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

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Journalism Professors Pass an Official=20
Resolution Protesting Bush's Anti-Press Policies
Hong Kong Legislators Pass Sweeping Surveillance Bill

TELECOM REFORM
Weighing High-Tech Bills in Analog
So much to do, so little time =85 so Congress skips town
USF Key To Franchise Passage, Says Ensign
New Jersey to Let Phone Companies Become Pay Television Providers

CABLE
Satellite TV Growth Is Losing Altitude As Cable Takes Off
Cable and Satellite TV Set Their Sights on Airwaves
FCC Staff really starting to get the=20
hang of this =93enforcement=94 thing...

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Does Big Media Need to Get Any Bigger?
Media for Everyone
Public input Vital on Media Regulation
Clear Channel lobbies for media ownership rules change
Why Local News Is in a Sharing Mood

KIDS & MEDIA
Underwhelmed by It All
PBS Firing of Host Draws Protests
Dirty TV is quite healthy

QUICKLY -- MASN, Comcast Reach Nationals Deal;=20
Wireless puzzles over FCC=92s =91toll=92 rules for USF;=20
New report casts doubt on financing of some municipal wireless networks

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

JOURNALISM PROFESSORS PASS AN OFFICIAL RESOLUTION=20
PROTESTING BUSH'S ANTI-PRESS POLICIES
[SOURCE: The Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Jay Rosen]
[Commentary] On August 4, the Association for=20
Education in Journalism and Mass Communication=20
(AEJMC) passed a resolution, the first major=20
statement against the policies of a president=20
since the Vietnam War. The key passage is: "The=20
membership of the Association for Education in=20
Journalism and Mass Communication urges the Bush=20
administration to abandon its anti-press=20
policies." The resolution identifies ten=20
troubling practices involving secrecy, propaganda=20
and the control of information. It recognizes=20
that there is always tension between presidents=20
and the press. "This tension is both unavoidable=20
and generally salutary: When each side conducts=20
its duties with honesty and integrity, both hold=20
the power of the other in check." The ten=20
practises in question: 1. The Bush=20
administration's response to press requests for=20
information; 2. The Bush administration's use of=20
staged town meetings; 3. The Bush=20
administration's vision of the government as a=20
private domain; 4. The Bush administration's=20
practice of massive reclassification of=20
documents; 5. The Bush administration's support=20
of policies that weaken the multiplicity of=20
voices on a local and national scale; 6. The Bush=20
administration's policy of not allowing=20
photographs of coffins of soldiers killed in Iraq=20
to be released; 7. The Bush administration's use=20
of propaganda, including video news releases;=20
8.The Bush administration's use of bribes and=20
payments to columnists and other opinion makers;=20
9. The Bush administration's manipulation of the=20
Corporation for Public Broadcasting; and 10. The=20
Bush administration's using the courts to=20
pressure journalists to give up their sources and=20
to punish them for obtaining leaked information.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-rosen/journalism-professors-pas_b_2657...
tml

HONG KONG LEGISLATORS PASS SWEEPING SURVEILLANCE BILL
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Keith Bradsher]
Pro-Beijing lawmakers approved legislation in=20
Hong Kong Sunday that gives broad authority to=20
the police to conduct covert surveillance,=20
including wiretapping phones, bugging homes and=20
offices and monitoring e-mail. The bill passed=20
the 60-member Legislative Council on a vote of=20
32-0 after pro-democracy lawmakers walked out of=20
the chamber in protest during the morning. The=20
Democratic Party and its allies had tried to=20
introduce nearly 200 amendments to the bill=20
through four days of marathon debates, but all=20
were defeated or ruled out of order.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/world/asia/07hong.html
(requires registration)

