Benton RSS Feed

With Congress home, the telecom world has been=20
somewhat quiet, but expect big news next week as=20
Congress considers telecom reform legislation.=20
For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

LEGISLATION
House USF Strategy Seen As Risky

TELEVISION/RADIO
The Fox News Effect: Media Bias and Voting
TVB Brings Out the Bulls on Political, Online Ads
Television Stations Are Urged to Break a Few Rules
FCC Seeks Comment on Ag TV Challenge
Payola-as-you-go radio
From Vanilla to Full Metal Racket

MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Bondholders Threaten Adelphia Deal
Televisa Closer to Univision Move?
Sprint Nextel to Buy UbiquiTel

QUICKLY -- FCC Seeks Comment on AT&T-BellSouth=20
Merger; We Need a National Infrastructure=20
Initiative; Consumer-created content; High Hopes=20
for Wi-Fi; Google spectrum bid?; Arkansas judge=20
OKs Google settlement; FCC Proposes Fining Failed=20
TV Contest; FCC/NTIA and gov-used spectrum; NAB=20
Names New Government Relations Chief; Gonzales=20
calls for mandatory Web labeling law; CED Backs "Digital Openness"

LEGISLATION

HOUSE USF STRATEGY SEEN AS RISKY
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Apparently House Commerce Chairman Joe Barton=20
(R-TX) is considering the politically risky idea=20
of entering into a House-Senate conference on=20
telecommunications legislation without his own=20
language on the Universal Service Fund. Reps Lee=20
Terry (R-NE) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) are trying=20
to convince Chairman Barton to endorse their=20
legislation to strengthen and expand the $7.1=20
billion USF. The subsidy program reduces telecom=20
costs for citizens, schools and libraries in=20
rural and low-income areas. A communications bill=20
being crafted by Senate Commerce Chairman Ted=20
Stevens (R-Alaska) is certain to include USF=20
provisions, but Rep Barton may punt on the issue=20
because he opposes the fund in principle. The=20
approach is a gamble, some observers said,=20
because Rep Barton would be locked into=20
negotiating over Sen Stevens' language in=20
conference. But others see the strategy as a=20
shrewd tactical move. By not taking a stance on=20
universal service, they said Barton would=20
increase the likelihood of the matter being=20
dropped in conference. Or Barton could be setting=20
the stage for horse-trading, perhaps accepting a=20
modified version of Stevens' USF language in=20
exchange for House provisions on video franchising.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-DXNH1145537344899.html

TELEVISION/RADIO

THE FOX NEWS EFFECT: MEDIA BIAS AND VOTING
[SOURCE: Stefano DellaVigna & Ethan Kaplan]
Does media bias affect voting? The authors=20
address this question by looking at the entry of=20
Fox News in cable markets and its impact on=20
voting. Between October 1996 and November 2000,=20
the conservative Fox News Channel was introduced=20
in the cable programming of 20 percent of US=20
towns. Fox News availability in 2000 appears to=20
be largely idiosyncratic. Using a data set of=20
voting data for 9,256 towns, the authors=20
investigate if Republicans gained vote share in=20
towns where Fox News entered the cable market by=20
the year 2000. They find a significant effect of=20
the introduction of Fox News on the vote share in=20
Presidential elections between 1996 and 2000.=20
Republicans gain 0.4 to 0.7 percentage points in=20
the towns which broadcast Fox News. They also=20
find a significant effect of Fox News on Senate=20
vote share and on voter turnout. The estimates=20
imply that Fox News convinced 3 to 8 percent of=20
its viewers to vote Republican.
http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~sdellavi/wp/foxvote06-03-30.pdf

TVB BRINGS OUT THE BULLS ON POLITICAL, ONLINE ADS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano]
Political advertising on television is expected=20
to exceed $1 billion this year on spending for=20
federal, state and local races. Some analysts=20
project the political monies could exceed the=20
record $1.7 billion spent on TV ads in the 2004=20
election year. Political advertising consultant=20
Evan Tracey made the projections at the=20
Television Bureau of Advertising=92s (TVB's)=20
conference Thursday in New York. Broadcast=20
television is expected to get the largest chunk=20
of the dollars. In 2004, TNS Media=20
Intelligence/CMAG notes, only 9% of political and=20
issue ad spending went to non-TV media.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6326695?display=3DBreaking+News
* TV Shines In TVB Study
According to a study of 1,183 people in January,=20
adults spent an average of 264.5 minutes per 24=20
hours watching TV, compared to 125.5 minutes for=20
radio, 85 for the Internet, 20 for newspapers and 16.3 with magazines.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6326694?display=3DBreaking+News

