TV NETWORKS' AD-SELLING SEASON MAY BE ONE OF STRONGEST IN YEARS
Issue: Television Economics/Advertising
May is ad buying time and the networks are expecting to sell a lot this season. Television advertisement sales are expected to increase this year from 7% to 9% -- the biggest increase since 1995 -- Wall Street analysts and broadcasters predict. Ad experts are predicting that a combination of events will cause a surge in advertisements: the year 2000, the Olympics, Internet companies' attempting to become household names, the presidential race, and an overall healthy economy. At the same time, network ratings are down 5% from last year and at least three of the "Big Four" (ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox) are expected to lose money this year, while cable continues to surge ahead. Some ad executives dismiss the optimism as the networks' attempt to build enthusiasm. "The networks benefit if there is a perception that ad sales will be particularly strong, while ad agencies try to play down demand, in hopes of getting the lowest rates," says Jon Nesvig, president of sales at Fox. Last week Fox circulated a report asserting the benefits of network over cable, highlighting networks' broader reach and criticizing the quality of cable programming. The Cablevision Advertising Bureau has countered the report, saying that network ads may increase this year, but cable's ad sales will be even higher.
[Source: Wall Street Journal (B12), Author: Kyle Pope]

ENTERTAINING AND RESPONSIBLE TV
Issue: Children's Television/Diversity
Chairman Kennard's 3/16/99 Remarks at the"Through the Eyes of Children" Conference in North Hollywood (CA): There are still nights that you can go hours without seeing on TV the diversity that you see on your street. Television is the most powerful medium we have to tell our kids what they are worth and what they can be. Over two-thirds of children surveyed in a report by Children Now said that it mattered who was on television shows and how they were portrayed. As one African-American boy said, "People are inspired by what they see on television. If they do not see themselves on TV, they want to be someone else." They want to be someone else. All of us here want kids to have programming that make them feel good about who they are - and what they can be. We all want that.
[Source: FCC]

JUDGE: INTERNET NAME COMPANY HAS ANTITRUST PROTECTION
Issue: Internet/Regulation
A Manhattan federal judge ruled that Network Solutions, a private company that registers Internet names, has antitrust protection as long as it is operating on behalf of the Government. Since 1993, the company has had sole authority to register Internet names, and many companies have been trying to compete as the Internet has gained popularity. The ruling against Manhattan-based company, PGMedia, is the broadest legal analysis to be drawn that gives Network Solution the right to maintain its monopoly on the business of registering Internet names for the time being. In May, five companies, including Network Solutions, are scheduled to begin competing.
[Source: San Jose Mercury News, Author: Associated Press]

NO FATHER OF COMPUTING, BUT MAYBE HE'S AN UNCLE
Issue: Internet/Politics
Over the past week there has been much talk of Al Gore's claim that he took "the initiative in creating the Internet." While many have been quick to mock Gore's boast, many have also come forward to point out the integral assistance he provided in turning the Internet into what it is today. "He was absolutely instrumental," said Steve Wolff, of Cisco Systems in Washington. Wolff adds that Gore's "contributions were a lot more than many of his colleagues in the Congress." In congress, and as Vice President, Al Gore has focused much of his attention on technological advancements in general and the Internet in particular.
[Source: New York Times (E3), Author: Katie Hafner]

CALIFORNIA TAKES UP ISSUE OF ONLINE VOTING
Issue: Participation
California's Secretary of State Bill Jones convened a task force 3/17 to examine the issues involved with casting ballots online: "Technology and people's expectations are going to force us to deal with these issues. The rest of the country expects California to lead on this." Elitism, phantom voters, clunky county election technology and unfinanced state mandates tumbled onto the table quickly, Raney reports. "Counties pay for elections in this state," said Dwight Beattie, assistant registrar of voters for Sacramento County. "So when you're making new things, you may be dealing with a county that can afford that, and you may not." The task force has been charged with determining if online voting will actually increase voter turnout. Washington and Minnesota are considering legislation that would lead to online voting -- and the Pentagon is developing a system so people overseas can vote in the 2000 election. "The potential criticism is, if you simply want to increase voter turnout, have a 24-hour voting day," said Linda Valenty, a professor of political science at San Jose State University. "If you want to increase voter turnout, fine people for not voting as they do in Australia." See also California Voter Foundation.
[Source: CyberTimes, Author: Rebecca Fairley Raney]

