News
Be an activist. SUPPORT YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH RIGHTS!

Here is current news & events regarding public access & other free speech stuff.

My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.
Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. (1900 - 1965), Speech in Detroit, 7 Oct. 1952

Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it.
Malcolm X (1925 - 1965), "Malcolm X Speaks", 1965
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Take Action: Tell the Senate to Veto the FCC

A powerful Senate committee just endorsed a bill (SJ Res. 28) to veto the FCC's big handout to Big Media. We need to make sure that this bill is given a full Senate vote as soon as possible. Senate rules require a floor vote on the veto within the next few weeks. In 2003, nearly 3 million citizens just like you demanded that the Senate overturn the FCC's last attempt to let Big Media get even bigger. We can do it again — but we need your help.
Last December, the FCC approved new rules that could unleash a flood of media consolidation across America. The new rules could mean less diverse voices, local news and investigative journalism. Congress has the power to throw out these rules — and if hundreds of thousands of people demand it, they'll have to listen.

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Stopping Comcast's Attack on Net Neutrality

America's biggest cable company is throttling the free flow of information on the Internet.

Blocking by Comcast — and related censorship by AT&T and Verizon — gives us a glimpse of a world without Net Neutrality. We've filed a legal action against Comcast at the FCC.
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Comcast Continues to Block and Dodge

Despite the dust storm of bad press and legal filings, cable giant Comcast continues to deceive customers, threaten employees and disrupt peer-to-peer traffic over their broadband network.
An investigation just released by Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) confirms earlier reports that the cable giant is secretly and selectively degrading various file sharing applications using “TCP reset packets.”

This is consistent with ongoing complaints from customers who state Comcast is blocking access to popular and legal video, photo and music sharing applications. The evidence is mounting.

The Case Against Comcast

In October, an Associated Press exposé found the company to be actively interfering with user access — calling the violation “the most drastic example yet of data discrimination.” This was later confirmed by the first extensive EFF report.

Earlier this month, members of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition took action and filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission. The filing calls upon the agency to take urgent action to stop violations of consumers’ right to access the software and content of their choice.

In an accompanying complaint, Free Press and Public Knowledge asked the FCC to fine Comcast $195,000 for every affected subscriber. Comcast is the nation’s largest cable company and second-largest Internet service provider, with 12.9 million subscribers.

EFF’s second report, released on Wednesday, confirms that the company is indeed meddling with our ability to connect and share information with one another — a gross violation of both the letter and spirit of Net Neutrality.

Hacks, Threats and Lies

“Comcast is essentially deploying against their own customers techniques more typically used by malicious hackers,” write the EFF report’s authors. “This is doubtless how Comcast would characterize other parties that forged traffic to make it appear that it came from Comcast or its subscribers.”

Despite the evidence, Comcast executive vice president David Cohen told Ars Technica that Comcast does not block access to file sharing applications and that the company’s traffic control mechanisms are permissible because the FCC’s standards explicitly allow “reasonable network management” practices.

Comcast has relentlessly withheld information about its traffic management activities, going so far as to threaten to terminate employees who discussed the specifics of its P2P blocking with anyone outside of the company.

They then lie to their customers, delivering a service far inferior to the one they are billing them for.

Sound “reasonable”?

We Told You So

Comcast’s claims are a flimsy cover. Blatant and deceptive blocking is not “reasonable management.” It is the type of problem Net Neutrality advocates have warned would occur without proper protections.

Our message to both the FCC and Congress remains the same:

We told you this would happen. The network companies can’t be trusted to keep their hands off our broadband connections. Now do something about it.
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Local Governments Ask Courts to Reverse FCC Ruling on Video Franchising

April 4, 1:49pm

Local government organizations representing municipal and county officials across America today asked the Federal courts to reverse the recent franchising order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would severely restrict the ability of local governments to protect their citizens, rights-of-way, community channels and public safety networks. In addition, the FCC order would lead to a tremendous reduction in the revenues received by local governments for use of their rights of way, as well as loss of cable services to many governmental buildings and schools.