TELEVISION STATIONS ARE URGED TO BREAK A FEW RULES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stuart Elliott]
At the annual marketing conference sponsored by=20
the Television Bureau of Advertising, Beth=20
Comstock, president for digital media and market=20
development at NBC Universal, urged local=20
television stations to diversify beyond their=20
boxes, i.e., TV sets, to remain relevant -- and=20
profitable -- in the new digital age. The=20
conference was devoted to a single topic: the=20
importance of the "multiplatform" -- that is,=20
offering content and advertising not only on=20
local broadcast stations but also online, on=20
cellphones and other wireless devices, through=20
video on demand and on video iPods. The sole=20
topic was intended to underscore that=20
"advertisers and their agencies are increasingly=20
asking for -- make that demanding -- a=20
multiplatform strategy from all their media=20
partners," said Christopher Rohrs, president of=20
the bureau. There are two principal reasons that=20
TV stations are seeking to broaden their=20
horizons. One is "consumers will increasingly=20
choose what they want to see, when they want to=20
see it, on whatever device they want to see it,"=20
said Alan Frank, president and chief executive at=20
the Post-Newsweek Stations division of the=20
Washington Post Company. The other reason was=20
offered by David Rehr, president and chief=20
executive at the National Association of=20
Broadcasters: "Every new stream of programming is=20
potentially a new source of revenue. Most=20
distribution channels will create more value for our content."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/21/business/media/21adco.html
(requires registration)
See also --
* Digital Age About Community, Says NBCU's Comstock in TVB Keynote Speech
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Jay Sherman]
As new technology makes it easier for consumers=20
to form communities around specific areas of=20
interests, local television stations are well=20
positioned to take advantage of the trend, given=20
their ties to the communities they serve and=20
their ability to reach audiences, Beth Comstock,=20
president of digital media and market development=20
at NBC Universal, said Thursday. "In the digital=20
age, community is all about gathering people with=20
shared interests and giving them a platform to=20
interact with each other, to engage in relevant=20
content and to create something new," said Ms.=20
Comstock, whose comments were part of her keynote=20
address at the Television Bureau of Advertising=20
marketing conference in New York. "Only time will=20
tell, but I know that local stations are=20
perfectly positioned to move into the digital=20
world and bring their community with them."
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9808
(requires free registration)

FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON AG TV CHALLENGE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has asked for public comment on a request=20
by agricultural media producer/distributor Farm=20
Journal that the Commission rule its competitor,=20
RFD-TV, does not qualify as an educational=20
programming supplier meeting the requirements for=20
fulfilling satellite operator's FCC-mandated=20
public interest requirements. Farm Journal=20
alleges that RFD-TV airs commercials and should=20
be ineligible for the public interest channel=20
set-aside, which is reserved for "qualified=20
nonprofit organizations or noncommercial=20
educational entities." Meeting that test is an=20
advantage to any programming service, since=20
satellite operators are required by the=20
Commission to carry a certain number of such channels.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6326651?display=3DBreaking+News

PAYOLA-AS-YOU-GO RADIO
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Why do regulators still care about=20
payola? Sure, there's the small matter of the law=20
banning it. And the practice is unfair. The=20
better question, though, is whether the=20
technological and competitive landscape has=20
changed enough to make payola ineffective or,=20
better yet, self-defeating. Ultimately, the best=20
weapon against payola is new technology. A band=20
might not be able to hit Britney Spears' sales=20
figures without radio airplay, but it can promote=20
and distribute its music cheaply and easily=20
through the Internet. At the same time, radio=20
programmers have lost their stranglehold on the=20
nation's musical tastes. Hip television shows and=20
advertisers, satellite radio, Internet=20
broadcasters and online music services have all=20
emerged as alternative sources of music, and MP3=20
players let people take their music collections=20
with them wherever they go. Sure, the new outlets=20
for music could attract payola-like abuses, but=20
their ranks are so large and growing that there's=20
no way to buy off all of them. And they're=20
already having their effect, as seen in the=20
dwindling market share for the artists who hog=20
the airwaves. If commercial stations insist on=20
following the money, instead of the shifting=20
tastes of music fans, they'll lose their=20
audience. That's the punishment they deserve;=20
it's up to music fans to mete it out.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-payola21apr21,1,6...
501.story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)
* U.S. Regulators Intensify Probe Of Pay-for-Play at Radio Firms
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114553744153231113.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
e_one
* U.S. Presses Payola Inquiry After Settlement Talks Stall
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/21/business/media/21adco.html