RISING TIDE: SITES BORN OF HATE
Issue: Internet Content
The number of Internet sites espousing messages of hate is growing at an alarming rate, according to Rabbi Abraham Cooper dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. In an interactive CD-report, Digital Hate 2000, Rabbi Cooper takes the audience through a guided tour of racists, anti-Semitic, and anti-gay Web sites. The presence of hate speech on the Internet has not just grown in size, it has also become more sophisticated. Some groups have even attempted to attract children by mirroring popular computer games or rendering their sites in bright crayon colors. One such site called Creativity for Children contained links to Nazi propaganda that links Jews to "poisonous mushrooms." Rabbi Copper and others fear about the enhanced ability of fringe groups to spread message of violence or hate over the Internet. "These people who felt like outcasts and were angry at the world have a whole different outlook on life now," explains Mark Potok of Southern Poverty Law Center. "These people are getting in cars and driving to rallies and meeting soul mates from the Internet."
[Source: New York Times (E1), Author: Michel Marriott]

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEMONSTRATION SOFTWARE
Issue: Arts
Arts. Politics. Internet. A look at how artists are putting all three together to advance their activist agendas. Graham Harwood, a "hacktivist", said "We waited a long time before we did anything on the Internet, because you need a space in which things are already occurring if you want to do some tactical work in there. Before, it was too new. A couple of years ago," he said, "there was plenty of room to maneuver. Now that business has consolidated its control, you have to deal with boredom. The Internet is still a very good place for doing political work, but always in the chinks and gaps that business and governments leave behind." RTMark (pronounced "art mark"), a US group, rewards those who subversively modify commercial products like Barbie dolls to make anti-corporate points. A spokesperson for the group said, "We just see [our work] as propaganda; it works to convey a message. We get thought of as art, but I never call it that, and I don't call myself an artist. I think of it more as activism. RTMark is just like any other corporation, except with some key differences, like we're not out to make money, we're out to make culture. We're different from other activists because we have a sense of humor, and we care about how things look and are perceived," he said. "We want to present these issues in a pleasing way. In that sense, we're artists -- but no more so than Mao." See Natural Selection and RTMark.
[Source: CyberTimes, Author: Matthew Mirapaul]

REDWOOD CITY FIFTH-GRADERS FIND ONLINE MENTORS @ HP
Issue: Education technology
Horace Hawes School in Redwood City (CA) is participating in a mentoring program with Hewlett Packard through which women with technological savvy use email to help Latina girls with science projects. The girls use a Macintosh computer in a faculty lounge because the school -- although wired -- doesn't have computers in the classrooms.
[Source: San Jose Mercury News, Author: Mike Cassidy]

FROM PRINT TO ETHER TO HIT SONG
Issue: Internet/Content
"Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" is the title of a newspaper column, no an Internet hoax, no it's a hit song. In fact, it has been all of those things. Currently, it is on the top 40 list of New York station WHTZ along with the likes of Cher, Third Eye Blind and Bon Jovi. But the song has some pretty strange origins. Chicago Tribune metro columnist Mary Schmich decided to write a column in the form of a commencement speech last May, when she noticed a woman sunbathing and thought, I hope she's wearing sunscreen, because I didn't at that age. She included her thought in a list of advice as part of her commencement address styled column. It was picked up and sent out as an Internet hoax, represented as "Kurt Vonnegut's commencement address at MIT." The hoax spread fast and was picked up by Australian film director, Baz Luhrmann, largely known for films "Strictly Ballroom" and "Romeo and Juliet." Luhrmann was making a CD and wanted to buy writes to the words. His search led him to stories debunking the hoax and was eventually hooked up with Schmich at the Tribune, who sold him rights to her column. Luhrmann is happy it's a hit song, but sees it as something more: "an example of how massive publishing power is in the hands of anyone with access to a PC."
[Source: Washington Post (C1), Author: Frank Ahrens]

FCC IS SEEN ADOPTING RULES REQUIRING BELLS TO PROVIDE MORE CHOICES TO RIVALS
Issue: Regulation
In a monthly meeting today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to adopt rules that would make it easier for competitors to link their phone networks through Bell offices and equipment; which would also help Bells that need to open their markets before they can provide long-distance service. "Making it easier for competitors to take your business is always a bit problematic. But if it accelerates our entry into the long-distance business, it would be a lot more palatable," said Robert Blau, vice president of regulatory affairs for BellSouth. According to the new rules, Bells would have to open their offices to rivals to inspect for space and consider different options, such as sharing equipment. The current rules say Bells must share space, but competitors have complained that Bells have made this difficult by charging high fees, and blocking access to parking and bathroom facilities. "This order will have a real positive impact for facilities-based carriers," said Heather Gold, vice president of regulatory affairs for Intermedia Communications, a competing company. While competitors are enthusiastic about the regulation, GTE says they are already doing things to make it easier for competitors and the new rules will threaten their security and cost them money they will have trouble recovering.
[Source: Wall Street Journal (B7), Author: Kathy Chen]

