Benton RSS Feed

For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Deadline Nears for Comments on Media Ownership Restrictions
New Ownership Studies Expected
Networks Aren't Wal-Marts
News Corp renews =91poison pill=92 defence

INTERNET/BROADBAND/TELECOM
Spreading the Broadband Revolution
Jesse Jackson pushes AT&T/BellSouth merger
More concessions from AT&T sought
Democratic Congress would push net neutrality, hurt RBOCs: USB Warburg
Video-hungry users could push Net to brink: Nortel
New Telephone Subscribership Report=09
No Drama Out of a Crisis

LOBBYING
Mad Money

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Take Decency Off FCC's Hands
Commentator Paid to Promote Bush Agenda Agrees to a Settlement
Planted Propaganda

JOURNALISM
Tightened Belts Could Put Press In a Pinch
Hispanic Journalists Frustrated by Continued=20
Exclusion of Latinos on Network News
Women Scarcer On 'Evening News'

QUICKLY -- NTCA's Digital Cowboys Sing the 'Sweet=20
Sounds of the Universal Service Fund'; Dish Must=20
Stop Selling Distant Signals; TV dishes: banned=20
in Boston?; McDowell Pushes Wireless=20
Partnerships; E-Rate Eligible Services; MacArthur=20
to invest $50M in digital learning

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

DEADLINE NEARS FOR COMMENTS ON OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
The debate over whether the Federal=20
Communications Commission should ease media=20
ownership rules is being played out in filings=20
with the Commission for today's initial deadline=20
for comments. In filings late this week, the=20
Progress and Freedom Foundation and the Media=20
Institute suggested that the FCC ease its rules=20
while some consumer and writers groups reiterated=20
their opposition to an easing.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D10931
(requires free registration)
* Media Comments Keep On Coming
As of Friday night, 168,134 comments had been=20
filed in the FCC's media ownership review, with=20
more to come before the end of the day Monday,=20
Oct. 23, which marks the end of the initial=20
comment period. While the vast majority of the=20
comments appeared to be form e-mail complaints=20
from members of anti-media actvist groups warning=20
of further consolidation. There will be more=20
opportunity for comment through the beginning of=20
December, and beyond as the commission tries to=20
recraft generally deregulatory rule changes=20
remanded by a federal appeals court in 2004.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6383730.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

NEW OWNERSHIP STUDIES EXPECTED
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Benton Foundation and the Social Science=20
Research Council will release four media=20
ownership studies Monday concerning radio,=20
minority and women-owned media, minority news=20
consumption, and TV/newspaper cross-ownership's=20
impact on public affairs. Gloria Tristani, former=20
FCC commissioner with the Benton Foundation, says=20
the goal is not to inundate the commission, but=20
to "help inform policymakers with good data."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6383555.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
* See "Does Bigger Media Equal Better Media?" for more info on the release:
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/3770
See also --
* Studies Note Media Consolidation As Debate On The Issue Intensifies
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-MLVM1161348543266.html

NETWORKS AREN'T WAL-MARTS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Jonathan=20
Rintels, Center for Creative Voices in Media]
[Commentary] B&C=92s October 9 editorial =93Take=20
Risks=94, concerning the complaints made against=20
Big Media at the FCC=92s public hearings in L.A.,=20
fails to mention the primary reason the FCC was=20
holding public hearings in the first place:=20
because broadcasters who have been granted a=20
license to use the public=92s airwaves, with no=20
payment to the public, are required by law to=20
operate in the public interest. Analogizing=20
broadcasting to Wal-Mart while ignoring this=20
critical fact is misleading and inapposite. The=20
editorial suggests that creatives blocked by the=20
networks from access to the public airwaves=20
should instead create for the Internet and=20
YouTube. Many are doing just that. But the=20
existence of the Internet does not in any way=20
relieve broadcasters of their obligation to=20
operate in the public interest. As David Rehr,=20
president of the NAB, said the day after the=20
FCC=92s public hearings, =93By any measure, broadcast=20
remains the undisputed leader in news and entertainment -- by far.=94
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6383684.html?display=3DOpinion

