Benton RSS Feed

There's a hearing today on Digital Content and=20
Enabling Technology. But the big day is tomorrow:=20
the House Commerce Committee considers new=20
telecom law (see story below), the Senate=20
Commerce Committee ponders Competition and=20
Convergence, New America hosts a conversation on=20
the transforming BBC & PBS, and there's a Town=20
Meeting on the Future of Media in Norfolk (VA).=20
For these and other upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

TELECOM REFORM BILL
House Republicans offer Bill to aid Telcos' Video

NET NEUTRALITY
Battle for the Web
Why Network Operators are Flexing their Muscles
An Examination of the Economics of Whitacre Tiering
Get What You Pay For

MUNICIPAL WIRELESS
New Orleans' free Wi-Fi in dispute
5 Years For Nation Wide WiFi

BROADCASTING
Bill Could Solidify Power of 2 Mexican TV Giants
Showtime, anytime
Critics Say Beer Spots Exploit Loopholes

JOURNALISM
Knight Ridder Papers Draw at Least 3 Bids
Why Not Restructure Journalism as a Local Trust?

POLICYMAKERS -- Road Trip for FCC Dems, Tate=20
Names John Grant Advisor for Policy; Bill Bailey Joins Disney

QUICKLY -- Broadcasters Balk At Possible Retrans=20
Re-Do; Barrington Buys Dozen Raycom Stations;=20
Programmers Seek Captioning Exemptions; CJR on=20
Godcasting Invasion; Anonymous bidding at the=20
FCC; Industry Think Tank Rejects Common Cause=20
Allegations; SAG Members Authorize Strike;=20
European mobile roaming charges to drop

TELECOM REFORM BILL

HOUSE REPUBLICANS OFFER BILL TO AID TELCOS' VIDEO
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
House Republicans -- including, in one report,=20
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) -- on Monday=20
offered legislation aimed at easing the path for=20
telephone carriers like AT&T and Verizon to enter=20
the subscription television business. The=20
companies have complained that it would take them=20
years to obtain the necessary licenses from=20
thousands of local authorities to offer video=20
service, which is aimed at competing with cable=20
companies like Comcast. "With new competitors=20
preparing to enter the ongoing race between cable=20
and satellite, the law needs to change," said=20
House Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Joe Barton=20
(R-TX). He introduced the bill with Michigan=20
Republican Rep. Fred Upton and Rep. Bobby Rush,=20
an Illinois Democrat. Although if any telecom=20
reform bill comes out of the House this year, it=20
is likely to be some form of this bill, the=20
future of this legislation remains unclear. The=20
proposed House bill would allow video providers=20
to obtain a national license, known as a=20
franchise, and would permit local authorities to=20
continue collecting up to 5 percent of gross=20
revenue. The proposal also would authorize the=20
Federal Communications Commission to enforce=20
principles it has issued that call on broadband=20
Internet providers to permit consumers unfettered=20
Internet access and allow them to run any Internet-based applications.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-03-28T192837Z_01_N27323117_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-CONGRESS-VIDEO.xml&a=
rchived=3DFalse
*** There's lots of coverage and reaction to this=20
bill; see http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=3Dnode/1901 for what we've foun=
d. ***

NET NEUTRALITY

BATTLE FOR THE WEB
[SOURCE: Toronto Star, AUTHOR: Tyler Hamilton]
Tim Berners-Lee, chief architect of the World=20
Wide Web, says his world-changing invention would=20
no longer be an "open information space" if=20
broadband providers abandoned the principle of=20
Net neutrality. In an interview with the Toronto=20
Star, Berners-Lee said he's "very concerned"=20
about talk from major North America phone and=20
cable giants about their desire to collect=20
so-called Web tolls from content suppliers and=20
e-commerce companies that want assured access to=20
broadband subscribers. "It stops being the Net if=20
a supplier of downloaded video pays to connect to=20
a particular set of consumers who are connected=20
to a particular cable company. It would no longer=20
be an open information space," Berners-Lee said.=20
"The whole point of the Web is when you arrive=20
it's more or less the same for everybody. That=20
integrity is really essential. ... I'm very=20
concerned." His comments come as a major=20
public-policy debate on net neutrality rages in=20
the United States and, in Canada, is just beginning to heat up.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=3Dthestar/Layout...
ticle_Type1&c=3DArticle&cid=3D1143499812060&call_pageid=3D968350072197&Star=
Source=3DRSS

