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Crusading TV Station Is the City's Daytime Drama

Time Warner's New York Blackout

Microsoft Takes a Stake in Progressive Networks

Microsoft Is Gaining Ally for Developing Internet Technology

News Corp. in Talks With Time Warner To Place Fox News on New York Cable

Internet Use Is Restricted In Loudoun

8th Circuit Court Ruling Blow For U.S. Long-distance Carriers

8th Circuit Court's Ruling Goes way Beyond Severing FCC's Pricing Rules

Senator McCain Plans to take a Second Look at Telecom Act

U.S. Telecom Reform Moves At Snail's Pace

Senate Approves Klein's Nomination to Head DOJ Antitrust Division

Bell Atlantic, Nynex Concede To FCC Requests In Exchange For Merger OK

Companies Should Self-Regulate Internet Business, Says MCI

Budget process unsettled for broadcasters

Taking a Reed on a Wallman FCC

"Clean money" alternatives offered

All ratings roads lead to the FCC

America's Town Crier

Statements on Court's Decision on Telephone Interconnection

DISCO II [NOT a BeeGees Story]
*********************************************
Title: Crusading TV Station Is the City's Daytime Drama
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A4)
Author: Calvin Sims
Issue: International/TV
Description: After airing investigative reports of misuse of power within
the Peruvian government, Frecuencia Latina TV is preparing to be raided by
the military. Already, the station's owner, Baruch Ivcher, has been stripped
of his citizenship.

Title: Time Warner's New York Blackout
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A22)
Author: NYTimes Editorial Staff
Issue: Ownership/Media Mergers
Description: Time Warner's decision not to carry the Fox News Cable station
means that New Yorkers aren't seeing live coverage of the Senate hearings on
campaign finance abuses. Due to bad ratings, CNN and MSNBC are not showing
the hearings. C-SPAN is showing the hearings on tape delay. "If Time Warner
wants to be respected as a company grounded in journalism, it cannot leave
the nation's largest television audience in the dark on a matter as critical
as the Senate hearings." [The editorial does not mention that the only way
for *all* New Yorkers to see the hearings is to air them on a free,
broadcast station.]

Title: Microsoft Takes a Stake in Progressive Networks
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D6)
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Mergers
Description: In hopes of developing a future digital television technical
standard more compatible with computers, Microsoft has made a minority
investment in Progressive Networks -- developer of Real Audio and Real
Video. Progressive Networks was created by ex-Microsoft employee Rob Glaser.

Title: Microsoft Is Gaining Ally for Developing Internet Technology
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/ (B5)
Author: WSJ Staff Writer
Issue: Mergers
Description: Microsoft will acquire a 10% nonvoting stake in Progressive
Networks. Competition had been heating up between the two companies with
Microsoft's development of audio and video Net tools under the name NetShow.

Title: News Corp. in Talks With Time Warner To Place Fox News on New York
Cable
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(B6)
Author: Eben Shapiro & Mark Robichaux
Issue: Ownership/Mergers
Description: In a three-way deal to solve the Fox News/Time Warner cable
fiasco, the City of New York will get Rupert Murdoch as mayor, Ted Turner
will head News Corp and Rudolph Giuliani will become a Time Warner Vice
Chairman. Each man had worn out his welcome at his organization. **Or** Fox
News will get a slot on Time Warner freed up by the City which will give
away one of its public access stations. News Corp. will drop an a federal
antitrust suit against Time Warner and Time Warner will drop another suit
against the City. All will be happy -- until Greg Maddux realizes he's
pitching for someone with a Yankee cap on.

Title: Internet Use Is Restricted In Loudoun
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (E1)
Author: Peter Pae and Todd Beamon
Issue: Libraries/First Amendment
Description: Last night, the Loudon County (VA) Library Board voted 6-2
in favor of blocking full Internet access by their patrons. The adopted
policy states that adult patrons must ask librarians to turn off
filtering software if they would like full access, and that children
under 17 yrs. old must have a parent with them if they want full access
to the Web. Many praised the decision as a "common sense" way to
protect children, while others, including the Library Director, decried
the filtering policy saying that parents "should have the right to
decide what is appropriate for their children." According to Judith
Krug, Director of the American Library Association (http://www.ala.org), the
move is "unusual in that the majority of libraries are backing off" from
using content filters. The ALA advocates parental restriction of their
children's access over the use of screening software.

