FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 23, 2010
Contact: Liz Rose, Communications Director, 202-265-1490 x 35

WASHINGTON – Free Press ran a full-page ad in the Washington Post today, in response to news that closed-door meetings were held by the Federal Communications Commission with industry representatives and lobbyists about important Internet policies. The ad urges the FCC not to bargain away the open Internet and calls on President Obama to uphold his promise to “take a back seat to no one on Net Neutrality.”

Free Press President and CEO Josh Silver issued the following statement:

“It looks like yet another federal agency is catering to big business behind closed doors and ignoring the American public. It’s inexcusable that the FCC is brokering backroom deals with industry lobbyists, while pretending to run a transparent process. After the financial crisis and the oil spill, you would think the Obama administration would have learned a lesson. But we won’t stand by and watch the Internet go the way of Wall Street and the Gulf of Mexico.”

Here’s a link to the ad: http://www.freepress.net/files/same-sellout.pdf

Full text of the ad:

BIG OIL
BIG BANKS
BIG PHONE
BIG CABLE
SAME $ELLOUT
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s top deputies are meeting behind closed doors with industry lobbyists to cut a deal that would effectively hand over control of the Internet to Verizon, Comcast and AT&T.

Government officials are catering to big business instead of protecting the American people — just like they did before the BP oil disaster and the financial crisis.
This time, get ready for higher prices, fewer choices and an Internet with corporate gatekeepers picking winners and losers online.
President Obama, you promised to take a “back seat to no one” in protecting Net Neutrality and free speech online.
Don’t let our Internet go the way of Wall Street and the Gulf of Mexico.
Insist that the Federal Communications Commission protect the future of communications in America.
Stand up to Big Phone and Big Cable.
Save the Internet.

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.