Home page| Extended HTML version
(BBC) The success of digital radio has been predicted at regular intervals over the past three years by both makers of radios and backers of the technology. But 2003 could be the year that the technology really takes off. So says Annika Nyberg, head of the World Forum for Digital Audio Broadcasting, the international forum set up to drive development of the technology and tell broadcasters and listeners what it can do for them.
(Communiqué de presse) Le Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel a pris acte avec satisfaction de la signature par chacun des éditeurs sélectionnés pour la télévision numérique terrestre (TNT) de leur convention relative à la diffusion du service de télévision par voie hertzienne terrestre en mode numérique. Ces conventions sont au nombre de 23 (20 nouvelles conventions et 3 avenants aux conventions existantes de TF1, M6 et Canal ). Chaque convention décrit les règles applicables à la diffusion du service, les caractéristiques générales du programme prévu, ainsi que les engagements pris par l'éditeur, notamment en matière de production et de diffusion d'oeuvres audiovisuelles et cinématographiques.
(European Parliament) Draft Report on the application of Directive 89/552/EEC "Television without Frontiers" Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport. Rapporteur: Roy Perry
(CSA) Un courrier a été adressé au président de la société TF1 Entreprise, éditrice de la chaîne Tfou, dans lequel le Conseil exprime son vif regret que le lancement commercial de la chaîne ait précédé son conventionnement, en infraction à l'article 33-1 de la loi du 30 septembre 1986 modifiée. Le Conseil a demandé à la société d'interrompre sans délai la diffusion de la chaîne afin qu'il puisse examiner le dossier de conventionnement, en particulier les problèmes que pose l'imbrication entre un programme de télévision et des jeux interactifs directement accessibles par l'intermédiaire de ces programmes.
(Washington Post) Over the past eight years, Federal Communications Commission officials have taken 2,500 business trips to global tourist spots, most of which were paid for by the media and telecommunications companies the agency oversees, according to a study by the Center for Public Integrity in Washington,
(AP) News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch sought to assure lawmakers that his proposed acquisition of DirecTV, the nation's largest satellite television provider, would not harm competition or limit consumer choices. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing was the latest in a series on media consolidation held while the FCC considers whether decades-old ownership restrictions still reflect a market altered by satellite broadcasts, cable television and the Internet. The commission is to vote June 2 on overhauling the rules.
(FCLJ) by Henry Geller. In my view, it is time now to acknowledge that we no longer should care whether or not the commercial broadcaster plays in the public service field - that instead we want the commercial broadcaster to pay for its use of the public spectrum so that public broadcasting can be enabled to make a needed maximum contribution to educating and informing children and the electorate. The motto should be: Play if you want, but pay you must.
(Washington Post) The Federal Communications Commission's likely action to relax major media ownership rules is forging some unexpected political alliances. If the FCC votes to ease ownership rules, several organizations - left and right-- fear they will lose access to the public airwaves. For instance, for the first time a group known as "CodePink, Women for Peace" finds itself on the same side of a fight as the National Rifle Association.
(IAP) A call for applications for inclusion on lists of evaluators and reviewers in the framework of the Safer Internet Action Plan has been published in the Official Journal no. S 98 of 22-05-2003 (2003/S 98-087569). The deadline for applications is 22-05-2005. Those already on other lists (including IST, eContent and the former Internet Action Plan list) must send in new applications if they wish to be taken into consideration.
(RAPID) The European Commission has adopted a decision against Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) for abusing its dominant position through unfair prices for the provision of local access to its fixed telecommunications network (local loops). The Commission has found that DT charges new entrants higher fees for wholesale access to the local loop than what DT's subscribers pay for fixed line subscriptions. This discourages new companies from entering the market and reduces the choice of suppliers of telecoms services as well as price competition for consumers. The Commission's action stems from complaints by numerous new entrants in the German telecommunications market. In line with the gravity and duration of the abuse, the Commission levies a fine of € 12.6 million.
