News

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission will consider an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to enable schools that receive funding from the E- Rate program to allow members of the general public to use the schools’ Internet access during non-operating hours at no additional cost to the Universal Service Fund.

WASHINGTON — FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski spoke today about some of the likely recommendations in the National Broadband Plan. Among them is a goal of 100 million households at speeds of 100 Megabits per second.

WASHINGTON — New Commerce Department figures released today highlight the challenges in bringing affordable broadband connections to all Americans. The National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) reports that 40 percent of Americans still don’t have high-speed Internet at home.

WASHINGTON — Responding to Google’s announcement today of a plan to build new, ultra high-speed broadband networks, Ben Scott, policy director for Free Press, said:

WASHINGTON — Today, AT&T announced the approval of Sling Media’s mobile video application for the iPhone, after nearly a year of blocking the video application that allows users to access programming from their home televisions.

WASHINGTON — In testimony prepared for the House and Senate hearings Thursday on Comcast’s proposed takeover of NBC Universal, public interest groups Consumer Federation of America, Free Press and Consumers Union argue that Comcast has both the incentive and the ability to engage in anticompetitive practices if the government allows the takeover.

WASHINGTON — As Congress gears up for a double-header hearing on Comcast’s proposed takeover of NBC, representatives of groups opposed to the takeover are holding a telebriefing for reporters on its harmful impact.

WASHINGTON — On Monday, in an “interview” conducted via YouTube as a follow-up to his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama reaffirmed his strong commitment to maintaining an open and neutral Internet.

WASHINGTON — A new report released today examines the history of the U.S. government’s role in subsidizing the gathering and distribution of news and information.

WASHINGTON — In response to Comcast’s filing at the Federal Communications Commission on its public interest commitments under its proposed takeover of NBC, Free Press Executive Director Josh Silver said, “Comcast’s claims that this merger will benefit consumers are positively Orwellian.