FROM VANILLA TO FULL METAL RACKET
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Tom Lowry]
[Commentary] Clear Channel Communications was=20
once vilified for almost singlehandedly=20
destroying broadcast radio with its cookie-cutter=20
playlists and barrage of ads. So it may seem a=20
trifle incongruous that the King of Vanilla is=20
rolling out eclectic niche channels with names=20
like Dank ("Hip Hop and Rock all rolled up into=20
one big spliff"), Full Metal Racket ("It's dark,=20
it's edgy, it beats, and it rocks"), and Mother=20
Trucker ("a hearty serving of the best Southern=20
Rock"). Easy listening it isn't, but that's how=20
Clear Channel wants it these days. And get this:=20
The San Antonio-based broadcaster is set to=20
launch a whole new business helping other radio=20
stations come up with cool programming. Could=20
this be the same company that inspired a Web site=20
called ClearChannelSucks.net? It's all part of=20
the rollout of next-generation high-definition=20
radio. HD as it's known, digitally squeezes more=20
programming into one frequency, boosting sound=20
quality and allowing existing stations to offer=20
side channels tailored to genres or local=20
markets. As part of the new initiative, to be=20
announced on April 24, Clear Channel and other=20
broadcasters will expand their current HD=20
offerings to 50 cities, up from 28 now. Clear=20
Channel hopes to differentiate itself from XM=20
Satellite and Sirius Satellite Radio, which offer=20
the same channels nationwide, by coming up with=20
content tailored for local audiences.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2006/tc20060420_287963...
See also --
* Strong Majority of Americans Believes Radio=20
Continues to be Important in American Life
[SOURCE: American Media Services news release]
Americans rate the importance and relevance of=20
local commercial radio very highly, despite the=20
entry of high-technology competition, a national=20
survey commissioned by American Media Services=20
shows. The survey found that 78 percent said=20
radio is important in their everyday lives, and=20
91 percent said radio is important in American=20
life in general. Nearly three-quarters (74=20
percent) said they listen to radio at least once a day.
http://sev.prnewswire.com/radio/20060419/DCW02419042006-1.html

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

BONDHOLDERS THREATEN ADELPHIA DEAL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Farrell]
A group of Adelphia Communications Corp.=20
bondholders made moves to throw a wrench into the=20
cable company=92s efforts to emerge from Chapter 11=20
bankruptcy and execute a $16.9 billion sale to=20
Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp., sending a=20
letter to Adelphia=92s board of directors=20
criticizing its latest reorganization plan.=20
Adelphia=92s ACC holding-company bondholders said=20
they=92re dissatisfied with a plan released earlier=20
this month that Adelphia had hoped would speed up=20
the bankruptcy process. Holders of Adelphia=92=20
Arahova operating-company notes would receive=20
$1.04 for every $1 of debt they are owed, and ACC=20
holding-company debtors would receive 14 cents-43=20
cents for every dollar owed. =93We will vote=20
against the so-called settlement plan filed with=20
the bankruptcy court last week,=94 the letter=20
stated. =93Thus, the settlement plan will not be=20
approved by our class and cannot take effect.=20
This outcome should have been obvious to you when=20
you approved the filing of the settlement plan.=94=20
Adelphia is under the gun to settle the=20
four-year-old bankruptcy case due to a provision=20
in its deal with Time Warner and Comcast that=20
sets a deadline of July 31 to seal the=20
transaction. While it is unlikely that Time=20
Warner and Comcast would walk away from the deal=20
if they believed progress was being made, the deadline still looms.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6326720.html?display=3DBreaking+News