(RAPID) The European Commission has approved TeliaSonera's proposal to sell its Swedish cable TV business Com hem AB to EQT Partners AB and Telia Mobile Finland to Suomen 2G/DNA. The sale of the two businesses is the result of the conditions attached to last year's merger between the telecommunications operators of Sweden and Finland. The divestitures will ensure that consumers in Finland will continue to enjoy the benefits of competition in the market for third-generation (3G) mobile services and that Swedish consumers will benefit from increased competition in the market for fixed line telephony and Internet services.
(RAPID) The European Commission has granted regulatory approval regarding a proposed joint venture between French hotel chain Accor, the British hotel chains Hilton and Six Continents and the American e-commerce company in the global lodging industry WorldRes.Com. The agreement will give joint control to all concerned of WorldRes.Europe, which will operate an Internet-based reservation system and travel agency websites. The deal does not give rise to any significant competition concerns.
(ABC News) It is currently not an offence to download child pornography off the Internet in Australia, the Federal Government has revealed. Justice Minister Chris Ellison says it is an offence under the Customs Act to import child pornography into the country. But he says there are no laws that make it an offence to download child porn from the Internet. Senator Ellison says the Government is drafting a bill to close the loophole.
(BBC) A Texan man sentenced to 1,335 years in prison for selling child porn recorded a secret diary, a diary that remains online even though its author will see out his days behind bars at a US state penitentiary. Despite the media furore thrown up by the Townshend case, Reedy's online diary was only discovered recently by the makers of Crash Of An Internet Porn King. We also received correspondence from Reedy written from the jail where he is now destined to see out his days. see also Guardian review.
(Expatica.com) Over 200 cases of child porn being circulated via the Internet were reported to Dutch police in 2002, an alarming increase on the 35 cases logged in 2001. The Dutch anti-child porn group Meldpunt Kinderporno said in its 2002 annual report, that 80 of the 226 cases reported to the investigation department of the national police, KLPD, wound up in court, double the amount in 2001
(Reuters) A Swedish court remanded a man suspected of distributing child pornography over the Internet and Interpol said the case could lead to an international probe into a gang of Web-based paedophiles.
(BBC) One computer, five phones and a sophisticated plan for stalking were used by cyber stalker David Cruz to harass his friend. Cruz's six months of stalking Chloe Easton by e-mail, internet and text messaging was cut short by his arrest in May last year. The American was jailed for five months at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, bringing an end to a one-year police investigation.
(BBC) The extent of Chinese Government censorship of what its people say in online chat rooms has been exposed by Reporters Without Borders. Messages critical of the Chinese Government either never appear or are purged from popular chat rooms, a study Living dangerously on the Net by the free speech pressure group has revealed. The study also found that Chinese law enforcement agencies regularly track down and even jail the authors of the critical messages. Reporters Without Borders estimates that China employs 30,000 people to watch what its people are doing online.
(BBC) A Chinese internet operator, Huang Qi, has been sentenced to five years in prison for subversion after he allowed articles about China's 1989 pro-democracy protests to appear on his website.
(Heise) Die Landesmedienanstalten wollen gegen Telefonsex-Werbung und Sex-Clips im Privatfernsehen vorgehen. Eine Untersuchung habe gezeigt, dass viele der Sex-Spots im Verdacht stehen, verbotenerweise für Pornografie oder Prostitution zu werben, teilte die Direktorenkonferenz der Landesmedienanstalten (DLM) heute nach einem Treffen in Wiesbaden mit. Die Sex-Werbung nehme in den Nachtstunden einen derart großen Umfang ein, dass sich der Fernsehzuschauer ihr kaum noch entziehen könne. Die Rundfunkanstalten wollten sich nun für eine Reduzierung der Sex-Werbung und eine Entschärfung ihrer Inhalte einsetzen.
