News

WASHINGTON — Free Press Policy Adviser Joel Kelsey will testify Wednesday on behalf of Free Press before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights.

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday at its open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission opened a proceeding to consider interference claims and interoperability requirements for the Lower 700 MHz spectrum band. Congress and the FCC reclaimed these airwaves from TV broadcasters and then auctioned them off to mobile providers in 2008.

WASHINGTON – On Monday evening, the Federal Communications Commission released two decisions to implement the Local Community Radio Act passed by Congress in December 2010. These orders clear space for Low Power FM stations to provide opportunities for community radio in every market, and they propose rules for beginning to license such LPFM stations.

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it would require Verizon, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks to submit more detailed materials into the record about their proposed spectrum deal and joint marketing agreements.

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed legislation aimed at reforming the Federal Communications Commission.

Free Press Action Fund Political Adviser Joel Kelsey made the following statement:

WASHINGTON — On Monday, Free Press filed comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to water down media-ownership limits for local newspapers and broadcast stations.

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Free Press filed a petition to deny the license transfers between Verizon, SpectrumCo and Cox Communications.

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, members of the House of Representatives negotiating the payroll tax cut extension reportedly reached a compromise on provisions related to spectrum. The agreement would establish firmly the FCC’s ability to preserve unlicensed use in the current TV band, even if the FCC reallocates and then auctions some of that band for wireless broadband.

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, 45 public-interest groups sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee opposing two bill that would severely limit the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to promote competition, innovation and access to communications services.

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, a bipartisan letter from 42 members of the House of Representatives urged congressional leadership to keep prime wireless spectrum available for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other innovative new technologies.