Journalism and Information Needs

Unmistakable secular changes in the media industry along with the deep impact of the recession have made it imperative to take steps to preserve the function of local and national journalism even as the form of that profession evolves. Media Access Project is engaging with government agencies and a growing coalition of organizations to develop policy solutions to preserve and protect quality news reporting.

Openness, Diversity, and the Internet

The Internet has emerged as a critical new avenue of free expression — truly becoming an uninhibited marketplace of ideas. Network neutrality protections would ensure that the Internet remains a platform that supports the public’s First Amendment right to receive, access, and create news and information from a diversity of sources and viewpoints, without discrimination from ISPs.

The Comcast-NBC Universal Merger Would Harm Diversity and Free Expression

Comcast’s proposed acquisition of NBC Universal (NBCU) would be the most extensive merger of the Digital Age, due to its impact on a number of communications sectors. Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator, would control one of the four major broadcast networks.

Prometheus Radio Project v.FCC »

[21 Jul 2010 ]

By Juliana Gruenwald, National Journal
The FCC came under criticism Wednesday for its decision to defend media ownership rules that critics argue allow for greater media consolidation.
The FCC filed a brief in the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Philadelphia defending the media ownership rules adopted in 2007 under Republican Chairman Kevin Martin. The FCC relaxed rules [...]

Prometheus Radio Project v.FCC »

[21 Jul 2010 ]

WASHINGTON — Today, the Federal Communications Commission filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit addressing broadcast media ownership rules. In the brief, the Commission’s majority, with Commissioner Michael J. Copps dissenting, supported former-Chairman Kevin Martin’s 2007 decision to relax the Newspaper Broadcast Cross-Ownership (NBCO) rule in the nation’s top [...]

Press Room »

[16 Jul 2010 ]

‘Friends With Benefits,’ others poised to raise risque quotient
By Elizabeth Guider, Hollywood Reporter
There was a particularly unbridled episode of Fox’s “American Dad” in January in which Stan, well, gave “full release” to a racehorse. That shenanigan was duly hit with an FCC fine. But five years ago, it wouldn’t even have aired.
Fade whatever is left [...]

Wireless »

[16 Jul 2010 ]

By Lora Bentley, IT Business Edge
Thursday was the last day to submit comments on the Federal Communication’s Commission’s proposed “third way” compromise for broadband regulation, an approach in which the agency suggests identifying “wired broadband Internet service as a telecommunications service,” but only applying the parts of Title II of the Communications Act that are necessary to [...]

Press Room »

[15 Jul 2010 ]

WASHINGTON — Media Access Project (MAP) filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission today on behalf of the Media Action Grassroots Network (“MAG-Net”). MAP and MAG-Net urged the Commission to make access to broadband and mobile services more affordable for low-income individuals, while maintaining support for basic voice services subsidized via the Lifeline and Link-Up [...]