in its Universal Service Order
ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
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Title: How NBC Could Gain From Stand On Ratings
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(B1)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: V-Chip
Description: By not joining the other networks and adding content warnings
in their ratings system, NBC may benefit from the voluntary ban on
legislation of television content and may gain some viewers that are chased
away by S and V ratings on other networks. Hollywood writers, producers,
directors, and actors are praising NBC for its stand as are the American
Civil Liberties Union and a few other public interest groups. Kathryn
Montgomery, president of the Center for Media Education, said, "When people
see NBC is not going along with the rest, it'll be quite evident their
ratings are not satisfactory. And then people will let them know."
Title: Public Information, Business Rates
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D1)
Author: Iver Peterson
Issue: Access to Government Information
Description: "In the digital age, when information means money, many
agencies have come to recognize they are sitting on gold mines." Many states
are passing freedom of information acts, but freedom does not necessarily
mean free. As newspapers try to do research, state agencies want to charge
millions for access to databases of drivers licenses, tax assessments,
liquor licenses, etc.
Title: Mars Landing Signals Defining Moment for Web Use
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/
Author: Amy Harmon
Issue: Old vs. New Media
Description: As the assassination of John F. Kennedy was the Defining moment
for television as the nation's "information conduit of choice" and the Gulf
War marked CNN's coming of age, the Mars landing may signal the start of "a
new interactive era in the mass consumption of news," media scholars say.
New York University professor Todd Gitlin says, "More and more people are
going to be diving into these great tidal currents of information, and will
assume that's the behavior they should resort to during an emergency or a
ritual of collective amazement....During the next war, will we have
something more like 'click here for some skeptical views?' on network news?
Or will people put up their own?" Article includes "Coming Into Their Own"
graphic: for newspapers, April 13, 1861 the day after the attack on Fort
Sumter; for radio, December 8, 1941 and President Roosevelt's address to
Congress; for TV November 22, 1963 President Kennedy's assassination; for
cable TV, January 17 the attack on Baghdad; and the Internet July 4, 1997
the Mars landing.
Title: Chain E-Mail: Heartrending Pleas, but Sometimes Counterfeit
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D5)
Author: Iver Peterson
Issue: Internet Content
Description: Beware the online pleas for help -- they could just be scams to
get something from you: from cash to simply your email address. "It's very
common to use chain letters or software that strip E-mail addresses off Web
site guest books to get a list of people that can be used as recipients for
unsolicited E-mail," says Philip McKee, coordinator of the Internet Fraud
watch Project at the national Consumers League.
Title: White House Standing Firm On Deadline for TV Switch
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D12)
Author: Deborah Shapley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: "The broadcasters haven't enunciated a reason why seven years
isn't enough for their digital build-out," says a law enforcement official.
But broadcasters have lobbied to add some small print to budget legislation
that would extend their control of two channels of spectrum beyond the 2006
deadline adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. In letters from
the director of the Office of Management and Budget to Congressional budget
leaders, the Clinton Administration is asserting its opposition to any
extension of the 2006 deadline.
Title: Alcoholic-Drinks Marketers Face Scrutiny
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(B2)
Author: Sally Goll Beatty
Issue: Advertising
Description: Beer and spirits companies have torn a page out of
cigarette marketers book, giving free gifts to consumers for showing
brand loyalty. A judgement is expected in California on whether
Anheuser-Bush will be allowed to resume its "Bud Gear" promotional
program, which was launched in May only to receive a temporary
restraining order from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage
Control late last month. Roughly one third of all states have
restrictions on alcohol marketing which prohibit what some are calling
"frequent drinker" programs.
Title: Netscape Airs Its Complaints About Software
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(B10)
Author: David Bank
Issue:
Description: The Netscape Communications Corp. has been complaining to
several Senators that Microsoft is going to use the forthcoming version of
their Web
browser, Internet Explorer, to "lock out rivals and monopolize
distribution of information over the World Wide Web." Netscape claims
that Microsoft will be "tightly linking" Internet Explorer with the
Windows operating system, which would give them an unfair advantage in
promoting their content, and, in turn, give them the further advantage of
getting content providers like Walt Disney and Time Warner to supply
them with programming for the "channels" which will be featured on both
Netscape and Microsoft's new browsers.
Title: Ratings get revamped
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.4)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Starting October 1, the major networks -- except NBC -- will
use a revised ratings system that will include content warnings: FV for
fantasy violence, V for violence, S for sexual content, L for strong
language, and D for suggestive dialogue. Icons will continue at the
beginning of shows, but will appear larger.
Title: Tie goes to the liquor industry
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.22)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Advertising
Description: "I think today's vote was a big defeat for the hard liquor
industry," said Federal Communications Chairman Reed Hundt after a tie vote
halted a proposed inquiry by the FCC of hard liquor advertising. Chairman
Hundt went on to say that if the industry goes on to crank up broadcast
advertising, "they will be whistling past the graveyard." The Federal Trade
Commission is currently investigating the advertising and will make its
results available to the FCC.
Title: Ornstein on obligations
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.24)
Issue: Digital Television
Description: An interview with the recently named co-chair of the
President's Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital TV
Broadcasters. Mr. Ornstein supports free broadcast time for political
candidates, but is uncertain what other obligations the committee might address.
Title: Beating the drum for campaign reform
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.26)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: Free time for candidates
Description: The Congressional Research Service, the research arm of the
Library of Congress, reported last week that "broadcast media spending
(including radio and TV airtime, production costs and consultant fees)
constitutes 27% of campaign budgets in House races, 40-45% in Senate races,
and at least 50% in presidential races." Twenty-two members of Congress have
asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate free or
reduced-cost broadcast airtime for candidates.
At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
FCC Reconsiders Issues in its Universal Service Order (CC Docket No. 96-45)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Orders/1997/fcc97246.txt
ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES BY PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES. Amended Part 68 of the Commission's rules; concluded that
as of January 1, 2000, manufacturers must ensure that all telephones
manufactured or imported for use in the United States contain a volume
control feature consistent with the technical standards; adjusted existing
rules that require workplaces, hotels and motels and confined settings to
provide telephones with volume control as of November 1, 1998, so that
such establishments will not be required to comply until January 1, 2000,
parallel with the manufacturing requirements. Action by the Commission.
Adopted: July 3, 1997. by Ord. on Recon. (FCC No. 97-242). CCB
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