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FCC AGENDA
FCC Open Meeting Agenda 12/20/06
FCC to Vote on Franchise Changes
AT&T merger vote unlikely until '07
Geffen's offer for The Times: $2 billion

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Congress Demands Answers on Media Ownership Economic Studies
Big Radio Is Fewer Formats, Smaller Audience
Mergers, Acquisitions to remain Hot in '07

BROADCASTING
Television 'News' to Warm a PR agent's Heart
FCC Rejects Call for Chicago Stations' License Denial
Congress Urged to Support Communication Voucher System
Fox Says FCC's Indecency Policy Goes Too Far
NBC Says FCC Is Violating Its Own Indecency Standard
Huge Fine on Thai Broadcaster Is Upheld

TELECOM/CABLE
Alaska's Stevens Left Out In The Cold
Comcast Questions FCC=92s Efficiency
Citizen Groups Cry Foul Over FCC Vote
FCC Chairman looks to Former Boss to take Key Role

INTERNET/BROADBAND
Sorting through the noise of Election '06
Congress and the Benefits of Sunshine
Active Internet Users Connect Via Broadband
Internet Users In Search of a Home

QUICKLY -- Hatfield to Chair Spectrum Advisory=20
Committee; Personal Health Records to Help=20
Consumers Manage Their Health; Book Review --=20
Digital Destiny; The Teen Media Juggling Act; Worker Interruptions Costly

FCC AGENDA

FCC OPEN MEETING AGENDA 12/20/06
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission will hold=20
an Open Meeting on Wednesday, December 20, 2006=20
at 9:30 a.m. in Room TW-C305, at 445 12th Street,=20
S.W., Washington, D.C. Your pre-holiday party=20
agenda includes: 1) a report on cable prices, 2)=20
new rules on streamlining local video=20
franchising, 3) a new proceeding on public safety=20
communications in the 700 MHz band, and 4) a=20
Declaratory Ruling regarding whether Internet=20
Protocol (IP) captioned telephone service is a=20
form of telecommunications relay service (TRS)=20
compensable from the Interstate TRS Fund.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268955A1.doc

FCC TO VOTE ON FRANCHISE CHANGES
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin scheduled a Dec. 20 vote on his plan to=20
force local governments to sign cable-service=20
contracts with requesting phone companies within=20
90 days, according to a meeting agenda released=20
by the agency Wednesday night. Chairman Martin's=20
plan puts him in direct conflict with cable=20
operators and local governments, which argue that=20
the FCC lacks authority to impose a shot clock on=20
cable-franchising negotiations. The plan includes=20
details related to the calculation of franchise=20
fees that have also invited criticism from cable=20
and the cities. If the FCC adopts the franchising=20
rules, cable operators and cities have indicated=20
a willingness to fight the FCC in federal court.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6399811.html?display=3DBreaking+News

AT&T MERGER VOTE UNLIKELY UNTIL '07
[SOURCE: San Antonio Express-News, AUTHOR: Sanford Nowlin]
The Federal Communications Commission said=20
Wednesday it won't vote on AT&T Inc.'s merger=20
with BellSouth Corp. at its Dec. 20 meeting,=20
making it unlikely the telecommunications=20
mega-merger can be approved by the end of the=20
year. The FCC is the last regulatory body needed=20
to approve San Antonio-based AT&T's $86 billion=20
buyout of BellSouth Corp. The commission has=20
delayed its vote several times because it was=20
deadlocked over what conditions, if any, to impose on the deal.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA121406.3E.FCCagenda.293...
2.html
* Vote on BellSouth Deal Omitted From Next FCC Meeting
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601204&sid=3DaLDmdTaUpyu0&refer=
=3Dtechnology

