Free Press

Net Neutrality's Quiet Crusader

Stevie Converse — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:15:35 -0700

Bearing video cameras, laptops and cellphones, a small army of young activists flooded into a recent federal meeting in protest. Members of public-interest group Free Press weren't there to support a presidential candidate or decry global warming.

My Take on NCMR 2008

Stevie Converse — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:46:26 -0700

About a month ago, I attended the National Conference for Media Reform 2008—first time I’ve attended one of these things. I really didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to get more informed about what’s gone wrong with our mainstream media and get a better handle on what I can do as a concerned citizen.

Big Media vs. America's Right To Know

Stevie Converse — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:17:37 -0700

When the National Conference for Media Reform met here last month, it was the largest gathering of responsible adults ever to address the democracy-destroying impact big media has on America. Some media pundits, including Bill O’Reilly and Fox News, denigrate NCMR for serving an ultra liberal agenda.

Internet Consumer Information Being Sold

Stevie Converse — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:40:37 -0700

Advertisers are targeting Internet customers with techniques that monitor Internet use. Internet service provider WOW! is partnering with targeted ad company NebuAd -- and may be violating consumer privacy laws. (Video)

To watch the segment, click here.

CenturyTel Joins Charter in Data Pimping Freeze

Stevie Converse — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:47:38 -0700

Another American ISP has put the skids on its data pimping plans.

Last week, under pressure from Congressional big wigs, Charter Communications suspended plans to deploy a Phorm-like behavioral ad targeting service from NebuAd, and over the weekend, Louisiana-based CenturyTel did much the same.

NebuAd Rebuffed by Additional ISPs Due to Privacy Issues

Stevie Converse — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:25:00 -0700

One week after Charter Communications voiced concerns about controversial behavioral targeting company NebuAd, two other Internet service providers appear to be distancing themselves from the company.

Another ISP Delays Using Behavioral Targeting System

Stevie Converse — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:19:57 -0700

A week after Charter Communications backpedaled on plans to implement NebuAds' controversial behavioral tracking and ad serving platform, another of the vendor's ISP partners has put on the brakes.

Casting a Wider Net

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:10:14 -0700

Several leading lights of the Internet world believe that access to broadband is a civil right, like water, roads and sewage treatment, and have renewed their call for making such access a national priority. To further their goal, they have introduced a Web site, internetforeveryone.org.

ISP Backs Off of Behavioral Ad Plan

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:01:38 -0700

Charter Communications, one of the largest providers of cable-based broadband service in the U.S., has backed off of a plan to insert advertisements onto Web pages based on its users' Web-surfing habits after privacy advocates called the program an "attack on users."

Internet Provider Halts Plan to Track, Sell Users' Surfing Data

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:58:02 -0700

Charter Communications, the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, announced yesterday that it has backed off a plan to monitor customers' Internet transmissions.

The company had been planning to harvest the stream of data from each Internet customer for clues to their interests and then make money from advertisers who would use the information to target online pitches.

Charter Communications Delays Use of NebuAd Snooping Tool

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:07:32 -0700

Internet service provider Charter Communications said today it would delay indefinitely the use of a controversial tool for tracking where its customers go on the Web.

New Group Makes Broadband a National Priority

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:56:13 -0700

Federal Communications Commission commissioner Jonathan Adelstein joined tech policy pundits, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists Tuesday to launch a new initiative aimed at making broadband a priority in the U.S.

Public Knowledge Reaction to Charter Announcement it Will Halt NebuAd Test

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:10:21 -0700

Background: Charter Communications said this afternoon it will not now move forward with a pilot project involving NebuAd, a company that provides targeted advertising for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). A technical investigation by Public Knowledge and Free Press found that consumers are having their Web browsing intercepted and Web sites are having their computer code altered by NebuAd.

Adelstein, Cerf Advocate Broadband Access as a Fundamental Right

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:26:48 -0700

Google Chief Technology Evangelist Vint Cerf, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, and other technology and academic luminaries were on hand today to help launch InternetforEveryone.org, a new initiative spearheaded by the Free Press advocacy group to make broadband more accessible.

FCC Member, Lessig Unveil U.S. Broadband Initiative

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:11:53 -0700

U.S. Federal Communications Commission member Jonathan Adelstein and several high-profile technology executives and industry advocates on Tuesday launched an initiative to make broadband access a national priority in the U.S.

Markey Tells ISPs to Wait on Online-Ad-Service Technology

Stevie Converse — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:28:31 -0700

House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) told cable operators and other broadband providers to hold off implementing ad-service technology similar to what Charter Communications was planning to use from online-ad network NebuAd.

That came after Charter officially pulled the plug, for now, on testing that service in four markets.

Free Press to Debut InternetforEveryone.org

Stevie Converse — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:36:37 -0700

Free Press Tuesday will launch an initiative to get the public at large better informed about and more involved in the broadband-rollout debate.

Reform Groups Want FCC to Take on Product Placement Epidemic

Stevie Converse — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:37:21 -0700

Almost two dozen public interest groups have asked the Federal Communications Commission to start a proceeding on what they call "advertainment"—TV programming saturated with product placement.

NebuAd Hires Like Spyware, Acts Like Spyware

Stevie Converse — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:07:03 -0700

At least five high-ranking employees at NebuAd, a Silicon Valley start-up that snoops on Web surfers on behalf of their Internet service providers, are veterans of one of the more notorious spyware companies around, Claria Corp.

The Future of Policy Organizing at the Allied Media Conference

Stevie Converse — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:28:32 -0700

Hey guys — I’m Hannah Sassaman. For the past six years I’ve been an organizer at the Prometheus Radio Project — working to expand community radio station availability to every city in the country.