NEWS CORP RENEWS 'POISON PILL' DEFENCE
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Joshua Chaffin]
News Corp shareholders on Friday agreed to extend=20
a special =93poison pill=94 provision that was=20
designed to protect the media group from a=20
hostile takeover by rival Liberty Media. At a New=20
Corp annual meeting that often veered into=20
questions about the personal politics of the=20
company=92s chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, the=20
proposal to extend the measure for an additional=20
year won 57 per cent of the votes cast. At the=20
same time, Mr Murdoch said he believed that he=20
was nearing a deal with John Malone, the Liberty=20
Media chief executive, who began to build up a 19=20
per cent stake in News Corp two years ago. That=20
move took the Murdochs by surprise, and raised=20
speculation that Mr Malone might be moving to=20
take control of a global media giant that Mr=20
Murdoch built from a family-owned chain of newspapers in Australia.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/f2835478-606b-11db-a716-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

INTERNET/BROADBAND/TELECOM

SPREADING THE BROADBAND REVOLUTION
[SOURCE: New York Times 10/21, AUTHOR: Former-FCC Chairman Bill Kennard]
[Commentary] Any serious discussion of the future=20
of the Internet should start with a basic fact:=20
broadband is transforming every facet of=20
communications, from entertainment and telephone=20
services to delivery of vital services like=20
health care. But this also means that the digital=20
divide, once defined as the chasm separating=20
those who had access to narrowband dial-up=20
Internet and those who didn't, has become a=20
broadband digital divide. The nation should have=20
a full-scale policy debate about the direction of=20
the broadband Internet, especially about how to=20
make sure that all Americans get access to=20
broadband connections. As chairman of the F.C.C.,=20
I put into place many policies to bridge the=20
narrowband digital divide. The broadband=20
revolution poses similar challenges for=20
policymakers. America should be a world leader in=20
broadband technology and deployment, and we must=20
ensure that no group or region in America is=20
denied access to high-speed connections. We are=20
falling short in both areas. Congress could=20
significantly expand broadband access by: 1)=20
reforming the universal service fund to ensure=20
that broadband reaches into rural, low income and=20
other underserved communities and 2) putting all=20
broadband providers on a level playing field.=20
Congress punted on both of these issues this year=20
in large part because of the polarizing Net=20
Neutrality debate. Policymakers should rise above=20
the Net Neutrality debate and focus on what=20
America truly requires from the Internet: getting=20
affordable broadband access to those who need it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/opinion/21kennard.html?_r=3D1&oref=3Ds...
in
(requires registration)

JESSE JACKSON PUSHES AT&T/BELLSOUTH MERGER
[SOURCE: Lasar's Letter on the FCC, AUTHOR: Matthew Lasar]
The Reverend Jesse Jackson has filed a statement=20
with the Federal Communications Commission urging=20
the agency to approve AT&T's proposed takeover of BellSouth.
"I firmly believe that the merger would benefit=20
people of color and all Americans, in the years=20
to come," concludes Jackson's letter, sent to the=20
Commission on October 11th. Jackson filed on=20
behalf of the Rainbow Push Coalition, of which he=20
is President. Jackson's statement argued that the=20
proposed union will allow the new telecom giant=20
to put more money into broadband and offer=20
cheaper rates to customers. "The 'digital divide'=20
in this country is very real: technology and=20
training is expensive, and the lack of access to=20
it is creating a segmented society between those=20
who are connected and those who are not," Jackson=20
wrote. "Lower broadband prices and more=20
investment in broadband networks would help=20
extend new technologies to low-income communities=20
and propel the next generation of great leaders=20
and young minds into the digital era." Not all=20
advocates for the urban poor agree with Jackson's=20
stance. Earlier this year the mayors of New=20
Orleans, Detroit, and Compton, California asked=20
the FCC to deny AT&T's proposed merger with=20
BellSouth, alleging that the telecom giant has a=20
history of redlining minority regions.
http://lasarletter.com/freepage.php?id=3D200610201
See also --
* Black city mayors oppose AT&T/BellSouth merger (June 13, 2006)
http://lasarletter.com/freepage.php?id=3D200606131

MORE CONCESSIONS FROM AT&T SOUGHT
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
Consumer groups say concessions offered by AT&T=20
as it seeks government approval of its buyout of=20
BellSouth Corp. fall far short of what's needed=20
for the deal to be in the public interest.=20
Opponents of the deal would like to see AT&T beef=20
up its offer in three main areas: 1) Stronger=20
assurances by the company that it will not=20
discriminate against certain kinds of Internet=20
traffic, a concept known as "network neutrality."=20
2) Offer "naked DSL," or stand-alone digital=20
subscriber line service, that is priced=20
competitively. 3) Lower prices for "special=20
access" customers -- service offered to=20
capacity-hungry customers like large businesses,=20
Internet service providers and others, that=20
guarantee a dedicated high-capacity link to distribute voice and data.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/4277075.html

INVESTMENT FIRM SAYS DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS WOULD PUSH NET NEUTRALITY, HURT RB=
OCS
[SOURCE: Network World, AUTHOR: Jim Duffy]
In a research report issued last week, UBS=20
Warburg says a win for Congressional Democrats in=20
November could be a "negative" for large=20
telephone companies. =93If Democrats control=20
Congress, the =91net neutrality=92 issue will likely=20
come to the fore, especially in the Senate,=94 UBS=20
Warburg states in the report. =93They would likely=20
make a concerted effort to pass strict net=20
neutrality legislation that prevents the Bells=20
from fully monetizing their large investments in=20
fiber networks.=94 Strict net neutrality=20
essentially requires the carriers to treat all=20
packets equally, preventing them from offering=20
tiered levels of service to online content and=20
application providers, the UBS Warburg report=20
states. This would also prevent them from=20
providing additional high-value services such as=20
security, advanced streaming and multicasting,=20
the firm says. =93It may also require them to=20
interconnect their IP networks on a=20
=91nondiscriminatory=92 basis, which would mean a=20
complete re-working of the current peering system=20
while bringing the government regulation to the=20
IP networks for the first time,=94 the firm=92s=20
report states. A spokesman for the It's Our Net=20
Coalition, a proponent of net neutrality, would=20
not make a prediction on what might happen if the=20
Democrats swept Congress. But he says the UBS=20
Warburg report "mischaracterizes" the issue of=20
net neutrality with the statement that all=20
packets be treated equally. "Treating VoIP=20
traffic differently from other traffic is fine as=20
long as all VoIP traffic is treated equally," the coalition spokesman says.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/101906-net-neutrality.html?fsrc=3D...
flash-rss

VIDEO-HUNGRY USERS COULD PUSH NET TO BRINK: NORTEL
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Wojtek Dabrowski]
Soaring demand for games, video and music will=20
stretch the Internet to its limits, Canada's=20
Nortel Networks says, and it expects service=20
providers will make big investments in its=20
technology to avoid a crunch. But the telecom=20
equipment giant, still struggling to turn its=20
fortunes round after the tech bubble burst, is=20
treading carefully as it prepares for what it=20
sees as a looming buildout of capacity by=20
telecommunications companies. Massive overbuild=20
of Internet bandwidth capacity helped lead to the=20
meltdown six years ago, and the company says it=20
doesn't want things to go wrong again.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-10-20T134253Z_01_N19443767_RTRUKOC_0_US-NORTEL.xml&WTmodLoc=3DTech=
NewsHome_C2_technologyNews-4

NEW TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERSHIP REPORT
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission released=20
its latest report on telephone subscribership=20
levels in the United States. The report presents=20
subscribership statistics based on the Current=20
Population Survey conducted by the Census Bureau=20
in March 2006. The report also shows=20
subscribership levels by state, income level,=20
race, age, household size, and employment status.=20
Highlights include: 1) The telephone=20
subscribership penetration rate in the U.S. was=20
92.8%, an increase of 0.4% over the rate from=20
March 2005. 2) The telephone penetration rate for=20
households with incomes below $20,000 was below=20
90%, while the rate for households with incomes=20
over $75,000 was over 97%. 3) Among the states,=20
the penetration rates ranged from a low of 86.7%=20
in New Mexico to a high of 97.4% in Minnesota.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268000A1.doc
* See the report at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268003A1.pdf

NO DRAMA OUT OF A CRISIS
[SOURCE: Telecommunications Online, AUTHOR: Stephen McClelland]
Emergency management is a big and complex subject=20
but it is now firmly in the public eye. And=20
somewhere in the middle of all of this sits =AD=20
almost by definition =AD effective communications=20
and the global telecom network. Just how=20
effective and how global telecom needs to be to=20
cope is gradually becoming more evident as major=20
crises place increasingly heavy reliance on it.=20
Without communications, command and control=20
infrastructures generally fail completely, and=20
even if they don't, become severely compromised.
http://telecommagazine.com/newsglobe/article.asp?HH_ID=3DAR_2493