CHANGE, BUT NOT CHAOS
Issue: FCC
Chairman Kennard Calls for Change, but not Chaos, in Outlining FCC's Pro-consumer, Pro-competition Agenda at House Reauthorization Hearing: FCC Chairman William Kennard outlined his vision for the future of the FCC before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection on Reauthorization of the Federal Communications Commission. He presented a report entitled, "A New Federal Communications Commission for the 21st Century," which committed the FCC to focusing on three core functions - consumer protection, including universal service; enforcement; and spectrum management. Kennard noted that, "In . . . a world where old industry boundaries are no longer and competition is king, we need a New FCC....[T]he traditional boundaries delineating the FCC's current operating bureaus will cease to be relevant. Simply, in five years time, the FCC will be dramatically transformed." He said "Change is inevitable; it is necessary. But while we need change, we do not need chaos. We must re-organize the FCC in such a way that respects the integrity of our staff and protects the interests of the American people. And we cannot use this process as a back-door way to re-open the Telecom Act."
[Source: FCC]

BUSINESS GROUP UNVEILS PLAN FOR ONLINE PRIVACY
Issue: Privacy
The Better Business Bureau has launched BBBOnLine, a program for certifying and monitoring the collection of personal data online. The program will give a seal of approval to sites that adhere to stated practices about what information they collect from consumers and how it is used, requires sites to submit to a dispute-resolution process, and establishes a system of random audits for insuring compliance. BBBOnLine is a long-awaited industry-led self-regulatory solution to privacy concerns that businesses hope will help appease the European Union, the Federal Trade Commission and lawmakers. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center said, "I'm sort of the attitude right now that it's too little, too late." "I think it is significant that the Federal Trade Commission and the BBB have both decided that these are critical consumer protection issues," said Deirdre Mulligan of the Center for Democracy and Technology. "I think that the BBB is saying to its members that privacy is something that we think is important... It sends a signal to the business community that privacy is something that they have to attend to."
[Source: CyberTimes, Author: Jeri Clausing]

THE INTERNET'S 'OPEN SESAME' IS ANSWERED WARILY
Issue: International/Internet
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were a ban on online access was lifted just two months ago, an Internet revolution is begging to take hold. While Internet cafes have sprung up around the city, the government is proceeding into the digital age with much caution. Islamic countries are attempting to temper inevitable technological developments with the strict cultural and religious rules to which they adhere. In Saudi Arabia, all Internet connections must go through a central hub that blocks out thousands of sites that are considered threats to Saudi rule or Islamic cultural. Forbidden content includes sexually explicit material, messages of political dissent, and even live chat - which could allow contact between unmarried men and women. Abdullah al-Rasheed, deputy director of a Government entity that supervises the Internet, does not seem to feel that the state exercises inordinate control over the new medium: "There is nothing to block except two things: that which is against our religion, and that which is against our society."
[Source: New York Times (A4), Author: Douglas Jehl]

POLITICS AND POP MIX IN FILM PIRACY PROTEST IN HONG KONG
Issue: Intellectual Property
Movie theaters throughout Hong Kong closed for the day yesterday to protest the flood of illegally copied films and to call for a crackdown on the explosive growth of movies illegally recorded onto compact disks. Box office revenues of locally-produced films declined from $168 million in 1993 to $54 million in 1998; the number of cinemas in the region has dropped from 180 to 73 in just five years. Despite the fact that Hong Kong remains one of the worst offenders in Asia for copyright violations the US government last month removed Hong Kong from a watch list after only a year, citing an improvement in efforts to raid factories producing the illegally copied material. The local government is encouraging citizens not to buy the pirated disks, but paying $12 for ten movies vs. $7 for a theater ticket is pretty tough to pass up.
[Source: New York Times (C4), Author: Mark Handler]

The Benton Foundation's Communications Policy and Practice (CPP) Communications-related Headline Service is posted Monday through Friday. The Headlines are highlights of news articles summarized by staff at the Benton Foundation. They describe articles of interest to the work of the Foundation -- primarily those covering long term trends and developments in communications, technology, journalism, public service media, regulation and philanthropy. While the summaries are factually accurate, their often informal tone does not represent the tone of the original articles.

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