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FCC NEWS
FCC's Open Meeting Agenda (Now THAT's an Agenda!)
RTNDA Calls For Halt to VNR Investigation
FCC Grants Transfer of Control of Fox Television=20
Stations to Fox Entertainment Group

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Google to Acquire YouTube for $1.65 Billion
Take Risks

TELEVISION/CABLE
Stevens to NTIA: Count Cable Homes
Minorities Complain About Cost Of Cable Regulation

QUICKLY -- Indispensable Old Media; WGA Says ABC=20
Makes "Final" Offer; Statewide Franchising Stalls in Pennsylvania

FCC NEWS

FCC'S OPEN MEETING AGENDA
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission will hold=20
an open meeting on Thursday, October 12, 2006 at=20
9:30 a.m. in Room TW-C305, at 445 12th Street,=20
S.W., Washington, D.C. The Commission will=20
consider: 1) a Notice of Inquiry that seeks=20
comments and information for the Thirteenth=20
Annual Report on the status of competition in the=20
market for the delivery of video programming, 2)=20
interference protection in the 700MHz band, 3)=20
new wireless operations in the TV broadcast=20
bands, 4) the proposed merger of AT&T and BellSouth and 5) Network Neutrali=
ty.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267791A1.doc
* Now THAT's an Agenda!
[SOURCE: Public Knowledge, AUTHOR: Harold Feld, Media Access Project]
[Commentary] The FCC has posted the agenda for=20
its open meeting Thursday, October 12. And boy,=20
that is some agenda. Two items that have been=20
rumored as circulating for a long time did not=20
make it on the agenda. The digital radio=20
conversion order remain on hold, and the=20
Continental/Massport proceeding also remains on=20
hold. Given that the later was supposed to be all=20
set for a vote a few weeks ago, it is puzzling=20
why it remains unresolved. Finally, it is=20
important to realize that an item can get pulled=20
from the agenda at any time, right up to the day=20
of the meeting if the Commissioners are unable to=20
reach agreement and the Chairman does not want to=20
force a vote. If the Commissioners can't reach a=20
deal on AT&T/BS or on Broadcast White Spaces, the=20
Chairman may pull those items in the hopes of=20
achieving a better consensus later.
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/673

RTNDA CALLS FOR HALT TO VNR INVESTIGATION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Radio-Television News Directors Association=20
is asking the Federal Communications Commission=20
to halt its present enforcement investigation=20
into the use of video news releases (VNRs) on=20
local television stations and to rescind the=20
letters of inquiry sent to 77 stations in August.=20
In a filing at the FCC, RTNDA is arguing that the=20
investigation is 1) an unwarranted intrusion that=20
is chilling newsgathering, 2) based on an=20
inaccurate study of VNR use by the Center for=20
Media and Democracy (CMD) and 3) unnecessary=20
because stations don't have to identify the=20
source of VNR's if they have not been paid or=20
promised something for their use.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6378822?display=3DBreaking+News
* RTNDA press release: http://www.rtnda.org/news/2006/100606.shtml
* Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed (the CMD report in question)
http://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary
* RTNDA critique of CMD report
http://www.rtnda.org/foi/vnr_study.pdf
* Accuracy of Report on Video News Releases=20
Affirmed: CMD Issues Full Rebuttal of RTNDA Claims
"It's unfortunate that an organization=20
representing news directors is attacking=20
accurate, independent reporting," stated CMD=20
senior researcher Diane Farsetta, who co-authored=20
the 'Fake TV News' report. "We do not find=20
RTNDA's claims to have any merit. Furthermore, it=20
should be noted that the issue is VNR disclosure.=20
TV stations willing to disclose where the video=20
in their newscast comes from should feel no chill=20
at all. As the FCC stated in its April 2005=20
Public Notice on VNRs, news audiences have the=20
right to know 'who seeks to influence them."
http://www.prwatch.org/node/5283
* Rebuttal of the Radio-Television News Directors=20
Association's "Fake TV News" Report Critique
http://www.prwatch.org/node/5282

