News

Senators Snowe and Dorgan, MoveOn.org and Christian Coalition to hold press conference in support of ‘Internet Freedom Preservation Act’

WHAT: Press conference on growing, nonpartisan support for “Internet Freedom Preservation Act” and delivery of 1 million petitions and letters to the Senate

WHERE: “Senate Swamp” (across from the Russell Senate Office Building, Constitution & Delaware)

WASHINGTON — Free Press Policy Director Ben Scott will testify today on behalf of Free Press, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation at a hearing on the Communications, Consumer’s Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 (S. 2686).

WASHINGTON – The likely harm to consumers and the Internet economy if Congress abandons “Network Neutrality” will be substantial, according to a new economic analysis released today by Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America and Free Press.

Federal Communications Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps will visit Asheville, N.C., on June 28 to listen to local citizens’ concerns about media consolidation. This “Town Meeting on the Future of the Media” is a rare opportunity for the public to participate directly in crafting media policies that serve their community.

WHAT: Town Meeting on the Future of Media

WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. House passed the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act without meaningful network neutrality provisions promoted by the diverse, right-left www.savetheinternet.com coalition of public interest and business groups.

Washington, D.C. — Consumer groups decried House passage late today of telecommunications legislation that will leave many consumers worse off, facing cable rate hikes, declines in service quality, inadequate consumer protections, and reduced access to competitive Internet content and services.

Washington - Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group, denounced today’s vote by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education to slash $115 million in federal funding from the budget for public broadcasting, a 23 percent decrease from the previously-approved 2007 appropriation.

Washington, D.C. — Expressing the views of more than 1 million Americans, 35 groups, including Common Cause, Free Press, Consumers Union, the American Library Association and the Christian Coalition, formally asked the House Rules Committee to permit House members to vote on amendments to preserve a free and open Internet.

WASHINGTON — Free Press Policy Director Ben Scott today represented a broad alliance of consumer and other groups from across the political spectrum at a hearing on Network Neutrality before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The summary of his prepared testimony follows:

WASHINGTON — The broad, nonpartisan movement for Internet freedom notched a major victory today, when a bipartisan majority of the House Judiciary Committee passed the “Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act of 2006” — a bill that offers meaningful protections for Network Neutrality, “the First Amendment of the Internet.”