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DEMAND ANSWERS FROM FCC ON=20
RECENTLY COMMISSIONED ECONOMIC STUDIES ON MEDIAD OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: Rep Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)]
Reps Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin=20
(D-WI), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Barbara Lee=20
(D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Louise Slaughter=20
(D-NY), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) are calling on=20
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin to clearly outline the details of ten=20
economic studies on media ownership that the=20
agency recently commissioned. On November 22,=20
the FCC announced the studies, which are coming=20
at a time when the agency is reviewing the media=20
ownership rules. Concerned that the FCC may have=20
setup the studies in a non-neutral manner to=20
advance its goal of media consolidation, Rep=20
Hinchey and his colleagues called on the agency=20
to provide them with all details regarding the=20
studies. "We write to request detailed=20
information on the Federal Communications=20
Commission's plans regarding recently-announced=20
studies to be conducted as part of the Further=20
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on media=20
ownership," they wrote to Chairman Martin. "We=20
are certainly pleased to see that the Commission=20
is moving forward with these studies. However,=20
we are concerned about the lack of information=20
that has been released thus far regarding these=20
endeavors." The ten FCC-commissioned studies are=20
focused on: 1) How People Get News and=20
Information; 2) Ownership Structure and=20
Robustness of Media; 3) Effect of Ownership=20
Structure and Robustness on the Quantity and=20
Quality of TV Programming; 4) News Operations; 5)=20
Station Ownership and Programming in Radio; 6)=20
News Coverage of Cross-Owned Newspapers and=20
Television Stations; 7 & 8) Minority Ownership;=20
9) Vertical Integration; 10) Radio Industry=20
Review: Trends in Ownership, Format, and=20
Finance. Among other things, Rep Hinchey and his=20
colleagues are seeking answers from the FCC=20
regarding: how the topics were selected; the=20
backgrounds of the authors assigned to each of=20
the studies; whether the agency took appropriate=20
steps to prevent any conflicts of interests that=20
could impact the outcome of the studies; the cost=20
of the studies; and how the peer review process for the studies will work.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny22_hinchey/morenews/121106fccstud...
letter.html
* Dems Want More Info on FCC Studies
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6399462?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews

BIG RADIO IS FEWER FORMATS, SMALLER AUDIENCE
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Jeffrey Yorke]
Consolidation of radio is killing the medium,=20
giving audiences few choices of music, artists,=20
formats and local voices, says a report released=20
by the D.C.-based Future of Music Coalition. The=20
report, which looks at the radio industry since=20
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 went into=20
effect and its impact on the recording industry,=20
claims that =93ownership consolidation at the=20
national and local levels has led to fewer=20
choices in radio programming and harmed the=20
listening public and those working in the music=20
and media industries, including DJs, programmers=20
and musicians.=94 While big media companies=20
gobbling up smaller media companies has long=20
drawn the attention of Congress and the public=20
alike, this report attempts to detail the effect=20
consolidation has on the consuming public. The=20
reports finds that four radio station owners have=20
almost half of the listeners and =93the top ten=20
owners have almost two-thirds of listeners.=94=20
Corporate radio has also spawned a slew of=20
out-of-town owners that challenge "localness" of=20
radio, the report contends. =93Ownership by=20
individuals living in the community has declined=20
between 1975 and 2005 by almost one-third.=94 The=20
report finds that =93just fifteen formats make up=20
three-quarters of all commercial programming,=94=20
which the FMC refers to as a =93cookie cutter=94=20
effect. The report goes on to say that =94niche=20
musical formats like classical, jazz, Americana,=20
bluegrass, new rock and folk, where they exist,=20
are provided almost exclusively by smaller station groups.=94
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D100...
1528
* False Premises, False Promises
http://www.futureofmusic.org/research/radiostudy06.cfm
* NAB Slams Music Coalition Study
The National Association of Broadcasters has=20
fired back at a study released Wednesday by the=20
Future of Music Coalition backing its claims that=20
consolidation has hurt the radio industry. That=20
study concluded that the 1996 Telecommunications=20
Act's radio deregulation led to a loss of=20
localism, competition, viewpoints and format=20
diversity. The former limit of 24 radio stations=20
per owner was lifted, replaced by Clear Channel's=20
jaw-dropping 1,000-plus as the top radio owner.=20
But NAB, citing a study of its own by BIA=20
Financial Network in October, said that the=20
number of formats is up 7.5% since 2001 and that=20
the average number of formats per market has gone=20
up and that the number of Spanish-language=20
stations has increased by 45.5% in the past six years.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6399778?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
* NAB press release:=20
http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=3DNews_Room&CONTENTID=3D7456&...
PLATE=3D/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm

MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS TO REMAIN HOT IN '07
[SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Paul Bond]
Merger and acquisition activity in the media=20
sector should stay high and could even increase=20
next year, according to Susquehanna Financial=20
Group, as mature businesses seek to spur their=20
growth and private-equity firms remain awash in=20
cash. The Wall Street research firm said that=20
interest should remain high for the acquisition=20
of both new-media firms and more traditional=20
content and distribution businesses. Susquehanna=20
focused its attention on nine smaller companies:=20
Image Entertainment Inc., New Frontier Media,=20
Imax Corp., Lionsgate, ValueVision Media, TiVo=20
Inc., 4Kids Entertainment, World Wrestling=20
Entertainment and Playboy Enterprises.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/business/news/e3i1ab...
002a4990745efd45a4c6a83a5b

GEFFEN'S OFFER FOR THE TIMES: $2 BILLION
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: James Rainey]
Entertainment mogul David Geffen has made a=20
$2-billion all-cash offer for the Los Angeles=20
Times, but the newspaper's corporate owner has=20
declined to accept or reject the bid as it=20
continues to seek offers for the entire company.=20
Geffen made the formal offer last month to=20
Tribune Co. but was told by representatives of=20
the Chicago-based media conglomerate that they=20
would not consider it until they had fielded offers for all of Tribune.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-tribune14dec14,1,6153...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)
* Chandlers Had Eye On Assets Of Tribune
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/13/AR200612...
2256.html

BROADCASTING

TELEVISION 'NEWS' TO WARM A PR AGENT'S HEART
[SOURCE: Minneapolis Star Tribune, AUTHOR: Henry Geller and Diane Farsetta]
[Commentary] Video news releases (VNRs), public=20
relations videos designed to look like=20
straightforward reporting, routinely infiltrate=20
television newscasts, even in major markets like=20
the Twin Cities. But viewers are rarely told the=20
true source of such "news." While the need to=20
clearly label such materials might seem obvious,=20
an association of broadcast news professionals --=20
the Radio-Television News Directors Association=20
(RTNDA) -- recently joined the PR industry in=20
fighting to keep the status quo: many VNRs and no=20
disclosure. Congress and the courts have stressed=20
that as fiduciaries given the free use of the=20
public airwaves, broadcasters are obligated to=20
operate in the public interest. Flagrantly=20
deceptive practices are inconsistent with that=20
obligation and can find no sanction in the First=20
Amendment. Disclosure is particularly important,=20
since the economic pressures and profit=20
expectations placed on TV stations today have=20
effectively transformed VNRs into an essential=20
yet undeclared part of TV newsroom budgets. The=20
least that can and should be done in these=20
circumstances is to ensure the public is given=20
the information necessary to evaluate what's=20
being presented as news. The FCC investigation is=20
a first, necessary step toward that goal.
http://www.startribune.com/562/story/871497.html

FCC REJECTS CALL FOR CHICAGO STATIONS' LICENSE DENIAL
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
The Federal Communications Commission rejected=20
Third Coast Press' attempt to halt the license=20
renewal of all 18 Chicago market TV stations,=20
saying the progressive newspaper didn't prove its=20
charge that the stations have been=20
"systematically negligent" in serving the public=20
service. The publication filed its petition to=20
deny a year ago, contending that the stations had=20
provided inadequate public affairs coverage and=20
children's programming and that they had engaged=20
in "hypercommercialism." It also argued that the=20
stations had emphasized "police actions, crime=20
and celebrity trivia" in newscasts over=20
information that would promote debate on=20
important issues, particularly the Iraq war, and=20
had aired few news programs featuring African American commentators.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D11228
(requires free registration)
* See FCC ruling:=20
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-2503A1.doc