FCC GRANTS TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF FOX TELEVISION=20
STATIONS TO FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC has acted favorably on a request from=20
Rupert Murdoch to transfer control of Fox=20
Television Stations to Fox Entertainment Group.=20
The Commission granted the applicants' requests=20
for the following: waiver of the=20
newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership prohibition=20
to permit the continued ownership of WWOR-TV,=20
WNYW(TV), and The New York Post; and waiver of=20
the local ownership rule for station KFCT(TV),=20
Fort Collins, Colorado to continue to operate as=20
a satellite of station KDVR(TV), Denver,=20
Colorado. The Commission also granted applicants'=20
request for waiver of the local ownership rule=20
and grant applicants a permanent waiver of the=20
newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership prohibition=20
to permit continued ownership of The New York=20
Post and WNYW(TV), and a temporary waiver of the=20
newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership prohibition=20
to permit continued ownership of The New York Post and WWOR-TV.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-122A1.doc

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

GOOGLE TO ACQUIRE VIDEO SITE YOUTUBE FOR $1.65 BILLION
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Eric Auchard]
Google said on Monday it agreed to acquire top=20
video entertainment site YouTube Inc. for $1.65=20
billion in stock, the highest price yet paid for=20
a consumer-generated media site. The first deal=20
to value one of the new generation of=20
user-participation Web sites at more than $1=20
billion combines two of the most popular Internet=20
brands: Google, synonymous with Web search and=20
rapid innovation, and YouTube, a Silicon Valley=20
upstart that has spearheaded the video-sharing=20
craze. For Google, the acquisition of YouTube=20
would thrust the Web search leader quickly into=20
the emerging market for video advertising, where=20
it has only a tiny foothold compared with Yahoo=20
Inc. and various Web start-ups, analysts said. On=20
Monday, YouTube and CBS announced a deal that=20
calls for CBS to offer YouTube users a variety of=20
short-form video programming including news,=20
sports, and entertainment divisions beginning=20
this month. Also on Monday, Universal Music Group=20
announced it will offer YouTube users access to=20
thousands of videos from Universal's archives and=20
let YouTube users incorporate songs from its=20
music catalog into their own videos.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-10-09T232529Z_01_WEN6650_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-GOOGLE.xml&WTmodLoc=3D=
TechNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-2
* CBS, YouTube strike content, ad partnership
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-10-09T144351Z_01_WEN6640_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-CBS-YOUTUBE.xml
* Universal and YouTube land deal
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-10-09T131956Z_01_WEN6636_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-UNIVERSAL-YOUTUBE.xml
* Google Acquires YouTube
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6379481.html
* Google to Buy YouTube
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6379474.html?display=3DBreaking+News
* Dot-Com Boom Echoed in Deal to Buy YouTube
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/technology/10deal.html?hp&ex=3D1160539...
&en=3D7f2e74db76870ea0&ei=3D5094&partner=3Dhomepage
* Google Looks To Boost Ads With YouTube
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116039852999986783.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
* Google Gambles on Web Video
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR200610...
0546.html
* Google cues up with YouTube
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061010/1a_bottomstrip10_dom....
.htm
* Google Bets Big on Videos
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-google10oct10,1,206...
8.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage

TAKE RISKS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] We agree it's tougher these days for=20
producers and writers. The networks now control=20
more programming than ever, and that may mean=20
fewer creative voices are heard. It may even be=20
true that network ownership leads to more=20
formulaic programming. But they are their=20
networks, and in a world of boundless=20
entertainment choices, no wonder the Big Four=20
want a good cut of the action. We have to believe=20
the future for professional writers and producers=20
is one tiny techno-hop away. And even with the=20
big networks clawing their way in, the very near=20
future is going to create broadband audiences=20
that will seek out and pay for creative content.=20
Networks that are too heavy-handed or slow to=20
recognize the shift will lose out to nimbler=20
media. Those Big Four networks might learn that=20
being big isn't always so good. We love the=20
entrepreneurs and risk-takers in this business,=20
on every rung of the ladder. Ted Turner was a=20
billboard-company owner with a big idea. For that=20
matter, more than 80 years ago, William Paley was=20
a cigar-seller who liked the way radio moved=20
merchandise. Hooray for the little guy who gets=20
rich. It can still happen. But these days, it=20
might not be by getting the time slot right after=20
Lost. It might be by creating content on a site yet to be found.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6378929.html?display=3DOpinion