WHY NETWORK OPERATORS ARE FLEXING THEIR MUSCLES
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Richard Waters and Mark Odell]
[Commentary] Currently, everyone can count on=20
unfettered access to communications networks that=20
reach anyone with an Internet connection -- at=20
the last count, more than 1 billion people. With=20
that sort of reach, any amateur podcaster,=20
video-blogger or software developer can dream of=20
attracting an instant global audience -- even if,=20
in truth, only three other people are paying=20
attention. Some of the companies that control=20
those networks, however, want to change the rules=20
of the game. Starting in the US, but now also=20
spreading to Europe, telecommunications companies=20
have started to argue that they should have the=20
right to charge Internet companies for delivering=20
their videos, e-mails or search results -- or, at=20
least, for guaranteeing them a certain level of=20
service quality. The unspoken threat, critics=20
say, is that non-payers will see the quality of=20
their services degraded, or risk being shut out=20
of the broadband Internet altogether. From being=20
a wide-open medium, the Internet would instead=20
come to look more like the closed networks run by=20
cable or satellite television companies. This=20
amounts to nothing less than a fight over the=20
soul of the Internet. Created as a network to=20
link academics, its basic architecture was=20
founded on openness. Limiting the ability of=20
users to ride the network could amount to the=20
first serious challenge to that principle, a=20
fencing-in of the intellectual commons.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/aa67497c-be8d-11da-b10f-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)
* Move to levy new online charges
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f0f2e74a-be9a-11da-b10f-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

AN EXAMINATION OF THE ECONOMICS OF 'WHITACRE TIERING'
[SOURCE: Tales of the Sausage Factory, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] Why "Whitacre tiering" produces=20
really, really awful results from an economic=20
perspective. It gives actors all the wrong=20
incentives, adds new layers of uncertainty and=20
inefficiency to the market generally, and=20
discourages investment in bandwidth capacity at=20
every stage of the network (thus aggravating the=20
broadband incentives problem you may have read=20
about recently, rather than solving it, as some=20
defenders of Whitacre tiering maintain).
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/441

GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Richard Notebaert, CEO Qwest]
[Commentary] According to the FCC, Net neutrality=20
means that providers of Internet services must=20
allow unfettered consumer access to the Internet.=20
No one should deny or impede access to lawful=20
sites on the Web. Everyone supports that=20
position. But some very big corporations are=20
trying to redefine Net neutrality away from a=20
focus on access, and toward something far more=20
nebulous and self-serving. Case in point --=20
assume an online movie provider negotiates a=20
commercial agreement with a company like Qwest to=20
guarantee download speeds of, say, five megabits=20
per second, for all its customers. That's a=20
pretty good idea in a world where every company=20
is trying to differentiate itself from its=20
competitors. "Not so fast," cry the naysayers.=20
They claim that the idea of a premium level of=20
service violates Net neutrality because that=20
online movie company's competitors may not want=20
to offer their customers the same benefits.=20
Essentially, they argue that doing this would=20
give some content providers an advantage over=20
those that choose not to provide this service.=20
Well, yes it would. As an industry, we've always=20
sold bigger pipes and faster service to those who=20
wish to buy them. And yes, I suspect much of that=20
enhanced capacity has been bought to give the=20
purchaser an edge. That's how a competitive=20
marketplace works. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and=20
the commission have already made positive moves=20
away from over-regulation of broadband service.=20
They have deliberately moved toward open and=20
fully competitive markets to the benefit of=20
customers and the prosperity of the Internet.=20
It's essential that all decision makers continue=20
to support true Net neutrality, as interpreted by=20
the FCC. This will enable companies to compete,=20
thrive and meet the needs of their customers. And=20
it will put an end to the distortion of this=20
admirable objective into a self-serving concept that was never intended.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114360648777910921.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
nion
(requires subscription)

MUNICIPAL WIRELESS

NEW ORLEANS' FREE WI-FI IN DISPUTE
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
More than half of New Orleans still doesn't have=20
phone or Internet access. But that isn't stopping=20
BellSouth from campaigning to shut down a free=20
Wi-Fi service that has become a lifeline for=20
thousands of residents, the city's top technology=20
officer says. State laws ban municipalities from=20
giving away broadband services. The city got=20
around the ban because the governor declared a=20
state of emergency after Hurricane Katrina. The=20
state of emergency is expected to be lifted this=20
year. When that happens, the broadband network=20
would have to shut down. BellSouth has opposed=20
proposed legislation that would allow New Orleans=20
to keep its Wi-Fi network running. The carrier,=20
which provides phone service in Louisiana, stands=20
to lose phone and wireless customers if other cities follow New Orleans' le=
ad.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060329/1b_nowifi29.art.htm