Title: 8th Circuit Court Ruling Blow For U.S. Long-distance Carriers
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis made a
ruling last week which declared that the FCC had stepped into the
jurisdiction of state regulators in trying to influence the prices
charged by local phone companies for access to their networks by
potential competitors. FCC Chairman Reed Hunt said that "This is a huge
setback for competition [and] a tremendous shot in the arm for the
forces of incumbency and the status quo. But there is an antidote for
monopolies: the Supreme Court." Which is to say, the FCC will appeal
the ruling.

Title: 8th Circuit Court's Ruling Goes way Beyond Severing FCC's Pricing Rules
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: The 8th Circuit's ruling struck down the Federal Communications
Commission's jurisdiction over pricing of interstate charges and the "pick
and choose" provision which would have allowed potential competitors to pick
the parts of previous interconnection agreements with being responsible for
the negative terms of those agreements. The Court also said that the FCC
can't set rules for state commissions on rural exemptions, can't review
agreements approved by state commissions, nor preempt state policies that
conflict with FCC regulation. In summing up his opinion, Judge David Hansen
wrote, "While we do not pretend to possess the Rosetta stone that reveals
the true meaning of every portion of this Act, we hope that our review of
the FCC's First Report and Order in light of the Act's provisions offers
some guidance to the participants in the telecommunications industry as they
continue its evolution into the competitive marketplace Congress intended."

Title: Senator McCain Plans to take a Second Look at Telecom Act
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Telecommunications Act of 1996
Description: In a statement on the 8th U.S. Circuit of Appeals' July 21
ruling, Sen John McCain (R-AZ) said "I am very concerned that this serious
setback to the FCC's regulatory plan may mean that the Telecom Act will now
be even more ineffective in bringing about increased competition than it has
already shown itself to be." Sen McCain plans to hold hearings in September
to investigate how the Telecom Act can promote competition in light of the
ruling.

Title: U.S. Telecom Reform Moves At Snail's Pace
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: There's good news and bad news for advocates of open
competition in the telecommunications market. The good news is that the
FCC will allow Bell Atlantic to merge with Nynex because they agreed to
concessions that will force the companies to stimulate competition in
the market. As a result, their customers may eventually see telephone
rates drop. The bad news is, if you don't live on the East Coast
between New England and North Carolina, you don't have much to look
forward to after the Appeals Court decision to strike
down the FCC's ability to set pricing rules for interconnection charges on local
networks. For long-distance carriers to enter the local market they
will now have to battle for fair rates in each state they wish to
provide service in, or will have to make an incredible investment and
build their own network. The FCC has set up a task force to look into
the impediments to competition, but it seems like progress towards
competition will be made slowly, if it comes at all.

Title: Senate Approves Klein's Nomination to Head DOJ Antitrust Division
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Telephone Regulation
Description: Thursday, the Senate approved the nomination of Joel Klein
as head of the Department of Justice's Antitrust division. Senate
Democrats tried to keep Klein from the position because they questioned
his "ability to rule objectively on applications from telecommunications
companies to merge or enter interLATA long-distance." Attorney General
Janet Reno was pleased with the approval of Klein, calling him a
"champion" of American consumer and business interests.

Title: Bell Atlantic, Nynex Concede To FCC Requests In Exchange For
Merger OK
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Telecom Mergers
Description: According to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, concessions made by
Bell Atlantic and Nynex under the condition that the FCC accept their
merger, "would bring enforceable, pro-competitive, market opening terms
to the whole Bell Atlantic/Nynex region in a way that offsets the loss
of Bell Atlantic as a potential competitor to Nynex." If Bell Atlantic
fails to meet all of the merger conditions, they will be fined by the
FCC, and could be slapped with additional penalties.

Title: Companies Should Self-Regulate Internet Business, Says MCI
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Internet Regulation
Description: MCI released a statement yesterday suggesting that Internet
service providers regulate themselves in order to keep the government
out of the Internet regulation business. The paper suggested that
allowing government regulation of the Internet would risk "distorting
healthy market forces," not to mention the fact that it would be a next
to impossible task for the government to regulate all Internet content.

Title: Budget process unsettled for broadcasters
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.10)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: Spectrum/Budget Issues
Description: Broadcast lobbyists are concerned that gains they've made will
be lost when the Budget Committee conference meets next week. Current budget
language calls for the return of spectrum when 95% of households in a market
area "have access" to digital signals. Federal Communications Chairman Reed
Hundt wants that language to be clearer -- and make sure "access" means "the
burden is on the broadcasters to transmit the digital signal, not on the
consumer to receive it." Chairman Hundt points out that the 95% penetration
rate is unrealistic because "telephones have been available for 120 years,
and yet 6% of the population still does not have telephone."

Title: Taking a Reed on a Wallman FCC
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.14)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: FCC
Description: "Reed Hundt's policies minus Reed Hundt's arrogance." That's
what Washington lawyers, lobbyists, and regulators expect from a FCC headed
by Kathleen Wallman, White House economic adviser. "What you get is Gore,"
said one lobbyist. Wallman is Gore's first choice to succeed Hundt, but
Senate Democrats insist they will not back her nomination.

Title: "Clean money" alternatives offered
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.18)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: Free Time for Candidates
Description: In a campaign fiance reform bill introduced by Rep John Tierney
(D-MA), candidates who ran "clean money" campaigns would receive 30 minutes
of free prime time broadcast during primary elections and 75 minutes during
the general election. Maine and Vermont already have similar laws.

Title: All ratings roads lead to the FCC
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.22)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Federal Communications Chairman Reed Hundt says the Commission
must still decide if the original and revised TV ratings systems are
"acceptable" as mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The FCC will
review the two systems as Hundt wants NBC to resubmit the system it will be
using.

Title: America's Town Crier
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.70)
Issue: Cable Content
Description: A cover story interview with C-SPAN's founder, Brian Lamb.
C-SPAN is now 18 years old and continues its mission to let "the American
people see the political system as it is, without comment or analysis."

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
Statements by Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong in
reaction to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision on Telephone
Interconnection

DISCO II Amendment of The Commission's Regulatory Policies to Allow
Non-U.S.-Licensed Space Stations to Provide Domestic and International
Satellite Service in the United States. Dkt No.: IB- 96-111, CC-93-23. (FCC
No. 97-252)
*********

Network Problem Disrupts Internet

Telecom Firm Begins Testing Internet Calling

Human Errors Block E-Mail, Web Sites in Internet Failure

Senate Hits Computer Games Delete Button

USTA Questions's FCC's Local Competition Task Force Idea

Internet Use By Financial Services Industry "On Verge of Revolution"

Voluntary Or Not, Is It Censorship?

FCC holds forum on promoting standards in Telehealth

FCC Invites Public Comment on its Strategic Plan

Commission Takes Next Step To Allow Non-U.S.-Licensed Satellites To Serve
The United States
*********************************************
Title: Network Problem Disrupts Internet
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A1)
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Internet
Description: Ignoring automated alarms for the best jelly doughnut he's ever
had, a computer operator at Network Solutions Inc., in Herndon, VA, threw
the Internet into chaos yesterday evening. Network Solutions maintains the
"master telephone directory" of cyberspace. The company's machines
transmitted bad addresses to ten other computers around the world that
handle the Internet's global network address system. Thousands of e-mail
messages were returned "unable to deliver" and many web sites were
inaccessible. But boy, oh boy, what a doughnut.

Title: Telecom Firm Begins Testing Internet Calling
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(A9C)
Author: Silvia Ascarelli
Issue: Internet/InfoTech
Description: Deutsche-Telekom AG will launch voice-to-voice Internet
telephony today. Neither party will need a computer to place a call, just a
touchtone phone and an access number. If successful, Internet phone calls
could mean greatly reduced prices for long distance calls.

Title: Human Errors Block E-Mail, Web Sites in Internet Failure
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (A1)
Author: Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Internet
Description: Human error was the cause of a partial collapse of the
Internet yesterday. An employee of Network Solutions, the company that
maintains the Internet address registry, allowed two "garbled" computer
files containing well over one million web addresses ending in ".com"
and ".net" to be sent to the company's ten root servers, which are
computers that help direct Internet traffic. The Internet was further
crippled when a backhoe was put through a fiber-optic cable owned and
used by WorldCom Inc. According to a spokeswoman for the company, the
cable "is one of our main routes on the Eastern Seaboard..." The
incident raised cries of "I told you so" from Internet specialists who
have been predicting a catastrophic meltdown of the Web as a result of
traffic overload. It also prompted many to revive the arguments against
the exclusive right of Network Solutions to register Web Addresses,
which is seen as an unfair monopoly by many.

