News

WASHINGTON — Thousands of concerned citizens are urging the Federal Communications Commission to limit the number of new radio licenses one group can obtain when the agency makes them available this fall.

In October, the FCC is opening a rare window for community and nonprofit organizations to build their own full-power, noncommercial radio stations across the country.

WASHINGTON — On Capitol Hill, in the media and across the country, support continues to grow for Low Power FM (LPFM) radio. A bill now pending in Congress would create thousands more community stations offering uniquely local news, views and music programming.

WASHINGTON — Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group, today announced that the fourth National Conference for Media Reform will be held on June 6-8, 2008, in Minneapolis. Thousands of activists, artists, policymakers, journalists and concerned citizens from all 50 states are expected to attend the conference — the only national event devoted exclusively to reforming the media.

CHICAGO — On Sept. 20, all five Federal Communications Commissioners will meet face-to-face with the public at a hearing in Chicago to discuss sweeping changes to the nation’s media ownership rules.

WASHINGTON — Presidential candidates are pushing media reform into the public spotlight and onto the campaign trail with recent statements calling for a more open and democratic media system.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission yesterday asked for public comment on a series of proposals on minority media ownership — after nearly a year of inaction on the issue. In the landmark 2004 Prometheus decision, the FCC was ordered to address minority ownership proposals as part of its review of media ownership rules.

CHICAGO — As part of this week’s YearlyKos Convention in Chicago, Free Press is convening a roundtable discussion with FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on the future of the media — from broadcast to broadband.

WHAT: “A View from Washington: Winning a Better Media for Everyone”
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 2, 2:00 p.m.

WASHINGTON — News reports today indicate that the Bancroft family will accept Rupert Murdoch’s $5 billion bid for Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal. Media scholar and Free Press President Robert W. McChesney made the following statement:

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission today set the rules governing the auction of the highly valued 700 MHz band of spectrum. The FCC will require the auction winner to use a chunk of the airwaves to build a network where consumers can attach any mobile device and use any application.

WASHINGTON — Consumer groups blasted the Federal Communications Commission today for releasing biased research favoring further media consolidation. In a new report, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union and Free Press show how the FCC designed a series of studies — released today — to favor lifting the longstanding ban on newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership.