Media Reform Headlines for April 2, 2008 Resent-Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 23:29:41 -0500 (CDT) Media Reform Daily http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=WE6vlcLmZeMIb8qdVW419g.. News of the movement for April 2, 2008 SAVE OUR SPECTRUM IF GRANNY WERE REAL, SHE'D LIKE THE IDEA OF 'WI-FI ON STEROIDS' The nation's broadcasting lobby is using scare tactics to confuse the public on the issue of white spaces, which would make use of unused airwaves. Lee Gomes, Wall Street Journal http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=YYwcoO1EO-lWVBgKTBnDJA.. FCC CHAIRMAN SAYS NO TO SKYPE, FORCED OPEN ACCESS FCC Chairman Kevin Martin announced he will oppose a petition by Internet phone provider Skype to open up the existing wireless carrier networks to outside devices, saying the industry is making strides in doing that on their own. Ryan Kim, San Francisco Chronicle http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=hANQZGABLHk7IDZk2U9z-g.. MARTIN REJECTS OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's decision to oppose this important petition is a missed opportunity to usher in a new era of innovation. If open devices and applications are good for consumers in the networks to be built on the newly auctioned spectrum, why not for all mobile networks? Free Press http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=2odh9qAVibTMfN7oI5FLlQ.. FCC CHAIR WORRIES ABOUT WIDE-OPEN WIRELESS Skype was dealt a setback when FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said he would recommend that his fellow commissioners dismiss Skype's request to apply the Carterfone principles to the wireless industry. Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=Jl7Dj9SGrSWTCJ7EwFnYaA.. FCC'S WIRELESS ACCESS DECISION DRAWS FLACK There was a chorus of disappointed responses from some open-access backers to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's decision not to apply Carterfone-style access mandates on wireless carriers. John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=44AjWojvlmjKyuPLwkQi6w.. FCC BOSS QUASHES SKYPE OPEN ACCESS PLEA When Verizon says that its entire wireless network will soon be open to any device and any application, the chairman of the FCC believes the mega-telco is telling truth. But are they? Cade Metz, The Register http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=TGGpbNhvLfisDTQUYiqq8g.. STOP BIG MEDIA BRAD FRIEDMAN SPEAKS AT THE COMMON CAUSE MEDIA REFORM CONFERENCE Brad Friedman answers the question, "Has the media undermined democracy" at a recent conference. Brad Friedman, Brad Blog http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=N0LOq1gVEVbIOpJcotWsgg.. THE GRAVE DANCER When Tribune Co. went private in December, Sam Zell completed a deal that many had said he couldn't get done. Now comes the hard part -- staying solvent. Ryan Chittum and Hannah Fairfield, Columbia Journalism Review http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=NMS_F74Kf-KFptwjT-14Dg.. WALL STREET JOURNAL U.S. EDITION TO BE SOLD IN LONDON The Wall Street Journal's U.S. edition will soon be offered for sale in London on the same day it is published in the United States, according to a press release. Joe Strupp, Editor & Publisher http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=so_t2kU1LQ6_we_Sai9Xmg.. Despite Economy, Mergers and Acquisitions Activity Thrives Mergers and acquisitions proceeded at a healthy clip in the first quarter of 2008 -- even with the economy looking shaky, according to new data. Eric Sass, Media Post http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=-1ayAje-JqQqo9KLVDWpbA.. SAVE THE INTERNET COMCAST CONTINUES TO BLOW SMOKE In response to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's statement on the recent Comcast and BitTorrent agreement, Comcast's Executive Vice President David Cohen sent a letter to Martin filled, as usual, with lies and half-truths. Marvin Ammori, SavetheInternet.com http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=mnv2OwIU7OC515bNH_Ww4Q.. ECA LAUNCHES NET NEUTRALITY INITIATIVE The Entertainment Consumers Association, a nonprofit gaming advocacy group, has thrown its weight behind the fight for Net Neutrality by teaming with Save The Internet and Games For Change to create Gamers for Net Neutrality, a site designed to inform consumers about the dangers of an Internet controlled by corporate interests. Earnest Cavalli, Wired http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=1f9Xg0QQ1gcqP3vOfKtmKQ.. GAMER ADVOCACY GROUP BACKS