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RUMORED FCC PAYOLA SETTLEMENT ANGERS CRITICS
[SOURCE: National Public Radio, AUTHOR: Neda Ulaby]
Last year, the Federal Communications Commission promised to pick up Elliot Spitzer's investigation into payola. But rumors around Washington and the music industry suggest that the FCC is dropping the investigation and settling with broadcasting companies. The music industry received a big jolt a few years ago after a payola investigation conducted by Spitzer, then New York State's attorney general, resulted in multi-million dollar settlements with two record companies. Musician advocates and media critics hoped it might pave the way for further reforms in the industry -- including the other half of the issue: the media companies that work with record labels. But sources have told NPR that the Federal Communications Commission is planning to announce a settlement with broadcasters over the payola issue. Some artist advocacy groups, such as the Future of Music Coalition, are fearful that in its settlement, the FCC will not adequately address enforcement and oversight. Until payola is removed from both the broadcasting and recording arms of the music industry, they say, future abuses are likely.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6944954&ft=1&f=1001

MUSIC INDUSTRY DIVIDED OVER DIGITAL FUTURE
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Kate Holton]
With global music sales down for a seventh straight year, the talk at an annual industry meeting in Cannes, France, has become heated over how to develop digital sales against competition from the dreaded F word -- free. Global sales are expected to be down again for 2006 despite digital sales almost doubling to $2 billion and the popularity of music being as strong as ever. Critics of the major players in the industry argue that they have been distracted by the fight against piracy and in doing so, hindered the growth of the legal business. In response, the accused argue that they had little choice.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&story...

* Record Labels Contemplate Unrestricted Digital Music
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/23/technology/23music.html

SPEED MATTERS: AFFORDABLE HIGH SPEED INTERNET FOR ALL
[SOURCE: Communications Workers of America]
CWA has released a new whitepaper exploring how Americans pay too much for too little when it comes to broadband Internet access. CWA argues: It is now time for the United States to adopt a comprehensive national high speed broadband policy to ensure that we all benefit from the telecommunications and information revolution. Throughout our history we have been able to benefit from major technological advances because we adopted national policies to ensure their widespread and equitable deployment. In the 19th century we adopted policies to develop canals and a national railroad system. In the 20th century we instituted policies to develop national telephone and highway systems. It is now the 21st century but we still do not have a national high speed broadband policy. CWA also identifies five key goals: real high-speed access, access for all, a better definition of "high-speed" for policymakers, Network Neutrality, and consumer and worker protections.
http://www.speedmatters.org/blog/page.jsp?itemID=28211126

SANDERS ADDRESSES MEDIA CONFERENCE
[SOURCE: Democracy Now, AUTHOR: Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT)]
[Commentary] Last weekend, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gave what could be described as an alternate State of the Union before thousands gathered in Memphis, Tennessee at the third National Conference for Media Reform. (see text of speech at URL below) Sen Sanders is an Independent who was elected to the Senate in November of 2006. He is the country's first self-described socialist to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Before becoming Senator, Bernie Sanders served in the House of Representatives for 15 years where he was the longest-serving Independent in modern history. "If You Are Concerned About Health Care, Iraq, the Economy, Global Warming You Must Be Concerned About Corporate Control of the Media."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/22/1455248