TELECOM REFORM

WEIGHING HIGH-TECH BILLS IN ANALOG
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera]
Almost daily when Congress is in session,=20
lawmakers are struggling to comprehend new=20
technology and the government's role in shaping=20
its future. In the biggest spurt of legislative=20
activity since the dot-com boom, advocacy groups=20
and businesses are seeking new laws to shape the=20
fast-evolving digital landscape. The effort will=20
resume in September, when Congress returns from=20
its summer recess. They say the nation's statutes=20
once again must catch up to another generation of=20
technology -- high-definition TV, satellite=20
radio, video downloads and Internet phone calls=20
-- just as they did a decade ago, when the World=20
Wide Web, e-mail and digital music gained wide=20
popularity. Lawmakers this year could decide=20
whether millions of Americans get TV piped=20
through their phone lines and high-speed Internet=20
access extended to their neighborhoods, how long=20
Internet service providers retain Web-surfing=20
records and how easy it will be to record=20
programs broadcast over high-definition TV. One=20
of the leading gatekeepers for technology=20
legislation, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman=20
Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), has been lampooned on TV=20
and tech blogs after recently describing the=20
Internet as "a series of tubes." The lack of=20
high-tech understanding is so pervasive on=20
Capitol Hill that Vint Cerf, a Google Inc.=20
executive known as a father of the Internet, is=20
considering creating a comic book to show=20
lawmakers how the global network operates.
The task is all the more difficult because few in=20
Congress understand what those engineers in Silicon Valley actually do.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-policyboom7aug07,1,35...
60.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME... SO CONGRESS SKIPS TOWN
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commntary] As Congress settles into its=20
month-long August break, it's hard to shake the=20
feeling that the House and Senate haven't earned=20
their time off. Instead of tending to basics and=20
working out differences on divisive but vital=20
issues such as immigration, members have spent=20
much of the past several months in political=20
posturing and time-wasting debates over=20
non-essential issues. One thing Congress must do=20
each year is pass the annual spending bills that=20
fund everything from the space program to border=20
security. So far, the Senate has produced just=20
one of the 11 appropriations bills. Instead,=20
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has=20
found it more important to fritter away scarce=20
time on an obsessive quest to repeal the estate=20
tax and on blatant pandering to social=20
conservatives with proposed constitutional=20
amendments on flag-burning and gay marriage. Even=20
those who think those issues are crucial would=20
have an easier time defending debate time for=20
them if the Senate had done its mandatory work first.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060807/edtwo07.art.htm

USF KEY TO FRANCHISE PASSAGE, SAYS ENSIGN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Sen John Ensign (R-NV) said that the video=20
franchise reform bill probably won't be able to=20
pass unless expansion of the universal service=20
fund (USF) remains in the bill. Its passage in=20
any form is increasingly problematic, but he is=20
still hopeful that constituents will contact=20
their senators and push for the bill, which he=20
says will boost price and service competition to=20
cable, as well as Internet speeds and services.=20
Sen Ensign cited the universal service=20
provision's support from Senate Commerce=20
Committee Co-chairmen Ted Stevens and Daniel=20
Inouye, as well as Democrat support for the=20
provision, which would expand payments into the=20
fund, which underwrites communications service to=20
rural, underserved, and expensive-to-serve areas.=20
Sen Ensign noted that the Senate bill had a=20
number of "extraneous" provisions. But rather=20
than suggesting paring them back to more closely=20
resemble the already-passed House version, he=20
said they were what would help get the bill to=20
the floor if it makes it there, since they could=20
pick up some votes from the individual=20
legislators championing them. If the bill does=20
not pass, some Republicans hope to use it as a=20
campaign issue. Sen Ensign pointed out that the=20
bill also includes improvement to first responder=20
communications and that Democrats would then have=20
to explain why they blocked that. Calling tough=20
network neutrality provisions unnecessary and=20
even harmful, Sen Ensign said they did not belong=20
in the bill. He said the bill already protects=20
the next garage-to-computer giant success=20
story, but does not protect the business=20
positions of now-large companies like Google,=20
Yahoo!, and Microsoft, who he says want to do so by regulating the Internet.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6359683?display=3DBreaking+News
** Text of the bill, passed by the Senate=20
Commerce Committee on June 28, was finally=20
released late last week. See http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/2173 =
**

NEW JERSEY TO LET PHONE COMPANIES BECOME PAY TELEVISION PROVIDERS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: David Kocieniewski]
New Jersey on Friday became the sixth state to=20
allow telephone companies to provide pay=20
television service, setting the stage for=20
head-to-head competition between telephone and=20
cable companies for the state=92s 2.5 million cable=20
subscribers. The new law, which Gov. Jon S.=20
Corzine (D) said was intended to offer consumers=20
more choices and lower prices, will also ease=20
telephone companies=92 entry into the television=20
market by allowing them to apply for a single=20
statewide franchise license instead of=20
negotiating with each of New Jersey=92s 566=20
municipalities. It is the latest example of how=20
converging technology is provoking furious=20
competition among utilities across the country.=20
The immediate beneficiary of the law is Verizon=20
Communications, which will now be permitted to=20
use the fiber-optic network it is building across=20
the state. Verizon=92s network currently reaches=20
fewer than 500,000 homes, but the company has=20
pledged to spend $1.5 billion to expand it to=20
offer service to 3.5 million households by the=20
end of 2008. The victory for Verizon and other=20
telephone companies came after a lobbying and=20
public relations battle against the state=92s two=20
major cable providers, Cablevision and Comcast.=20
The cable companies had warned that by awarding=20
telephone companies a statewide franchise, New=20
Jersey would be depriving municipalities of tax=20
revenues and the ability to regulate the service in their communities.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/05/nyregion/05cable.html
(requires registration)