(FOCUS) Seit April gelten neue Regeln für den Jugendschutz im Web, und die Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz (KJM) hat sich in Erfurt konstituiert. Sie soll festlegen, wie man Jugendliche beispielsweise vor Pornographie oder Gewaltverherrlichung im Fernsehen und im Internet bewahren kann. Gesprächsrunde: Wolf-Dieter Ring. Der Jurist leitet die neue Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz und koordiniert unter anderem die Gespräche mit der Internet-Branche; Stefan Aufenanger. Der Medienpädagoge lehrt als Professor an der Universität Hamburg und beschäftigt sich unter anderem mit der Wirkung von Medien auf Familien; Oliver Süme. Der Jurist ist im Vorstand des Verbands der deutschen Internetwirtschaft Eco für Recht und Neue Medien zuständig und Experte für Online-Recht; Jürgen Büssow. Der Diplompädagoge ist seit 1995 Präsident des Regierungsbezirks Düsseldorf und will illegale Inhalte aus dem Web filtern.
(EDRi) Romania has adopted a new law to make free access to pornography illegal. Online pornography must always be protected by a password, and should always charge a fee per minute, to be declared with the fiscal authorities. Free access is explicitly forbidden in a law formally adopted on 20 May 2003. The law has raised a number of comments from the civil society and ISPs. The National Regulatory Authority on Communications ( ANRC) can receive claims regarding non-compliance with the law. In case of receiving such claims and after checking the contents of the site, ANRC may require internet service providers to block access to the respective site. If providers don't comply with these requests, they can be fined 100 - 500 millions lei (approx 2.700-13.500 euro). see unofficial translation.
(BBC) A website which says it has found a legal way to offer music online without the consent of the major labels faces a fight with the record industry. Puretunes says it is taking advantage of a loophole in Spanish copyright law so that it can sell songs online without the direct permission of the record companies The Madrid-based company says it is abiding by copyright law and is promising to pay royalties to the artists. But the music industry believes that it has no legal basis and promises to fight it as vehemently as it has other illegitimate music services.
(CNET News.com) A new European Union proposal for harmonizing intellectual property law enforcement across member states has come under criticism from the first parliamentary committee to review it. The committee has suggested that the proposal may need to be modified to better reflect the interests of the music and film industries. The proposal is now under review by the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market. Janelly Fourtou, the committee's rapporteur, included many of the record industry's arguments in the report. However, Fourtou said she would support an attempt to have the directive adopted at first reading, because of time constraints. The Legal Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on the proposal on Sept. 11. see Working Document.
(AP) Internet users will be able to control whether their service providers disclose their personal information under a new Minnesota law that could speed federal action on Internet privacy.
(RAPID) The European Commission has decided to designate EURID - the European Registry for Internet Domains as the Registry for the dot EU (.eu) Top Level Domain (TLD).The .eu is intended to become the distinctive pan-European identification of websites and e-mail addresses, comparable to .org or .com. The three founder members of EURID are currently managing the country codes .be (Belgium), .it (Italy) and .se (Sweden). Two associated members are from acceding countries. EURID has committed to consult stakeholders from the European Internet Community and to ensure contacts with regional and international organisations involved in the Internet.
(Delitosinformaticos.com) El Instituto Armado ha puesto en marcha un servicio de denuncias por Internet destinado a los turistas alojados en hoteles de Baleares. Es la primera Comunidad en que se implanta, ya que ellos son las víctimas de más de la mitad de los delitos en zonas turísticas.
(BBC) UK data protection laws are hindering the progress of online government projects, a study has found. Many public sector organisations are finding it hard to juggle twin demands from existing laws and targets for online services, said a survey by the E-Government Bulletin, a newsletter which specialises in electronic government. Simon Davies, head of lobby group Privacy International, has little sympathy. "The public service, like its private sector counterparts, has traditionally been antipathetic toward both data protection and freedom of information. They often instinctively blame the law in those areas for their own management shortcomings," he said.
