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NBC UNIVERSAL CONTESTS PAPPAS LICENSE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Mike Malone and P.J. Bednarski]
A battle between NBC Universal, which owns Telemundo, and Spanish-language rival TV Azteca, took a bitter turn Thursday when NBCU filed a petition with the FCC to deny the license renewal of KAZA, a Los Angeles-area TV Azteca America affiliate. The station is owned by Pappas Telecasting, but, the NBCU petition says, not really: Through a loan and other factors, NBCU says TV Azteca, the Mexican-owned parent of Azteca America, actually controls 51.6% of the station, far beyond the 33% investment threshold for foreign investors. Furthermore, NBCU claims TV Azteca clearly has operating control. Though it’s that ownership question that might get the FCC’s initial attention, NBCU’s petition goes further than that, arguing that TV Azteca lacks “the character qualifications to own and operate a U.S. broadcast station.” The filing claims that TV Azteca has ripped off shareholders with a “massive securities fraud,” that it arranged for an “armed raid” that stopped production of a Telemundo show in Mexico and filed “baseless criminal complaints” in Mexican courts against Telemundo and NBC’s parent, General Electric.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6396183.html

FCC NEEDS TO IMPROVE ITS ABILITY TO MONITOR AND DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF COMPETITION IN DEDICATED ACCESS SERVICES
[SOURCE: Government Accountability Office]
Government agencies and businesses that require significant capacity to meet voice and data needs depend on dedicated access services. This segment of the telecommunications market generated about $16 billion in revenues for the major incumbent telecommunications firms in 2005. The Federal Communications Commission has historically regulated dedicated access prices. With the Telecommunications Act of 1996, FCC reformed its rules to rely on competition to bring about cost-based pricing. Starting in 2001, FCC granted pricing flexibility on the basis of a proxy measure of competition. GAO examined 1) the extent that alternatives are available in areas where FCC granted pricing flexibility, 2) how prices have changed since the granting of pricing flexibility, and the effect on government agencies, and 3) how FCC monitors competition. GAO’s work included analyzing data on competitive alternatives, list prices, and average revenue, and interviewing FCC officials and industry representatives. GAO recommends that FCC better define effective competition, and consider additional data to measure and monitor competition. FCC disagreed that they need to better define competition and collect additional data. GAO maintains that additional data collection is necessary for FCC to better fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. (GAO-07-80)
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-80
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0780high.pdf

NATIONAL SECURITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[SOURCE: White House press release]
President George W. Bush today announced his intention to appoint two people and designate two people to serve in his Administration. The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President's : Daniel J. Carroll, Jr. of New Jersey and Howard L. Lance of Florida. The President intends to designate Gary D. Forsee, of Missouri, to be Chairman of the President's . The President intends to designate Randall L. Stephenson of Texas, to be Vice-Chairman of the President's .
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061130-15.html

MOM, DAD, BUY BROCCOLI
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The commercials selling empty calories like candy and soft drinks to children have gotten so out of control in recent years that now even the food industry has taken notice. Last month, 10 companies that produce almost two-thirds of the food and drink advertising for children under 12 agreed to start cutting back on advertising junk foods. Their plan, administered through the Council of Better Business Bureaus, is to make certain that at least half of the advertising for younger children promotes healthier foods and lifestyles. They also agreed not to advertise in elementary schools or place their products in children’s entertainment. And they promised to limit the use of beloved cartoon or movie characters to help sell junk food. Obesity among the young has become a health emergency, and the rates of diabetes and other adult diseases among American children are a national scandal. For years, the food and drink and candy industries have made unhealthy products irresistible to those under 12. Now the question is whether they can make healthy food and behavior look even better.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/opinion/01fri4.html
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