CABLE

SATELLITE TV GROWTH IS LOSING ALTITUDE AS CABLE TAKES OFF
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal 8/5, AUTHOR: Julia=20
Angwin julia.angwin( at )wsj.com and Andy Pasztor andy.pasztor( at )wsj.com]
A decade-long growth spurt for U.S.=20
satellite-television broadcasters is sputtering=20
amid a resurgent cable industry and changes in=20
what consumers want from their TV providers. The=20
nation's two leading satellite companies, DirecTV=20
Group Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. are=20
seeing a sharp slowdown in the number of new=20
subscribers. In the last year, their gains have=20
shrunk to half of what they were during the=20
industry's heyday early in this decade, and they=20
are projected to decline further. Meanwhile, the=20
cable-TV industry, after years of seeing=20
satellite steal market share and customers by=20
pitching better service and more variety, is=20
regaining ground. Companies like Time Warner Inc.=20
and Cablevision Systems Corp. are wooing=20
customers by providing video, telephone and=20
high-speed Internet services in an attractively=20
priced "triple play" bundle. Technology=20
differences prevent satellite providers from=20
offering phone service and limit their ability to=20
offer high-speed Internet access. The shift in=20
fortunes reflects broader changes in the=20
competitive TV landscape. Subscription services=20
now can reach most of the nation's 110 million=20
households. About 66.5 million homes are cable=20
subscribers and 27 million use a satellite=20
service. With popular channels now available on=20
both platforms, services are growing increasingly commoditized.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115473942525727676.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
(requires subscription)

CABLE AND SATELLITE TV SET THEIR SIGHTS ON AIRWAVES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Matt Richtel & Ken Belson]
The biggest names in cable and satellite=20
television are poised to get into mobile phone=20
and wireless data services. On Wednesday, Time=20
Warner, Comcast, Cox Communications, EchoStar=20
Communications and DirecTV, a unit of the News=20
Corporation, will be among the 168 qualified=20
bidders in the government=92s multibillion-dollar=20
auction of radio spectrum, that precious=20
commodity that allows voice calls and data to be=20
sent over the airwaves. But these companies are=20
not necessarily planning to use those frequencies=20
for TV signals. Rather, they appear to be=20
preparing to battle AT&T, Verizon Communications=20
and other companies that sell traditional phone=20
lines, broadband connections and wireless=20
services =97 and are now diving into television.=20
Though the cable and satellite providers declined=20
to discuss their strategies, many analysts expect=20
them to buy at least enough spectrum to build=20
networks that will allow them to sell wireless=20
Internet connections and mobile phone services.=20
That would let the cable companies and, to a=20
lesser degree, the satellite companies, complete=20
a decade-long transformation: instead of just=20
selling packages of TV channels, they are=20
becoming one-stop shops with a full line of communications products.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/technology/07spectrum.html
(requires registration)

FCC STAFF REALLY STARTING TO GET HANG OF THIS "ENFORCEMENT" THING...
[SOURCE: Tales from the Sausage Factory, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] In another sign that the FCC has=20
gotten serious in crackdown on cable abuse of=20
market power -- and that this message has=20
penetrated to the staff level -- consider the=20
case of the NFL Network and Time Warner. Less=20
than 24 hours after the NFL Network filed an=20
emergency complaint and request for injuctive=20
relief with the FCC, the Commission issued an=20
Order telling Time Warner to continue to show NFL=20
Network until resolution of the complaint. The=20
FCC also set an expedited briefing schedule, so=20
it will have a complete record by August 20. The=20
FCC hasn't shown any particular interest in=20
enforcing its cable rules before, and certainly=20
not over shafting an independent programmer on a=20
technicality. As I have said to FCC folks before:=20
=93if you treat your rules like a joke, everyone else will too.=94
http://www.wetmachine.com//item/562