TELEVISA CLOSER TO UNIVISION MOVE?
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Mike Farrell]
Grupo Televisa S.A. board member Carlos Slim=20
Domit quietly increased his personal holdings in=20
Spanish-language broadcaster Univision=20
Communications Inc., raising speculation that the=20
Mexican broadcast giant may be trying to beef up=20
its efforts to acquire Univision. Grupo Televisa=20
already owns about 11% of Univision and supplies=20
most of its programming. In a filing with the=20
Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday,=20
Univision revealed that Slim -- chairman of=20
Mexican telephone giant Tel=E9fonos de M=E9xico S.A.=20
de C.V. and industrial and retail conglomerate=20
Groupo Carso -- purchased 8.5 million shares of=20
Univision on the open market March 9-20 for an=20
average price of about $33.83 per share. The=20
purchase -- made through Inmobiliaria Carso S.A.,=20
a Slim-family real estate company in which Carlos=20
Slim owns a 14.6% stake -- gave the company a=20
2.8% equity interest in Univision. In a research=20
report Thursday, Miller Tabak & Co. LLC media=20
analyst David Joyce said the timing of Slim=92s=20
investment was =93curious.=94 Joyce added that the=20
revelation in the filing that Grupo Televisa was=20
also seeking to name a =93Class T=94 director to=20
Univision=92s board -- a seat that was vacated by=20
Grupo Televisa after it sued Univision last year,=20
claiming that Univision breached its programming=20
agreement and cheated Televisa out of royalties=20
-- =93points further to a desire by Televisa to=20
gain more control of [Univision] going forward in=20
its potential sale transaction.=94
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6326609.html?display=3DBreaking+News

SPRINT NEXTEL TO BUY UBIQUITEL
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amol Sharma amol.sharma( at )wsj.com]
Sprint Nextel, the third largest U.S. wireless=20
carrier, agreed to acquire regional affiliate=20
Ubiquitel for about $1 billion cash plus the=20
assumption of $300 million in debt, ending=20
litigation between the companies. The deal is the=20
latest in a string of acquisitions of affiliates=20
Sprint has made since it announced its merger=20
with Nextel Communications in late 2004. The=20
affiliates offer cellular service in small=20
markets under the Sprint brand, using their own=20
networks, but Sprint's radio-wave spectrum.=20
Several affiliates, including Ubiquitel, sued=20
Sprint after the Nextel merger was announced,=20
saying the deal would violate Sprint's pledge not=20
to compete with affiliates in their territories.=20
Ubiquitel, based in Conshohocken, Pa., provides=20
Sprint service to 425,000 subscribers in several=20
western and Midwestern states. Just four Sprint=20
affiliates remain independent: Shentel, Swiftel=20
Communications, Northern PCS, and iPCS. Bank of=20
America analyst David Barden estimated it would=20
cost Sprint another $1.4 billion to buy out the remaining affiliates.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114553195703831047.html?mod=3Dhome_whats...
ws_us
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON AT&T -- BELLSOUTH MERGER
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC has established a pleading cycle for the=20
proposed merger of AT&T and BellSouth. Petitions=20
Due: 06/05/2006; Oppositions to Petitions:=20
06/20/2006. Comments Due: 06/05/2006. Reply=20
Comments Due: 06/20/2006.. (DA No. 06-904).=20
(Dkt No 06-74) WCB. Contact: Nick Alexander at=20
(202) 418-2339 or Bill Dever at (202) 418-1578
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-904A1.doc

WE NEED A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE
[SOURCE: Government Technology, AUTHOR: John=20
Eger, former White House Office of Telecommunications Policy]
For us to compete, for us to survive, we must=20
develop the infrastructure of the 21st century=20
much faster than we have been, and incentivize=20
whole communities to begin using these new=20
infrastructures to begin transforming their=20
communities to compete in this new global=20
economy. We must assure our cities that they can=20
and should plan on building their information=20
highways, in partnership with existing providers,=20
and help them by clearing away the regulatory=20
hurdles and logistical doubts. We need to set the=20
standards for interconnection, and encourage=20
alliances and partnerships as needed. We must=20
develop a new deregulatory framework to promote=20
broadband deployment and continued innovation. We=20
must in short, establish and sustain a National=20
Infrastructure Initiative to get our country back on track.
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/99245