The formal Petitions for Review filed today said the FCC order “exceeds the FCC’s statutory authority,” is “arbitrary and capricious,” “an abuse of discretion, unsupported by substantial evidence, and in violation of the United States Constitution.” The FCC order also “violates both the Communications Act and Administrative Procedure Act’s public notice requirements,” according to the Petitions.

Organizations participating in the court challenge to the FCC order include the Alliance for Communications Democracy (ACD), Alliance for Community Media (ACM), National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC), National Association of Telecommunications Officials and Advisors (NATOA), and The United States Conference of Mayors(USCM).

According to these groups, the repercussions of the FCC’s order are far-reaching and extreme on numerous fronts. Local governments want competition in the video marketplace, but the FCC’s order ignores local interests, provides regulatory advantages for a few of the largest telecommunications companies in the country, and is simply contrary to law in many respects.

Local government representatives also expressed concern over the loss of protections for their residents if the FCC order were to stand. According to these officials, the order provides little recognition of the need by local governments to protect public rights of way, and to ensure that all their citizens benefit from increased competition and advances in telecommunications technology – not just a chosen few.

For more information, contact:
ACD: Barbara Popovic, 312-738-1400
ACM: Anthony Riddle, 202-393-2650
NACo: Jim Philipps, 202-942-4220
NLC: Sherry Conway Appel, 202-626-3003, or Carolyn Coleman, 202-626-3023
NATOA: Steve Traylor, 703-519-8035
USCM: Elena Temple, 202-861-6719

FCC Preempts Local Cable Franchising, USCM Challenges Harmful Decision

 Local Government Statement (3/6)

 Initial Analysis (Arent Fox) (3/6) 

 Initial Analysis (Miller & Van Eaton) (3/6)

Bill of Rights Institute
 www.BeingAnAmerican.org


House Leaders Tell FCC to Support Net Neutrality

Members of the House on Wednesday pressed FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to take a stronger position in support of Net Neutrality, calling it “indispensable policy for the future of the Internet.” Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee Chairman...
Take Action: Save The Internet

A new bill has been introduced in U.S. House that would stop Comcast, Verizon and AT&T from controlling what you do, and where you go online.
In 2006, 1.6 million people stopped mighty phone and cable companies from gutting Net Neutrality. In 2007, more than a quarter-million people sent comments to the FCC and opened up cell-phone networks to user choice and innovation.


Speak Up for Localism
The FCC wants to lift media ownership rules and open the floodgates to wholesale consolidation of local newspaper, radio and television outlets. Big Media's drive to control local outlets stifles the competition and diversity that are the lifeblood of a democratic media system.

File a comment on this subjectwith the FCC
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper

Tell the FCC to Stop Hiding the Facts
The FCC was recently accused of suppressing research studies that showed the negative impacts of consolidated media. Don't let the FCC continue to bury evidence.

File a comment on this subject with the FCC
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper

Promote Minority Voices
Free Press recently release a study, Out of the Picture, on the impacts of consolidated media on women and minority ownership. One FCC commissioner rightly characterized the results as a "national disgrace."

File a comment on this subject with the FCC
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper

What's Going on at the FCC? - Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin wants to change the rules to let Big Media get even bigger.
State Policy Tracker - Keeping tabs on media and telecommunications legislation across the country.

With Congress unable to reach an agreement on sweeping changes to the nation’s communications laws, the debate is shifting to the states. Laws being crafted now — under intense pressure from media industry lobbyists — will profoundly impact the future of the Internet, cable TV and local media. Issues like Net Neutrality, bridging the digital divide and public access TV are at stake.
Contact Your State Representatives and urge them to support media policies that serve the public interest.

Now is the time for the public to get involved to make sure this legislation is written with the public interest in mind. 

The Free Press State Policy Tracker  - Keeping tabs on media and telecommunications legislation across the county.  Find out what is happening in your state.  Be an activist. 
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