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TEN YEARS AGO...
Sell That Spectrum
[SOURCE: New York Times 1/9/1997, AUTHOR: William Safire]
[Commentary] Safire argued that the government's gift of spectrum to broadcasters for the transition to digital television (still going on today in 2007) was corporate welfare. "This is not an issue that TV network news will relish covering, nor is it likely to be reported on many local stations or in magazines and newspapers with broadcast interests, but perhaps some solons in both parties would be emboldened if given political cover from the President and a few outspoken, budget-hawkish G.O.P. leaders." Safire challenged journalists: "Turn on your bosses, TV reporters and editors. Together you can shame the President into taking a stand that upsets the media-politico complex."
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FB0B1FFA355D0C7A...
(requires TimesSelect subscription)
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FB0B1FFA355D0C7A8CDDA808…
NET-NEUTRALITY BILL INTRODUCED
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced a bipartisan bill Tuesday that would ban cable operators, phone companies and other providers of broadband Internet access from engaging in discriminatory management of their networks to the commercial disadvantage of Web-based providers of content and applications. The Dorgan-Snowe bill resumes the so-called network-neutrality debate after major telecommunications legislation collapsed in the Senate last year over whether it was necessary to protect Internet giants like Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and eBay and their customers from potentially discriminatory conduct, such as the intentional blocking or slowdown of unaffiliated services that hadn't paid to use additional network capacity. Such discrimination would “fundamentally change the way the Internet has operated and threatens to derail the democratic nature of the Internet,†Sen Dorgan said in a prepared statement with Sen Snowe. Sens Dorgan and Snowe said the bill would require broadband providers to "operate the network in a nondiscriminatory manner, but [they] would remain free to manage the network to protect the security of the network or to offer different levels of broadband connection to users." In another provision, the bill would mandate that consumers have the right to purchase a "stand-alone broadband connection that is not bundled with cable, phone or voice-over-Internet-protocol service." In addition to Dorgan and Snowe, co-sponsors include Sens John Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Barack Obama (D-IL).
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6405766.html?display=Breaking+News
* Read the bill: http://dorgan.senate.gov/documents/newsroom/net_neutrality.pdf
* See Dorgan/Snowe press release: http://dorgan.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=267332
* Dorgan, Snowe Introduce Net Neutrality Bill
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6405757?title=Article&spacede...
* Net neutrality proposal revived in Senate
http://news.com.com/Net+neutrality+proposal+revived+in+Senate/2100-1028_...
* Congress to Take Up Net’s Future
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/10/washington/10net.html
* Net Neutrality Bill Returns in Senate
http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=114202
Reaction --
* Free Press/Consumers Union/Consumer Federation of America
"We applaud Senators Dorgan and Snowe for reigniting the essential Net Neutrality debate on Capitol Hill. Their continuing commitment will help make competitive and affordable broadband services a central issue in the 110th Congress. Our elected officials now must act to keep the Internet free of gatekeepers who would destroy this revolutionary platform for free speech and economic innovation. The American public has an overwhelming interest in seeing this bill pass into law, ensuring that the online marketplace of ideas remains open and vibrant."
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=199
* Common Cause
"The Internet has revolutionized citizen engagement in their democracy,†Pingree said. “Millions of Americans go online to get political news, to engage with candidates’ campaigns, and to communicate with their elected leaders. This revolution was able to happen because of net neutrality, one of the Internet’s longest standing principles. Net neutrality ensures that our Internet will remain open, free and competitive -- and must be preserved."
* AT&T
"We continue to believe that net-neutrality regulations are unwarranted and remain hopeful that lawmakers will pivot their efforts toward support of a national priority to deploy more advanced broadband to more Americans more quickly."
* Verizon
"Net Neutrality  better named Net Regulation  is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist."
* National Cable & Telecommunications Association
"We continue to believe that regulation of the Internet is unnecessary and will only stifle the investment, innovation and creativity that has been the hallmark of today's dynamic broadband marketplace."
http://www.ncta.com/ContentView.aspx?hidenavlink=true&type=reltyp2&conte...
* Hands Off the Internet
"It’s disappointing that Sens. Snowe and Dorgan would introduce essentially the same bill to regulate the Internet that went down to such decisive defeat in Congress last June."
