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"We are failing to bring the benefits of broadband to all our citizens, and the consequences will resonate for generations. There is no justification for America's declining status as a global Internet leader. Instead of more excuses, it's time for true national broadband policy that will put America's digital future back on track."
-- Ben Scott, Free Press
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/5594
OECD BROADBAND STATISTICS TO DECEMBER 2006
[SOURCE: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, AUTHOR: ]
Over the past year, the number of broadband subscribers in the OECD increased 26% from 157 million in December 2005 to 197 million in December 2006. This growth increased broadband penetration rates in the OECD from 13.5 in December 2005 to 16.9 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants one year later. Some highlights: 1) European countries have continued their advance with high broadband penetration rates. In December 2006, eight countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland, Korea, Switzerland, Finland, Norway and Sweden) led the OECD in broadband penetration, each with at least 26 subscribers per 100 inhabitants. 2) Denmark and the Netherlands are the first two countries in the OECD to surpass 30 subscribers per 100 inhabitants. 3) The strongest per-capita subscriber growth over the year comes from Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Ireland. Each country added more than 5.8 subscribers per 100 inhabitants during the past year. 4) The United States has the largest total number of broadband subscribers in the OECD at 58.1 million. US broadband subscribers now represent 29% of all broadband connections in the OECD, down from 30% in June 2006.
http://www.oecd.org/document/7/0,2340,en_2649_34223_38446855_1_1_1_1,00....
* FCC Commissioner Copps Call for National Broadband Strategy
"Every year brings more bad news as the United States slides farther down the broadband rankings. It's a national embarrassment and the only way to change it is to develop a broadband strategy like every other industrialized nation has already done. These rankings aren't a beauty contest -- they're about our competitiveness as a country and creating economic opportunity for all our people. Bringing high-speed broadband to every corner of the country is the central infrastructure challenge we face. Always in the past, our nation found ways to stay ahead of everyone else in building infrastructure like turnpikes, railroads and highways. Now, in broadband, we're not even an also-ran."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272519A1.doc
* U.S. Drops Further in World Broadband Rankings (Free Press)
According to the OECD report, the United States ranks 20th out of 30 nations in the growth rate of broadband penetration over the past year.
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=226
* U.S. Trails Europe in Broadband Growth
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6435919.html
New Broadband Statistics -- US Now Ranks 15th in World
NATIONAL STRATEGY, FOCUS ON OPENNESS, COMPETITION CAN INFORM US BROADBAND PUSH
[SOURCE: Benton Foundation press release]
As key Congressional panels examine U.S. broadband competitiveness today, the Benton Foundation releases two new research papers highlighting the international, innovative policy approaches that have propelled other countries into positions of broadband leadership. Pennsylvania State University's Amit M. Schejter finds that Europeans have embraced, perfected, and are benefiting from the open competitive network concepts first developed, but later abandoned by, U.S. policymakers. The strengths of the European system are focus, simplicity, relative efficiency and willingness to change the course of policy as needed, an effective balance between centralization and delegation of power, and innovation. The result is broadband penetration that exceeds that of the U.S. in many European Union nations. Pennsylvania State University's Krishna Jayakar and Indiana University's Harmeet Sawhney examine the national broadband strategies adopted by countries around the world. Many embrace "ubiquitous" broadband for the competitive advantages it offers not just as a societal goal. Effective national strategies focus on development of "soft infrastructure" that enables broadband innovations -- applications, services, and devices - and thereby make broadband more valuable to ordinary consumers and drives its uptake.
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/bentonresearch.doc
* What Lessons can the U.S. learn from Broadband Policies in Europe?
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/Schejter.doc
* Universal access in the information economy: Tracking policy innovations abroad
http://www.benton.org/benton_files/Jayakar_Sawhney.doc
* Studies Question Effectiveness of U.S. Broadband Build-out
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6435745.html
National Strategy, Focus on Openness, Competition Can Inform U.S. Broadband Push
STUDIES: INCUMBENTS BLOCKED NEW RIVALS IN SPECTRUM AUCTION
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Kent Gibbons]
Public-interest law firm Media Access Project said incumbent broadband carriers, including large U.S. cable and phone companies, successfully blocked potential key new competitors -- including direct-broadcast satellite companies -- from winning wireless-broadband-spectrum auctions last year. Through “retaliatory†bids aimed at scaring off bidders considered significant new threats, cable and telephone companies kept targeted newcomers from winning licenses in the advanced-wireless-services auction last August and September, according to studies prepared by economist Gregory A. Rose for the telecommunications-oriented nonprofit law firm. MAP said the targeted new entrants included Wireless DBS, a notable bidding group because it combined both DBS powers, EchoStar Communications and DirecTV.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6435898.html
* MAP Releases Two Studies Proving Anti-Competitive Behavior in AWS Auction
http://www.mediaaccess.org/press/MAP%20Press%20Release%204-23-07.pdf (Press Release)
http://www.mediaaccess.org/filings/Rose_How_Incumbents_Blocked.pdf (study)
* Rose Reports Prove What We Said Last Summer: Cable and Wireless Incumbents Leverage Auction Rules To Block Competition
http://feeds.publicknowledge.org/~r/publicknowledge-main/~3/111420536/917
* Dr. Rose Proves It Was Spectrum Co. In The Kitchen With the Candlestick . . .
