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"Don't be confused by these spurious complaints about Net neutrality. Net neutrality is a solution in search of a problem."
-- Rep Bobby Rush (D-IL)
http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/3482
The Alliance for Public Technology's "Digging Deeper into the Senate Communications Act of 2006" discussion has been rescheduled for Friday. Today, the Senate Commerce Committee considers the future of ICANN and the New America Foundation discusses "The Benefits of Unlicensed Access to Vacant TV Spectrum." On Thursday, the Senate Commerce Committee holds a hearing on 3 nominations for seats on the CPB board (see more below). For these and other upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org
Upcoming Media Policy Events
MARTIN LAUNCHES IG INVESTIGATION OF MISSING STUDIES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
As promised, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is investigating two reports on media ownership -- radio and TV -- that were created at the FCC but never released. In a letter to Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Martin said that he was making the second report available on the FCC Web site. He also said he would include that report, a 2003 study of radio ownership, as part of the open localism and media ownership proceedings. He did the same with the initial 2004 TV report.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373358?display=Breaking+News
* Letter from Chairman Martin to Senator Boxer
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267475A1.pdf
* Draft 2003 "Review of the Radio Industry"
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267479A1.pdf
* Powell: Politics Quashed No Reports
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell said Tuesday that he was not aware of the second unpublished FCC report on media ownership that has surfaced from the office of Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), that not all reports get published, and that any conjecture that the reports were unpublished for political reasons was wrong. Ken Ferree, who was Media Bureau chief at the FCC, says there are probably thousands of pages of material from lawyers and economists that never see the light of day for any number of reasons, including management of resources, "but it would not be because of the results," he said. "There are lots of things that never go out the door."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373385.html
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373358?display=Breaking%20News
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE APPROVES MARTIN RENOMINATION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 21 to 0 to approve the renomination of Kevin Martin as Chairman of the FCC, and of John Kneuer to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. They await a vote in the full Senate, which is likely to come before Sept. 30.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373388?display=Breaking+News
* Senate Commerce Committee press release
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Det...
* Senate Panel OKs Martin
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6373416.html?display=Breaking+News
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&Pres…
SEPT 26 FCC MEETING AGENDA
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 2006, which is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. in Room TW-C305, at 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. The Commission will consider: 1) an annual report on the competitive market conditions with respect to Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS); 2) the Children's Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters; 3) how the rural health care funding mechanism can be used to enhance public and non-public health care providers' access to advanced telecommunications and information services; and 4) launch of the Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267502A1.doc
Sept 26 FCC Meeting Agenda
Supporters and opponents of deregulatory telecommunications legislation are engaging in last-minute lobbying efforts to block, pass or alter the measure before Congress adjourns. The Senate version of the House-passed measure, H.R. 5252, faces what many observers say are slim prospects because author Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has yet to garner the 60 votes he needs to limit debate. With billions of dollars on the line, no side is taking any chances. Proponents this week are stepping up efforts to secure passage while critics ratchet up opposition. The Senate Commerce Committee report accompanying the bill, circulated in August, will be issued this week, a panel staffer said. But the aide said floor consideration "is up to the leadership, and we're still talking with them."
Groups Lobby, Poll Public To Push Telecom Views Access-fee bill roils Net phone industry
TECH MANUFACTURERS RALLY AGAINST NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
Producers of networking hardware and applications gathered around a podium at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday with a single message: Not all "high-tech" companies support so-called Net neutrality legislation. At a press conference , more than a dozen representatives from companies like Corning, Tyco and Motorola urged the U.S. Senate to pass the massive Senate communications bill -- attacked by Net neutrality fans for failing to ensure nondiscriminatory treatment of Internet content -- as soon as possible. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), a primary sponsor of a narrower House of Representatives measure approved in June by a 321 to 101 vote, joined the industry representatives in calling for Senate action "right away." He stressed that the legislation will "deliver much-needed relief to cable rates" sought by his Chicago-area constituents.
http://news.com.com/Tech+manufacturers+rally+against+Net+neutrality/2100...
Tech Manufacturers rally Against Net Neutrality
WRONG TURN ON EAVESDROPPING
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Before wrapping up business and sending members home for the fall campaign, both houses of Congress are likely to take up measures to authorize the National Security Agency's program of warrantless surveillance. The two main bills under consideration would both be disasters; they should not pass in anything like their present form. Because the parameters of the program remain so murky, it is impossible for those who have not been briefed on its details to identify exactly what Congress should do. No matter what the contours of the program may be, however, the steps these bills contemplate are dangerous. Instead of modernizing and updating a law that has served well and may need adjustment, they would authorize broad executive powers of warrantless domestic surveillance. Congress needs to step in and regulate the NSA's program; it almost certainly also needs to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which was passed before the advent of modern telecommunications and computer technologies. Members of both parties have advanced thoughtful proposals. The goal of any legislation should be to authorize what is necessary in the NSA's program while at the same time limiting it and ensuring appropriate judicial oversight. These bills would do almost the opposite.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR200609...
(requires registration)
Wrong Turn on Eavesdropping
INTEROPERABILITY PUSH FALTERS, BUT BACKERS STAY HOPEFUL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 9/15, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Senate and House proposals to bolster communications across jurisdictions for fire, police and other rescue personnel were dealt major setbacks. But sources said lawmakers may have more opportunities before Congress adjourns to secure additional money for the effort. Democrats are crying foul over a decision by House Republicans to reject $3.1 billion over five years for new communications equipment for "first responders." But a Republican aide with the House Homeland Security Committee said there is ample funding in the pipeline for that purpose. In the upper chamber, Sens. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and John McCain (R-AZ) both failed in their attempts to add to a port security bill language reserving $1 billion for emergency interoperability. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was unsuccessful in adding a $5 billion emergency communications grant program to the legislation. The Senate passed the bill, but their amendments were declared non-germane.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-PEIA1158694990412.html
Interoperability Push Falters, But Backers Stay Hopeful
GONZALES WANTS INTERNET RECORDS SAVED
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Hope Yen]
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday that Congress should require Internet providers to preserve customer records, asserting that prosecutors need them to fight child pornography. Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller have met with several Internet providers, including Time Warner's AOL, Comcast Corp., Google, Microsoft Corp. and Verizon Communications. The law enforcement officials have indicated to the companies they must retain customer records, possibly for two years. The companies have discussed strengthening their retention periods -- which currently run the gamut from a few days to about a year -- to help avoid legislation. During those meetings, which took place earlier this summer, Justice Department officials asserted that customer records would help them investigate child pornography cases. But the FBI also said during the meetings that such records would help their terrorism investigations, said one person who attended the meetings but spoke on condition of anonymity because the meetings were intended to be private. Testifying to a Senate panel, Gonzales acknowledged the concerns of some company executives who say legislation might be overly intrusive and encroach on customers' privacy rights. But he said the growing threat of child pornography over the Internet was too great.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_RECORDS_GONZALES?SITE=NC...
* Gonzales: ISPs must keep records on users
http://news.com.com/Gonzales+ISPs+must+keep+records+on+users/2100-1028_3...
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_RECORDS_GONZALES?SITE=NCCON&SECT…