5 YEARS FOR NATION WIDE WIFI
[SOURCE: Om Malik's Blog]
[Commentary] In five years, most major metros and=20
suburbs will have ubiquitous Wi-Fi based=20
broadband coverage says Chuck Haas, the=20
co-founder and chief executive officer of=20
MetroFi, a Mountain View, Calif.,-based start-up=20
that is rolling out metro wireless networks. He=20
thinks most metros and suburban areas in the US=20
will be WiFi hot-zones, by end of the decade.
http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/

BROADCASTING

BILL COULD SOLIDIFY POWER OF 2 MEXICAN TV GIANTS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Marla Dickerson]
Mexican lawmakers are poised to overhaul the=20
nation's broadcasting laws this week, a move that=20
opponents say will ensure that two dominant=20
companies retain their lock on the country's=20
airwaves. The legislation would in effect grant=20
new broadcasting spectrum to media giants Grupo=20
Televisa and TV Azteca to launch high-definition=20
television and other digital services without=20
expressly requiring them to pay for it. Experts=20
describe the proposed move as a massive giveaway=20
of public assets that will cost the Mexican=20
treasury billions and block new players from the=20
market. In the midst of a heated presidential=20
race, the bill has provoked accusations of=20
backroom dealing by the two corporations. And it=20
has underscored the enduring power of Mexico's=20
business oligarchies, which critics say are=20
shortchanging Mexican consumers, retarding=20
economic growth and stunting the nation's democracy.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fi-mextv29mar29,1,4...
51.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section
(requires registration)

SHOWTIME, ANYTIME
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] Always looking out for its=20
customers, particularly when it could generate=20
new fees, the cable TV industry unveiled two=20
initiatives this week to help viewers catch up=20
with shows they missed. Its efforts highlight the=20
gap between what technology can do and what the=20
TV industry is prepared to try. These proposals=20
are, at best, halfway steps toward the nirvana of=20
complete viewer control. The spread of digital=20
video recorders, high-speed Internet connections=20
and entertainment-oriented computers with massive=20
hard drives has laid the foundation for viewers=20
to watch whatever shows they want to watch,=20
whenever and wherever they wish. Video jukebox=20
services could store umpteen hours of TV and=20
deliver it on demand, either through a coaxial=20
cable or the Internet. Given the industry's=20
complex economics, networks may spend years=20
positioning themselves to compete in the emerging=20
world of on-demand entertainment. Still, the=20
ultimate destination is clear: Viewers will=20
control when and where they watch their favorite=20
shows. The only question is how long it will take to get there.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-vcr29mar29,1,1520...
story?coll=3Dla-news-comment
(requires registration)

CRITICS SAY BEER SPOTS EXPLOIT LOOPHOLES
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Melanie Warner]
Gone are the days of bikini-clad women and mud=20
wrestling, but beer advertising still draw lots=20
of criticism. Several consumer groups say that=20
the voluntary standards set up by the Beer=20
Institute, an industry trade group, are little=20
more than a public relations ploy and do not go=20
far enough in trying to cut down on beer ads seen=20
by people under 21. "The beer ad code has=20
loopholes that are big enough to drive a team of=20
Clydesdales through," said Laurie Leiber,=20
director for media advocacy at the Marin=20
Institute, an organization that keeps watch over=20
the alcoholic beverage industry. The Beer=20
Institute's code was made weaker, not stronger,=20
by changes in January, Ms. Leiber said. One=20
loophole, she said, allows for the portrayal of=20
illegal activity in ads as long as it "is a basic=20
element or feature of a parody or spoof and is=20
readily identifiable as such." "They're writing=20
guidelines to allow themselves to do what they've=20
been doing all along," Ms. Leiber said. She said=20
the parody stipulation was added in response to=20
complaints about a Bud Light ad showing referees=20
stealing beer and running from the police.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/business/media/29adco.html
(requires registration)

