News

WASHINGTON — According to reports Saturday, AT&T is preparing to offer to divest as much as 40 percent of T-Mobile in an effort to win approval for the merger from the Department of Justice. The reports follow AT&T’s announcement last Wednesday that it filed a motion with the Federal Communications Commission to withdraw its merger application.

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced the start of the process to reject the AT&T/T-Mobile merger. According to reports, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is circulating an order that would designate the merger for a hearing. The order effectively concludes that AT&T’s bid to acquire T-Mobile is not in the public interest.

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, Free Press, along with dozens of other groups, participated in American Censorship Day in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261), a bill that would let corporations rip apart the open structure of the Internet.

WASHINGTON — On Monday, Free Press released a new report showing state support for public broadcasting is declining at an alarming rate.

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Senate rejected a motion to proceed on its “resolution of disapproval” of the Federal Communications Commission’s Net Neutrality rules. The resolution failed by a margin of 52 to 46.

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Senate held debate on the Republican-led effort to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s open Internet rules.

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, House Republicans introduced two bills aimed at hindering the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to implement rules and review transactions.

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission held its open meeting where it addressed its proposals to modernize both the Universal Service Fund and its broadcast-disclosure requirements.

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.

BOSTON — On Friday, Oct. 21, Free Press and Participant Media will host “’A Robot Sent to Destroy Me’: The New Media Invasion and the Future of News.” This panel discussion will explore the influence of new media on the future of news and how this shift impacts the news and information needs of communities across the country.