Benton RSS Feed

** The Alliance for Public Technology's "Digging=20
Deeper into the Senate Communications Act of=20
2006" discussion has been rescheduled for Friday.=20
Today, the Senate Commerce Committee considers=20
the future of ICANN and the New America=20
Foundation discusses "The Benefits of Unlicensed=20
Access to Vacant TV Spectrum." On Thursday, the=20
Senate Commerce Committee holds a hearing on 3=20
nominations for seats on the CPB board (see more=20
below). For these and other upcoming media policy=20
events, see http://www.benton.org **

NEWS FROM CONGRESS
Groups Lobby, Poll Public To Push Telecom Views
Tech Manufacturers rally Against Net Neutrality
Interoperability Push Falters, But Backers Stay Hopeful
Gonzales Wants Internet Records Saved
Wrong Turn on Eavesdropping
Senate Commerce Approves Martin Renomination

NEWS AT THE FCC
Martin Launches IG Investigation of Missing Studies
Sept 26 FCC Meeting Agenda
Speak up about media ownership, diversity

PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Halpern Re-elected at CPB
APTS Has Concerns With Bell Nomination
Shadow of censorship over 'Prize'

QUICKLY -- WIPO Broadcasting Treaty;=20
Murdoch-Malone deal is glimpse at the future; The=20
Rich Get Richer Media; The newest characters on=20
TV shows: Product plugs; Philadelphia Wi-Fi Net=20
at Crossroads; Competition for Community News=20
Experiments; Libraries, Museums, and Public=20
Broadcasters Collaborate; New Report: "Making=20
Progress with Broadband"; NAB Legislative=20
Lobbying Ticket; Information Quality Act=20
Implementation; A Web of Exhibitionists

NEWS FROM CONGRESS

GROUPS LOBBY, POLL PUBLIC TO PUSH TELECOM VIEWS
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 9/18, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Supporters and opponents of deregulatory=20
telecommunications legislation are engaging in=20
last-minute lobbying efforts to block, pass or=20
alter the measure before Congress adjourns. The=20
Senate version of the House-passed measure, H.R.=20
5252, faces what many observers say are slim=20
prospects because author Ted Stevens, R-Alaska,=20
has yet to garner the 60 votes he needs to limit=20
debate. With billions of dollars on the line, no=20
side is taking any chances. Proponents this week=20
are stepping up efforts to secure passage while=20
critics ratchet up opposition. The Senate=20
Commerce Committee report accompanying the bill,=20
circulated in August, will be issued this week, a=20
panel staffer said. But the aide said floor=20
consideration "is up to the leadership, and we're still talking with them."
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-AXRU1158694828580.html
* Access-fee bill roils Net phone industry
[SOURCE: newsdesk.org 9/14, AUTHOR: Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe]
http://www.newsdesk.org/archives/000859.php

TECH MANUFACTURERS RALLY AGAINST NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache]
Producers of networking hardware and applications=20
gathered around a podium at the U.S. Capitol on=20
Tuesday with a single message: Not all=20
"high-tech" companies support so-called Net=20
neutrality legislation. At a press conference ,=20
more than a dozen representatives from companies=20
like Corning, Tyco and Motorola urged the U.S.=20
Senate to pass the massive Senate communications=20
bill -- attacked by Net neutrality fans for=20
failing to ensure nondiscriminatory treatment of=20
Internet content -- as soon as possible. Rep.=20
Bobby Rush (D-IL), a primary sponsor of a=20
narrower House of Representatives measure=20
approved in June by a 321 to 101 vote, joined the=20
industry representatives in calling for Senate=20
action "right away." He stressed that the=20
legislation will "deliver much-needed relief to=20
cable rates" sought by his Chicago-area constituents.
http://news.com.com/Tech+manufacturers+rally+against+Net+neutrality/2100...
28_3-6117241.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