AMONG THE AUDIENCE
[SOURCE: The Economist]
Last November, the Pew Internet & American Life=20
Project found that 57% of American teenagers=20
create content for the Internet -- from text to=20
pictures, music and video. In this new-media=20
culture, says Paul Saffo, a director at the=20
Institute for the Future in California, people no=20
longer passively =93consume=94 media (and thus=20
advertising, its main revenue source) but=20
actively participate in them, which usually means=20
creating content, in whatever form and on=20
whatever scale. This has profound implications=20
for traditional business models in the media=20
industry, which are based on aggregating large=20
passive audiences and holding them captive during=20
advertising interruptions. In the new-media era,=20
audiences will occasionally be large, but often=20
small, and usually tiny. Instead of a few large=20
capital-rich media giants competing with one=20
another for these audiences, it will be small=20
firms and individuals competing or, more often,=20
collaborating. Some will be making money from the=20
content they create; others will not and will not=20
mind, because they have other motives. =93People=20
creating stuff to build their own reputations=94=20
are at one end of this spectrum, says Philip=20
Evans at Boston Consulting Group, and one-man=20
superbrands such as Steven Spielberg at the other.
http://www.economist.com/surveys/displaystory.cfm?story_id=3D6794156

BUT A LOOK BACK SHOWS THAT THINGS DON'T ALWAYS WORK OUT AS EXPECTED
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Michelle Kessler]
Officials in San Francisco have high hopes for=20
the giant wireless Internet network that soon=20
will span this hilly city. Yet all it takes is a=20
look back at Wi-Fi's pioneers to discover that=20
big wireless Internet projects often don't live=20
up to lofty expectations. The tech industry is=20
notorious for overhyping new technologies, and=20
Wi-Fi received more than its share, says wireless=20
analyst Phillip Redman at researcher Gartner. The=20
vision of Wi-Fi as a tool for businesses and a=20
limited number of tech-savvy consumers =93has=20
really come true,=94 he says. =93But if you think=20
about things like Wi-Fi services, public=20
hotspots, Wi-Fi taking over the cellular (phone)=20
world =85 it's been a letdown,=94 he says.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060421/wifi.art.htm

GOOGLE DECLINES TO RULE OUT WIRELESS AIRWAVE BID
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Eric Auchard]
Google Inc. on Thursday opened the door to the=20
possibility that it could bid on U.S. licenses=20
for wireless radio spectrum in order to offer=20
Internet access services, but said no plans were=20
imminent. Co-founder Larry Page said the company=20
has no wireless spectrum acquisition plans to=20
announce but declined to rule out speculation=20
that Google may be gearing up for a push far=20
beyond wireless trials it is working on in the=20
San Francisco area. "We haven't announced any=20
plans with regard to spectrum, but we are=20
generally interested in improving access to the Internet," he said.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-04-21T023651Z_01_N20411787_RTRUKOC_0_US-GOOGLE-WIRELESS.xml

ARKANSAS JUDGE OKs GOOGLE SETTLEMENT
[SOURCE: Reuters]
An Arkansas judge on Thursday approved a=20
preliminary settlement worth up to $90 million=20
between Google Inc. and advertisers who claimed=20
the world's leading Web search provider=20
overcharged them for their ads. Under the=20
settlement, Google will be required to pay up to=20
$60 million in credits for future advertising on=20
Google, and up to $30 million is available to pay=20
lawyers for those making claims against Google.=20
The settlement, negotiated in March, resolves=20
Google's part of an industrywide lawsuit alleging=20
Web search companies overcharge some advertisers=20
by billing them for false customer leads. At=20
issue in the lawsuit is "click fraud," which is=20
the abuse of search advertising systems for the=20
purpose of driving up advertiser fees by=20
repeatedly clicking on an advertising link --=20
either manually or using robots -- and so=20
generating a commission payment with each click.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-04-20T195059Z_01_N20249734_RTRUKOC_0_US-GOOGLE-ADVERTISERS.xml

FCC PROPOSES FINING FAILED TV CONTEST
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The FCC has proposed fining Clear Channel's=20
WAWS(TV) Jacksonville, Fla., $4,000 for a botched=20
contest. It was the smallest fine it could levy for the offense.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6326722?display=3DBreaking+News

