As movie industry increasingly focuses on creating blockbusters and cuts back on the number of films it makes, cable networks are filling the vacuum by delivering more serious and independent films. Popular directors like Mike Nichols and Norman Jewison are turning to the cable networks for support for their latest projects. Mr. Jewison said he is able to tackle a wider variety of themes on cable, from political dramas to serious stories about relationships. Applicants could begin receiving construction permits for their new LPFM stations after 30 days. Additional eligible applicants from these twenty states, whose applications conflict with other applications filed in the same geographic area, will be announced at a later date.
New spectrum is needed to handle the heavy bandwidth demands of advanced wireless services.
Finding available spectrum has been difficult, however, as some spectrum users have proven reluctant to share. Better still, one of the bands proposed last year by the World Radio Conference as best suited for next-generation services is used by several U.S. government agencies, in particular the Defense Department. Pentagon officials have said air space covering major markets such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco would have to be reserved for the military. The proposed rules the FCC will announce this week must, after public comment and appropriate modification, be adopted by July. Clinton's goal is to have auctions for the next-generation services spectrum no later than Sept. 30, 2002.