INTEROPERABILITY PUSH FALTERS, BUT BACKERS STAY HOPEFUL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily 9/15, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Senate and House proposals to bolster=20
communications across jurisdictions for fire,=20
police and other rescue personnel were dealt=20
major setbacks. But sources said lawmakers may=20
have more opportunities before Congress adjourns=20
to secure additional money for the effort.=20
Democrats are crying foul over a decision by=20
House Republicans to reject $3.1 billion over=20
five years for new communications equipment for=20
"first responders." But a Republican aide with=20
the House Homeland Security Committee said there=20
is ample funding in the pipeline for that=20
purpose. In the upper chamber, Sens. Ted Stevens=20
(R-Alaska) and John McCain (R-AZ) both failed in=20
their attempts to add to a port security bill=20
language reserving $1 billion for emergency=20
interoperability. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was=20
unsuccessful in adding a $5 billion emergency=20
communications grant program to the legislation.=20
The Senate passed the bill, but their amendments were declared non-germane.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-PEIA1158694990412.html

GONZALES WANTS INTERNET RECORDS SAVED
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Hope Yen]
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday=20
that Congress should require Internet providers=20
to preserve customer records, asserting that=20
prosecutors need them to fight child pornography.=20
Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller have met=20
with several Internet providers, including Time=20
Warner's AOL, Comcast Corp., Google, Microsoft=20
Corp. and Verizon Communications. The law=20
enforcement officials have indicated to the=20
companies they must retain customer records,=20
possibly for two years. The companies have=20
discussed strengthening their retention periods=20
-- which currently run the gamut from a few days=20
to about a year -- to help avoid legislation.=20
During those meetings, which took place earlier=20
this summer, Justice Department officials=20
asserted that customer records would help them=20
investigate child pornography cases. But the FBI=20
also said during the meetings that such records=20
would help their terrorism investigations, said=20
one person who attended the meetings but spoke on=20
condition of anonymity because the meetings were=20
intended to be private. Testifying to a Senate=20
panel, Gonzales acknowledged the concerns of some=20
company executives who say legislation might be=20
overly intrusive and encroach on customers'=20
privacy rights. But he said the growing threat of=20
child pornography over the Internet was too great.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_RECORDS_GONZALES?SITE=3D...
ON&SECTION=3DHOME&TEMPLATE=3DDEFAULT
* Gonzales: ISPs must keep records on users
http://news.com.com/Gonzales+ISPs+must+keep+records+on+users/2100-1028_3...
17455.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

WRONG TURN ON EAVESDROPPING
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Before wrapping up business and=20
sending members home for the fall campaign, both=20
houses of Congress are likely to take up measures=20
to authorize the National Security Agency's=20
program of warrantless surveillance. The two main=20
bills under consideration would both be=20
disasters; they should not pass in anything like=20
their present form. Because the parameters of the=20
program remain so murky, it is impossible for=20
those who have not been briefed on its details to=20
identify exactly what Congress should do. No=20
matter what the contours of the program may be,=20
however, the steps these bills contemplate are=20
dangerous. Instead of modernizing and updating a=20
law that has served well and may need adjustment,=20
they would authorize broad executive powers of=20
warrantless domestic surveillance. Congress needs=20
to step in and regulate the NSA's program; it=20
almost certainly also needs to modernize the=20
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which was=20
passed before the advent of modern=20
telecommunications and computer technologies.=20
Members of both parties have advanced thoughtful=20
proposals. The goal of any legislation should be=20
to authorize what is necessary in the NSA's=20
program while at the same time limiting it and=20
ensuring appropriate judicial oversight. These=20
bills would do almost the opposite.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR200609...
1548.html
(requires registration)

SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE APPROVES MARTIN RENOMINATION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 21 to 0=20
to approve the renomination of Kevin Martin as=20
Chairman of the FCC, and of John Kneuer to head=20
the National Telecommunications and Information=20
Administration. They await a vote in the full=20
Senate, which is likely to come before Sept. 30.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373388?display=3DBreaking+News
* Senate Commerce Committee press release
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=3DPressReleases.D...
il&PressRelease_id=3D248664&Month=3D9&Year=3D2006
* Senate Panel OKs Martin
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6373416.html?display=3DBreaking+News

