OVERNIGHT TECH: Copps says FCC neglecting diversity duty

THE LEDE: Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Michael Copps said his agency should do more to ensure diversity in media ownership at a town hall at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on Monday, according to Free Press, a liberal group that sponsored the event.

During the event's question-and-answer session, Copps argued that broadcasting industry owners should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

A transcript of the question-and-answer session was not immediately available, but in his prepared remarks, Copps suggested the FCC use stricter scrutiny when reviewing applications from broadcasters to renew their licenses. 

"How about a policy that demands licensees to renew every three years and we take a good, hard look at the licensees’ records and match them up with some guidelines to demonstrate they are providing your communities with real local news and information, that they are reflecting the diversity of all your media market’s citizens, that they are open to the expression of diverse viewpoints, and that they are actually talking with people in their communities of service about the programs people would like to see and hear and the issues that are important to them," he asked. 

"Is that asking too much? I don’t think so."

Apple to make iPhone announcement: Apple will hold an event next Tuesday, presumably to unveil its new iPhone. The invitation read "Let's talk iPhone" and will be held at its Cupertino, Calif., campus at 10 a.m. PT.

President honors top scientists and inventors: President Obama on Tuesday named seven recipients of the National Medal of Science and five recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

Winners of the technology award include inventors of energy efficiency techniques, flight-safety sensors and rocket propulsion systems. The winning scientists performed research on DNA, cardiovascular physiology, probability theory and other areas.

ICYMI:

Despite the prolonged economic downturn, the U.S. remains the most competitive nation for information technology, according to a report from the Business Software Alliance.

The FCC announced the formation of a task force on Tuesday aimed at addressing the growing problem of delays and failures for rural phone customers.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on Tuesday discussed his vision for how expanding high-speed Internet access can grow America’s economy.

Thirty-four House Democrats wrote to the FCC's Genachowski on Tuesday, urging him to cap the amount of taxpayer funds used to subsidize broadband coverage in rural areas.

Automobile communication system OnStar announced Tuesday it would not follow through with changes to its privacy policy after coming under fire from lawmakers and consumers.

Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) urged the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday to investigate "supercookies." 

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