NET NEUTRALITY The Entertainment Consumers Association has launched the beta for a Web-based initiative, Gamers for Net Neutrality, which the organization hopes will educate gamers about the dangers of a corporate-controlled Net. Kris Graft, Next Generation http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=GtGGIAYPdM09sGNYQuamrA.. SHAPING CANADIAN WEB ACCESS REVISITED Canadians are being denied access to certain aspects of the Internet, with ISPs Bell Canada and Rogers making the decisions as to which parts are denied, including access to peer-to-peer downloads. Connie Crosby, Slaw http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=j3MDhDHKNS49g5A2CNBEFQ.. ACT NOW Support the Internet Freedom Preservation Act http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=zpR9L48ZTn3FDaHbgKS_nw.. NCMR 2008 Early bird registration for the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform has been extended until April 4. If you care about the state of the media, this is the one event you can't miss. Sign up now. June 6-8 - Minneapolis http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=oHzJqhfRFLKol1jDF0j7qw.. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=Q3s7YjNaMFABi103dQ918Q.. FP ACTION NETWORK http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=FxILuyt-sDZd365JRSndvg.. IN OTHER NEWS... WHY (MOST) AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS NEED NOT FEAR ONLINE PIRACY Contrary to a recent article in the London's Times, Internet piracy, no matter how pervasive, is not about to bring the worldwide production of literature to a grinding halt. Nate Anderson, ars technica http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=SL90HNgLOuN3fwAAVb7OMQ.. LIFE WITHOUT THE PRINT EDITION I stopped getting the print edition of my local newspaper this month. Among my new-media expert colleagues, I'm behind the curve with that move; many gave up the print habit long ago. But compared to the general population, I'm still ahead of most folks. Steve Outing, Editor & Publisher http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=ck00Ese5mJxRbL9AMjcDMg.. IOC SETS OUT UPDATED INTERNET RIGHTS RULES Web sites will be able to carry an unlimited amount of photos and news articles on the Beijing Olympics -- and those in Australia can even show short video clips for the first time -- as part of new media guidelines. Kate Holton, Reuters http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=1Q3m987uq1PSygheVk4RcQ.. NEWSFLASH: HUD SCANDAL BROKE LAST FALL Alphonso Jackson, Bush's HUD secretary, resigned after the Washington Post began a series of embarrassing articles based on public court documents. But the investigation started long before that. Clint Hendler, Columbia Journalism Review http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=tBXB0QMDu8qoZw9D6fWqjg.. PUBLICATION BAN IN CANADA TERROR TRIAL The judge in the trial of a youth charged with plotting terror attacks in Ontario has ruled that a publication ban on the identities of his co-accused is necessary to ensure their fair trials. Superior Court Justice John Sproat said in a ruling that publicity in the case could influence potential jurors. Associated Press http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=JaCyFRQgRwhZQy4Pnk1Ftg.. WASHINGTON POST DUPED BY APRIL FOOL'S DEATH AD An April Fool's joke in the form of a fake "in memoriam" ad was perpetrated in the Washington Post by a local lawyer who said it was meant as a joke on his longtime friend. Joe Strupp, Editor & Publisher http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=gS1Pw2z0yaGk9FFORTFYzw.. Many of these articles are copyrighted material. We make such material available to advance understanding of public issues, which we believe constitutes a "fair use" of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this email is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=VMyNVOU819ZZNfd-EbfBkA.. Free Press is a national organization working to increase informed public participation in crucial media policy debates. The ultimate aim of Free Press is to generate a range of policies that will produce a more competitive and public-interest-oriented media system with a strong nonprofit and noncommercial sector. Please send comments or other feedback to newswire@freepress.net. Donate Now www.freepress.net http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=vh8fFAgDd9iXgrFKWZDBBQ.. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=zsw1h1sq8bILL6z_1kp83w.. http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=ULeBsXlhvmiRMmrQVZ7mrQ..