(EurActiv.com) Meeting on 19 May, the Competitiveness Council failed to come to an agreement on the sales promotions Regulation draft, which would harmonise cross-border provision of premium offers and free gifts. EU ministers did not manage to reach a common position but held an exchange of views on the sales promotion Regulation, based on a compromise text by the Greek Presidency. The Council identified the most important remaining problems that will need to be tackled under the Italian Presidency. The sales promotion Regulation aims at introducing uniform rules for sales promotion and providing for a high level of consumer protection by doing away with several legal obstacles hindering the Internal Market, due to divergences in national legislation.
(RAPID) A ministerial declaration was agreed by the 33 EU, EEA and Acceding Countries Ministers attending a high-level conference on eHealth in Brussels. Ministers expressed their renewed commitment to developing national and regional eHealth implementation plans, and to exploring the possibilities for co-ordinating these at European level. The provision of high quality health information on the Internet provides the basis for a more citizen-centred approach to healthcare delivery. The Ministers welcomed the Commission Communication on Quality Criteria for health-related Websites and encouraged the Commission to explore the possibilities of EU level Quality Seals.
(Delitos informaticos) Analizarán los contenidos de páginas denunciadas a través de la línea 01 8000 912667 o por medio de www.dignidadinfantil.gov.co. Emitirá juicios sobre sanciones legales, si se trata de casos presentados en Colombia, y para los casos de fuera harán un llamamiento a los ISP para que desmonten los sitios.
(Press Release) On 15 May 2003, the General Assembly of INHOPE voted to accept the Information Communication Ethics Committee (ICEC) Internet 119 hotline based in Seoul, Korea as an Associate member of INHOPE.
(RAPID) The European Commission has adopted a Communication COM(2003) 271 on the forthcoming World Summit on Information Society setting out the main objectives for the EU at this Summit. This Summit, the first world-wide event in the field, is under the patronage of the United Nations and will be held in Geneva in December 2003, continuing in Tunis in November 2005. see EU input to WSIS.
(RAPID) On the basis of a Green Paper the European Commission intends to stimulate a discussion on the role of the European Union in promoting the provision of high-quality public services. It is the first time that the Commission has launched a full review of its policies relating to services of general interest. In its Green Paper, the Commission recognises that there is a need for an open debate on the overall role of the Union for defining the objectives of general interest that are pursued by those services and on the way they are organised, financed and evaluated. Comments should be sent to the Commission by 15 September 2003.
(RAPID) A European Commission report COM(2003) 200 gives a favourable assessment of the compulsory procedure under which the Member States give prior notification of draft national regulations governing goods and on-line services. This system, which is currently based on Directive 98/34/EC, has been applied to national regulations on products for nearly 20 years. It was recently extended by Directive 98/48/EC to include Information Society services, and it continues to prove its effectiveness as a tool benefiting the Internal Market and European enterprises. The report clarifies the central role which the notification procedure played between 1999 and 2001 in avoiding the creation of barriers to the free movement of goods and services.
(FCLJ) by Zoë Baird. Achieving the potential of the Internet will depend on balancing often-competing interests: Industry’s goals may differ from those of consumers or civil society, and the State, too, may have different interests. Each of these interests is equally important to maintaining innovation at the individual layers, and across layers. If we are going to find a legitimate way to balance them, and prevent the Internet from becoming a wasteland, then we need to have the three sectors included in the local, national, and international policymaking processes. The future of the Internet may depend on such a pluralistic policymaking framework.
(FIPR) The Home Office caused huge controversy when it attempted to allow a long list of public authorities to access records of individuals' telephone and Internet usage without any judicial oversight, under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. There has also been ongoing argument about government powers to force telephone companies and Internet Service Providers to keep copies of such communications data. Under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. "Scrambling for Safety 6" brought together representatives from government, industry and human rights organisations to discuss the issues they raise with interested members of the public. Owen Blacker's notes. Access to communications data - respecting privacy and protecting the public from crime consultation paper on access to communications data provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) and Voluntary Retention of Communications Data under Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 about the voluntary retention of communications data. Communications Data: Report of an Inquiry by the All Party Internet Group (APIG)
(Guardian) Civil liberties groups raised their concerns about the Pentagon's plans for cyber-surveillance systems which would give the government access to private emails and medical, education, travel and financial records. The fears were expressed as the defence department reported on its plans for the total information awareness (TIA) programme. see also Pentagon Submits Report on Info Awareness Project (EPIC). On May 20, the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) submitted its congressionally-mandated report on the Total Information Awareness Program (TIA), now re-named the "Terrorism" Information Awareness Program. The name change, according to DARPA, was necessary because the original name "created in some minds the impression that TIA was a system to be used for developing dossiers on U.S. citizens." see also EFF review.