Title: Senate Hits Computer Games Delete Button
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (A10)
Author: Associated Press
Issue: Computer Games
Description: Last night the Senate approved a measure to remove computer
games from all government computers. The measure, which was passed
without objection, also bars the government from purchasing new
computers with games already installed on them. Sen. Lauch Faircloth
sponsored the amendment, commenting that the move will "save millions if
not billions in lost productivity." Games sited as particular problems
were "Solitaire" and "Global Thermo-Nuclear War," the later of which was
responsible for bringing the level of military alert to "Defcon 4"
178,000 times in the last week alone.

Title: USTA Questions's FCC's Local Competition Task Force Idea
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: Always the first to think about the heavy load of underpaid,
overworked Federal Communications Commission staffers, the United States
Telephone Association, lobbyist for local telephone companies, is
questioning the creation of the Commission's local competition task force:
"We must question whether the best approach for the FCC to take at this time
is to institute yet another layer of process -- made up of FCC staffers who
are already hectically busy," said Roy Neel, USTA's president and CEO. "But
if pursued in an objective manner, their findings will once and for all put
an end to the false and misleading allegations AT&T and MCI keep throwing
out in an effort to keep real competition from coming to the long-distance
industry." [In a related story, Telecom AM quotes Mr Neel saying "the door
is being thrown wide open to competition." Neal says there's no local
competition because long distance companies lack "solid business and
marketing plans."]

Title: Internet Use By Financial Services Industry "On Verge of Revolution"
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Electronic Commerce
Description: According to Ernst & Young, many banks will be moving into
Internet transaction processing. Thirty-six percent of banks survey by E&Y
say that Internet banking will be their most important technology investment
by 1999.

Title: Voluntary Or Not, Is It Censorship?
Source: National Journal http://www.nationaljournal.com/index.htm(p.1490)
Author: William Schneider
Issue: V-Chip
Description: In Political Pulse column, Schneider examines the recent accord
on television ratings. "The deal raises an issue that sounds like a
contradiction in terms -- voluntary censorship." Networks "voluntarily"
adopted the new ratings system in return for promises from Members of
Congress that they would not legislate TV programming for three years.

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
FCC holds forum on promoting standards in Telehealth.
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/Public_Notices/1997/pnmc7013.html

FCC Invites Public Comment on its Strategic Plan
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/Public_Notices/1997/spintro.html

Commission Takes Next Step To Allow Non-U.S.-Licensed Satellites To Serve
The United States (IB Docket No. 96-111, CC Docket No. 92-23)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/News_Releases/1997/nrin7026.html
*********

Telephone Industry Seeks Aid In Wiretap Battle With FBI

House Approves Measure To Kill Arts Endowment

Finding Government Profit in Aid to the Arts

Software Piracy Suspected in Advertising Industry

You've Heard of Soundscan, Now Read About Bookscan

Wireless Warfare

Porn Does the Internet

Senators Defend Arts Agency

Telephone Market Probes Planned

Software Leaders Taking Ratings Plans to Clinton

Hundt Wants A task Force To Look At Local Competition Problems

MCI President Outlines "Fair Play Test" For Local-Service Market

Standards for Telehealth Equipment

Network Reliability and Interoperability

Action to Prevent Slamming
*********************************************
Title: Telephone Industry Seeks Aid In Wiretap Battle With FBI
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A13)
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Privacy
Description: In a dispute on "the limits of digital surveillance in the
information age," telephone executives are expected to petition the Federal
Communications Commission for a ruling on the development of wiretapping
equipment. According to the Communications for Law Enforcement Act (1994),
telephone companies must consult the Federal Bureau of Investigation in
setting standards to modify the nation's telephone network for wiretapping.
But the industry is saying that the FBI's requirements -- like being able to
listened in on a conference call after the person under investigation drops
the call -- will be too costly. Modifications must be made by October 1998.

Title: House Approves Measure To Kill Arts Endowment
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(A15)
Author: Jerry Gray
Issue: Arts
Description: The House of Representatives passed an Interior Department
spending bill that includes a provision to abolish the National Endowment of
the Arts. The Senate has approved $175 million for the NEA and President
Clinton has promised to veto a bill that kills the Endowment.

Title: Finding Government Profit in Aid to the Arts
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(B1)
Author: Rick Lyman
Issue: Arts
Description: McKinsey & Company will release a new report today called "You
Gotta Have Art." The study found that Federal, state, county and city
spending on the arts in New York in 1995 totaled $197 million. Tax revenues
generated by the arts raised $761 million. "The idea behind the report is to
offer a businessman's approach to this, something that you just could not
quarrel with. If its returning a great benefit to the state, then you can't
argue with it," said a member of New York State's art council. The report
was done at the request of the New York State Council on the Arts and the
City of New York's Department of Cultural Affairs. It is based, in part, on
a forthcoming report by the Alliance for the Arts.

Title: Software Piracy Suspected in Advertising Industry
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D2)
Author: Andrew Ross Sorkin
Issue: Copyright
Description: "Piracy is pervasive in the advertising industry. This sector
should be a little more concerned," says the general counsel for Adobe. The
Business Software Alliance is expected to announce a settlement with an
outdoor advertising company for using unauthorized versions of Microsoft
Word and Adobe Pagemaker.

Title: You've Heard of Soundscan, Now Read About Bookscan
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D5)
Author: Doreen Carvajal
Issue: Publishing
Description: Soundscan brought computerized sales tracking and order to the
nation's pop music charts. Now the same company is preparing a similar
system for books. If successful, it would be a welcome relief in an industry
struggling with declining sales and bloated print runs.

Title: Wireless Warfare
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(A1)
Author: Jon Auerbach
Issue: Competition
Description: The US wireless telephone industry is learning lessons from
Europe. There, cell-phone users don't pay for incoming calls, phones last
for days without recharging, and people can be reached across the continent.
The US wireless industry is about roll out a new, $50 billion digital
cellular system -- the Federal Communications Commission calls it the
largest peacetime investment in any consumer technology in US history. US
companies are importing European rate plans, phone features, marketing
tricks, and executives. [In a related story from Telecom AM, The Cellular
Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) predicts that the number of
wireless phone subscribers will reach 50 million for the first time sometime
during the week of July 27 through Aug. 2, 1997 -- only 14 years after
introduction. By comparison, it took 77 years for 50 million landline phones
to reach consumers.]

Title: Porn Does the Internet
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (A19)
Author: Daniel S. Greenberg, Editor of Science and Government Report
Issue: Internet Content
Description: For all the promises that computer and software companies
make about blocking software and ratings systems, cyberporn is here to
stay. Greenberg points out that it is the leading money maker on the
Internet, and that kids and hackers will always find a way to outwit the
authorities that try to control them.

Title: Senators Defend Arts Agency
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (D1)
Author: Jaqueline Trescott
Issue: Arts
Description: The NEA, threaten with extinction since 1992, has been
promised a new lease on life by the Senate appropriations subcommittee.
The House voted yesterday to end federal support for the arts, but the
Senate plans to save the Arts organization, along
with the National Endowment for the Humanities. A proposal has been
made to reauthorize both the NEA and the NEH for five years and give
them a modest increase over the $99.5 million budget the NEA is
currently funded for. Sen. Slade Gorton, chairman of the Senate
appropriations subcommittee, feels confidant that the proposal will go
through. "I have polled the members of the subcommittee and I don't
find any sentiment on the committee to end the endowment," said
Gorton.

Title: Telephone Market Probes Planned
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (C11)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: Competition
Description: The lack of competition in telephone markets during the 18
months since the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has
prompted both Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Senate Commerce Committee Chair, and the
FCC to launch investigations to find out what the impediments are and
how they can be overcome. Long distance companies who have been trying
to enter local markets complain that regional Bell companies are not
opening their local networks to competitors, who need to "piggyback" on
their lines to avoid the cost of building their own network. The
regional Bells, who have monopolies in many local markets, argue that
such excuses are made by long distance companies because they know that
if they enter the local markets, the Bells, which have "deeper pockets,"
will enter the long distance markets and eventually dominate.

Title: Software Leaders Taking Ratings Plans to Clinton
Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (C11)
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Internet Regulation
Description: Representatives from the high technology industry are
meeting President Clinton today to discuss strategies to use Internet
browsing software to allow parents to filter the material viewed by
their children. Two ratings systems will likely be discussed, but not
everyone believes that such systems are the answer. The American
library Association www.ala.org, for example, does not believe that
libraries should depend on filters to screen material for their
patrons. The ALA has posted "a list of more than 50 'great' sites for
children" at their home page. Other groups worry that such
ratings systems could be too restrictive or that they might not have
enough safe guards for children.

