Even though FCC has inquiry on whether it should impose broadcast flag standard to protect digital TV content, new alliance against govt.-imposed tech mandates isn’t concerned. New coalition, Alliance for Digital Progress (ADP), is backed by IT and PC companies and associations opposed to govt.- imposed technology mandates through legislation. Their particular concern is bill introduced in 107th Congress by then-Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.) that would have had FCC mandate online content protection mechanism if copyright protection talks in private sector failed.
NEW ORLEANS -- Media concentration should be examined by FCC as one of culprits in overabundance of objectionable programming on TV and cable networks, FCC Comrs. Copps and Martin said here Wed. at NATPE panel on family programming. They blamed both broadcast TV and cable networks for what they said was overabundance of indecent and violent programming, and called for return of voluntary code.
U.S. Dist. Court judge dismissed most of DirecTV charges against NDS, latter said. Claims “alleging fraud, breach of warranty and violation of the Federal Communications Act” were completely dismissed by Judge Audrey Collins, L.A.. Allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing and statutory violations were mostly dismissed, NDS said. DirecTV claim of misappropriation of trade secrets remains. “NDS still has claims against DirecTV and a chip manufacturer for conspiring to create a knock-off of NDS’s latest generation smart card for DirecTV,” NDS said.
SAN JOSE -- Network security and management, wireless data and voice-over-IP were highlighted Fri. by Packet Design CEO Judy Estrin as bright spots in what panel of Silicon Valley executives agreed probably would be another rough year for communications technology. Participants differed over how long doldrums would last, with Estrin contending companies needed to adjust to more years of tough times, while Mayfield venture capitalist Yogen Dalal, and especially Semiconductor Industry Assn. Pres. George Scalise, sounded more upbeat notes. They spoke at outlook conference of Bay Area Council, business policy organization.
RIAA announced accord Tues. with 2 high-tech groups on digital content protection, agreeing to oppose govt.-imposed technology mandates while objecting to changes in Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Accord, which includes Business Software Alliance (BSA) and Computer Systems Policy Project (CSPP), finds itself at odds with BSA and CSPP member Intel, which supports bill by House Internet Caucus Co-Chmn. Boucher (D-Va.) and Rep. Doolittle (R-Cal.) to modify DMCA to permit users to circumvent copy-protection controls if doing so was exercise in fair use.
High Tech Broadband Coalition (HTBC) sent letter to Senate Commerce Committee members Fri. urging relaxation of unbundled network element (UNE) requirements on incumbent telephone companies when agency acts on its Triennial UNE Review. Letter coincides with Jan. 14 committee hearing on broadband and local competition that will feature testimony by all 5 FCC comrs. “HTBC believes that the best way to achieve widespread adoption of broadband is to embrace the sustainable intermodal competition that has developed in the broadband market -- a market that is distinct from the legacy voice market,” letter said. HTBC said current regulations were affecting investment in broadband facilities, and some carriers could have to reduce capital expenditures up to 30% this year. “Without regulatory changes, industry capital expenditures will plummet further, declines in manufacturers’ research and development spending will persist, job losses will continue to mount and consumers will lose out on new services,” letter said. HTBC said FCC shouldn’t impose Sec. 251 sharing requirements on new, last-mile broadband facilities built by Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs). States also should be prohibited from imposing such obligations, HTBC said. But ILECs should provide competitive carriers with colocation space and UNE access to ILEC legacy copper facilities, letter said. “Removing the shackles on the heavily regulated ’telephone’ side of the broadband market will promote sorely needed competition for delivering to consumers an endless array of bandwidth-intensive applications,” it said. HTBC said FCC’s work on UNEs had been the coalition’s principal focus in encouraging broadband deployment. HTBC members include Business Software Alliance, Consumer Electronics Assn., Information Technology Industry Council, National Assn. of Manufacturers, Semiconductor Industry Assn. and Telecom Industry Assn.
Option for low-cost digital receivers is available in single chip that processes digital radio and TV broadcast in Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) used in Europe. Besides handling digital signals, chip processes analog TV, enabling manufacturers to eliminate dedicated analog chips and offer lower priced TVs. First receivers using Logie chip are expected in spring. “Manufacturers can now make a single set that receives either digital radio or digital TV,” said Anthony Sethill, who started Frontier Silicon last year after 10 years with Amstrad and one with now-defunct U.K. digital broadcaster On Digital. “Logie will shave around 25% off the cost of TV set-top box, and add radio,” he said.
Chip makers Intel and Broadcom are in race to be dominant players in Wi-Fi. Broadcom, which frequently finds itself in patent disputes with Intel, last week spent $24 million to purchase 150 patents, mostly Wi-Fi related, from Unova. Meanwhile, Intel Capital has continued providing seed money to Wi-Fi operations. Intel Capital has devoted $150 million of its $500 million to buy minority stakes in Wi-Fi ventures, with most visible being Cometa Networks with AT&T, IBM, Apax Partners and 3i. On Fri., Intel Capital invested $18 million in 6 companies in India developing Wi-Fi technology. Study by IDC suggested Wi-Fi market there could grow to nearly $1 billion by end of 2003. Intel also is developing new processor with integrated Wi-Fi capability offering both 802.11a and 802.11b to be available in mid- 2003.
Alcohol industry TV advertising guidelines are lax enough to permit “substantial exposure” to liquor commercials by underage youths, Center for Alcohol Mktg. & Youth at Georgetown U. said in study released Tues. Of 208,909 TV and cable commercials monitored in 2001, 24.5% were more likely to have been seen by youths than adults because of surrounding programming, Center said, with 3,262 liquor spots in programs with more youths than adults in audience. Among other key findings: (1) Youths saw more TV commercials for beer than for juice, gum, chips, sneakers and jeans combined. (2) Youths watched almost as many beer, wine and distilled spirits commercials as did adults. (3) Youths were “routinely exposed” to alcohol commercials on 5 networks -- WB, UPN, Comedy Central, BET, VH1. “This study shows that no one is protecting our youth,” said Comr. David Kessler of Food & Drug Administration. “The industry’s own guidelines are so permissive that, in practice, they amount to no limits at all.” Center said it submitted study to FTC with request that agency re-examine advertising practices of alcohol industry.
Research firm Forward Concepts projected worldwide revenue from wireless local area network (WLAN) market would reach $2.6 billion in 2002, up 50% from 2001. Report predicted rise even though average equipment prices dropped 28% in year. In WLAN chip market, revenue was projected to increase 43% to $364 million, although overall average selling prices for those products dropped 31%. Study said market for 802.11a products in 5-GHz range would have “a very short life,” making way for devices that combined 802.11ab and 802.11ag. Market for 802.11b products in 2.4-GHz range is expected to continue to be “major market” due to its lower power consumption for portable devices such as small PCs.