News

WASHINGTON — According to press reports on Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced its decision, by a vote of 4–1, to approve the merger of Comcast and NBC Universal, one of the largest media mergers in history.

WASHINGTON — On Monday, Free Press, along with the Center for Media Justice, Media Access Project, New America Foundation Open Technology Institute and Presente.org, filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to investigate claims that new service plans being offered by mobile provider MetroPCS block and discriminate against Internet content, applications and webs

WASHINGTON — Free Press, along with the Center for Media Justice, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Media Access Project, National Consumers League, National Hispanic Media Coalition and New America Foundation Open Technology Initiative, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission Monday in the agency’s “bill shock” proceeding.

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) introduced two bills that would cut off federal funding for public broadcasting in America by defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by 2013 and immediately eliminating “certain public radio funding.” The bills mirror earlier efforts by Lamborn to defund all public broadcasting.

WASHINGTON – MetroPCS has announced changes to its 4G service plans that offer a glimpse of the future of the mobile Internet, as blessed by the Federal Communications Commission, where carriers, not users, decide what content is important.

WASHINGTON — According to press reports, the Federal Communications Commission is poised to approve the pending Comcast-NBC merger with conditions. A draft order circulated today must now be modified and approved by a majority of the five commissioners.

WASHINGTON — By a 3-2 vote Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission approved new rules intended to prevent Internet providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from acting as gatekeepers on the Web. The rules, however, heavily favor the industry they are intended to regulate, and leave consumers with minimal protections.

WASHINGTON — In a statement Monday, Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Copps announced that he would vote to move forward FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s so-called Net Neutrality rules. The announcement appears to give the chairman the three votes necessary to pass his order.

WASHINGTON — After nearly a decade, Congress passed the Local Community Radio Act Saturday. The bill now awaits President Obama’s signature.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission could be moving toward finalizing its review of the proposed Comcast-NBC merger as early as next week, according to press reports. The FCC, along with the Department of Justice, is charged with evaluating the merger’s impact on the public.