CONGRESS URGED TO SUPPORT COMMUNICATION VOUCHER SYSTEM
[SOURCE: Campaign Legal Center]
In the wake of record spending on campaign=20
television advertising, the Campaign Legal Center=20
is asking Members of Congress to support a=20
communications voucher system in the 110th=20
Congress to reduce the staggering fundraising=20
burdens on candidates. The constant pursuit of=20
contributions to fund television ads has reduced=20
the effectiveness of our elected officials and=20
undermined our system of government. The Our=20
Democracy, Our Airwaves Act previously introduced=20
in the 108th Congress proposed just such a system.
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/press-2289.html
* Campaign Legal Center Pushes Congress for Vouchers
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6399463?title=3DArticle&space...
c=3Dnews
* A fairer way to fund campaign commercials
Op-ed by CLC Policy Director Meredith McGehee: "A=20
communication voucher system is a self-regulating=20
structure that won't solve every problem with the=20
political ads that turn off so many voters, but=20
it would begin to return some sanity to a system=20
that has clearly slipped its moorings. Changing=20
the way candidates get access to the public=20
airwaves would strengthen our democracy and=20
should be high on the "to-do" list for the 110th=20
Congress - even if it means undermining the idea=20
of election to Congress as a lifetime appointment."
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.ads12dec12,0,484748...
tory

FOX SAYS FCC'S INDECENCY POLICY GOES TOO FAR
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC's new indecency policy of cracking down=20
on cussing "has reached too far and censored too=20
much speech," said Fox in its reply to the FCC's=20
defense of its new policy. Fox took aim in a=20
filing with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals=20
in New York. The FCC found two Fox Billboard=20
Awards show broadcasts to be profane, and thus=20
indecent, because they allowed variants of the=20
words "fudge" and "shoot" to be broadcast outside=20
of the FCC's 10 p.m.-6 a.m. safe harbor for=20
"indecent" broadcast speech. Fox argued that=20
neither of the broadcasts would have been found=20
indecent under the previous almost 30 years of=20
FCC indecency policy (1975-2004) and that=20
"without adequate explanation or even=20
acknowledgment, the FCC has abandoned the=20
restrained understanding of indecency that served=20
the public for three decades." Fox says the FCC's=20
new policy means it can punish "virtually any=20
isolated use of the words," with only "arbitrary=20
exceptions when the word might be justified in context."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6399802.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

NBC SAYS FCC IS VIOLATING ITS OWN INDECENCY STANDARD
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
After receiving a terrible tongue lashing from=20
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, executives of NBC are=20
saying the Commission is indecent. Actually, NBC=20
says that the FCC's profanity findings against=20
phrases like Cher's "Fudge 'em" on Fox's=20
Billboard Awards or Bono's "Fudging brilliant" on=20
NBC's Golden Globes, both cited by the FCC, are=20
misapplied and contrary to "its own standard,=20
common sense, conventional wisdom and ordinary=20
usage." In its brief to the Second Circuit Court=20
of Appeals in New York in the broadcaster court=20
challenge to that new FCC profanity enforcement=20
policy, NBC says the FCC decision should be=20
reversed and that "no reasonable observer could=20
actually conclude that Cher was exhorting the=20
audience to have 'chocolate activities' with=20
those critics, or that her comment related=20
somehow to chocolate-producing organs." NBC says=20
it is not saying a "properly designed indecency=20
regime could never bar the repeated broadcast of=20
expletives used as intensifiers" but that the FCC=20
cannot "transform a standard that expressly=20
requires material to 'describe or depict' sex=20
into a dragnet for words that neither depict nor=20
describe sexual or excretory activity." NBC also=20
argued that the FCC's decision is invalid under=20
the Chevron test, which holds that an appeals=20
court must first determine if the will of=20
Congress was clear in a statute, and if so, that=20
ends the discussion. NBC argues, as it did in its=20
initial brief to the court, that Congress clearly=20
intended to be blasphemous and that the FCC=20
cannot arbitrarily change the definition to fit its regulatory leanings.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6399800.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