JOURNALISM

KNIGHT RIDDER PAPERS DRAW AT LEAST 3 BIDS
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Joseph Menn and James Rainey]
McClatchy Co.'s planned sale of a dozen Knight=20
Ridder Inc. newspapers drew bids from at least=20
three potential buyers Tuesday =97 including an=20
offer for all 12 from Los Angeles investment firm=20
Yucaipa Cos. Yucaipa, controlled by billionaire=20
Ron Burkle, is allied with the Newspaper=20
Guild-Communications Workers of America, the=20
union that represents employees at eight of the=20
papers. Robert Hall, an advisor to Yucaipa and=20
the union, described the bid as "very competitive=20
and aggressive." Denver-based MediaNews Group=20
Inc., which owns the Denver Post and Daily News=20
in Los Angeles, bid for at least some of the=20
papers, people involved in the process said. In=20
addition, wire services reported that a group led=20
by Bruce Toll, vice chairman of home builder Toll=20
Bros. Inc., bid for the two Philadelphia papers=20
-- the Inquirer and Daily News. Gannett Co.,=20
owner of USA Today and considered a potential=20
bidder, apparently didn't submit an offer. All=20
told, the 12 papers are expected to fetch more than $1 billion.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-mcclatchy29mar29,1,24...
80.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

WHY NOT RESTRUCTURE JOURNALISM AS A LOCAL TRUST?
[SOURCE: David Bollier's blog]
[Commentary] It used to be that journalism was=20
called a public trust. Now it=92s mostly considered=20
an under-leveraged market asset. Everywhere you=20
look, the drive to monetize the readership and=20
credibility of journalism is leading to its=20
degradation. It=92s demoralizing, it=92s bad for our=20
democracy, and it=92s destructive of local civic=20
culture. But here=92s a fascinating idea: Why not=20
regard journalism as a trust -- literally? That=92s=20
what they do at the New London Day (Connecticut),=20
the St. Petersburg Times (Florida), the=20
Manchester Union Leader (New Hampshire) and the=20
Anniston Star (Alabama). Meetup.com, the Daily=20
Kos, MoveOn.org and other Internet venues have=20
shown that, in today=92s networked environment, it=20
is actually possible to pursue the collective=20
goals of thousands of ordinary people. Maybe we=20
should be pondering a new future for journalism=20
and local newspapers =AD as citizen-owned trusts.=20
The results could only be beneficial for=20
journalism, for democracy, and for us commoners.
http://onthecommons.org/node/850

POLICYMAKERS

ROAD TRIP FOR FCC DEMS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR:John Eggerton ]
Democratic FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and=20
Jonathan Adelstein will be "listeners" at a town=20
meeting on media issues spearheaded by activist=20
group Free Press. The town meeting, which will be=20
held March 30 in Norfolk, Va., will feature panel=20
discussions and an open-mike session where the=20
public can offer personal testimony, which will=20
be recorded and submitted to the Commission.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6319818?display=3DBreaking+News

TATE NAMES JOHN GRANT ADVISOR FOR POLICY
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate announced=20
that John Grant will serve as her Special Advisor=20
for Policy. Grant formerly served as Legislative=20
Assistant to Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN). His=20
responsibilities included serving as staff to the=20
Senate Budget Committee and issues including=20
telecommunications, judiciary, international=20
trade, and tax policy. Prior to that, he served=20
as Correspondence Director in Senator Alexander's=20
office. Before joining Senator Alexander's=20
office, Mr. Grant served as Correspondence=20
Director and Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL).
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264538A1.doc

BILL BAILEY JOINS DISNEY'S DC CREW
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Former staffer for Sen John McCain (R-AZ) Bill=20
Bailey, who had been senior VP at XM Satellite=20
Radio, has joined Disney, replacing Mitch Rose as=20
the number two guy to chief lobbyist Preston Padden.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6319803?display=3DBreaking+News

QUICKLY

BROADCASTERS BALK AT POSSIBLE RETRANS RE-DO
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The National Alliance of State Broadcasters=20
(NASBA), a confederation of state broadcaster=20
associations, have written the House Energy and=20
Commerce Committee asking its members to oppose=20
any attempt to "gut" the current restransmission=20
consent system. NASBA argues that "retransmission=20
consent negotiations are private, market-based=20
negotiations between broadcasters and=20
multichannel video programming distributors.=20
Congress should not alter a system that has=20
evolved to benefit consumers as well as braodcasters and cable companies."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6319902?display=3DBreaking+News

BARRINGTON BUYS DOZEN RAYCOM STATIONS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Allison Romano]
Barrington Broadcasting has cut a deal to buy 12=20
TV stations in nine markets from Raycom Media for=20
$262 million. The deal, subject to regulatory=20
approval, comes after Raycom acquired Liberty=20
Corp.=92s station group in February with the=20
promise to sell off stations in 12 markets to=20
comply with FCC restrictions on station=20
ownership. Barrington currently owns six network=20
affiliates. The proposed deal would bring its=20
total coverage to 3.4% of the country.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6319585?display=3DBreaking+News