FCC & NTIA =AD COORDINATION PROCEDURES IN THE 1710-1755 MHz BAND
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC and the National Telecommunications and=20
Information Administration are providing=20
information to assist coordination in the=20
1710-1755 MHz band, to facilitate the transition=20
of this band from federal government use to=20
non-federal use. Specifically, they provide=20
guidance to assist the Commission=92s Advanced=20
Wireless Service (AWS) licensees in this band to=20
begin implementing service during the transition=20
of federal operations from the band while=20
providing interference protection to incumbent=20
federal government operations until they have=20
been relocated to other frequency bands or=20
technologies. To further facilitate the=20
coordination process, NTIA has published a list=20
of agency contacts on its web site at=20
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/reports/specrelo/pdf/1710-1755MHz_points...
_contact.pdf=20
to enable licensees and federal agencies=20
operating in their license area to coordinate=20
more closely. NTIA has also published=20
information on the federal government operations=20
in the 1710-1755 MHz band at=20
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/reports/specrelo/index.htm=20
and will periodically update this information as=20
well as provide the relocation status of the=20
stations used for federal government operations throughout the transition.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-50A1.doc
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2006/AWS_042006.htm

NAB NAMES NEW GOVERNMENT RELATIONS CHIEF
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Douglas Wiley will be the National Association of=20
Broadcasters' new point person with Capitol Hill=20
and the administration, a key job as broadcasters=20
work to secure multicast-must carry legislation=20
and work out the issues surrounding the=20
transition to digital. Wiley comes from high-tech=20
trade group, the Electronic Industries Alliance,=20
where he was senior VP of government relations.=20
Before that he was director of government=20
relations for telecommunications company Alcatel.=20
Wiley is billed as having helped draft the 1996=20
Telecommunications Act while at Comptel as=20
director of legislative affairs. Wiley is also=20
former VP of the Telecommunications Industry=20
Association and was a special assistant at the=20
National Telecommunications and Information=20
Administration, working under then NTIA head and=20
former FCC Chairman Al Sikes. Wiley worked on the=20
Hill as legislative assistant to Virginia=20
Republican Rep. Tom Bliley, former chairman of=20
the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the FCC.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6326788?display=3DBreaking+News

GONZALES CALLS FOR MANDATORY WEB LABELING LAW
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
Web site operators posting sexually explicit=20
information must place official government=20
warning labels on their pages or risk being=20
imprisoned for up to five years, Attorney General=20
Alberto Gonzales proposed Thursday.
http://news.com.com/Gonzales+calls+for+mandatory+Web+labeling+law/2100-1...
_3-6063554.html?tag=3Dnefd.lede

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BACKS DIGITAL =93OPENNESS=94 TO FOSTER IN=
NOVATION
[SOURCE: Committee for Economic Development press release]
Openness in the creation of computer software and=20
other digital information products is an=20
important element needed to foster further=20
innovation and economic growth for the United=20
States and for the global economy. That is a=20
central recommendation of a new report from the=20
Committee for Economic Development (CED), a=20
business-led public policy group: Open Standards,=20
Open Source, and Open Innovation: Harnessing the=20
Benefits of Openness. The report was written by=20
the CED-sponsored Digital Connections Council=20
(DCC), which consists of CED Trustees, research=20
staff, and industry experts. The report calls=20
openness =93an underlying technical and=20
philosophical tenet of the expansion of=20
electronic commerce=94 that will =93cause=20
transformations in the economy and=20
society.=94 Digitization of information and the=20
growth of the Internet have profoundly expanded=20
the capacity for openness, which can be viewed=20
largely as a function of the accessibility and=20
responsiveness (meaning the ability of anyone to=20
make modifications) of a work or process. The=20
very best example of open standards is the=20
Internet itself, which was built on open=20
standards through an open=20
process. Alternatively, proprietary=20
standards=97those controlled by a particular=20
party=97can also provide substantial benefits and=20
have the advantage of being validated by the=20
marketplace. But open standards=97important in=20
many instances=97prevent a single, self-interested=20
party from controlling a standard, facilitate=20
competition by lowering the cost of entry, and stimulate innovation.
http://www.ced.org/newsroom/press/press_2006ecom_openstandards.pdf
* Open Standards, Open Source, and Open=20
Innovation: Harnessing the Benefits of Openness
http://www.ced.org/docs/report/report_ecom_openstandards.pdf
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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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