NOTEBOOK

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, Nov 1, 1999

Following on new autonomy from EIA, CEMA said it will change its name to Consumer Electronics Assn. (CEA), from Consumer Electronics Mfrs. Assn. CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro said change reflects group's broadening membership. EIA agreed to allow all sector associations, including CEMA, to become independent members of EIA alliance. EIA Pres. Dave McCurdy called change "a solid opportunity for EIA to grow by attracting new sector associations who want to be part of a larger and more powerful team while still maintaining a strong degree of autonomy." EIA described itself as federation of associations and sectors, representing 80% of $550 billion U.S. electronics industry. Shapiro called new structure "a win-win for all involved... For CEMA, this represents an exciting opportunity to redefine and reorganize our association [and] to better tailor our services and strategic plans to our members' needs." Group also launched new Web site -- www.ce.org.

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Bipartisan group of 91 political, civic and educational leaders wrote 1,300 TV network, group and station executives Fri. urging them to air free "nightly forums" featuring candidates in 2000 political campaigns. In "a message to America's broadcasters," which included print ads, letter cited recommendation of Gore Commission that TV stations voluntarily air free 5-min. prime-time segments during campaigns. "From whom much has been given, much is expected," group told TV executives. "Broadcasters have been given licenses valued at tens of billions of dollars, free of charge... We can think of no greater public service at the start of a new millennium than to provide citizens with information they need to choose their future." Nightly free TV forums during campaigns "can help break the chokehold that money and ads have on our political campaigns," letter concluded. Ex-Presidents Ford and Carter were among signers.

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Among many reasons President Clinton gave for vetoing Commerce, Justice and State appropriations bill last week was its failure to include bankruptcy legislation sought by FCC. Clinton said in veto message that bill didn't include provision that would clarify law and "protect taxpayer interests" in spectrum auctions. He said $5.6 billion in spectrum is "tied up in bankruptcy court, with a very real risk that spectrum licensees will be able to retain spectrum at a fraction of its real market value." Clinton said FCC's requested provision would maintain "integrity" of agency's auction process while ensuring fast deployment of new services. President also complained that appropriations bill didn't provide enough funding for FCC. "The Commission requires additional funds to invest in technology to serve the communications industry more effectively," he said. He also criticized legislation because it "underfunds a number of high- priority programs" in Commerce Dept. He said that bill was deficient in helping public broadcasters convert to digital service and for cutting Critical Infrastructure Assurance office and other infrastructure programs.

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Court TV's Catherine Crier will host networking breakfast Nov. 4 as part of Women in Cable & Telecom (WICT) Women's Leadership Summit Nov. 3-4 at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington. Ms. Foundation Pres. Marie Wilson will keynote Nov. 3, with "Women of Power" session earlier in day including Lifetime Exec. Vp-Distribution & Business Development Louise Henry Bryson, Oxygen Media Pres.-Sales & Mktg. C.J. Kettler, AMC Networks Pres. Kate McEnroe, Women.com Senior Vp-Mktg. Anna Zornosa, womenCONNECT.com founder Susan DeFife -- WICT, 312-634-2330.

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U.S. Supreme Court set Nov. 30 oral argument for Playboy's challenge to FCC's scrambling rules for sexually explicit programming. Commission's ban on showing such programming 6 a.m.- 10 p.m. was struck down by lower court and is on appeal by Justice Dept.

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St. Louis joined slow but steady procession of municipalities adopting open access ordinances, with Board of Alderman approving measure 20-7. Vote was not unexpected, as bill passed out of committee earlier by 7-2 margin. AT&T is incumbent provider, serving 55,000 video subscribers. SBC had lobbied for measure. Focus now shifts back to Portland, Ore., where 9th U.S. Appeals Court today (Mon.) will hold oral argument on AT&T's appeal of Portland and Multnomah County imposition of open access.

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Parents have "literally thousands of kid-friendly Web sites" to help prevent their children from being exposed to online pornography, Media Institute said after year-long study by Fleishman-Hillard. Parents also can use ISPs and browsers to keep "their kids' Internet experiences within safe bounds" and can choose from "scores of filtering and blocking software," Institute said. Study was undertaken after House Commerce Committee Chmn. Bliley (R-Va.) challenged industry "to help us come up with effective ways to help parents and children deal with pornography in the digital environment" (TVD Nov 2/98 p10). Industry also responded with "an abundance of sites designed specifically to entertain and educate children" and is offering "a wealth of educational resources," Institute said. "The online community has demonstrated a large measure of social responsibility by developing data-use policies to protect kids' privacy and by working with law enforcement to crack down on Web offenders." Institute pointed to "GetNetWise: You're One Click Away" (for 95% of Internet users) -- begun July 29 -- as example of how 3 dozen Internet firms and trade groups have banded together to form one- stop resource to help parents protect their children.