(BBC) The government has no plans to subsidise broadband services to ensure they are available in remote areas of the UK, E-commerce Minister Stephen Timms has insisted. Encouraging competition between service providers was a better way than providing hand-outs for getting rural communities online.
(IIA) The Internet Industry Association is extending its national campaign against spam (junk email) for a further three months, due to popular demand and a continuing escalation in the spam problem.
(Heise) Der 1. Anti-Spam-Kongress hat mehr Resonanz als vom Veranstalter erwartet. Offenbar sei der Bedarf riesig, "diesem großen Ärgernis endlich aktiv zu begegnen". Rund 120 Teilnehmer hörten sich Vorträge an, die sich aus verschiedenen Perspektiven des Themas Spam annahmen. Auch der Heise Zeitschriften Verlag war bei der Veranstaltung mit von der Partie: Verlags-Justiziar Joerg Heidrich erläuterte seine Einschätzung über rechtliche Möglichkeiten zur Spam-Bekämpfung. Bert Ungerer, Redakteur der Zeitschrift iX, stellte anhand eines selbst erstellten E-Mail-Filters die Möglichkeiten von E-Mail-Header-Analysen zur Diskussion.
(CNET News.com) by Declan McCullagh. The spam-blocking technique that's attracted the most attention among start-ups recently is a very simple one: Challenge-response (CR) technology. When your mailbox is protected by a CR system, anyone who tries to contact you will be greeted with a response saying something like "click on this link to deliver this message" or "type in the word you see in the box above." Well-designed CR utilities won't challenge mail from known correspondents or mail that you specifically asked to receive.
(Korea Times) Internet users will be able to block unsolicited e-mails by registering their e-mail addresses at www.nospam.go.kr, a state-run anti-spam Web site. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has banned companies from sending unsolicited e-mails, or spam, to Internet users registered with the spam-filtering site.
(AP) A broad international effort by government and industry is needed to stop the torrent of junk e-mail that threatens Internet commerce and correspondence, lawmakers were told.
(CEI) by Hanah Metchis and Solveig Singleton. This paper assesses spam and its legal and technical solutions with an emphasis on the perspective of ISPs. We begin by navigating among several competing definitions of spam and outlining its most seriously problematic aspects for consumers, businesses, ISPs, and legitimate marketers. We go on to assess contractual, technical, and statutory solutions. Full report. Competitive Enterprise Institute is a non-profit public policy organization dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government.
(Europemedia.net) A Danish court has ruled that internet downloads do not happen accidentally or automatically and that it requires a customer intentionally, and despite warnings, downloads a service.
(MMR) 3/2003 205. Leitsätze der Redaktion 1. Die Vermittler des Zugangs zum Internet (Access-Provider) sind keine TK-Dienstleister i.S.d. des TKG, sondern ausschließlich Diensteanbieter nach dem MDStV oder dem TDG. 2. Für die Abgrenzung zwischen Medien- und Teledienst kommt es darauf an, ob der Inhalt, zu dem der Zugang vermittelt wird, zur allgemeinen Meinungsbildung bestimmt ist (Mediendienst) oder lediglich die reine Faktenvermittlung bzw. individualkommunikative Komponente im Vordergrund steht (Teledienst). 3. Bereits bei summarischer Prüfung spricht vieles für die Rechtmäßigkeit einer behördlichen Anordnung, mittels derer einem Access-Provider aufgegeben wird, den Zugang zu strafbaren, rechtsradikalen Webseiten zu sperren. Die Entscheidung wurde mitgeteilt und die Leitsätze wurden verfasst von RA Thomas Stadler, Freising. siehe auch DE - ISP als Geiseln deutscher Ordnungsbehörden MMR Beilage 4/2003. von Christoph Engel. Eine Kritik an den Verfügungen der Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf.
