News

CHICAGO – At the Federal Communications Commission’s public hearing next week on the proposed merger of Comcast and NBC Universal, Free Press President and CEO Josh Silver will testify about the merger’s impact on the marketplace for online video. The July 13 hearing is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m., with opening remarks from FCC Commissioner Michael Copps.

WASHINGTON — Comcast will raise its cable TV rates by almost 4 percent in some areas of the country starting Aug. 1.

WASHINGTON – Today, Free Press launched “Corruption Road: How Corporate Money and Astroturf Pollute Media Policy,” a new tool that illustrates the millions of dollars being funneled from the major phone and cable companies into Washington’s economy of influence.

Free Press Campaign Director Timothy Karr issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Today, 150 nonprofit and allied organizations sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission supporting the agency’s efforts to protect the open Internet. A diverse group of organizations, including Free Press, NTEN, NOW, ColorofChange.org, Miles for Cystic Fibrosis and Helping Hands Pet Rescue, signed the letter.

WASHINGTON – Today marks the first anniversary of Julius Genachowski’s chairmanship of the Federal Communications Commission. While the Commission has taken steps toward meaningful action during his tenure, much work remains to be done.

WASHINGTON – President Obama today announced an effort to make available 500 megahertz of spectrum currently controlled by the federal government and private companies. Most of the spectrum would be designated for auction for use in mobile broadband services.

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to deny a petition from Qwest Corp. for deregulatory relief from certain regulatory obligations designed to promote competition in the Phoenix Arizona market. This action marks the agency’s return to conducting traditional “market power” analysis to determine the need for deregulation.

WASHINGTON – Free Press ran a full-page ad in the Washington Post today, in response to news that closed-door meetings were held by the Federal Communications Commission with industry representatives and lobbyists about important Internet policies.

WASHINGTON – After a series of secret meetings this week between the Federal Communications Commission and top industry lobbyists was revealed by the Wall Street Journal, FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus tried to explain away the backroom meetings in a post on the FCC’s blog.

WASHINGTON – On Monday, Free Press, Media Access Project, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America filed a “petition to deny” with the Federal Communications Commission, calling on the agency to reject Comcast’s proposed acquisition of NBC Universal.