HUGE FINE ON THAI BROADCASTER IS UPHELD
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Wayne Arnold]
In a blow to the former commercial empire of the=20
ousted prime minister of Thailand, Thaksin=20
Shinawatra, the country=92s Supreme Administrative=20
Court on Wednesday upheld a decision against a=20
local broadcaster, iTV, that appeared likely to=20
force it to close. The court rejected the final=20
appeal by iTV of a lower court ruling that=20
ordered it to increase the annual fee it pays the=20
government and left it liable for as much as $2.7=20
billion in fines. The majority owner of iTV is=20
the Shin Corporation, the telecommunications=20
conglomerate that made Mr. Thaksin a billionaire.=20
His critics contend he continued to favor Shin=20
with policies after becoming prime minister in=20
2001 and transferring control of the company to=20
his children. His family=92s $1.9 billion, tax-free=20
sale early this year of its controlling stake in=20
Shin to the investment arm of the Singapore=20
government, Temasek Holdings, touched off=20
extensive street protests against Mr. Thaksin=20
that culminated in his ouster in September.=20
Analysts said that even if iTV could persuade the=20
government not to impose penalties, it was=20
unlikely that it could survive the higher annual=20
fees. Although Shin owns 53 percent of iTV, the=20
company represents only about 1 percent of its=20
assets. Shin is more likely to let the=20
broadcaster go under than pay the fines on its behalf, analysts said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/business/worldbusiness/14tele.html
(requires registration)

TELECOM/CABLE

ALASKA'S STEVENS LEFT OUT IN THE COLD
[SOURCE: Forbes.com 12/12, AUTHOR: Jessica Holzer]
Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) boasted this=20
summer that he had nearly all the 60 Senate votes=20
he needed to muscle his massive=20
telecommunications bill through Congress by the=20
end of the year. But as the 109th Congress called=20
it quits this weekend, his quest to overhaul=20
America=92s telecom laws ended in failure. As=20
Network Neutrality became the main rallying point=20
against the Stevens bill, the powerful Commerce=20
Committee chairman offered nothing more than=20
hollow gestures to address the concern.=20
Ultimately, a rowdy coalition fighting for net=20
neutrality helped kill the legislation. "This is=20
a huge victory for real people and a clear signal=20
to the next Congress that standing up for big=20
bold ideas is a winning political proposition,=94=20
declared Eli Pariser, executive director of=20
MoveOn.org Civic Action, a member of "Save the=20
Internet" group that campaigned to sink the bill.=20
But if his crowd is serious, it will have to do=20
more than block legislation =AD it will have to get=20
laws passed requiring net neutrality in the next=20
Congress. That will be a great deal more difficult than thwarting Ted Steve=
ns.
http://www.forbes.com/facesinthenews/2006/12/12/stevens-telecoms-congres...
ace-cx_jh_1211autofacescan03.html

COMCAST QUESTIONS FCC'S EFFICIENCY
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Comcast is pointing out that the Federal=20
Communications Commission=92s interest in speeding=20
phone company entry into local video markets=20
seems to clash with the plodding pace at which=20
the agency is reviewing pending cable requests=20
for action. In a Dec. 11 letter filed at the FCC,=20
Comcast claimed that the FCC has sat on at least=20
five Comcast =93petitions for effective=20
competition=94 for more than two years and that the=20
agency failed to act on Comcast=92s major set-top=20
box waiver request within the 90-day window=20
mandated by federal law. Comcast=92s=20
physician-heal-thyself tone was a rare slap at=20
the powerful regulatory body, and it could be a=20
sign that the largest U.S cable operator will no=20
longer disguise its frustration with FCC chairman=20
Kevin Martin, who is attempting to placate AT&T and Verizon on video policy.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6399780.html?display=3DBreaking+News

CITIZEN GROUPS CRY FOUL OVER FCC VOTE
[SOURCE: internetnews.com, AUTHOR: Roy Mark]
The Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of=20
America, Free Press, Public Knowledge and U.S.=20
PIRG wrote the Federal Communications Commission=20
(FCC) Tuesday opposing Commissioner Robert=20
McDowell's participation in the AT&T-BellSouth=20
merger vote expected this month. The groups said=20
in their letter that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's=20
attempt to reverse McDowell's recusal "is a=20
violation of the public trust, sacrificing a=20
valid process of good-faith negotiations among=20
participating commissioners for political=20
expediency and the convenience of the merging=20
parties." The groups said they wrote the letter=20
because the FCC asked AT&T and BellSouth for=20
their views on McDowell's participation but did=20
not ask for public input. Both AT&T and BellSouth=20
said they are not opposed to McDowell's=20
participation. "Given that the combined entity=20
will control half of the business and residential=20
telephone lines in the nation, it is the public,=20
not AT&T or BellSouth, which has the greatest=20
stake in the merger's rejection or approval, with=20
or without conditions," the letter states.=20
"Regardless of how Commissioner McDowell votes on=20
the merger, the public interest is jeopardized."
http://www.internetnews.com/article.php/3648966

