Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.telcom From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: telcom Fri, Mar 13 1992 Date: Fri, 13 Mar 92 05:47:47 EST Message-ID: 03-13 0000 DECISIONLINE: Telecommunications USA TODAY Update March 13-15, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FCC RELAXES OWNERSHIP RULES: The Federal Communications Commission has relaxed rules on radio station ownership. The agency expanded the number of stations a firm can own nationwide from 12 AM and 12 FM to 30 of each. Rules that limited a broadcaster to one AM and one FM station in the same area will now allow ownership of up to three of each. Rules take effect Aug. 1. About half of USA stations are losing money. NET PROJECT MAY GET TVA MONEY: The Tennessee Valley Authority should use an unspent $4 million congressional appropriation to pay for a computer network for rural counties in Tennessee, Sens. Jim Sasser and Al Gore Jr., D-Tenn., told TVA Chairman Marvin Runyon. The money is part of $4.7 million approved in the early 1970s for TVA to establish rural villages in three counties. Only one of the villages was ever developed. (For more, see special Rural package below.) BELLSOUTH, DOW JONES MAKE DEAL: BellSouth Corp. and Dow Jones & Co. Inc. said Thursday they will join forces to market a news service for cellular telephone customers. The Personal Info Clips service will be test marketed in Los Angeles for 3 1:2 months starting next week. If successful, the companies said, it will be expanded to other markets. Los Angeles is Atlanta-based BellSouth's largest cellular market. BELLSOUTH TO OFFER NEWS: The Personal Info Clips service to be test marketed in Los Angeles starting next week will offer news about business, the economy, stocks, bonds, commodities, sports and weather over cellular telephones for $2.25 a month. The news will be provided by New York-based Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal. BellSouth will sort and distribute the information. AT&T REPORT AVAILABLE VIA MODEM: Business reporters and editors, analysts and others interested in AT&T's 1991 Annual Report may use the company's "AT&T News On-Line" service to access the report via computer. Users may access the system using any communications software on a personal computer and a modem. For 1200 modems, dial 908-221-8088. For 2400 modems, dial 908-221-2701. HDTV SYSTEM BEING TESTED: The all-digital high-definition television system developed by Zenith Electronics Corp. and AT&T began testing this week at the Advanced Television Test Center Alexandria, Va. The Zenith-AT&T Digital Spectrum Compatible HDTV system is the third of five HDTV systems to undergo the eight-week battery of tests. The Federal Communications Commission is expected to adopt a standard in 1993. RENTALS OFFER REAL-TIME BILLING: National Car Rental System Inc. said Thursday it has teamed up with EDS Inc. to begin a cellular phone program for its car rental fleet. The program begins this month in Dallas and involves the use of a handset designed to promote safety and ease of use. It also includes "real-time" billing, providing customers with phone usage charges when they return their car. STEVENS TO LEAD MERCURY: Gary Stevens has been named the new chief executive officer of Mercury Digital Radio. Mercury has been developing a digital-audio broadcasting system to be delivered within the FM band. Stevens will also continue his work as a media broker. GLOBAL SIGNS DEAL WITH COLUMBIA: Global Access Telecommunications Services - formerly known as Great American Telecommunications Services - says it has become the exclusive seller of international video satellite capacity for Columbia Communications Corp. In January, Global received approval to operate separate satellite systems over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON RURAL: SOUTH CENTRAL BELL IN PROJECT: Approximately $4 million in unused money appropriated the Tennessee Valley Authority could go to a telecommunications project. Sens. Jim Sasser and Al Gore Jr. asked TVA Chairman Marvin Runyon to give at least $3.2 million to the Telecommunications Rural Application Center, a joint effort by TVA, the University of Tennessee, South Central Bell and the Tennessee Tech Foundation. APPLICATIONS WOULD BE LOOKED AT: The Telecommunications Rural Application Center would establish a demonstration project in 10 south-central Tennessee and northern Alabama counties to examine the use of telecommunications in rural areas for education, health, government services and economic development. PROGRAM CALLED WATERSHED: Sasser said the proposal for alternative use of the funds keeps it in the Lower Elk region of the Tennessee Valley. "For too long, substantial federal funds intended for use in the Lower Elk program have not been utilized," Sasser wrote. Says Gore: "I believe the TRAC proposal promises to lead the watershed communities and the nation into exciting new areas of rural development. RUNYON AGREES WITH PLAN: Runyon, who is scheduled to testify before Congress next week on the agency's 1993 appropriations, has said he agrees that advanced telecommunications can help economic development of rural areas. TRAC program officials have said that the $4 million in seed money from TVA would aid the program in generating an additional $40 million in private donations and state and local funds. (End of package.) Telecommunications Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM