MAP Reacts to Verizon's Open Platform Announcement
Harold Feld, Senior Vice President of the Media Access Project, issued the following statement in response to Verizon’s open platform announcement:
“This is surely a step in the right direction, but its shortcomings underscore the need for regulations to guarantee Americans the same rights on wireless networks that they have on landlines. Without the certainty that comes from making open platforms a right, rather than a privilege at the mercy of a provider’s business plan, innovation and choice in the wireless world will continue to lag behind Europe and Asia.”
Tuesday November 27, 2007 under Press » Press Releases | Read more »
Churches, Civil Rights Organizations, Demand FCC Recognize Cable Power
Media Access Project filed a letter on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, and the National Hispanic Media Coalition demanding that the FCC recognize that the Congressional “70/70” measurement of cable market power has been met. The excessive power of cable operators over programming has squeezed out independent minority and religious programming. Instead of allowing cable to confuse the issue by pretending this is about a la carte, the FCC must remain focused on recognizing cable market power and creating new opportunities for independent minority and religious programming.
Tuesday November 20, 2007 under Legal Filings » Cable Ownership | Read more »
MAP Reacts to DEs Order for Upcoming 700MHz Auction
Harold Feld, Senior Vice President of the Media Access Project, issued the following statement in response the to FCC’s release last night of an Order with regard to the upcoming 700 MHz auction modifying the designated entity (DE) credit rules to permit DEs to offer more than 51% of capacity for leasing for the D Block license only:
“We are pleased that the Commission recognized the importance of encouraging a wholesale model by granting limited DE relief. The limitation on leasing capacity adopted last year to discourage the use of “sham” DEs remains an important protection against previously well documented abuses, and the limited relief granted given the unique circumstances of the D Block will serve the public interest without compromising this necessary safeguard.”
Friday November 16, 2007 under Press » Press Releases | Read more »
MAP Refutes Industry Claims Regarding 70/70 Threshold
In a letter to Commissioners Deborah Taylor Tate and Robert M. McDowell, MAP responded to claims by the NCTA of the arbitrariness of data indicating that cable penetration has reached the 70/70 threshold. NCTA and the cable industry have consistently withheld subscriber data, leading industry publishers such as Warren, Kagan, and Nielsen to underreport the number of cable systems and cable subscribers. Cable penetration passed the 70/70 threshold as early as 2005, and a new analysis completed by MAP, places cable penetration as high as 77%.
Friday November 16, 2007 under Legal Filings » Cable Ownership | Read more »
When Competition Doesn't Quite Cut It
Monday November 5, 2007 under Articles/Policy Papers » Spectrum Reform | Read more »