FCC CHAIRMAN LOOKS TO FORMER BOSS TO TAKE KEY ROLE
[SOURCE: MarketWatch, AUTHOR: Corey Boles]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin=20
Martin has tapped a former boss -- no, not=20
former-Gov Bush, he's still committed to=20
something else for a couple of years -- to head=20
an arbitration scheme that would resolve disputes=20
in the lucrative telecom business market serviced=20
by a merged AT&T and BellSouth. Former FCC=20
Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, whom=20
Chairman Martin worked for as a staffer for two=20
years, would be the chairman's pick to run an=20
arbitration scheme. The notion of the creation of=20
an arbitration scheme may now be redundant as it=20
seems likely that Commissioner Robert McDowell=20
will participate in the vote among FCC=20
commissioners over whether to approve the $80=20
billion merger, giving Chairman Martin the=20
majority he needs. This could mean the he would=20
no longer need to negotiate with Commissioners=20
Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein and could=20
push through approval for the merger with few or=20
any conditions attached, beyond those already=20
agreed to by AT&T. But, according to analysts, an=20
arbitration scheme could still come back on the=20
table if Copps and Adelstein can be persuaded to=20
cut a deal rather than have a divided 3-2 vote on=20
the matter. Furchtgott-Roth has a reputation as=20
being strongly in favor of deregulation and being=20
pro-business. In his four years at the commission=20
between 1997 and 2001, he openly questioned=20
whether the FCC had any role in telecommunications mergers whatsoever.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/fcc-chairman-looks-former-boss/sto...
aspx?guid=3D%7B7809EC73-F504-46B6-8F12-9B9B00F89295%7D

INTERNET/BROADBAND

SORTING THROUGH THE NOISE OF ELECTION '06
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Kim Patrick Kobza, Neighborhood America]
[Commentary] Web 2.0 technological innovations=20
transcend geographical and socioeconomic=20
boundaries, allow for instant engagement and=20
bi-directional communication in a secure,=20
structured Web-based environment. But why are=20
these new interactive technologies not ubiquitous=20
across the political landscape? While blogs,=20
e-mail and social network sites may have an=20
influence on citizen expectations, they do not=20
provide the structure necessary to meet public=20
comment standards. Lack of structure,=20
accountability and security issues associated=20
with most forms of social networks -- the=20
MySpaces of the world -- are a big part of the=20
problem. Technologies that are designed for=20
entertainment and social networking do not=20
necessarily support constructive dialogue and=20
informed decision-making. While blogs, e-mail and=20
social network sites may have an influence on=20
citizen expectations, they do not provide the=20
structure necessary to meet public comment standards.
http://news.com.com/Sorting+through+the+noise+of+Election+06/2010-1028_3...
43316.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

CONGRESS AND THE BENEFITS OF SUNSHINE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Representative-elect Kirsten=20
Gillibrand (D-NY) has decided to post details of=20
her work calendar on the Internet at the end of=20
each day so constituents can tell what she is=20
actually doing for their money. For all the=20
worthy proposals for ethics reform being hashed=20
out by the incoming Congress, a heavy dose of=20
Internet transparency should not be overlooked in=20
the effort to repair lawmakers=92 tattered=20
credibility. The technology is already there,=20
along with the public=92s appetite for more=20
disclosure about the byways of power in=20
Congress. The Web is increasingly wielded by=20
both campaign donors and bloggers clicking and=20
tapping as wannabe muckrakers. Politicians would=20
be wise to catch up. Local citizens were enlisted=20
to track pork-barrel abuses in the last campaign=20
by a new watchdog organization, the Sunlight=20
Foundation, which enlisted Ms. Gillibrand=92s=20
disclosure pledge. It aims to have voters use the=20
Internet as an engine of political information.=20
Much more than disclosure is needed to cure the=20
Capitol=92s ills -- particularly some sort of=20
independent agency to prod Congress to fully=20
investigate corruption allegations. But prompt,=20
searchable postings of basic data -- from=20
lobbyists=92 itineraries and expenses to=20
incumbents=92 donor ties and legislative labors --=20
should be part of any corruption cure. In the=20
information age, this amounts to a modest=20
proposal for a Congress truly intent on reform.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/opinion/14thu3.html
(requires registration)