LOBBYING

MAD MONEY
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
All told, cable, phone and Internet companies in=20
the first half of the year have spent more than=20
$110 million on lobbyists, consultants, ad hoc=20
advocacy groups, Web sites, billboards, print and=20
TV advertisements trying to sway the voting and=20
thinking of members of Congress. That nine-figure=20
number does not include millions of dollars in=20
campaign contributions doled out to House and=20
Senate incumbents. Whether all the spending will=20
actually result in new legislation won't be known=20
for a few more weeks as Congress is expected to=20
return the week of Nov. 13 for a post-election=20
session. A Democratic takeover next January of=20
the House or the Senate, or both, likely dooms=20
any reform bill in the pending lame duck session,=20
a senior Republican Senate Commerce Committee=20
aide said. Major phone companies led the money=20
race, ramping up spending in 2006 for the purpose=20
of passing a law that would eliminate the need to=20
negotiate cable franchises with thousands of=20
local governments in order to deliver video=20
services in any given community. AT&T, Verizon=20
Communications, BellSouth and their trade group=20
-- the United States Telecom Association -- and=20
Qwest spent $30.3 million in the first half of=20
2006, according to lobbying expenditure reports=20
that must be filed every six months with=20
Congress. The $30.3 million was a 50% increase=20
over the previous six months, when the=20
legislative battle on Capitol Hill was just=20
beginning to take shape. The NCTA, Comcast, Time=20
Warner Inc., and Cox Enterprises spent nearly 60%=20
less than the telephone industry in the first=20
half of 2006. The big cable entities combined=20
spent $12.2 million in the first half of 2006, a=20
37% jump over second-half 2005 spending. Cable=20
companies increased their spending to counter the=20
phone-industry lobbying on cable franchising. The=20
fact that the NCTA, Comcast, Time Warner Cable=20
and Cox spent less than the phone companies may=20
play to the maxim that it is less expensive to stop a bill than to pass one.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6383576.html

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

TAKE DECENCY OFF FCC'S HANDS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Frederick Lane]
[Commentary] The time has come to strip the=20
Federal Communications Commission of its=20
jurisdiction over broadcast indecency.=20
Originally, the rationale for the FCC's indecency=20
jurisdiction lay in the fact that a broadcast=20
license is a public trust, and no broadcaster=20
should air anything that is damaging to the=20
public good (a principle that was designed to=20
keep not merely the obscene, but also the=20
politically undesirable, off the airwaves). With=20
the gradual abandonment of the public-trust=20
model, the rationale for FCC indecency=20
jurisdiction has shifted to protecting children=20
from inadvertently hearing inappropriate=20
broadcasts. Roughly 90% of the country pays to=20
watch television via cable or satellite, and a=20
growing percentage are using satellite radio as=20
well. An even larger percentage of consumers are=20
purchasing specific content on a =93pay-to-play=94=20
basis from cable providers or Web sites like=20
iTunes. As more and more people specifically=20
choose to pay for content, the =93accidental=20
exposure=94 rationale for FCC indecency=20
jurisdiction correspondingly diminishes. Closely=20
related to the demise of broadcast is the rise in=20
consumer information. If a consumer purchases=20
specific media content, then presumably he or she=20
has some reasonable idea of what that content is.=20
The increase in purchased content also makes it=20
easier for parents to supervise and monitor what=20
their children are listening to and watching. At=20
its core, however, the concept of FCC=20
jurisdiction is simply inconsistent with the idea=20
of personal responsibility in a representative=20
democracy. Relying on a federal agency to=20
determine what is or is not decent sends a bad=20
message to our children (and to our=20
legislatures). If we are to maintain a strong and=20
vibrant democracy, we need to teach our children=20
the values which will enable them to make their=20
own decisions on these types of issues.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6383581.html?display=3DOpinion

COMMENTATOR PAID TO PROMOTE BUSH AGENDA AGREES TO A SETTLEMENT
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The conservative commentator Armstrong Williams=20
has reached a settlement with prosecutors=20
regarding payments he received from the Education=20
Department to promote President Bush=92s agenda.=20
Under the settlement, Mr. Williams admits no=20
wrongdoing but will have to pay $34,000 that=20
prosecutors determined he had been overpaid. The=20
deal was reached last week by Mr. Williams, the=20
Education Department and one of its subcontractors, Ketchum Communications.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/23/washington/23williams.html
(requires registration)
* Commentator to pay $34,000 in propaganda case
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061023/a_armstrong23.art.htm