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

DOES BIG MEDIA NEED TO GET ANY BIGGER?
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Norman Lear and Robert W. McChesney]
[Commentary] Over the last 25 years, the number=20
of corporations that dominate television, movies,=20
music, radio, cable and the Internet has dwindled=20
from more than 50 to just a handful of massive=20
conglomerates. Do we really want Big Media to get=20
even bigger? Federal Communications Commission=20
Chairman Kevin Martin does. He just relaunched=20
the FCC's formal review of media ownership rules.=20
The agency's "Further Notice of Proposed=20
Rulemaking," issued July 25, is vague, but its=20
intent is clear: to let a few giant media=20
corporations swallow up more local television=20
channels, radio stations and newspapers in a=20
single market. The Chairman's main target is the=20
ban on "newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership" that=20
prohibits one company from owning the major daily=20
newspaper as well as radio and TV stations in the=20
same area. He'd also like to allow one company to=20
own more than one TV station in smaller markets,=20
and more than two in the largest cities. If the=20
changes are approved, one corporation could own=20
the major daily newspaper, eight radio stations=20
and three television stations in the same town.=20
Once the digital television transition is=20
completed in 2009 -- allowing stations to=20
broadcast multiple signals -- one company could=20
control 12 or even 18 television channels in a=20
single city. But what's good for Big Media's=20
bottom line isn't always good for the rest of us.=20
The first casualty of "media company towns" would be journalism.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lear5aug05,0,246426...
tory?coll=3Dla-opinion-center
(requires registration)

MEDIA FOR EVERYONE
[SOURCE: The Huffington Post, AUTHOR: Rep Diane Watson (D-CA)]
[Commentary] The Federal Communications=20
Commission has reinitiated its effort to further=20
loosen media ownership rules. The last time the=20
FCC tried this, in 2003, I, and nearly three=20
million Americans, objected. We wanted to make=20
sure that the media worked in the public=20
interest, not to the benefit of a few. We wanted=20
to make sure that the media showcased our=20
nation=92s rich tapestry of interests, ideas, and=20
experiences. Americans need a media system that=20
allows free and fair competition. But with our=20
current highly concentrated media market we must=20
ask, who is shut out of that market? Whose lives=20
are not reflected in our news and entertainment?=20
It=92s very easy to identify one trend: growing=20
media concentration has been harmful to minority=20
owners and minority communities. Since Congress=20
passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996,=20
minority ownership of radio and television=20
stations has declined. In 2000, only 175 minority=20
broadcasters in radio owned 426 stations, about=20
4.0 percent of the nation=92s 10,577 commercial AM=20
and FM radio stations. In the television market,=20
minorities owned only 23 full power commercial=20
stations, representing 1.9 percent of the=20
country=92s 1,288 licensed stations. This is the=20
lowest level recorded since tracking of the data=20
began in 1990. We need ownership rules that will=20
expand opportunities for minorities to enter the=20
market, not limit them. Keeping minority owners=20
out of the market is detrimental not only to=20
them, but to the consumers they wish to serve.=20
Without diverse ownership, many Americans will=20
never see images and hear stories that reflect=20
their own experiences. Invisibility -- or=20
demeaning visibility -- can lead to stereotyping, bigotry, and racism.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-diane-watson/media-for-everyone_b_2656...
tml

PUBLIC INPUT VITAL ON MEDIA REGULATION
[SOURCE: Seattle Times 8/6, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Let us hope the Federal=20
Communications Commission learned the importance=20
of an open process when tinkering with rules that=20
govern media ownership. The FCC announced in June=20
that the commission would revisit whether to=20
repeal media-ownership rules. On July 25, the FCC=20
started a public comment period that will close=20
Nov. 21 and plans to hold six public hearings=20
throughout the nation. That's a good start, but=20
not enough for an issue that directly affects=20
democracy. The public-comment period should be=20
lengthened, promoted and more hearings should be added.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003176078_heare...
.html

