IL

The Future of Media ... and What You Can Do About It

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:59:46 -0500

Start: 02/08/2012 - 17:00

End: 02/08/2012 - 18:30

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

We're at a critical moment. The decisions we make in the next few years will determine whether we still have quality journalism, whether the Internet remains free and open and whether our democracy continues to flourish. Instead of leaving those monumental decisions to Rupert Murdoch or AT&T executives, we can demand that the public have a voice.

Free Press Urges FCC to Reject Comcast/NBC Deal

Holiday Shapiro — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:15:43 -0400

CHICAGO – Free Press President and CEO Josh Silver will testify today before the Federal Communications Commission’s public forum on Comcast’s proposed takeover of NBC Universal.

Silver Testimony for Chicago Hearing

Holiday Shapiro — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:56:05 -0400

Josh Silver testimony for FCC hearing in Chicago on proposed Comcast-NBC merger on July 13, 2010

Public Hearing in Chicago on Comcast/NBC Merger

Neal Bastek — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:53:30 -0400

Comcast, the nation's largest cable and Internet company, wants to take over NBC Universal, one of the world's biggest producers of TV shows and motion pictures.

This merger is going to hit Chicago hard. Comcast is already the city's dominant cable and Internet provider, and now it wants to acquire NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago.

In Springfield, Ill., Public Access Producers Want to Take Over Comcast Station

Stevie Converse — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:13:10 -0500

Full article: State Journal-Register
In Springfield, Ill., local public access television producers are hoping to pick up where Comcast will leave off next month, when the cable provider ceases operation of Access 4.

Illinois Enacts L3C law

Stevie Converse — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:55:09 -0400

Full article: Just Means
Jeff Trexler
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law an L3C statute that allows the incorporation of low-profit, limited-liability companies, or L3Cs, a new hybrid structure for for-profit ventures that have a primary goal of achieving a socially beneficial purpose.

Anticipate the Cheese

Holiday Shapiro — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:01:38 -0500

Full article: Chicago Reader
Michael Miner
How can aspiring journalists get through the crisis in newspapers? Live like rats, I tell the kids, and in time there will be some cheese.

AT&T Cable Service Unfair

Stevie Converse — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:24:32 -0500

Full article: Journal and Topics Newspapers
Richard Mayer
AT&T, a multi-billion dollar telco and Illinois' first video provider franchised under state law, claims it isn't possible with its "U-Verse" system to provide equal treatment for PEG channels. But a new engineering study shows the technology is readily available to allow delivery of PEG channels on AT&T's U-Verse platform.

AT&T's U-verse Service Gives Short Shrift to Public Access Programming

Stevie Converse — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:34:00 -0500

Full article: Chicago Tribune
David Greising
AT&T has cutting-edge technology and a beefy balance sheet, but the company's handling of community programming channels in Illinois and other states is putting a big black blot on its sky-blue logo.

FCC Asked to Probe AT&T Treatment of PEG

Stevie Converse — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:31:00 -0500

Full article: Ars Technica
Nate Anderson
Municipalities around the country aren't pleased with AT&T's U-Verse IPTV service, which won't put their public access and government TV programming on actual "channels." FCC complaints have been filed and the Illinois attorney general is now involved.