ACTIVE INTERNET USERS CONNECT VIA BROADBAND
[SOURCE: Nielsen//NetRatings]
Nielsen//NetRatings announced that 78 percent of=20
active home Web users connected via broadband=20
during the month of November, up 13 percentage=20
points from 65 percent of active Web users a year=20
ago. Broadband consumers are heavy Internet users=20
compared to their narrowband counterparts. In=20
November, with an average of 34 hours and 50=20
minutes per person, they spent 33 percent more=20
time online than narrowband users, who had an=20
average of 26 hours and 13 minutes per person.=20
Among all time spent online during the month, 82=20
percent could be attributed to those connecting=20
via broadband. In addition, broadband users=20
viewed over twice as many Web pages as narrowband=20
users, with averages of 1,574 and 681 Web pages per person, respectively.
http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_061212.pdf

INTERNET USERS IN SEARCH OF A HOME
[SOURCE: Pew Internet & American Life Project]
The number of Internet users who go online to=20
look for information about a place to live has=20
grown steadily over the past six years. Now,=20
nearly two in five adult Internet users in the=20
U.S. (39%) have done this, up from 34% in 2004=20
and 27% in 2000. Fully half of Internet users=20
ages 18 to 29 have looked for housing information online.
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/196/report_display.asp
* Growth in Net for Home Research
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TECHBIT_ONLINE_REAL_ESTATE?SITE=3...
DAR&SECTION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT

QUICKLY

DALE HATFIELD NAMED AS CHAIRMAN OF COMMERCE=20
DEPARTMENT'S SPECTRUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
On Wednesday, Assistant Secretary for=20
Communications and Information John Kneuer=20
announced Dale Hatfield, an independent=20
consultant and adjunct professor in the=20
University of Colorado Interdisciplinary=20
Telecommunications Program, as chairman of the=20
Commerce Department=92s Spectrum Advisory Committee=20
at the Committee=92s first meeting. Committee=20
members will provide advice and recommendations=20
on how the use of the radio frequency spectrum, a=20
vital and limited resource, could be better=20
managed to help ensure continued U.S. leadership=20
in wireless technologies while ensuring the=20
country=92s homeland security, national defense and=20
other critical governmental needs.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2006/specadvisory_121306.htm

EXPERT TEAMS TO DESIGN NEW SOLUTIONS FOR PERSONAL=20
HEALTH RECORDS TO HELP MANAGE THEIR HEALTH
[SOURCE: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation press release]
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation kicked off a=20
landmark program to design and test bold ideas=20
for how consumers can use information technology=20
to better manage their health and navigate the=20
health care system. Project HealthDesign:=20
Rethinking the Power and Potential of Personal=20
Health Records, a $4.4 million initiative, has=20
selected nine multidisciplinary teams that will=20
build new tools that advance the field of=20
personal health record (PHR) systems. In this=20
two-phased initiative, design teams will first=20
participate in a six-month structured process to=20
design user-centered personal health applications=20
that address specific health challenges faced by=20
individuals and caregivers. In the subsequent=20
12-month phase, prototypes of these personal=20
health tools will be tested with target populations.
http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/newsreleasesdetail.jsp?id=3D10449