CLEAR CHANNEL LOBBIES FOR CHANGE
[SOURCE: TheDeal.com, AUTHOR: Ron Orol]
Despite the certainty of another high-profile=20
battle with opponents of media consolidation,=20
Clear Channel Communications Inc. has quietly=20
floated a plan that would allow the radio giant=20
and other station owners to boost their holdings=20
in the largest U.S. markets. Clear Channel is=20
considering filing a formal petition to the=20
Federal Communications Commission seeking to=20
raise the caps limiting how many stations one=20
company can own in the largest individual U.S.=20
markets, according to sources close to the=20
company. Clear Channel, the country's largest=20
radio station group with 1,189 outlets, wants the=20
FCC to relax a rule that limits a company's radio=20
station ownership in individual markets. The=20
limits are set on sliding scale and based on=20
market size. A company may own no more than eight=20
radio stations in the largest U.S. markets, such=20
as Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, where at=20
least 45 full-power radio stations operate. Radio=20
industry sources say Clear Channel is seeking=20
approval from the FCC to own 10 stations in=20
markets with 60 radio stations and 12 radio=20
outlets in the largest U.S. markets that have 75=20
radio stations or more. Consumer groups contend=20
that the new outlets are less able than radio to=20
provide local news, weather and traffic=20
information. Jenny Toomey, executive director of=20
the Future of Music Coalition in Washington, said=20
new entrants such as Internet radio are not=20
adding a significant new source of local news, a=20
key product traditional radio stations must=20
provide. Without additional places for consumers=20
to receive local news and information, more=20
consolidation cannot be permitted, she said.
http://www.thedeal.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=3DNYT&c=3DTDDArticle&cid=
=3D1154074533916

WHY LOCAL NEWS IS IN A SHARING MOOD
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano]
From top-10 markets such as Philadelphia to=20
small outposts such as LaCrosse-Eau Claire (WI),=20
stations across the country are adding news to=20
increase market share and boost profits. The most=20
popular effort is a =93news share,=94 where a Big=20
Three station -- an NBC, ABC or CBS outlet --=20
produces a newscast for a Fox affiliate or a=20
soon-to-be CW or MNT station. The programs are=20
not simulcasts but original newscasts for the=20
partner. Today, nearly three dozen markets=20
feature such newscasts, and new deals are inked=20
almost weekly. This influx of local news comes at=20
a time when the TV-ad market is struggling and TV=20
stations are under increased pressure to=20
cultivate new revenue sources. Many are building=20
digital products, such as elaborate Websites and=20
wireless services, to grow future revenues, but,=20
so far, the businesses are young and returns=20
modest. Local news, in contrast, is a proven=20
moneymaker. News accounts for as much as 50% of a=20
station's revenue, and by launching more=20
newscasts, stations are relying on their=20
bread-and-butter product. A station in a midsize=20
market can make $1 million in added annual=20
revenue producing news for another affiliate in=20
town. Such a deal also helps a newsroom to=20
amortize expenses for high-priced anchors and=20
equipment over extra time periods.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6359719.html?display=3DFeature
Also see --
* What's New in the Newsroom
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6359718.html?display=3DFeature

KIDS & MEDIA

UNDERWHELMED BY IT ALL
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Robin Abcarian and John Horn]
A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, the first=20
in a series of annual entertainment surveys,=20
finds that a large majority of the 12- to=20
24-year-olds surveyed are bored with their=20
entertainment choices some or most of the time,=20
and a substantial minority think that even in a=20
kajillion-channel universe, they don't have=20
nearly enough options. Despite the technological=20
advances that are changing the way entertainment=20
is delivered and consumed, good old-fashioned=20
word of mouth -- with a tech twist, thanks to=20
text messaging -- continues to be one of the most=20
important factors influencing the choices that young people make.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-et-pollmain7aug07,1,66...
51.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage
(requires registration)
* 7 Myths about Young People and Media
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-teenpoll-pg,1,7110560....
togallery?coll=3Dla-headlines-frontpage

PBS FIRING OF HOST OF 'THE GOOD NIGHT SHOW' DRAWS PROTESTS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Elizabeth Jensen]
The Public Broadcasting Service has weathered=20
recent criticism from free-speech advocates=20
saying that the network is being overly cautious=20
in a new policy to censor foul language in=20
nonfiction programs by digitally obscuring the=20
mouths of speakers. But the outcry has been=20
dwarfed by the thousands of complaints, mostly=20
from parents, over the PBS Kids Sprout network=92s=20
firing of Melanie Martinez, the host of =93The Good=20
Night Show,=94 after learning that she appeared=20
years ago in two videos spoofing public service=20
announcements advocating teenage sexual=20
abstinence. As the controversy has escalated, Ms.=20
Martinez, a 34-year-old New York actress who is=20
married and the mother of a 3-year-old, has=20
become for many a symbol of political expediency=20
run amok. On Thursday PBS=92s own ombudsman,=20
Michael Getler, tackled the topic for a second=20
time and wrote that Ms. Martinez=92s firing had=20
=93too much of a whiff of after-the-fact loyalty=20
oaths and purity checks on performers who do lots=20
of different things.=94 Ms. Martinez, who has=20
largely kept silent since her firing was made=20
public on July 20, said in a telephone interview=20
that while she was grateful for the support, she did not relish her new rol=
e.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/05/arts/television/05pbs.html
(requires registration)

