Tim Karr

Media Minutes: January 27, 2012

Candace Clement — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:15:18 -0500

The FCC is considering new rules that would give viewers more information about how broadcasters use the public airwaves. And a new Free Press report explores the dependency between those who control political power and those who control the airwaves — and recommends ways to change this dynamic.

SOPA, PIPA Protest Held Outside Senators' N.Y. Offices

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:09:36 -0500

Full article: MSNBC
Craig Kanalley
As the Internet orchestrated a massive protest against the SOPA and PIPA bills, with blackouts on Wikipedia and beyond, hundreds of tech enthusiasts took that protest to the streets in New York City.

Protests Against Antipiracy Bills Take to the Streets

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:21:49 -0500

Full article: New York Times
Jenna Wortham
On Wednesday, as many sites around the Web participated in virtual protests against two Congressional antipiracy bills, some opponents to the legislation took their demonstrations offline and into the real world.

The Outlook for the FCC and Broadband: Not Good

Stevie Converse — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:50:57 -0500

Full article: Nieman Watchdog
Bruce Kushnick
There is no force, not the FCC, not Congress, but most especially not competition to drive high-speed broadband services in America at reasonable rates. While we hear of municipalities taking it upon themselves to bypass the dysfunctional incumbent, those aren’t the norm in America. So, as the FCC raises your rates, adds new fees and the phone companies proclaim themselves the masters of the digital universe, it might be time to "Occupy" the FCC.

Senate Measure Undercuts Net Neutrality

Lindsy Embree — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:13:17 -0500

Full article: Free Speech Radio News
The FCC's rules for Net Neutrality are scheduled to go into effect on Nov. 20. The rules would require greater transparency from Internet service providers. But the Senate is expected to vote this week on a resolution that would disapprove the FCC rules. Proponents for Net Neutrality say this is a critical time to protect the policy.

Hundreds Gather to Protest Outside News Corp. Shareholders’ Meeting in L.A.

Jenn Ettinger — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:42:15 -0400

LOS ANGELES -- On Friday, hundreds of people gathered on the street outside News Corp.’s annual shareholders’ meeting to protest the media giant, which has been embroiled in a scandal over allegations of widespread phone hacking, bribery and extortion.

The loose affiliation of groups that demonstrated on Friday -- including Common Cause, OccupyLA, Free Press,

Did AT&T Lie to Your Representative?

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:29:58 -0400

Full article: CommonDreams.org
Timothy Karr
Earlier this summer 76 House Democrats were misled by AT&T. They signed on to a letter circulated by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) that was packed with AT&T talking points and spin. In it the 76 Democrats repeated AT&T's argument that merging with T-Mobile is the only way that it can extend its mobile network to 97 percent of the population. They also signed on to the AT&T notion that this merger will "create thousands of jobs ... which will greatly contribute to our continuing economic recovery." But here's the rub. Neither of these claims is true.

Corporate Media Missing Stories as Corporations Quash Coverage

Stevie Converse — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:27:47 -0400

Full article: The UpTake
Sam Mayfield
As you might expect, members of the independent media spoken to by The UpTake at the National Conference For Media Reform generally had low opinions of the corporate-owned media. But attendees at the conference are also worried about another corporate ill: the control corporations want to exert over a tool citizens and independent media have been using to go around corporate owned news channels. That tool is your cell phone.

Connecting the Dots: Saving PBS, NPR, the Internet, and Yes! Democracy

Stevie Converse — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:20:41 -0400

Full article: Huffington Post
Alison Rose Levy
Most people don't realize that prior to the 1970's, there were no corporate lobbyists on K Street. But since that time, they have built an unprecedented web of power. And you can't appease people who are trying to keep you disconnected and in the dark. It's time to actively challenge the corporate influence in Washington and build a movement that insists on real dialogue and debate. And that depends on independent and inclusive journalism.

1,000,000+ Americans Petition Congress to Protect NPR, PBS and Other Public Media

Holiday Shapiro — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:02:38 -0500

WASHINGTON, DC— More than one million Americans want Congress to know that playing politics with public media is unacceptable.