Title: Hundt Wants A task Force To Look At Local Competition Problems
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Reed E. Hundt
has convened a panel to investigate claims by MCI and AT&T that incumbent
local exchange carriers are blocking local competition. "The task force will
move quickly to investigate allegations that
certain carriers are impeding competition," Hundt. The panel will consist of
FCC staff and private sector representatives to be named later.

Title: MCI President Outlines "Fair Play Test" For Local-Service Market
Source: Telecom AM http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: In a speech to the Economic Strategy Institute, MCI President
Timothy Price called on the Federal Communications Commission to enact a
"Fair Play Test" that would "bring the benefits of competition to consumers
-- higher quality, lower prices, and greater choice." The five principles of
the test are: 1) First Things First: local markets must be open to
competition before local monopolies can sell in-region long distance; 2) The
Price Is Right: regulators must ensure fair pricing of local facilities; 3)
Order, Not Disorder: operation support systems must operate efficiently to
help customers; 4) Do Unto Others: local monopolies cannot discriminate in
favor of themselves and against competitors; and 5) Enforce, as a Matter of
Course: strong, swift and automatic mechanisms to ensure compliance with
regulations.

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
Forum to Promote Standards for Telehealth Equipment to be Held July 17

Opening & Closing Remarks of Chairman Reed Hundt at 7/15/97 FCC Meeting to
Receive the Final Report of the Network Reliability and Interoperability
Council. 7/15/97

FCC Proposes Further Action to Prevent Slamming (CC Docket No. 94-129)
*********

How NBC Could Gain From Stand On Ratings

Public Information, Business Rates

Mars Landing Signals Defining Moment for Web Use

Chain E-Mail: Heartrending Pleas, but Sometimes Counterfeit

White House Standing Firm On Deadline for TV Switch

Ratings get revamped

Tie goes to the liquor industry

Ornstein on obligations

Beating the drum for campaign reform

FCC Reconsiders Issues in its Universal Service Order

ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
*********************************************
Title: How NBC Could Gain From Stand On Ratings
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(B1)
Author: Lawrie Mifflin
Issue: V-Chip
Description: By not joining the other networks and adding content warnings
in their ratings system, NBC may benefit from the voluntary ban on
legislation of television content and may gain some viewers that are chased
away by S and V ratings on other networks. Hollywood writers, producers,
directors, and actors are praising NBC for its stand as are the American
Civil Liberties Union and a few other public interest groups. Kathryn
Montgomery, president of the Center for Media Education, said, "When people
see NBC is not going along with the rest, it'll be quite evident their
ratings are not satisfactory. And then people will let them know."

Title: Public Information, Business Rates
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D1)
Author: Iver Peterson
Issue: Access to Government Information
Description: "In the digital age, when information means money, many
agencies have come to recognize they are sitting on gold mines." Many states
are passing freedom of information acts, but freedom does not necessarily
mean free. As newspapers try to do research, state agencies want to charge
millions for access to databases of drivers licenses, tax assessments,
liquor licenses, etc.

Title: Mars Landing Signals Defining Moment for Web Use
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/
Author: Amy Harmon
Issue: Old vs. New Media
Description: As the assassination of John F. Kennedy was the Defining moment
for television as the nation's "information conduit of choice" and the Gulf
War marked CNN's coming of age, the Mars landing may signal the start of "a
new interactive era in the mass consumption of news," media scholars say.
New York University professor Todd Gitlin says, "More and more people are
going to be diving into these great tidal currents of information, and will
assume that's the behavior they should resort to during an emergency or a
ritual of collective amazement....During the next war, will we have
something more like 'click here for some skeptical views?' on network news?
Or will people put up their own?" Article includes "Coming Into Their Own"
graphic: for newspapers, April 13, 1861 the day after the attack on Fort
Sumter; for radio, December 8, 1941 and President Roosevelt's address to
Congress; for TV November 22, 1963 President Kennedy's assassination; for
cable TV, January 17 the attack on Baghdad; and the Internet July 4, 1997
the Mars landing.