NEWS AT THE FCC

MARTIN LAUNCHES IG INVESTIGATION OF MISSING STUDIES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
As promised, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is=20
investigating two reports on media ownership --=20
radio and TV -- that were created at the FCC but=20
never released. In a letter to Senator Barbara=20
Boxer (D-CA), Martin said that he was making the=20
second report available on the FCC Web site. He=20
also said he would include that report, a 2003=20
study of radio ownership, as part of the open=20
localism and media ownership proceedings. He did=20
the same with the initial 2004 TV report.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373358?display=3DBreaking+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=20
that he was not aware of the second unpublished=20
FCC report on media ownership that has surfaced=20
from the office of Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA),=20
that not all reports get published, and that any=20
conjecture that the reports were unpublished for=20
political reasons was wrong. Ken Ferree, who was=20
Media Bureau chief at the FCC, says there are=20
probably thousands of pages of material from=20
lawyers and economists that never see the light=20
of day for any number of reasons, including=20
management of resources, "but it would not be=20
because of the results," he said. "There are lots=20
of things that never go out the door."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373385.html

SEPT 26 FCC MEETING AGENDA
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The Federal Communications Commission will hold=20
an Open Meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 2006,=20
which is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. in=20
Room TW-C305, at 445 12th Street, S.W.,=20
Washington, D.C. The Commission will consider: 1)=20
an annual report on the competitive market=20
conditions with respect to Commercial Mobile=20
Radio Services (CMRS); 2) the Children's=20
Television Obligations of Digital Television=20
Broadcasters; 3) how the rural health care=20
funding mechanism can be used to enhance public=20
and non-public health care providers' access to=20
advanced telecommunications and information=20
services; and 4) launch of the Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267502A1.doc

SPEAK UP ABOUT MEDIA OWNERSHIP, DIVERSITY
[SOURCE: Austin (TX) Statesman 9/18, AUTHOR: FCC=20
Commissioner Jonathaan Adelstein]
[Commentary] Who owns the media profoundly shapes=20
how we experience news and entertainment. Our=20
daily lives are affected by what we see on=20
television, hear on the radio and read in the=20
newspapers. Americans have a right enshrined in=20
the law to receive a diversity of viewpoints and=20
local programs, rather than allowing a handful of=20
giant companies to dominate our media landscape.=20
It's the Federal Communications Commission's job=20
to protect that right. So, I'm coming to Austin=20
to find out how well we are doing.
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/09/19/19adels...
n_edit.html?cxtype=3Drss&cxsvc=3D7&cxcat=3D45

PUBLIC BROADCASTING

HALPERN RE-ELECTED AT CPB
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Cheryl Halpern was re-elected chairman of the=20
board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,=20
which administers the funding allocated by=20
Congress for public broadcasting. While her=20
election was by general consensus, there was no=20
consensus on who should be vice chairman. After=20
three ballots there was a deadlock on the race=20
between incumbent Gay Hart Gaines and Elizabeth=20
Courtney. Courtney came from the station ranks=20
and is former chairman of the Association of=20
Public Stations, which has been pushing for=20
changes to board leadership, including more=20
representation from the station ranks.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373231.html?title=3DArticle&...
cedesc=3Dnews

