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Viacom has come under fire lately for cluttering some of its channels with extra commercials in order to make up for advertising revenue shortfalls caused by lower ratings. But one little-noticed effect of squeezing in more ads is that networks such as TV Land and Nick at Nite are actually running fewer episodes of series in many dayparts, sometimes running only five episodes of sitcoms like King of Queens and George Lopez in a three-hour block rather than the six 30-minute episodes that normally fill a programming grid.
With Too Many Ads, TV Land Subtracts Content
The Center for Digital Democracy and Commonsense Media have launched an online petition drive to get parents to push the Federal Trade Commission to stay the course on its proposed changes to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act enforcement regime.
They say the only way to compete with media lobbyists working to weaken the privacy laws is to enlist parents in the effort. "The Federal Trade Commission has proposed rule changes that will update the law and keep parents in control even in this new digital era of social media networks, mobile apps, gaming sites and tracking that goes on while kids are web browsing," the petition says. "There is already mounting industry opposition to these rule changes which will provide parents with another tool to stay in control. Parents must make their voices heard so that the FTC knows that we support these important rule changes that keep parents in charge."
Groups Ask Parents to Promote FTC Kids Online Privacy Proposals
T-Mobile has two markets that are officially iPhone ready, but unofficially there is a lot of upgrade activity going on nationwide. Unlocked iPhone owners in Las Vegas and Kansas City can now access T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network. By year end that list should be far greater.
T-Mobile’s iPhone-friendly network overhaul: 2 cities down, 227 to go
Leaders in Kansas City (MO) are taking advantage of Google Fiber and leveraging a new program in an effort to promote local tech startups. The new program, called Launch KC, is a collaboration between government and local businesses in Kansas City interested in finding the best way to foster local growth. The city's support of tech startups is a big part of why Google chose Kansas City for its fiber project in the first place.
KC Embraces Fiber, Launches Startup Support
President Barack Obama’s gone further than any president to keep lobbyists out of the White House — even signing executive orders to do it. But the mood on K Street is brightening. Industry insiders believe that Mitt Romney will unshackle the revolving door and give lobbyists a shot at the government jobs their Democratic counterparts have been denied for the past four years, a dozen Republican lobbyists said in conversations with POLITICO.
"I've heard they are likely not to black ball anybody from any particular sector," said Republican lobbyist Sam Geduldig at Clark, Lytle & Geduldig. "I assume, everyone is welcome to apply. I'm sure they are interested in getting the best people possible." Allowing lobbyists back into the White House could be a PR nightmare early on in a new administration, some Republicans fear. Romney would have to toss out Obama’s orders, which shook up how President George W. Bush did business and let Obama claim his agenda wouldn’t be hijacked by special interests.
Lobbyists ready for a comeback under Romney
Brian Ahladas should be cheering. The local ad inventory he supervises at NBC affiliate WWBT in Richmond (VA) is in high demand, thanks to the coming election. He's fielded a heady influx of advertising from political organizations and, in recent weeks, the presidential candidates themselves. But instead of sleeping easy at night counting his political ad dollars, Ahladas has to constantly monitor ad rates and juggle schedules, trying to ensure his local advertisers -- at least those unafraid of their spots running in a sea of attack ads -- aren't kept completely off the air. Legal requirements say that if a candidate requests time, the station is obligated to provide it. That can sometimes require replacing parts of an ad schedule already established by local sponsors.
Surviving the Political Ad Deluge
The public is fast learning how to dodge and ignore the hail of political e-mail, quickly diminishing the impact of what’s been a reliable and low-cost campaign tool. Open rates for marketing-related e-mails are now at historic lows — more than 80 percent go unread — a trend that is scary to campaign operatives who rely on it as their primary mode of communications with potential donors, voters and volunteers. “People aren’t opening candidates’ emails as much because campaigns have abused the tool so many times,” said former Barack Obama 2008 external online director Scott Goodstein of the online campaign firm Revolution Messaging. “Nobody should be shocked that their email response has deteriorated.”
