ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 17, 1996 TAG: 9602190026
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
Parental-control software launched
MUNICH, Germany - CompuServe Inc. introduced software Friday that would allow its customers to block out on-line pornography, but the Bavarian Justice Ministry said the company was trying to pass the buck.
The ministry is investivating Columbus, Ohio-based CompuServe for possible criminal charges involving pornography available on the Internet through its access services.
CompuServe said it believes the ``Parental Controls Tools'' software is the best method for its more than 4 million customers to exercise individual control of questionable material on the Internet.
But Justice Ministry spokesman Gerhard Zierl said CompuServe was trying to push criminal responsibility onto third parties, including parents.
While filtering software was a step in the right direction, the question about who is responsible for control has not been cleared up, Zierl said.
- Associated Press
Media team up on 24-hour channel
NEW YORK - CNN and Sports Illustrated, banking on the combined power of the Turner and Time Warner media empires, will launch a 24-hour, all-sports cable news channel in December.
The announcement was made Friday morning in Atlanta after directors of Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc., which owns CNN, approved the launch. The new channel will be called CNN-SI.
Although neither Turner nor Sports Illustrated executives would speculate immediately on anticipated initial viewership or program content, the network promises to be a blockbuster.
It combines the CNN and Sports Illustrated staffs in an early byproduct of Time Warner Inc.'s $7.5 billion takeover of Turner, which is awaiting federal regulatory approval. Sports Illustrated is a Time Inc. magazine.
- Associated Press
AT&T to raise rates by 4.3 percent
WASHINGTON - AT&T will raise basic long-distance rates for most of its 80 million residential customers by an average 40 cents a month starting Saturday.
The nation's largest long-distance company said Friday the 4.3 percent increase - the first for residential customers in more than a year - is needed to bring prices closer to the cost of providing service but did not say how much revenue the increase would generate.
Rivals MCI and Sprint had no immediate comment.
The basic rate is what customers generally pay if they are not part of a discounted calling program.
AT&T also said some business services, including 800 service, will be subject to ``small'' rate increases, but the company did not say how much.
- Associated Press
Bankruptcies ...
Two bankruptcies with business affiliations have been filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Virginia in Roanoke.
John W. Gusler and Drema Darlene Gusler of Pembroke filed for liquidation with assets of $14,111 and liabilities of $83,430. John Gusler does business as J&D Excavating Inc.
Donald E. Canter of Abingdon, a self-employed carpenter, filed for liquidation. He listed assets of $3,100 and liabilities of $24,556.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 linesby CNB