APTS HAS CONCERNS WITH BELL NOMINATION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Association of Public Television Stations=20
(APTS) plans to hold a board meeting shortly=20
after the Senate commerce Committee hearing for=20
CPB board nominee Warren Bell Thursday to decide=20
what official position to take on his nomination,=20
but it isn't shaping up to be a ringing=20
endorsement. The noncom community is increasingly=20
concerned about the bloggings and other public=20
statements of Bell about women, diversity, kids=20
TV and more -- APTS President John Lawson calls=20
them "flippantly hostile." Bell is a veteran=20
sitcom writer and executive with shows including=20
According to Jim, Coach, and Ellen. He is also an=20
unabashedly conservative sometimes-contributor to=20
the National Review. John Lawson, president of=20
APTS, which represents public TV station=20
interests in Washington, says he has also seen a=20
letter that has been sent to Senator Ted Stevens=20
and Daniel Inouye. co-chairman of the Senate=20
Commerce Committee] essentially corroborating=20
statements Bell has made about public=20
broadcasting in which he says he thinks it should be de-funded.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373581.html?display=3DBreaki...
News
* Who Is Warren Bell?
http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=3DdkLNK1MQIwG&b=3D2004587

SHADOW OF CENSORSHIP OVER 'PRIZE'
[SOURCE: Philadelphia Inquirer, AUTHOR: Gail Shister]
[Commentary] New PBS boss Paula Kerger spends an=20
indecent amount of time on indecency. These days,=20
the FCC's sterner enforcement policy makes it=20
risky for a PBS station even to rerun a classic=20
documentary such as the forthcoming Eyes on the=20
Prize without purging it of potentially offensive=20
language. What frustrates Kerger and other=20
broadcasters is that the FCC has not come up with=20
a clear definition of indecency. Kerger calls it=20
"a moving target." According to the FCC Web site,=20
material is indecent if, in context, "it depicts=20
or describes sexual or excretory organs or=20
activities in terms patently offensive as=20
measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium."
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/magazine/daily/15559691.htm?source=
=3Drss&channel=3Dinquirer_daily

QUICKLY

UP IN THE AIR
[SOURCE: Wired in Washington, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
Broadcasters have never lacked for political=20
clout. Whether in the United Sates or overseas,=20
the companies that control the airwaves generally=20
seem to get their way with governments. The=20
broadcasting barons are on their way to another=20
victory. Last week in Geneva, a treaty that would=20
grant new legal rights to U.S. broadcasters=20
cleared a major hurdle. Its next test is a=20
plenary meeting of the World Intellectual=20
Property Organization beginning September 25. If=20
all goes as broadcasters expect, formal treaty=20
negotiations will begin in July. WIPO has been=20
working on this broadcaster protection treaty=20
since 1998, and broadcasters all over the world=20
say action is long overdue. National Association=20
of Broadcasters CEO David Rehr says he wants to=20
be able to stop Caribbean cable systems from=20
taking the signals of Florida broadcasters and=20
retransmitting them on their networks. A new=20
international treaty is necessary, he says.=20
Whether dealing with medical drugs or digital=20
downloads, WIPO has a well-deserved reputation of=20
pushing the interests of intellectual property=20
holders. So it is no surprise that a network of=20
global non-profits is outraged over another=20
attempted expansion of intellectual property=20
rights. What=92s different about broadcaster=20
protection is that competing players =AD=20
telecommunications carriers, technology=20
companies, musicians, to name a few -- don't want=20
to protect broadcasters. They've made a belated=20
push to derail the treaty. And that may have=20
tipped the scales of the U.S. government against=20
it. Each of these potential rivals is pushing its=20
own mish-mash agenda. That=92s why predicting a=20
final outcome may be impossible. But it=92s clear=20
that this isn't your typical battle between big=20
corporations and public interest groups.
http://www.wiredinwashington.com/20060918.htm