* FreedomWorks
"Common sense tells us that if it ain’t broke don't fix it."
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6405766.html?display=Breaking%20News
HOUSE PASSES BILL TO IMPLEMENT MORE 9/11 PANEL'S SUGGESTIONS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Spencer S. Hsu]
In a lopsided vote that masked underlying divisions, House Democrats approved legislation yesterday to implement many of the remaining recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission even as portions of the sprawling package faced immediate problems in the Senate. Voting 299 to 128, congressional Democrats, backed by scores of Republicans, delivered on a key part of their "100 hours" agenda. The nearly 300-page anti-terrorism measure sets new mandates to scrutinize air- and ship-borne cargo, send more federal aid to areas at the greatest risk of terrorism, improve emergency communications, fight nuclear proliferation overseas, and strengthen a civil liberties watchdog board.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR200701...
(requires registration)
* House votes to enact more 9/11 panel points
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-homeland10jan10,...
* The Future White House Counselor as 9/11 Panelist
Fred F. Fielding, who President Bush named as White House counselor on Monday, served on the Sept 11 commission.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR200701...
* Yes, we can be safer
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070110/oppose10.art.htm
House Passes Bill to Implement More of 9/11 Panel's Suggestions
TAUKE: BIG TELECOM BILL UNLIKELY IN 2007-08
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
"I frankly think it is unlikely that there will be a telecom act. There may be some narrower measures that move through, but I don't see the dynamics in place for a comprehensive telecom bill," Verizon executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications Tom Tauke said on a panel at the International Consumer Electronics Show. Verizon, he said, was in a better position today than one year ago, when it was pursuing a telecommunications bill, because several states had enacted statewide cable franchising and the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules giving local cable regulators just 90 days to act on Verizon's cable-entry applications. "There is no compelling issue, no compelling need for a communications reform," he added. Amazon.com VP of global public policy Paul Misener disagreed, predicting that a bill would pass with Internet-nondiscrimination provisions as the centerpiece of the legislation.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6406011.html?display=Breaking+News
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6406011.html?display=Breaking%20News
DIGITAL MEDIA: THE NEXT FRONTIER FOR MEDIA REFORM
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Jeff Chester, Center for Digital Democracy]
[Commentary] On Friday, several thousand U.S. media activists will converge in Memphis to attend the Free Press group's "National Conference for Media Reform." Much of the conference is focused on current and upcoming public policy battles designed to help make this country's media system more democratic. Right now there is greater interest in media policy than we have seen since the 1960s. Among the key concerns is fighting against the Federal Communications Commission's current plan to permit greater consolidation of our nation's newspapers and broadcast stations; battling Congress over the broadband Internet (network neutrality); and highlighting the lack of ownership of media outlets by women and people of color. These are important topics, but the real action it requires must take place outside of the D.C. beltway. Our most urgent task is to proactively intervene to shape -- on behalf of progressive values -- the emerging commercial digital communications system. This will require a strategic intervention to create sustainable "new media" services that help harness the power of digital media to better promote social justice. Our digital media system will have the capability to help "define" political and social "reality" for the majority of Americans. Unless progressives can seriously "program" the new media -- in every community and across the nation -- we will face even greater obstacles promoting our agendas.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/46504/
Digital Media: The Next Frontier for Media Reform
CONGRESS OFF TO SLOW START WITH TECH
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
When newly empowered Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives launch into their much-touted 100-hours agenda on Tuesday, don't expect to see much in the way of issues important to the high-tech industry. Elevating the minimum wage, urging stem-cell research, and ushering in lower prescription drug prices are on the initial calendar. But hot-button topics such as rewriting patent law, encouraging broadband availability, protecting Net neutrality, and upping the skilled worker visas so beloved by high-tech companies aren't foremost priorities yet. The issues' early absence shouldn't be taken as a sign of things to come, Democratic aides said.
http://news.com.com/Congress+off+to+slow+start+with+tech/2100-1028_3-614...
