Cable Fear D.C. Changes

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, April 24, 2000

Telesat Canada purchase of Hughes Space Communication (HSC) 702 satellite for $600 million is part of public-private partnership by company that also includes Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Com Dev International Limited of Cambridge, Ont., EMS Technologies of Bellevue, Que. Group plans to develop and operate Ka-band high-speed multimedia communications payload, including high-speed Internet, audio, video, telemedicine, telelearning, teleworking, e-commerce, and govt. services in urban, rural and remote communities throughout Canada. Hughes spokeswoman said Anik F2 will be one of largest satellites ever built by company and 11th for Telesat. Anik F2 will have 108 transponders to provide fixed satellite services (FSS). Launch is scheduled for 4th quarter 2002.

Several Washington offices were closed or operating on skeleton staffs April 17 as result of demonstrations around International Monetary Fund meetings. FCC remained open because it's outside demonstration area, but NTIA was closed and NAB's office at 1771 N St. NW was closed. MCI WorldCom closed its office at 1801 Pa. Ave. NW and only about 10% of employees at U S West's Washington office were at work. Law firm Wiley, Rein & Fielding, 1776 K St. NW remained open despite protests occurring in front of its building. SBC decided to close its offices at 14th and I Sts. following D.C. police request.

Fox News Channel and Massillon (Ohio) Cable TV announced settlement of their protracted carriage dispute that led to former's pulling its signal from cable system March 31. Companies said in joint statement that Fox News Channel would be carried on both basic and extended basic for next 30 days, then only on basic tier. Dispute centered on Massillon Cable's alleged refusal to adhere to contract that specified Fox should reach 90% of system by Oct. 1999. Fox said it paid $350,000 in launch fee but cable system had put channel on basic extended tier that charged additional $5.40 for subscribers.

TV and newspaper coverage of religion issues doubled in 1990s, but most of it dealt with political issues rather than "matters of faith or spirituality," study by Center for Media & Public Affairs said. "Sharpest increase" in coverage was of "nontraditional" and Far East religions, plus new religious movements, Center said. Only one story in 14 dealt with religious beliefs or doctrines, with only one in 20 on Protestants, Catholics or Jews, study found. Churches and denominations made news most often when it dealt with public policy debates or authority conflicts, Center said, with coverage of church-state relations tripling in decade. Study involved random sample of 3,365 stories that appeared in major newspapers and news magazines and monitoring of NBC, CBS and ABC evening newscasts.

Wireless cable could be good way to provide local TV signals to remote areas, Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) said in comments to NTIA. But group said that can work only if FCC makes it easier for wireless cable to get consent of broadcasters to retransmit their signals. WCA also said NTIA should recommend legislation that would ease wireless cable access to signals. Group, many of whose members have abandoned video services in favor of data, said wireless cable technology can cost-effectively meet needs of rural residents for local TV signals.