MAP Reacts to Comcast's Net Neutrality Violation
Harold Feld, Senior Vice President of Media Access Project (MAP), issued the following statement about reports that Comcast is interfering with customers’ content data uploads:
“When a broadband provider can deliberately disrupt traffic without telling subscribers, no one’s content is safe. Comcast’s actions to target Bit Torrent traffic without telling customers interferes with the many legitimate users who pay extra for broadband connections so they can move large files they have every legal right to send.” “Comcast is fond of saying that network neutrality is ‘a solution in search of a problem.’ Today’s revelation makes it clear that there is, indeed, a real problem. Fortunately, we have a solution — it’s called Network Neutrality.”
Friday October 19, 2007 under Press » Press Releases | Read more »
MAP Presses FCC on Minority and Independent Programmer Access to Cable
Media Access Project filed reply comments in the FCC’s leased access proceeding, highlighting the abusive practices carried out by cable operators to discourage use of leased access programming. Congress established the cable leased access program to promote diversity of programming and encourage vigorous competition in the video programming market. Although cable operators claim the leased access program is working, a MAP economic analysis by Dr. Gregory Rose demonstrates that operators are charging access rates well above what Congress intended, inhibiting minority and independent programmers from utilizing the program. MAP called upon the Commission to make substantial changes to the existing rules and provide independent programmers with affordable access to cable viewers.
Monday October 15, 2007 under Legal Filings » Cable Ownership | Read more »
MAP and PISC Urge FCC to Protect Competition in 700MHz Auction
Together with the Ad Hoc Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, Media Access Project filed a Petition for Reconsideration urging the FCC to maximize the potential for regional and national competition in the upcoming auction by preventing a bidder from owning licenses in both the C and D block of the spectrum. The filing also asks the Commission to clarify language in the auction rules, so that a conspiracy to block bidders from winning a license constitutes a violation of the anti-collusion rules.
Monday September 24, 2007 under Legal Filings » Spectrum Reform | Read more »
MAP Pushes to Improve Cable Access for Independent Programmers
On behalf of a diverse coalition of artist, media reform, religious, and public interest groups, including the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture, Media Access Project filed comments urging the Commission to reform its cable leased access program and provide independent programmers a legitimate opportunity to reach cable viewers. Through stonewalling, price gouging and other means, cable operators have discouraged use of the cable leased access program, stifling what was supposed to be a meaningful outlet for diverse, local, ethnic, and regional programming. The program changes MAP is proposing include:
- Adopting rules that make the leased access process more transparent, affordable, and easy to use, including modification of rates to reflect real costs rather than hypothetical costs, elimination of extraneous fees, and the creation of price sheets available in public files and on request.
- Allowing programmers to select the tier of their choice and to be secure in their channel placement and have access to new technologies such as video guides and DVR’s.
- Reforming the Commission’s access complaint and carriage complaint process including making arbitration available, permitting discovery, imposing a time limit for making decisions, and imposing significant forfeitures on cable operators who repeatedly fail to comply with leased access regulations.
Tuesday September 11, 2007 under Legal Filings » Cable Ownership | Read more »
MAP Critical of DOJ Net Neutrality Filing
Media Access Project’s Senior Vice President Harold Feld issued the following statement in response to the Department of Justice’s filed comments with the FCC regarding “network neutrality:”
“It would seem that the President and the Justice Department cannot do enough for AT&T and the other companies that agreed to spy on the American people. Without network neutrality, companies are free to turn over user information without a warrant or block users from desired content — as AT&T recently did ‘accidentally’ by blocking Pearl Jam’s criticism of the President during a concert performance carried on AT&T’s broadband service.”
Thursday September 6, 2007 under Press » Press Releases | Read more »