DIGITAL DESTINY: NEW MEDIA AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY
[SOURCE: Kirkus Reviews]
[Commentary/Book Review] A sobering view of=20
today's entrenched corporate media giants as a=20
threat to the concept of an enlightened=20
electorate. As executive director of the Center=20
for Digital Democracy, a public-interest group,=20
the author has spent 30 years in the middle of=20
Washington's often obfuscated communications=20
policy-making apparatus. Recent trends, he=20
argues, have so broken down former caveats=20
against consolidation of media ownership --=20
newspapers, radio, TV and now digital networks=20
and services -- that the future of media content,=20
including the Internet itself, may be effectively=20
determined without public participation. Thanks=20
to rampant deregulation of large media=20
corporations, particularly under the reign of=20
former Bush administration FCC Commissioner=20
Michael C. Powell, Chester asserts, commercial=20
considerations--advertising revenues and=20
fee-based media services -- have become the prime=20
force in new media development and delivery=20
schemes. (The news here for many readers may be=20
that it wasn't always this way.) Longstanding=20
policy guidelines recognized that multiple media=20
ownership in local markets could result in=20
shaping information solely to further the agenda=20
of corporate owners. However, Powell pushed a=20
GOP-endorsed free-market campaign that, while=20
rebuffed in some of its more extreme dimensions,=20
has now empowered single entities to own multiple=20
media outlets and services in local markets. As a=20
way of pointing out the determination--and, in=20
his view, insidiousness--of media giants to lobby=20
against ownership restrictions, Chester singles=20
out the New York Times as one of the most=20
aggressive, noting that the maneuvers of its=20
corporate stewards remained curiously absent from=20
its own news pages for an extended period. A=20
party power shift in Washington, the author sums=20
up, won't necessarily diminish the threat.=20
Complex, quixotic attempt to sway the American=20
public from the temptation to 'amuse itself to death.'
http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/DDKirkus.html
See more at:=20
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Destiny-Media-Future-Democracy/dp/15658479...
sr=3D1-1/qid=3D1166052093/ref=3Dpd_bbs_sr_1/103-7474564-4328635?ie=3DUTF8&s=
=3Dbooks

THE TEEN MEDIA JUGGLING ACT
[SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation]
In recent years, the issue of media multitasking=20
has sparked a broad discussion about the=20
potential impact on children and youth and has=20
raised concerns among non-profits about how best=20
to engage young people with social marketing=20
campaigns. To help advance understanding about=20
the issues that surround media multitasking, the=20
Kaiser Family Foundation hosted a forum, The Teen=20
Media Juggling Act: The Implications of Media=20
Multitasking Among American Youth. Kaiser also=20
released a report, Media Multitasking Among=20
American Youth: Prevalence, Predictors and=20
Pairings. key findings include: 1) When they are=20
a young person=92s primary activity, TV and=20
videogames are the least multitasked media, while=20
reading and computer activities such as instant=20
messaging, computer games and looking at websites=20
are the most multitasked. 2) Most young people=20
media multitask at least some of the time, but=20
some don't do so at all. 3) Young people are most=20
likely to use multiple media together when=20
they=92re instant messaging (74%), surfing the=20
Internet (74%) or playing computer games (67%);=20
they=92re least likely to do so when watching TV=20
(17% of the time). 4) Girls are more likely to=20
media multitask than boys. 5) Young people who=20
are =93heavy=94 media multitaskers consume nearly=20
twice as much media as those who are =93light=94=20
multitaskers. 6) Many teens use media while doing=20
their homework, especially if they=92re doing homework on the computer.
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia121206pkg.cfm

WORKER INTERRUPTIONS COSTLY
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Ellen Wulfhorst]
How many times have I told you to not bother me=20
when I'm cutting and pasting? U.S. office workers=20
get interrupted on the job as often as 11 times=20
an hour, costing as much as $588 billion to U.S.=20
business each year, according to research. Adding=20
the distracting lure of checking e-mails, surfing=20
the Internet and chatting by computer, and=20
workers interrupt themselves nearly as much as=20
they are interrupted by others, experts say. The=20
barrage of interruptions and distractions only=20
worsens at this time of year, experts say. ("Is that a package? For me?")
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-12-13T224848Z_01_N13452627_RTRUKOC_0_US-WORK-INTERRUPTIONS.xml&WTmo=
dLoc=3DInternetNewsHome_C2_internetNews-1
--------------------------------------------------------------
Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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