Title: Chain E-Mail: Heartrending Pleas, but Sometimes Counterfeit
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D5)
Author: Iver Peterson
Issue: Internet Content
Description: Beware the online pleas for help -- they could just be scams to
get something from you: from cash to simply your email address. "It's very
common to use chain letters or software that strip E-mail addresses off Web
site guest books to get a list of people that can be used as recipients for
unsolicited E-mail," says Philip McKee, coordinator of the Internet Fraud
watch Project at the national Consumers League.

Title: White House Standing Firm On Deadline for TV Switch
Source: New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/(D12)
Author: Deborah Shapley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: "The broadcasters haven't enunciated a reason why seven years
isn't enough for their digital build-out," says a law enforcement official.
But broadcasters have lobbied to add some small print to budget legislation
that would extend their control of two channels of spectrum beyond the 2006
deadline adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. In letters from
the director of the Office of Management and Budget to Congressional budget
leaders, the Clinton Administration is asserting its opposition to any
extension of the 2006 deadline.

Title: Alcoholic-Drinks Marketers Face Scrutiny
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(B2)
Author: Sally Goll Beatty
Issue: Advertising
Description: Beer and spirits companies have torn a page out of
cigarette marketers book, giving free gifts to consumers for showing
brand loyalty. A judgement is expected in California on whether
Anheuser-Bush will be allowed to resume its "Bud Gear" promotional
program, which was launched in May only to receive a temporary
restraining order from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage
Control late last month. Roughly one third of all states have
restrictions on alcohol marketing which prohibit what some are calling
"frequent drinker" programs.

Title: Netscape Airs Its Complaints About Software
Source: Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/(B10)
Author: David Bank
Issue:
Description: The Netscape Communications Corp. has been complaining to
several Senators that Microsoft is going to use the forthcoming version of
their Web
browser, Internet Explorer, to "lock out rivals and monopolize
distribution of information over the World Wide Web." Netscape claims
that Microsoft will be "tightly linking" Internet Explorer with the
Windows operating system, which would give them an unfair advantage in
promoting their content, and, in turn, give them the further advantage of
getting content providers like Walt Disney and Time Warner to supply
them with programming for the "channels" which will be featured on both
Netscape and Microsoft's new browsers.

Title: Ratings get revamped
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.4)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Starting October 1, the major networks -- except NBC -- will
use a revised ratings system that will include content warnings: FV for
fantasy violence, V for violence, S for sexual content, L for strong
language, and D for suggestive dialogue. Icons will continue at the
beginning of shows, but will appear larger.

Title: Tie goes to the liquor industry
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.22)
Author: Chris McConnell
Issue: Advertising
Description: "I think today's vote was a big defeat for the hard liquor
industry," said Federal Communications Chairman Reed Hundt after a tie vote
halted a proposed inquiry by the FCC of hard liquor advertising. Chairman
Hundt went on to say that if the industry goes on to crank up broadcast
advertising, "they will be whistling past the graveyard." The Federal Trade
Commission is currently investigating the advertising and will make its
results available to the FCC.

Title: Ornstein on obligations
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.24)
Issue: Digital Television
Description: An interview with the recently named co-chair of the
President's Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital TV
Broadcasters. Mr. Ornstein supports free broadcast time for political
candidates, but is uncertain what other obligations the committee might address.

Title: Beating the drum for campaign reform
Source: Broadcasting&Cable http://www.broadcastingcable.com/(p.26)
Author: Paige Albiniak
Issue: Free time for candidates
Description: The Congressional Research Service, the research arm of the
Library of Congress, reported last week that "broadcast media spending
(including radio and TV airtime, production costs and consultant fees)
constitutes 27% of campaign budgets in House races, 40-45% in Senate races,
and at least 50% in presidential races." Twenty-two members of Congress have
asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate free or
reduced-cost broadcast airtime for candidates.

At the FCC http://www.fcc.gov
FCC Reconsiders Issues in its Universal Service Order (CC Docket No. 96-45)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Orders/1997/fcc97246.txt

ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES BY PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES. Amended Part 68 of the Commission's rules; concluded that
as of January 1, 2000, manufacturers must ensure that all telephones
manufactured or imported for use in the United States contain a volume
control feature consistent with the technical standards; adjusted existing
rules that require workplaces, hotels and motels and confined settings to
provide telephones with volume control as of November 1, 1998, so that
such establishments will not be required to comply until January 1, 2000,
parallel with the manufacturing requirements. Action by the Commission.
Adopted: July 3, 1997. by Ord. on Recon. (FCC No. 97-242). CCB

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