(Guardian) Mobile phones which are capable of sending photographs have been banned from leisure centre changing rooms in a Greater Manchester town because of concerns about paedophiles. Bolton council is thought to be the first local authority in the north-west to ban the handsets because of the risks associated with them. The phones will not be allowed in changing areas, toilets and shower areas.
(Save the Children Denmark) Save the Children, in co-operation with the Danish Crime Prevention Council and the Children's Council, has launched a report about Danish children's use of chat, based on a survey carried out among 991 Danish schoolchildren. The report therefore looks into the importance of Internet chatting to today's children and the context in which the chatting becomes a central pastime considering both its positive and negative aspects.
(Associated Press) Gov. Gary Locke signed a bill into law that hits retailers with a $500 fine for selling or renting video games to children that depict violence against police. It's believed to be the first state law of its kind in the country, according to the bill's sponsor and the Interactive Digital Software Association, a trade group for video game manufacturers.
(Associated Press) Neo-Nazis are using the Internet to attract and recruit young people to the scene and the number of far-right Web sites in Germany has more than tripled in the past four years, according to a study released Monday. A study released in Berlin by Germany's family ministry showed a drastic increase in the number of Web sites run by far-right extremists, many of them using a blend of sophisticated programming and a media-like approach aimed at attracting fresh recruits to the neo-Nazi scene.
(New York Times) A group backed by business leaders and former government officials announced an effort to press major entertainment companies to be more sensitive to parents' concerns. The group, Common Sense Media, introduced a Web-based media ratings system, devised with help from the publishers of the Zagat guides to restaurants and other venues, that will rank entertainment products based on language, sexual content and adult themes. Eventually, the group would like to spearhead the adoption of easy-to-understand parental guidelines for television shows, movies, albums and video games, to replace a hodgepodge of systems overseen by various industries.
(Nettavisen) 10,000 Norwegian children have experienced that 'children' they have met on the Internet were in fact adults. Four out of ten children have visited pornographic web pages. This shocking information was revealed in a survey conducted by SAFT (Safety. Awareness, Facts and Tools), an organisation working to spread information about how to make Internet use safer for children.
(Bangkok Post) The Thai Web Master Association (TWMA) has launched the ThaiCleannet.com web site to promote Internet knowledge to Thai parents and be a centre for measures to protect children from online dangers. The web site will also collect "green links'' that children can enjoy surfing. ThaiCleannet.com will attract youths by inviting celebrities to voice their opinions on the web sites. TWMA expects the site to help create a strong parent network that can help screen content for children.
(Internetnews.com) After years of wrangling over whether it should recommend standards which could include royalty conditions, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) created a policy which provides a narrow method for including non-royalty free technology in exceptional circumstances. The W3C ratified its new W3C Patent Policy based on widespread member endorsement, agreement in the W3C Patent Policy Working Group, and support from interested members of the public.
(BBC) According to a report Broadband Adoption at Home by the Pew Internet and American Life project, nearly a third of US citizens with a home internet connection have converted to broadband. See also Can price cuts boost broadband? (MSNBC). Despite a 50 percent jump in the number of U.S. homes signing on for broadband over the last year, the high-speed market is showing signs of slowing. That could change with the price wars started by Verizon and other local telephone companies.
(ECTA regulatory Round Up) ECTA has adopted a position on DSL Interconnect, giving a detailed stand on measures to achieve competition in the local access network. ECTA argues that the solution for both EU and national regulators is to continue to push for local loop unbundling to happen, but to also require incumbents to provide broadband interconnection services.