MURDOCH-MALONE DEAL IS GLIMPSE AT THE FUTURE
[SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter, AUTHOR: Diane Mermigas]
Rupert Murdoch's willingness to relinquish News=20
Corp.'s hard-won controlling interest in DirecTV=20
in order to fend off a potential threat from John=20
Malone's Liberty Media is indicative of a new=20
industry dealmaking mind-set that will result in=20
the restructuring and even dismantling of media=20
companies in the coming years. The trading of=20
major assets and the restructuring of major media=20
conglomerates will run deep and long during the=20
next 18 months as players reposition themselves=20
in a digital marketplace governed by new rules.=20
If Murdoch has cooled on DirecTV's distribution=20
magic since acquiring its controlling interest=20
less than three years ago, it is because of his=20
impatience with how long and how much money it=20
will take to make the satellite platform more=20
competitive with cable and telephone companies by=20
giving it broadband interactivity through a=20
partnership with a wireless provider.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/columns/mermigas_display.jsp?vnu_co...
nt_id=3D1003123897

THE RICH GET RICHER MEDIA: USE MORE INTERNET, MAGAZINES, TOO
[SOURCE: MediaDailyNews, AUTHOR: Erik Sass]
Affluent Americans are reading more consumer=20
magazines and using the Internet for certain=20
business transactions much more in 2006 than they=20
did just a year ago, according to the Mendelsohn=20
Affluent Survey, an annual study investigating=20
the habits of Americans with income exceeding=20
$85,000 a year. The news for print publications=20
was especially encouraging, according to Mitch=20
Lurin, the president of Mendelsohn, who led the=20
study: "This is a year where all you hear is doom=20
and gloom: ad pages are going down, subscriptions=20
are going down, newsstand is going down--all=20
these heavy-hearted things. But among affluent=20
Americans, magazine readership is as healthy as it's always been."
http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=3DArticles.san&s=...
8334&Nid=3D23501&p=3D368626

THE NEWEST CHARACTERS ON TV SHOWS: PRODUCT PLUGS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Gary Levin]
NBC has high hopes for Friday Night Lights, a new=20
drama about a Texas high school football squad=20
based on a best-selling book and feature film.=20
Viewers will see some familiar names on the=20
sidelines -- and not just the actors. It's all=20
part of a rapidly growing trend called product=20
integration that marks a sea change in the TiVo=20
era. For years, movies and some TV shows have=20
featured real products instead of generic =93cola=94=20
bottles. Such placements were often paid for by=20
sponsors but lingered in the background. Ever=20
since Survivor began plying famished contestants=20
with Doritos and American Idol's Simon Cowell was=20
never far from a big red Coke glass, the script=20
has changed. Sitcoms and dramas are the new=20
product showcases as a shrinking ad market,=20
climbing production costs and ad-skipping=20
technology lead networks to become more blatant=20
about dropping product names into their shows.=20
Rather than exist as mere props, products are=20
being woven more tightly into story lines as=20
crucial plot points or subjects of dialogue,=20
making ad messages impossible to skip. If Friends=20
aired today, the gang might sip Starbucks=20
Frappuccinos instead of the daily brew at the fictional Central Perk.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060920/1a_cover20.art.htm

PHILADELPHIA WI-FI NET AT CROSSROADS
[SOURCE: Broadband-today.com, AUTHOR: Mark Rockwell]
The departure of one of the key proponents behind=20
the City of Philadelphia's municipal Wi-Fi=20
network, as well as big WiMAX plans from a=20
notable wireless player, could reshape that=20
landmark project, say experts. In mid-August,=20
Dianah Neff, the city's chief information=20
officer, announced that she was moving to Wi-Fi=20
consultancy Civitium to spread the gospel of=20
municipal Wi-Fi worldwide. Neff was hired by=20
Philadelphia Mayor John Street as the city's=20
chief information officer in 2001, and was=20
instrumental, if not key, in getting the project=20
off the ground at a time when Wi-Fi wasn't=20
exactly a household word. In 2004, she faced=20
tough opposition from incumbent wireline company=20
Verizon, which said it didn't want to compete=20
with cities for broadband customers. Earlier in=20
the month, Sprint Nextel announced plans to build=20
the first nationwide mobile WiMAX network,=20
possibly opening up a larger, ubiquitous wireless=20
broadband market that could partially overlap=20
municipal Wi-Fi nets. The political climate also=20
could affect how the Philadelphia network=20
installation goes, says Craig Settles, president=20
of Successful, a Wi-Fi industry consultancy. The=20
city faces a mayoral election this November -- an=20
awkward time for the network, he says. If=20
incumbent Philadelphia Mayor John Street, who=20
backed the plan, loses, the project faces the=20
prospect of being neglected or worse, depending=20
on a new mayor's opinion of the project, Settles says.
http://www.broadband-today.com/article/CA6372038.html?nid=3D2908