TELEVISION/CABLE

STEVENS TO NTIA: COUNT CABLE HOMES
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
On Feb. 17, 2009, every TV station has to cease=20
analog broadcasting, ending the so-called=20
digital-TV transition. But potentially millions=20
of analog TVs will be useless if not adapted to=20
display digital signals. In the law enacted=20
earlier this year, Congress set aside $1.5=20
billion to help defray the cost of=20
digital-to-analog converter boxes, which allow=20
TVs that rely exclusively on free, over-the-air=20
signals to continue working. Under the law, each=20
household is entitled to seek two coupons worth=20
$40 each. In a surprise move, the Commerce=20
Department=92s National Telecommunications and=20
Information Association (NTIA) said it wanted to=20
limit coupon eligibility to broadcast-only homes,=20
a proposal strongly opposed by the National=20
Association of Broadcasters as contrary to law.=20
But banning pay-TV homes from the program is=20
opposed by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted=20
Stevens (R-Alaska), a top Stevens aide said last=20
week. =93That=92s not going to stand. We=92re not doing=20
that. We've told them that,=94 Commerce Committee=20
staff director Lisa Sutherland, a top Stevens adviser, said.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6378960.html?display=3DPolicy

MINORITIES COMPLAIN ABOUT COST OF CABLE REGULATION
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
The Hispanic Federation, the Hispanic Coalition=20
and the National Black Chamber of Commerce have=20
complained to the FCC that new regulations=20
governing set-top boxes for cable television=20
would trigger higher costs for consumers. The=20
Chamber predicted that consumers would pay an=20
additional $600 million a year in equipment=20
costs. Those figures are widely cited by the=20
cable industry, which strongly opposes the planned restrictions.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-YMPJ1160158432091.html

QUICKLY

INDISPENSABLE OLD MEDIA
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Susan D. Moeller and Mois=E9s Na=EDm]
[Commentary] Over the weekend, at almost the=20
same time that the world was informed that Google=20
was vying to pay $1.65 billion for YouTube, a=20
2-year-old video-sharing website, famed Russian=20
journalist Anna Politkovskaya was gunned down in=20
Moscow. Politkovskaya covered human rights abuses=20
in Chechnya. She was also a vocal critic of=20
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, and Russian=20
authorities consider her death a political=20
assassination. YouTube's acquisition and=20
Politkovskaya's killing are unrelated events. Yet=20
both offer powerful clues about the forces=20
shaping the way information is produced,=20
distributed and consumed in today's world.=20
YouTube epitomizes "new media" -- their immense=20
potential and surprising effects. Politkovskaya=20
represents "old media" -- their literal struggle=20
for survival and also their historical, indeed=20
indispensable, value. There is no doubt that new=20
technologies are changing the way all of us get=20
and understand information. The trend is toward=20
actively "searching" for what one wants to watch,=20
read or listen to rather than passively taking in=20
whatever editors or producers select. The=20
fascination with the transformational effect of=20
all this makes it easy to forget what is=20
essential to the information process: traditional=20
"old media" messengers such as Anna=20
Politkovskaya. YouTube, Google, Flickr and many=20
other websites offer valuable tools for keeping=20
the world informed. But they are not a substitute=20
for Politkovskaya and her colleagues. Societies=20
are judged on how they treat their most=20
vulnerable citizens. We suggest that added to=20
that calculation should be whether journalists=20
have been threatened, assaulted and killed. Tell=20
us how many journalists were assassinated in your=20
country last year, and we will tell you what kind of society you have.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-moeller_naim10oct...
1,4001534.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

WGA SAYS ABC MAKES "FINAL" OFFER
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to a representative of the Writers=20
Guild of America East, ABC has submitted what it=20
has called its "final offer" in the=20
almost-two-year-old negotiations over new=20
contracts for newswriters, editors, graphic=20
artists, researchers and desk/production=20
assistants. That ABC proposal would remove=20
newswriter/producers from the union (newswriters=20
who have gained some management functions) and=20
lead to possible layoffs of newswriters, the=20
guild said. Removing newswriters/producers is a=20
key issue with the guild, which has complained,=20
including in an FCC media-ownership hearing in=20
L.A. last week, that removing them from the union=20
would have an adverse impact on news quality. The=20
proposal on a new, five-year contract does=20
include a pay increase that would represent a=20
9.5% boost by the end of five years. But the=20
guild says that since it is not retroactive, it=20
is actually over seven years and would not match=20
a cost-of-living increase over that period.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6379247?display=3DBreaking+News

STATEWIDE FRANCHISING STALLS IN PENNSYLVANIA
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
Two bills that would have enabled statewide cable=20
franchising for new video entrants in=20
Pennsylvania are dead for this year. Faced with=20
an uphill battle to interest election-focused=20
legislators in a complex cable-reform bill, as=20
well as loud opposition from the measure=92s=20
municipal foes, sponsors of the two proposals=20
withdrew their legislation from consideration.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6378942.html?display=3DTop+Stories
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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