http://www.wetmachine.com/totsf/
Studies: Incumbents Blocked New Rivals in Spectrum Auction
FCC PLANS FOR 700 MHz DRAW HEATED DEBATE
[SOURCE: RCRWireless, AUTHOR: Jeffrey Silva]
Nearly drowned out in broad policy debates over controversial public-safety and broadband wireless proposals are pressing questions about how the Federal Communications Commission will craft the 700 MHz band plan. A coalition of 21 small- and medium-sized wireless and wireline carriers and state regulatory agencies are worried the FCC is leaning toward a 700 MH band plan largely favoring large geographic wireless licenses over small ones for auction later this year. “This is a matter of great importance … given the unique technical attributes of the 700 MHz band, which make it ideally suited to serve many of the more rural areas that are served or are proposed to be served by the proponents of the Balanced Consensus Plan,†the group told the FCC. Included in the coalition are Alltel Corp., Aloha Partners L.P., Dobson Communications Corp. Leap Wireless International Inc., MetroPCS Communications Inc., U.S. Cellular Corp. and the Rural Cellular Association. “If the FCC does not have multiple small and medium blocks with paired spectrum, all small and regional carriers will be forced to compete against each other in one or two blocks of spectrum, while the large carriers will have the very large spectrum blocks to themselves because smaller carriers cannot compete in the auction for those licenses,†said Victor Meena, president of Cellular South Inc., in testimony before the House telecom subcommittee.
http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/FREE/70419016...
* A Legacy-Defining Moment
[SOURCE: Public Knowledge, AUTHOR: Gigi Sohn]
[Commentary] Every Federal Communications Commission Chairman has one or two legacy-defining moments in his tenure. Current FCC Chairman Kevin Martin will be facing one of those moments in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, the FCC is expected to adopt an order that will begin to set the terms of the most valuable spectrum auction we have yet seen, and likely the last significant auction in our lifetimes.
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/916
FCC AUCTION FALLS FLAT
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal 4/24/1997, AUTHOR: Bryan Gruley]
Ten years ago, the WSJ reported that television broadcasters were thrilled because the FCC's latest round of spectrum auctions was not going all that well. Broadcasters wanted the auctions to be unsuccessfully because it would increase their chances of being able to hold on to their analog television channels longer. (Ten years later, they still have the spectrum for another two years.) Then-FCC Chairman Hundt said he was not that surprised by the sub par bidding because the FCC didn't give the industry enough advanced notice about the auction.
http://online.wsj.com/PA2VJBNA4R/article/SB861837936921552500-search.htm...
(read for $2.95)
Ten Years Ago: FCC Auction Falls Flat
AGENDA FOR TAMPA MEDIA OWNERSHIP HEARING
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission provided additional details for its upcoming media ownership hearing in Tampa (FL) on Monday April 30. There will be two panels during the seven-hour meeting -- one giving an overview of the Tampa media market and a second titled "Perspectives on Media Ownership." The moderator for the evening will be Louis Sigalos, Chief of the Consumer Affairs & Outreach Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau. A live audio cast of the hearing will be available at the FCC's website at www.fcc.gov on a first-come, first-served basis. The public may also file comments or other documents with the Commission and should reference docket number 06-121 when filing by paper or submit your filing electronically by going to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi and enter proceeding number 06-121. Filing instructions are provided at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership/comments.html. For additional information about the hearing, please visit the FCC's website at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership. Press inquiries should be directed to Clyde Ensslin, at 202-418-0506, or David Fiske, at 202-418-0513.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-272530A1.doc
Agenda for Tampa Media Ownership Hearing
REGULATORS OK 1ST STEP OF TRIBUNE BUYOUT
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Federal antitrust regulators approved Monday the first step of real estate mogul Sam Zell's $8.2 billion purchase of the Tribune Co. According to a Federal Trade Commission notice, the government has completed its antitrust investigation of an initial investment by Zell of $250 million into the company, which owns the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and several other newspapers, as well as 23 television stations. The complex transaction still requires a second step, in which Tribune will merge with an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, and become a private company. That merger is subject to separate Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory approvals, as well as shareholder approval.
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/04/23/regulators_ok_1st_ste...
Regulators OK 1st step of Tribune buyout
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, LA TIMES TO CUT 250 JOBS
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times disclosed plans Monday to reduce their staffs by as many as a combined 250 jobs. The actions by Tribune Co.'s two largest dailies, which had been expected for months, come on top of earlier cutbacks by both papers. The Times said it hoped to cut its staff of 2,625 by up to 150 employees, or around 5 percent. The Chicago Tribune said it intends to trim its staff by as many as 100, or 3 percent. In an e-mail to Chicago Tribune employees Monday afternoon, publisher Scott Smith said first-quarter revenue at the paper and its local affiliates was down 4% from the previous year.
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24687
* Chicago Tribune aims to cut 100 jobs: report
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=industryNews&storyID...
* Los Angeles Times to offer 150 staff buyouts
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=industryNews&storyID...
http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24687
VISITORS TO NEWSPAPER WEB SITES RISE: STUDY
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The number of people visiting U.S. newspaper Web sites rose 5.3 percent during the first quarter, an industry group said on Monday, even as publishers reported slower online advertising sales growth. More than 59 million people, or 37.6 percent of all active Internet users, visited the sites in the quarter, the Newspaper Association of America said, citing an analysis it commissioned to Nielsen/NetRatings. The figures are the highest for any quarter since the association began tracking the numbers in 2004.
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2330076120070423
Visitors to newspaper Web sites rise: study