News

Washington — An ad hoc group of industry, labor and public interest organizations from both the left and the right expressed grave concern about the proposed Comcast takeover of NBC in an open letter to President Obama and Congress.

WASHINGTON — Josh Silver, the executive director of the media reform group Free Press, commented on the news that the U.S. Department of Justice is slated to review the proposed merger between cable giant Comcast and NBC Universal:

WASHINGTON — In a letter sent Tuesday to the Federal Communications Commission, Free Press and other consumer groups asked the agency to press Verizon Wireless after the company failed to adequately respond to the agency’s questions regarding unfair cell phone penalty fees.

WASHINGTON — Free Press and other consumer groups are calling on federal antitrust authorities and Congress to investigate agreements among giant media companies to stifle competition in the emerging market for online television programming.

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kerry (D. - Mass.) sent a letter Tuesday morning to FOX and Time Warner Cable urging the companies to place the interest of consumers at the forefront while finalizing negotiations to carry local programming.

WASHINGTON — In a letter sent Friday from Verizon Wireless to the Federal Communications Commission, the company admits it is imposing unfair penalty fees to deter consumers from switching carriers.

WASHINGTON — The public interest group Free Press commends Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) for his efforts to marshal public resources for improvements to broadband that will benefit consumers.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s announcement today of $182 million in grants for rural broadband projects was welcomed by the public interest group Free Press.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to open the airwaves to hundreds of new Low Power FM radio stations across America. The Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147), introduced by Reps. Mike Doyle (D-Penn.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.) and supported by more than 80 co-sponsors in the House, now awaits a vote by the full Senate.

WASHINGTON — Today at its December open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission heard an update on the progress of the National Broadband Plan. Promoting competition was a promised theme of the plan.