KNIGHT FOUNDATION COMPETITION FOR COMMUNITY NEWS EXPERIMENTS
[SOURCE: Knight Foundation press release]
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today=20
launches the Knight Brothers 21st Century News=20
Challenge, investing as much as $5 million in its=20
first year in community news projects that best=20
use the digital world to connect people to the=20
real world. The News Challenge is looking to fund=20
new ideas, prototypes, products and leadership=20
initiatives that use innovative news methods to=20
help citizens better connect within their=20
communities. The competition is open to anyone,=20
not just the journalism community. The Challenge=20
web site, with an online application form, is at=20
www.newschallenge.org. The competition will=20
accept applications through Dec. 31, and expects=20
to begin announcing winners in the spring of=20
2007. The foundation and its special panel of new=20
media advisors will look for innovative proposals=20
that contain a unique combination of vision,=20
courage and know-how in their ability to use=20
cyberspace to better connect people to the=20
physical space where they live and work.
http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp?story=3Dnews_at_knight/releases/200...
006_09_18_newschallenge.html

LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS, AND PUBLIC BROADCASTERS=20
COLLABORATE TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES
[SOURCE: Institute of Museum and Library Services press release]
The Partnership for a Nation of Learners (PNL), a=20
leadership initiative of the Corporation for=20
Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the Institute of=20
Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced just=20
under $3 million for thirteen Community=20
Collaboration Grants across the country. The=20
grants encourage museums, libraries, and public=20
broadcasters to work together to address critical=20
needs in their communities. The award recipients=20
will match the federal funds with an additional=20
$2.7 million. The Partnership for a Nation of=20
Learners received 68 applications nationwide=20
requesting over $14.9 million for this highly=20
competitive grant program. Grants were awarded to=20
collaborations in Rohnert Park, CA; New Haven,=20
CT; Johnston, IA; Shawnee Mission, KS; Boston,=20
MA; Springfield MA; East Lansing, MI; Magdalena,=20
NM; Philadelphia, PA; Columbia, SC; Richmond, VA;=20
Montpelier, VT; and Salt Lake City, UT.
http://www.imls.gov/news/2006/091906.shtm
* For a contact list of the grant recipients with=20
descriptions of their projects see:=20
http://www.imls.gov/news/2006/091906_list.shtm.

TRENDS 2006: MAKING PROGRESS WITH BROADBAND
[SOURCE: National Exchange Carrier Association]
The report shows that DSL deployment is booming=20
in rural America. There are now 1,044 members of=20
NECA=92s traffic sensitive pool, providing over=20
630,000 DSL lines. This is a substantial increase=20
from the 814 companies that were providing DSL in=20
2003 and an even more substantial increase from=20
1999 when only 151 members had a total of 20,000=20
DSL lines. =93Trends=94 is being released at EXPO=20
2006, NECA=92s annual training and industry issues conference in Las Vegas.
The report is available at:=20
http://www.neca.org/source/NECA_Publications_1152.asp
Press Release http://www.neca.org/source/NECA_News_4781.asp