Congress off to Slow Start with Tech
DINGELL GIVES UP INVESTIGATIONS CHAIRMANSHIP
[SOURCE: US News & World Reports, AUTHOR: Danielle Knight]
Because of past changes in Democratic Caucus rules, one of the House's warhorses, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), chair of the House Commerce Committee, will not head the subcommittee on oversight and investigations, which had been one of his passions when he led the full panel for 14 years in the 1980s and early 1990s. Instead, Rep Dingell is backing Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who was ranking member on the oversight subcommittee last Congress. Rep Stupak will likely be ratified as subcommittee chair this week. There was speculation that Rep Dingell might again chair both the committee and subcommittee at the same time, as he did from 1981 to 1995. But in 1994 Democrats changed their rules and prohibited lawmakers from chairing both the main committee and the subcommittees in order to discourage lawmakers from monopolizing too much power. Rep Dingell was well known for his thorough investigations and his infamous Dingell-grams, which requested detailed information from agencies on environmental and energy polices, among other things.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070108/8dingell.htm?s_cid=rss...
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070108/8dingell.htm?s_cid=rss%3Asite1
AT&T RIVALS CONTEST MERGER RULE'S IMPACT
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 1/5, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
As the dust settles on the FCC's approval of the AT&T, BellSouth merger, some large and mid-sized local telephone competitors to the company are complaining that one condition imposes "backdoor" requirements on them. At issue is a restriction stipulating that the new AT&T reduce its special-access rates, the discounted fees it offers wholesale business customers. In order for companies such as Qwest Communications International and Verizon Communications to take advantage of the discounts, they must offer similar services at the same reduced fees as AT&T, according to the condition. "Any effort by AT&T, BellSouth to bind the commission to accept its proposed discriminatory tariff is null, void and to no effect," Robert Connelly, the vice president and deputy general counsel at Qwest, wrote in a Jan. 4 letter to the agency. He threatened possible legal action, stating that if the new AT&T files a "discriminatory" tariff for special access rates, "legal processes can prevent the illegal conduct from actually coming to fruition." A source noted that impacted companies have several options. They can appeal the soon-to-be-released merger order at the FCC or in federal court, or challenge tariff changes that the merged company will file with the agency.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-EEHK1168372952775.html
AT&T Rivals Contest Merger Rule's Impact
VENEZUELAN PLAN SHAKES INVESTORS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Simon Romero and Clifford Krauss]
Verizon Communications had been looking to lighten its exposure to Latin America for some time when it struck a deal in April to sell investments in three properties in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Now, it probably wishes it had disconnected its Latin lines even sooner. The company could possibly lose up to several hundred million dollars, thanks to President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, who threatened to nationalize the country’s main telephone and electricity companies. Investors reacted with alarm here and in markets in the United States and throughout Latin America on Tuesday as they measured the impact of the plan by Mr. Chávez to nationalize crucial areas of the economy. Memories of past nationalizations during another turbulent era, in places like Cuba and Chile, helped drive down the Caracas stock exchange’s main index by almost 19 percent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/10/business/worldbusiness/10venezuela.html
(requires registration)
* Venezuela Inc.’s Hostile Takeover
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela -- the very portrait of a modern Latin American strongman -- is not content to exercise near-total political and military control of his country. Now he is tightening his grip on the Venezuelan economy. That’s bad news for foreign investors, but even more so for the Venezuelan people who will have to pay the price for an economy plagued by increasing inefficiency and corruption.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/10/opinion/10wed2.html
(requires registration)
* Chavez's Economic Plans Set Latin Markets Reeling
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR200701...
* Venezuela's Leap Backward
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR200701...
* Venezuelan stocks dive after Chavez calls for nationalization
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070110/venezeula10.art.htm
Venezuelan Plan Shakes Investors
ELECTRONICS GURU TAKES STAND FOR COPYRIGHT REFORM
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 1/8, AUTHOR: Andrew Noyes]
The dean of the consumer electronics sector, Gary Shapiro, used his opening keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday to promote "fair use" of copyrighted content for technology users and the Digital Freedom campaign that he helped launch last year. The initiative to oppose "crippling restrictions" on individuals' technology rights, unveiled in October, was met with opposition from the content industry. The project has a major presence at CES this week. For two decades, Shapiro and his team have fought legislative proposals that would "restrict, tax, ban and hobble" technologies, he said. Those efforts have been successful, but innovators still face "debilitating lawsuits" as consumers and venture capitalists remain worried about the legal limits of new products and services, he said.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-NPMN1168373148302.html
Electronics Guru Takes Stand For Copyright Reform