PLANTED PROPAGANDA
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] The Defense Department inspector=20
general has concluded that having a Pentagon=20
contractor secretly pay Iraqi journalists and=20
news organizations to run positive news stories=20
about the war doesn't violate any laws or=20
regulations. It's almost impossible to tell=20
whether that conclusion is correct: The scanty,=20
two-page summary released by the Pentagon=20
provides no details about the activities of the=20
contractor, the Lincoln Group, the contract under=20
which it was operating or the applicable rules.=20
Assuming the inspector general's legal assessment=20
is right, it only makes the problem worse. The=20
U.S. government has a legitimate interest in=20
conveying its point of view. The problem is when=20
it does so in secret. The government shouldn't be=20
in the business of covertly peddling propaganda=20
-- especially in a war based on the notion of=20
seeking to export democratic values such as, say, a free press.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/22/AR200610...
0703.html
(requires registration)

JOURNALISM

TIGHTENED BELTS COULD PUT PRESS IN A PINCH
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Howard Kurtz]
[Commentary] It's striking how many of the major=20
probes involving members of Congress were=20
launched because of news accounts, which have=20
become the first line of defense against public=20
corruption. While journalists may lack subpoena=20
power and eavesdropping authority, they often=20
crack these cases ahead of the cops. But will=20
that change as corporate parents cut the number=20
of newsroom staffs? Real investigative reporting,=20
as opposed to the what-happened-yesterday stuff,=20
is time-consuming, risky and expensive. And as=20
one news organization after another sheds staff=20
in this tough financial climate, it's worth=20
considering what aggressive journalism has=20
produced lately. Newspapers and networks face the=20
same dilemma: too many people doing other things=20
with their time, from Web-surfing to podcast=20
listening, or simply losing interest in news=20
altogether. Some of these customers are consuming=20
the companies' wares online, which is great for=20
exposure but doesn't produce the revenue needed=20
to support long-form reporting. If this erosion=20
continues, it would be bad news for serious=20
journalism, and good news for corrupt politicians.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/22/AR200610...
0952.html
(requires registration)

HISPANIC JOURNALISTS FRUSTRATED BY CONTINUED=20
EXCLUSION OF LATINOS ON NETWORK NEWS
[SOURCE: National Association of Hispanic Journalists press release]
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists=20
is once again frustrated by the lack of coverage=20
of Latinos on the network evening newscasts of=20
ABC, CBS, and NBC. In its 11th annual Network=20
Brownout Report released today, NAHJ found that=20
out of an estimated 12,600 stories aired on the=20
network evening newscasts in 2005, only 105=20
stories, or 0.83 percent, were exclusively about=20
Latinos. This was a slight increase from 2004=20
when stories about Latinos comprised 0.72 percent=20
of coverage. News networks still play a major=20
role in defining the national news agenda. NAHJ=20
remains disappointed that the evening news fails=20
to reflect the issues affecting more than 42=20
million Latinos living in the United States.=20
Latinos currently make up 14.5 percent of the=20
U.S. population. The results of the Brownout=20
Report also show that out of 329 hours of=20
networks news in 2005, Latino stories accounted=20
for just 3 hours and 2 minutes of air time, or 0.92 percent.
http://www.nahj.org/nahjnews/articles/2006/october/2006Brownout.shtml
* See the report at: http://www.nahj.org/resources/2006Brownout.pdf
* See also --
* Hispanic TV: More Than Language
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Christian Lewis]
Reaching U.S. Latinos through television and=20
marketing is no easy feat -- it takes a variety=20
of components to meet the diverse needs of this=20
burgeoning marketplace. 50% of Hispanics are=20
non-Spanish-language-oriented, which includes=20
English-only, English-dominant and bilingual Hispanics.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6383561.html?display=3DTop+Stories

WOMEN SCARCER ON 'EVENING NEWS'
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable]
When former Today host Katie Couric arrived at=20
the anchor chair of the CBS Evening News just six=20
weeks ago, much was made of the fact that she --=20
unlike Barbara Walters, Connie Chung and=20
Elizabeth Vargas before her -- was the first solo=20
female nightly-news anchor. But that has not=20
translated to a more female-centric Evening News,=20
at least on the correspondent side. In fact,=20
since Couric=92s arrival, women have received 40%=20
fewer assignments than they did under her=20
predecessor, Bob Schieffer. Men, meanwhile, have=20
seen no cutback in their workload. That is the=20
one result of an array of changes to the content,=20
form and presentation of the newscast instituted=20
under Couric. Those changes amount to two main=20
differences in the new Evening News. First, some=20
hard, breaking news has been supplanted by=20
features/interviews/commentary. The "Story of the=20
Day" averages 18% less time than it did under=20
Schieffer, who used to run one soft=20
(human-interest, celebrity) feature for every=20
three on a hard topic. Under Couric, the ratio is=20
one to two. Moreover, the new nightly feature,=20
freeSpeech, devotes 90 seconds to guest=20
commentary. Second, the role of the anchor has=20
been emphasized; the role of the correspondent=20
downplayed. That change is evident right at the=20
top of the newscast when the day=92s major stories are teased.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6383729.html