DIRTY TV IS QUITE HEALTHY
[SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle 8/6, AUTHOR: Greg Beato]
[Commentary] A study conducted by Duke University=20
Professor William Parker compared hygienically=20
pampered lab rats to their filthy cousins who=20
live in urban sewers and earthy barnyard squalor.=20
The results? The wild rats are like, say, Iggy=20
Pop. Vigorous and indestructible, they have=20
highly efficient immune systems that ignore=20
trivial germs while blocking out the more serious=20
ones. The immune systems of their coddled=20
laboratory counterparts grow so sensitive through=20
underuse that even a sneeze from an Olsen twin=20
could potentially take them down. But if we've=20
gotten too sanitary for our own good here in the=20
developed world, well, at least, our pop culture=20
is still as pungent as a Bangalore outhouse,=20
right? It packs such a devastating punch, in=20
fact, that its detractors often accuse it of=20
tangible physical toxicity. Liberal handwringers=20
decry advertising and violent entertainment as=20
airborne pathogens that pollute the minds of our=20
children. Conservative crotch sentries claim that=20
pornography actually has the power to reshape=20
brain structure. If you listen to, say, the=20
concerned citizens at the Parents Television=20
Council, who have made it their life's work to=20
monitor the rates at which Saturday morning=20
cartoons depict "implied defecation" and various=20
other categories of dangerous content, we're just=20
one vulgar joke from cultural Armageddon. And=20
yet, somehow, despite all those objectionable=20
kiddie shows, despite the digital mayhem of Grand=20
Theft Auto and all the other sexy, violent media=20
our nation's youngsters consume, statistics show=20
they're a surprisingly chaste and civil bunch.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/chronicle/archive/2006...
/06/ING8CKA6U61.DTL

QUICKLY

MASN, COMCAST REACH NATIONALS DEAL
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
With a little push from the FCC the Mid-Atlantic=20
Sports Network and Comcast have reached an=20
agreement on carriage of the Washington Nationals=20
baseball games. The sports network will be added=20
to Comcast's expanded basic package on=20
Washington-area systems beginning in September.=20
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6359937.html?display=3DBreaki...
News

WIRELESS PUZZLES OVER FCC'S "TOLL" RULES FOR USF
[SOURCE: RCRNews, AUTHOR: Heather Forsgren Weaver]
CTIA, the lobbying arm of the wireless industry,=20
is asking the Federal Communications Commission=20
to clarify recent universal-service rules that=20
have sparked a puzzling situation where the FCC=20
has accused the industry of not fully reporting=20
its =93toll=94 revenues -- and by implication not=20
paying its full share of universal-service=20
contributions. The wireless industry is concerned=20
that the FCC plans to probe how wireless carriers=20
have reported toll revenues in past years, and=20
assess additional charges based on this=20
re-examination. The FCC has not made an announcement on retroactive charges.
http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=3D27015

NEW REPORT CASTS DOUBT ON FINANCING OF SOME MUNICIPAL WIRELESS NETWORKS
[SOURCE: Future Tense, AUTHOR: Jon Gordon]
MuniWireless.com says wireless Internet networks=20
have been built in 60 American cities and=20
counties, and are being planned in at least 130=20
more. Among the cities that have implemented=20
pilot projects or are working to build full-scale=20
networks are Philadelphia, San Francisco,=20
Anaheim, Houston, Minneapolis and Silicon Valley.=20
Many of the networks, including those in=20
Portland, San Francisco and Mountain View,=20
California, will rely in part on local businesses=20
buying ads to generate the revenue that will help=20
build and sustain the networks. A survey of=20
businesses and Chambers of Commerce in several=20
U.S. cities by wireless consultant Craig Settles=20
finds lukewarm interest in placing ads on municipal wi-fi systems.
http://www.publicradio.org/columns/futuretense/
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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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