E-mail overload dilutes message
[Commentary] The Federal Communications Commission changed its rules on "basic tier encryption." There's some good and some bad in what the FCC did, but on balance, provided the benefits touted by the cable companies actually materialize, I think the Order is more good than bad. But some background is needed to put this in context.
Some Good, Some Bad in FCC Basic Tier Encryption Order
This month, we recognize the role we all play in ensuring our information and communications infrastructure is interoperable, secure, reliable, and open to all. NCSAM reminds us that being safer and more secure online is a shared responsibility. That’s why, during the month of October we pay special attention to “Achieving Cybersecurity Together.”
At the White House, we encourage you to take a few basic steps to be more secure:
- Set strong passwords, and don’t share them with anyone.
- Keep a clean machine – install regular updates to your operating system, browser, and other critical software applications.
- Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends, and community about Internet safety.
- Carefully choose the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
- Be cautious about what you receive or read online – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Please help us continue to spread the word about how to stay safe online.
[Michael Daniel is Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator]
Staying Safe Online
Practices and Privacy Implications of Comprehensive Collection of Internet Users’ Data
Federal Trade Commission
December 6, 2012
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/10/collection.shtm
The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop on December 6, 2012, to explore the practices and privacy implications of comprehensive collection of data about consumers’ online activities. Entities such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), operating systems, browsers, social media, and mobile carriers have the capability to collect data about computer users across the Internet, beyond direct interactions between consumers and these entities. The workshop will bring together consumer protection organizations, academics, business and industry representatives, privacy professionals, and others to examine the collection and use of such data, its potential benefits, privacy concerns, and related issues. The workshop is free and open to the public.
The workshop will explore topics including:
- What methods are used to collect data about consumers’ activities across the Internet?
- What are the benefits of comprehensive data collection and what are the possible privacy challenges?
- Which entities are capable of comprehensive data collection, and which of them are doing so?
- How aware are consumers of comprehensive data collection, and what are their attitudes toward it?
- If companies implement comprehensive data collection, how can they effectively inform consumers about the collection and provide meaningful choice to consumers?
- What privacy risks are created by serving as a host for third-party applications?
- Are there sufficient choices among online products and services to give consumers meaningful options should they wish to avoid products or services that use comprehensive data collection?
- What legal protections currently exist in this area?
- What legal protections should be provided?
Agenda
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/11/compdata.shtm
9:00-9:15am ET Opening Remarks
Commissioner Julie Brill
Federal Trade Commission
9:15-10:00am The Technological Landscape of Comprehensive Data Collection
In this presentation, Professor Dan Wallach, Rice University, will explain the current technological means through which consumers’ online activities can be collected and the limits to that technology. He will explore which types of entities have the ability to collect data about consumers’ online activities in order to create comprehensive profiles. He will also describe current and possible future uses for such profiles.
10:00-10:15am Break
10:15am-12:00pm Benefits and Risks of Comprehensive Data Collection
This panel will explore both the benefits to consumers from the technologies that allow comprehensive data collection as well as the various privacy concerns associated with the ability to track all, or virtually all, of a consumer’s online activities. The panel will discuss the products and services these technologies create or enable; the types of information that can be collected and how that information is used; and the associated benefits and privacy risks.
12:00-1:30pm Lunch
1:30-1:45pm Remarks
Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen
Federal Trade Commission
1:45-3:00pm Consumer Attitudes About and Choice with Respect to Comprehensive Data Collection
This panel will examine consumer attitudes and knowledge about comprehensive data collection and the role of consumer choice and transparency. Panelists will discuss what consumers know about the comprehensive data collection that can or does occur; what consumers should be told about such collection; what choices consumers should have about such collection; and whether there are competitive alternatives in order to make choices meaningful.
3:00-3:15pm Break
3:15-4:30pm The Future of Comprehensive Data Collection
This panel will focus on potential next steps for industry and policy makers in the area of comprehensive data collection. In particular, panelists will discuss what standards should apply to comprehensive data collection and whether the market can provide alternatives for consumers who wish to avoid such collection.
4:30-4:45pm Closing Remarks