WASHINGTON, April 15, 2013 – Tom Wheeler, one of the most-frequently mentioned names to take the chairmanship of the Federal Communications Commission, remains perhaps the leading contender for the role, according to a Friday telecom update from Medley Global Advisors. “Venture capitalist and former lobbyist Tom Wheeler picked up a strong vote of confidence from a… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 - Despite fanfare regarding the end of exclusivity for the Apple iPhone with the launch of a CDMA version, the reality is that many carriers are still unable to attain certain devices. While the majority of current subscribers now have access to the once-exclusive iPhone, because AT&T and Verizon have been allowed to create a duopoly in the wireless industry, from a competition standpoint, AT&T and Verizon are the only two carriers with access to the device. Translation: Less than 2 percent of domestic wireless carriers have access to one of the nation’s most coveted devices. Just as the iPhone is not the only smartphone on the market, it is also not the only device that is unavailable to consumers. Due to exclusive handset arrangements, consumers are left to choose between robust coverage where they live or the latest hot device they desire. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON March 14, 2011 - The Media Access Project, a public interest law firm specializing in telecommunications matters, brought together leading industry experts Friday to explore issues surrounding potential spectrum auctions. The goal of the proposed auctions is to free up spectrum for use by mobile broadband. The spectrum would come from that which is… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, February 1, 2011 - A group of non-profit organizations filed a brief in federal district court Tuesday, opposing an injunction that would pull Internet rebroadcaster, ivi TV, off the air pending the resolution of a copyright infringement suit against it. Keep Reading
Consumer groups sent a letter to the FCC last week accusing low-cost carrier, MetroPCS, of violating the Open Internet Order by limiting user access to services. The Center for Media Justice, Free Press, Media Access Project, New America Foundation and Presente.org submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission stating MetroPCS is causing a new digital divide… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON August 9, 2010 -In an effort to promote the issue of network neutrality representatives from eight of the major public interest think tanks met with officials from the Federal Communications Commission. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2010 - It has been reported that Google and Verizon are working on a secret pact about network neutrality. The New York Times says this pact will give Google products preferential treatment on the Verizon network. However both firms are claiming this is untrue. Public interest organizations however bemoan the entire concept of a secret pact. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2010 – AT&T’s special access lines are set for price hikes, and the NoChokePoints Coalition says FCC regulation of this “is essential to the health of our information economy.” AT&T had a different opinion. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2010 – Lawyer and former Federal Communications Commissioner Tyrone Brown will take over as president of the Media Access Project beginning Apr. 1. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2010 - An executive summary of the Federal Communications Commission's forthcoming National Broadband Plan drew near-unanimous praise from stakeholders on the eve of the full plan's release, with industry groups, public interest advocates and lawmakers all weighing in positively as they became aware of the agency’s intentions. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 25, 2010 - Broadband experts discussed civil rights issues surrounding a speedy internet and how best to close the digital divide at an event last week hosted by the Minority Media & Telecom Council at Howard University. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 21, 2010 - The Federal Communications Commission in a Tuesday workshop explored consumer choice, user control of their online experience and the importance of transparency. The agency’s fourth Open Internet Workshop on Consumers, Transparency and the Open Internet focused on the sixth principle of network neutrality - transparency. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 15, 2010 - The Federal Communications Commission was inundated this week with a new slew of comments on its proposed plan to ensure an open internet through network neutrality regulation. Players like the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council weighed in on the Internet’s importance to minority communities, while heavy hitters from Hollywood and big communications firms also added their more than two cents. Here’s just a sampling of comments from the broadband industry community and look for more in-depth stories on BroadbandBreakfast.com in the next couple of days. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 16, 2009 - Web content producers applauded the efforts of the Federal Communications Commission to turn Net neutrality principles into enforceable rules – but lawyers, academics and commissioners were divided on whether the agency should begin regulating the internet in the name of democracy and economic growth. “The genius of the Internet is its openness, its dynamism and its availability to one and all,” said FCC Commissioner Michael Copps in his opening statements at a Tuesday afternoon workshop on “Democratic Engagement and the Open Internet.” Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 15, 2009 - "I am not a Czar," Federal Communications Commission Chief Diversity Officer Mark Lloyd declared on Monday, while delivering the keynote at a Media Access Project event on the impact of new media, net neutrality and journalism's future. Lloyd, an attorney based out of the commission's Office of General Counsel, devoted a great deal of his speech to rebutting criticism and accusations regarding his role at the FCC, which began when some right-wing oriented blogs and commentators, including Glenn Beck, began critically examining his prior academic writings on media ownership and diversity of expression. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 1, 2009 - Experts from the private sector, nonprofit groups and the government gathered Tuesday at the Federal Trade Commission for the start of a two-day workshop focused on the troubled state of the media industry and how the business models will change going forward. “Since the beginning of our Republic, journalism has been essential to making democracy work,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said (PDF) in opening remarks. His point is largely agreed upon by many involved in discussions centered around the media. But there is not a consensus on how media business models will evolve down the road or on whether the government should become more involved in the industry. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, October 26, 2009 - Absent from the notice of proposed rulemaking released by the Federal Communications Commission Thursday is the charged term of “network neutrality” that has been discussed over the years. Instead, the paper is focused on the need to preserve an “open internet” through government intervention. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, October 15, 2009 - Six public interest organizations, including Consumers Union, on Wednesday filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to protect consumers from misleading and confusing advertising and billing practices by phone, cable and wireless providers. Keep Reading
The Media Access Project will hold the third session in its 2009 MAPPING CHANGE series on October 8 in Silicon Valley for a conference exploring the issue of “smart grids.” MAP aims to bring together experts on communications, information technology, energy, and infrastructure to discuss policy developments and implementation strategies promoting smarter energy management and environmentally sustainable technologies. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 18, 2009 - The possible benefits of extending broadband to anchor institution, rural areas, and individual homes is well worth the effort and financial investment, a panel of industry experts and non-profit representatives agreed during a Friday panel discussion. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 2 – A total of 55 companies and non-profit organizations, including major corporate entities such as AT&T, Cisco Systems, Google, Intel and Verizon Communications, have signed on to a “call to action for a national broadband strategy.” Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, October 23 – The top executives of the four major broadcast networks on Thursday urged the head of the Federal Communications Commission to delay a vote on a politically simmering issue that pits broadcasters against Google and high-tech executives. Keep Reading