As usual, our luncheon will be at Sinbad's just south of the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero near the foot of Mission St. We meet at 11:30 and are seated at 12:30. To make reservations call Paul Black at 925-827-9511 and leave a message on his machine.

"I have received many outraged e-mails and phone calls complaining about a running on-air broadcast of a sex act in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York as part of a radio stunt. According to the complaints and press accounts, this act took place within a few feet of worshippers and visitors. I have forwarded each of the complaints to our Enforcement Bureau for action. I expect this complaint to be on the fast-track at the Commission. Congress passed laws limiting the broadcast of "obscene, indecent or profane" language and charged the FCC with the enforcement of these laws. The FCC has a responsibility to ensure that the indecency laws of the United States are being vigorously enforced. I take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness. If these complaints and press accounts prove true, this Commission should consider the strongest enforcement action possible against this station, up to and including revocation of the station's license."

"The Consumer Electronics Association ("CEA" or "Trade Association") has been vehemently opposed to phasing in DTV tuners in television sets. The Trade Association argues that those who want to watch over-the-air digital broadcasting should be required to purchase an external set-top box. This would be a far more expensive proposition for consumers, given that these boxes currently cost about $500. It is incredible that CEA supports an alternative that would cost consumers 150% more than CEA*s own cost projections for the DTV tuner ($500 for the set top box vs. $200 for the tuner). If theTrade Association's concern about the cost of integrated tuners is sincere, one wonders why they would suggest a solution that would cost consumers more than twice as much. Moreover, this is the same group that insists in other contexts -- e.g., the need for "plug and play" sets - that consumers do not want a set-top box and will not tolerate such an inconvenience. It is odd that they can be so solicitous of consumer expectations in one context and so tone deaf to them here."

Roy also posts the current newsletter at home.earthlink.net/~rhtrumbull but the posting is without links. - RT