QUICKLY

NCTA's DIGITAL COWBOYS SING THE 'SWEET SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND'
[SOURCE: PRNewswire]
Andy you thought I was the only one who finds US=20
telecom policy funny... the National=20
Telecommunications Cooperative Association has=20
produced "The Sweet Sounds of the Universal=20
Service Fund", a humorous animated video short=20
featuring the "Digital Cowboys" who sing about=20
the many benefits of the Universal Service Fund.=20
To view the video, and for additional facts=20
about universal service, visit http://www.ntca.org/cowboy/.
http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=3D3320100&access=
=3DEH

DISH MUST STOP SELLING DISTANT SIGNALS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
On Dec. 1, EchoStar Communications must stop=20
selling out-of-market station feeds of ABC, CBS,=20
NBC and Fox programming to 800,000 subscribers,=20
according to a nationwide injunction issued=20
Friday by U.S. District Judge William P.=20
Dimitrouleas. EchoStar has just six weeks to=20
pursue a few options, including asking a higher=20
court to narrow the injunction and seeking help=20
from Congress during the lame-duck session slated=20
to begin the week of Nov. 13. EchoStar customers=20
that lose distant network service can access=20
network programming by subscribing to cable,=20
using an over-the-air antenna, or subscribing to=20
EchoStar's local signal package, if available.=20
EchoStar customers who are legally entitled to=20
buy distant signals could sign up for a such=20
package with DirecTV. To be eligible legally to=20
buy distant signals via satellite, a customer=20
isn't supposed to have over-the-air access to=20
local network programming. Federal courts have=20
found that EchoStar repeatedly sold distant=20
signals to hundreds of thousands of ineligible=20
customers. TV stations sued EchoStar to defend=20
their advertising revenue from wanton invasion by distant signals.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6383724.html?display=3DBreaking+News

TV DISHES: BANNED IN BOSTON?
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Ben Arnoldy]
The proliferation of satellite television from=20
companies like DirectTV and EchoStar has some=20
city councilors in Boston considering an=20
ordinance to minimize the visibility of the=20
dishes in the name of preserving the historic=20
charm of neighborhoods. Installers often forego=20
roofs and backs of buildings, opting to bolt the=20
receivers near windows facing streets. Rather=20
than reusing or dismantling older dishes,=20
companies usually tack on another dish for each=20
new customer in an apartment. The result, as seen=20
in photos at a city council meeting Friday, are=20
mutliplexes that begin to look like the Star Ship Enterprise.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1023/p04s01-ussc.html

MCDOWELL PUSHES WIRELESS PARTNERSHIPS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 10/18, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell encouraged the=20
commercial wireless industry and emergency=20
responders to pursue technology partnerships, but=20
he acknowledged in a speech to industry=20
executives that commercial wireless applications=20
may not always be the best option for public=20
safety. Commissioner McDowell noted that dialogue=20
between emergency personnel and commercial=20
entities also is crucial because both will be=20
"neighbors" on the airwaves after the DTV transition.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-TZQO1161348800807.html

E-RATE ELIGIBLE SERVICES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC has updated its the Eligible Services=20
List (ESL) for the schools and libraries=20
universal service support mechanism. The FCC=20
tried to make the list simpler and shorter yet=20
still providing essential eligibility information=20
about product and service categories. The list=20
includes an index and a new glossary of=20
terms. For consistency and clarity, ineligible=20
services or components that were listed alongside=20
eligible services were moved to separate sections=20
for ineligible services and products.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-158A1.doc

MACARTHUR TO INVEST $50 MILLION IN DIGITAL LEARNING
[SOURCE: eSchool News]
In an age saturated by interactive media, the=20
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation=20
intends to study the impact of these media on=20
students and their ability to learn. Through a=20
series of research projects, the organization=20
said it will spend $50 million to study how=20
schools can harness the same technologies=20
students use in their daily lives as tools for digital learning.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=3D6654
--------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, Virginia, there is a connection between=20
baseball and telecom policy: did you notice last=20
night that Magglio Ordonez learned English by reading closed-captioned TV?
--------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------