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STAND-UP SYNERGY
[SOURCE: New York Times 3/6/1997, AUTHOR: Frank Rich]
[Commentary] Our culture's new rulers are the people who run the handful of new conglomerates that now own most of mass culture -- our TV and cable and radio networks, movie and recording studios, magazines and book publishers and theme parks. As first became clear when ABC's ''Day One'' and CBS's ''60 Minutes'' quailed at costly legal threats by tobacco companies, there is reason to fear that these mammoth companies may put their ever-expanding corporate interests ahead of news. Don't hold your breath waiting for networks to investigate human rights abuses in a big market like China. Yet it's not only journalism that may be softened by the concentration of media ownership. If we're left with only Disney/ABC, G.E./ NBC, Time Warner/Turner, Westinghouse/CBS and Rupert Murdoch -- all of which want the largest audiences possible -- isn't American entertainment, comedy included, also destined to pull its punches?
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F00916FA38540C75...
(requires TimesSelect subscription)

FCC RELEASES CABLE-FRANCHISE ORDER
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Let the litigation begin! The Federal Communications Commission Monday released a previously adopted order that gives local governments 90 days to reject or approve cable-service licenses sought by phone companies that already have facilities in city-controlled rights of way. The FCC’s decision to impose a deadline was designed to provide a measure of certainty to AT&T and Verizon Communications as the two largest phone companies put billions of investment dollars at risk in an effort to break into local video markets. Local governments are expected to appeal, claiming that the FCC lacks legal authority to impose time constraints on franchising authorities. The cable industry hasn't committed to go to court. The FCC adopted the rules in late December but needed 75 days to finish and release a 68-page order that attempts to justify its conclusion that in many instances, franchise negotiations are taking too long and frustrating competition.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6421729.html?display=Breaking+News

* Cities Challenge FCC on Cable Franchise Order
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11650
(requires free registration)

* FCC Order: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-180A1.doc

* FCC Eases Video Entry For Telecom Companies
"The sum total here is an arrogant case of federal power riding roughshod over local governments," said Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117312789384027421.html?mod=todays_us_ma...

FCC REALITY CHECK
[SOURCE: Miami Herald 3/2, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] The Federal Communications Commission had good intentions in levying a $24 million fine against Univision for not complying with a federal rule mandating children's programming on broadcast-television networks. Unfortunately, that rule is outdated, and Congress should drop it. Today, 90 percent of U.S. households get cable or satellite service, which now offer children's educational shows on specialized channels such as Disney and Nickelodeon and, in Spanish, Discovery Kids En Español and Sorpresa. It is a shame that broadcast networks are saddled with such costs when they now compete directly with cable networks. It is refreshing to see the FCC pay attention to a Spanish-language broadcaster. But forcing a network to abide by an outdated rule isn't the answer. Congress and the FCC both should drop the children-programming rule and up date broadcasting requirements to meet the current television-market reality.
http://www.miamiherald.com/454/story/28716.html

* Record FCC fine raises broadcasting questions
[Commentary] Given the questionable content of plenty of other allegedly educational programming, the FCC's decision to target the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States -- and in such a large way -- is a bit curious. The next largest broadcast penalty is a paltry $3.6 million proposed indecency fine against CBS for an episode of the crime drama "Without a Trace." FCC programming standards should be the same in any language.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/stories/MYSA030507.01O.te...