NAB LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING TICKET
[SOURCE: National Association of Broadcasters]
1) Mildred Webber will join the National=20
Association of Broadcasters on October 2 as=20
Senior Vice President of Government Relations.=20
She is the former political consultant hired by=20
and who managed the campaign of former House=20
Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) for his race=20
as House Majority Whip. In May 2001, DeLay=20
appointed Webber his "director of coalitions." 2)=20
Kelly Cole, majority counsel to the House=20
Commerce Committee chaired by Rep Joe Barton=20
(R-TX), will join the National Association of=20
Broadcasters as vice president of government=20
relations. 3) Jamie Gillespie, a Democratic=20
staff member of the Senate Commerce Committee,=20
will join the National Association of=20
Broadcasters as director of government relations.=20
Since 2003, Gillespie has worked as a staff=20
assistant on communications issues to Sen. Daniel=20
Inouye (D-Hawaii) and the Senate Commerce=20
Committee. 4) Former-Rep Max Sandlin (D-TX) has=20
been hired as strategic adviser to NAB=92s=20
government relations department. He was in the=20
House from 1997 to 2005 and served as chief deputy minority whip.
http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=3DPress_Releases1&TEMPLATE=3D...
/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=3D6648
http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=3DNews_room&TEMPLATE=3D/CM/Co...
ntDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=3D6668
http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=3DPress_Releases1&CONTENTID=3...
69&TEMPLATE=3D/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm
* NAB Adds Former Democratic Congressman
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6373212?display=3DBreaking+News

INFORMATION QUALITY ACT: EXPANDED OVERSIGHT AND=20
CLEARER GUIDANCE BY THE OMB COULD IMPROVE IMPLEMENTATION
[SOURCE: Government Accountability Office]
The importance and widespread use of federal=20
information makes its accuracy imperative. The=20
Information Quality Act (IQA) required that the=20
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issue=20
guidelines to ensure the quality of information=20
disseminated by federal agencies by fiscal year=20
2003. GAO was asked to 1) assess OMB=92s role in=20
helping agencies implement IQA; 2) identify the=20
number, type, and source of IQA correction=20
requests agencies received; and 3) examine if IQA=20
has adversely affected agencies=92 overall=20
operations and, in particular, rulemaking=20
processes. In response, GAO interviewed OMB and=20
agency officials and reviewed agency IQA=20
guidelines, related documents, and Web sites. To=20
help ensure that agencies covered by IQA meet=20
requirements, GAO recommends that OMB=92s Director=20
take actions to 1) work with DHS to help ensure=20
it fulfills IQA requirements and set a deadline=20
for doing so; 2) identify other agencies without=20
IQA guidelines and work with them to develop and=20
implement IQA requirements; and 3) clarify=20
guidance to agencies on improving the public=92s=20
access to online IQA information. OMB said it=20
would continue working with DHS to develop=20
departmentwide guidelines and with other agencies=20
to develop their guidelines. OMB would also work=20
with agencies to improve the online dissemination of IQA information.
(GAO-06-765)
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-765
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06765high.pdf

A WEB OF EXHIBITIONISTS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Robert J. Samuelson]
[Commentary] Call it the ExhibitioNet. It turns=20
out that the Internet has unleashed the greatest=20
outburst of mass exhibitionism in human history.=20
Everyone may not be entitled, as Andy Warhol once=20
suggested, to 15 minutes of fame. But everyone is=20
entitled to strive for 15 minutes -- or 30, 90 or=20
much more. We have blogs, "social networking"=20
sites (MySpace.com, Facebook), YouTube and all=20
their rivals. Everything about these sites is a=20
scream for attention. Look at me. Listen to me.=20
Laugh with me -- or at me. Today's exhibitionism=20
may last a lifetime. What goes on the Internet=20
often stays on the Internet. Something that seems=20
harmless, silly or merely impetuous today may=20
seem offensive, stupid or reckless in two weeks,=20
two years or two decades. Still, we are clearly=20
at a special moment. Thoreau famously remarked=20
that "the mass of men lead lives of quiet=20
desperation." Thanks to technology, that's no=20
longer necessary. People can now lead lives of=20
noisy and ostentatious desperation. Or at least they can try.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR200609...
1439.html
(requires registration)
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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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