PROGRAMMERS SEEK CAPTIONING EXEMPTIONS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
As of Jan.1, 2006, all new, non-news=20
English-language programming was required to be=20
closed captioned, with some narrow exceptions,=20
including "when compliance with closed captioning=20
rules would pose an undue burden." Providers of=20
TV content, particularly ones without deep=20
pockets, are peppering the FCC's Consumer and=20
Governmental Affairs Bureau weekly with requests=20
for exemptions claiming "an undue burden."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6319700?display=3DBreaking+News

CJR ON GODCASTING INVASION
[SOURCE: DIYmedia.net, AUTHOR: ]
[Commentary] The Columbia Journalism Review has=20
just published "Out of Thin Air," which is=20
without a doubt the most comprehensive treatment=20
done by a mainstream media outlet to date on the=20
on the speculation and trafficking of FM=20
translator stations. The 3,600-word piece does an=20
admirable job of unpacking some of the=20
technically-challenging aspects of this=20
complicated story. However, it is not without its=20
share of mistakes, some of which are big enough=20
to somewhat obscure the real nature of the story at hand.
http://diymedia.net/feature/f030506.htm

ANONYMOUS BIDDING AND NOT SO ANONYMOUS SHAKEDOWNS AT THE FCC
[SOURCE: Tales of the Sausage Factory, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] Say what you like about FCC Chairman=20
Martin in other areas, but he is (so far)=20
sticking to his guns on whether to require=20
anonymous bidding for the upcomming AWS spectrum=20
auction. MAP has actively supported this=20
proposal, because it will make the auctions work=20
better and facilitate entry by minority owned=20
businesses and new, disruptive competitors (I'm=20
stuck with them by statute, so I may as well try=20
to get them to work right). In perhaps the most=20
telling evidence that anonymous/blind/sealed=20
bidding (in which the identity of the bidder is=20
not disclosed during the action) is a good idea,=20
every incumbent (except Verizon Wireless, which=20
has been =93targeted=94 in certain auctions) is lobbying fiercely against i=
t.
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/468

INDUSTRY THINK TANK REJECTS COMMON CAUSE ALLEGATIONS
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: Doug Halonen]
The Progress & Freedom Foundation, an=20
industry-backed Washington think tank that=20
promotes free-market policies, on Tuesday took=20
issue with allegations by the watchdog group=20
Common Cause that it is an industry front group,=20
saying it is being upfront about its industry=20
funding and mission. In a new report, Common=20
Cause criticizes a variety of groups, including=20
the Progress & Freedom Foundation, for allegedly=20
advancing industry causes without adequately=20
disclosing their industry sponsorship. In the=20
report, titled "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing,"=20
Common Cause notes that the foundation, whose=20
experts sometimes testify before congressional=20
committees, receives funding from a range of=20
telecommunications industry interests, including=20
AT&T and the National Cable & Telecommunications=20
Association. The report also says foundation=20
experts have recently supported the cable TV=20
industry's opposition to a la carte cable pricing=20
and network neutrality rules barring broadband=20
service providers from using their power over=20
their networks to discriminate against unaffiliated content providers.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9644
(requires free registration)
* Common Cause Takes On =91Turf=92
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6319872.html?display=3DBreaking+News

SAG MEMBERS AUTHORIZE STRIKE AGAINST CABLE PRODUCERS
[SOURCE: TVWeek, AUTHOR: James Hibberd]
Screen Actors Guild members have voted to give=20
union leaders authorization to call a strike=20
during negotiations with basic cable producers.=20
During the last week, SAG held negotiation=20
caucuses with members in five cities-San=20
Francisco, Miami, Chicago, New York and=20
Hollywood-where votes were taken to grant authorization for a strike.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=3D9642
(requires free registration)
See SAG statement:
http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/application;JSESSIONID_sagWebApp=3DEpURGgrH...
XoGSJnr9S15MNrs58OlM6Y1nid25N4oNsq7MmKGIn!105745792!NONE?origin=3Dpage1.jsp=
&event=3Dbea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=3DHidden&contentUrl=
=3D/NewsAndAnnouncements/announcementLander.jsp&cp=3Dnull&announcementPage=
=3D/Content/Public/caucus2.htm

EUROPEAN MOBILE ROAMING CHARGES TO DROP
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Sarah Laitner and Mark Odell ]
Europeans could see a sharp drop in international=20
phone costs in time for their summer holidays=20
next year as a result of planned laws being=20
rushed through by the European Commission.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/22ebbde8-be7e-11da-b10f-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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