For 3rd time in 3 weeks, FCC Comr. Tristani objected to Enforcement Bureau decision not to investigate indecency complaint (CD Feb 14 p7, Feb 9 p7). Latest case involves complaint that show on WGR(AM) Buffalo repeatedly referred to urination. “I am at a loss to explain the failure to even seek further review,” Tristani said.
White male correspondents continued to dominate TV networks’ evening news in 2000, while females gained in exposure and minorities lost, according to new study by Center for Media & Public Affairs. Center monitored 12,752 stories on Big 3 networks, found that 89% were reported by Caucasians, of whom 75% were men. Minority correspondents covered only 11% of stories, down from 14% in 1999, Center said. CBS led networks with minorities covering 15% of stories on evening news, NBC 14%, ABC 8% -- but ABC led in females, who reported on 28% of stories on that network.
Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Mass. Consumers Coalition urged FCC Wed. to deny Verizon’s application for Sec. 271 entry in Mass. because rates carrier charged competitors weren’t cost-based and its operations support systems (OSS) were inadequate. In conference call with reporters, CFA Research Dir. Mark Cooper said group was concerned about pricing issue because Verizon was using same rates as were adopted in N.Y. state, rather than undergoing separate cost review by state regulators in Mass. He said OSS concern was similar to that raised by Dept. of Justice -- lack of adequate support for competitors seeking access to DSL lines. Cooper said Mass. application was particularly important because it was first one to be acted upon by new FCC under Chmn. Powell and because it set stage for large number of new applications expected this year. If FCC approves questionable pricing strategy on Mass. application, it could set precedent, Cooper warned. He said CFA supported Verizon’s N.Y. application but plugging N.Y. rates into Mass. application was “legally flawed.” “We would like to reestablish discipline on the part of the Commission,” he said. Wed. was deadline for reply comments on Verizon’s Mass. application. Company urged FCC to approve it, based on fact that competitors had captured more than 16% of phone lines and were gaining 1% every 6 weeks. Verizon has to prove its local network is open to competition before getting long distance authority under Sec. 271. It said level of competition in Mass. was highest yet seen by FCC in any state where Bell company had sought entry. “These numbers clearly demonstrate that the Massachusetts telecommunications market is irreversibly open,” Verizon Senior Vp Thomas Tauke said. Because of concerns about DSL access, Verizon refiled its application Jan. 16 to offer more proof of nondiscriminatory access. Company said there now was more proof because in last 2 months it had met more than 97% of its installation appointments for DSL-capable loops and 96% of them had operated without problems.
LOS ANGELES -- Despite current pessimism about finding interactive TV (iTV) business models that can generate immediate profits and current retrenchment from Internet by NBC, ABC and other media giants, speakers at Myers Forum on iTV and entertainment here Wed. voiced optimism that enhanced interactive TV would become mainstay in U.S. homes by 2006.
Consumers are continuing to resist high monthly fees for personal TV services such as TiVo and WebTV, meaning such services will continue to struggle, according to study by TechTrends. Despite 60% drop in hardware prices for digital video recorders since 1998, report said, convincing consumers to accept monthly fees presents “tremendous challenges.” -- www.techtrends.com.
Large carriers informed FCC and SEC of details of financial arrangements with designated entities in recent C-block re- auction, including $2.6 billion pledged by AT&T Wireless to Alaska Native Wireless (ANW). Cingular Wireless said it has planned $460 million in loans to designated entity Salmon PCS. FCC released public notice late Tues. (CD Feb 28 p5) on long forms filed by successful bidders in PCS auction that raised $17 billion. Relationships between major carriers and designated entities, which qualified to bid on licenses closed to smaller bidders in auction, have been subject of scrutiny by some smaller carriers.
U.S. Air Force Milstar II military communications satellite was launched Tues. aboard Lockheed Martin Titan IV rocket from Cape Canaveral. Satellite carries medium data rate payload capable of processing data at 1.5 megabits per sec.
Great, compelling programming and not technology will drive customers to interactive TV, Liberate Technologies CEO Mitchell Kertzman told PBS Interactive TV Workshop in Washington. As result, broadcasters need to work to provide compelling content, he said. He said public broadcasters needed to include interactive TV in their business plans, exploit platform with compelling content and focus on applications that create stickiness or a revenue model for network operators.
Moody’s gave Aa1 rating to Intelsat’s long-term, senior unsecured debt and placed its Prime-1 short-term rating on review for possible downgrade because company might not enjoy maintain customer relationships. Intelsat is expected to complete privatization by Aug.
Full-day seminar on closed-captioning for DTV is set for March 14 at WETA hq in Arlington, Va. Sponsors, Advanced TV Systems Committee and CPB/WGBH captioning center, said seminar would deal with technical standards, federal requirements, equipment -- 202-828-3130.