(RAPID) The European Regulators Group (ERG) held its fourth meeting on 20 May 2003 in Athens, agreeing to launch a public consultation in June to formulate a common approach to market failure. The Group is established by the New Electronic Communications Framework that is due to be implemented by the Member States to achieve a better coordination of the Member States' application of EU legislation in the area of electronic communications and thus to create a level playing field in this regard throughout Europe. The ERG agreed to set out a common approach regarding remedies for market failure. The ERG plans to launch a public consultation in June.
(Oftel) Reflections by the four Director Generals of Telecommunications on the transformation by Oftel of the UK telecoms market from a single monopoly supplier to competition are contained in a review of Oftel's work published. Issues discussed include the opening up the telecoms market to competition and protecting consumers against anti-competitive practices. They also consider the lessons of the past for future regulation.
(Washington Post) In what may be a permanent shift, kids are communicating online rather than by phone. And as they get older, when they do use the phone, it's more likely to be a cell, and even that may be for text messaging rather than talking. see also IM from anywhere in your house (MSNBC).
(Cellular news) The adult content company, Playboy Enterprises has signed a global content deal to give 3 exclusive, multi-year rights to provide Playboy's print, online and broadcast libraries to wireless customers in markets operated by Hutchison's 3G Companies. The UK service, which launched last week, represents the first market that PEI will serve.
(Guardian) MMO2, the UK's third largest mobile phone group and the fifth biggest in Europe, has slumped to huge losses after becoming the first to admit that it paid hugely over the odds for its third generation mobile licences. The company, which was de-merged from BT in November 2001, reported full year pre-tax losses of £10.2bn despite doubling full year earnings to £859m.
(BBC) A government-funded course is teaching adults how to send mobile text messages and download ringtones. The two-hour course in Birmingham is run by the Learning and Skills Council. as part of its Bite Size Intros scheme. The course organisers say it covers all aspects of using mobile phones, including sending text messages and creating an address book. Critics have called it a waste of taxpayers' money, with the Campaign for Real Education branding it a "disgrace".
(Wired) The cell phone has become a primary mode of socializing for teens and they will often avoid contact with peers that don't have cell phones, according to a study by Context.
(BBC) The UK has totted up two million broadband connections, according to the telecoms watchdog Oftel. The success will be seen as a sign that the UK is catching up with its European neighbours in the race to be the best place for fast net services. With new connections running at 35,000 a week, telecoms regulator Oftel is confident the UK can reach the top of the broadband league table.
(BBC) People are beginning to pay for music on the net but they are more likely to buy CDs online than to individual tracks, research suggests. But figures from internet measurement firm Neilsen/NetRatings found that free download service Kazaa was still the most popular music site in the UK, followed by sites selling CDs rather than digital downloads.
(BBC) Women are at the vanguard of the texting revolution in the UK, a survey has found. According to the Mobile Data Association, 74% of women say they have used text messaging in the last two minutes compared with just 26% of men. The study also has good news for forgetful spouses, with about half of women saying they would rather receive a text message than a card on special occasions.
(MSNBC) Despite a 50 percent jump in the number of U.S. homes signing on for broadband over the last year, the high-speed market is showing signs of slowing, according to a new survey Broadband Adoption at Home from Pew Internet & American Life. That could change with the price wars started by Verizon and other local telephone companies.
(Europa) EEJ-Net Conference. Review of the European Extra-Judicial Network and future perspectives for improved EU Consumer Assistance. A conference will take place on 10 and 11 June 2003 in Brussels to fully evaluate the performance of the EEJ-Net and look at ways of improving consumer assistance in the future including promoting wider use of alternative dispute resolution and links with third countries.
(OSCE) On 13 and 14 June 2003, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, will hold a conference on freedom of expression on the Internet. Experts from international organizations, NGOs, academia and media will gather to discuss topics regarding freedom of the media on the Internet.
(MMR) Beilage 5/2003 48 Seiten. Ein umfassender Überblick über Rechtsprechung und Literatur.
QuickLinks consists of