MAP IN THE NEWS (2006)
Posted: Sunday December 31, 2006
AT&T Yields to Seal BellSouth Deal
The Wall Street Journal Amy Schatz and Peter Grant: December 29, 2006
"This is a real capitulation by AT&T-BellSouth," said Harold Feld, senior vice president of Media Access Project, a Washington public-interest law firm.
TV news fails on elections, group says
The Oregonian Betsy Hammond: December 28, 2006
The same lawyer who wrote the petition challenging Portland TV licenses — Andrew Schwartzman of the Washington, D.C., public interest law firm Media Access Project — filed similar petitions last year against the relicensing of all Milwaukee, Wis., and Chicago television stations.
Groups say Portland TV stations need more political reporting
Associated Press: December 28, 2006
Washington, D.C.-based Media Access Project worked with Thompson to challenge the Portland TV licenses and filed similar challenges last year to TV stations in Chicago and Milwaukee.
Campaign watchdogs challenge licenses of area TV stations
Statesman Journal Steve Law: December 26, 2006
“We have no expectation that the FCC under present management is likely to act favorably on these petitions,” said Andrew Schwartzman, Media Access Project chief executive. TV licenses have rarely been denied since the media deregulation began under President Reagan in the 1980s, Schwartzman said.
FCC’s McDowell Maintains Recusal
The Deal Ron Orol: December 19, 2006
"FCC Commissioner McDowell has courageously elevated professional responsibility over expedience in declining to participate in deliberations about the ATT-BellSouth merger," said Media Access Project president Andrew Schwartzman.
FCC’s McDowell Won’t Cast Vote on AT&T/Bell South Merger
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: December 18, 2006
"The test for such decisions is whether an action diminishes public confidence in the FCC’s actions," said Schwartzman. "There is no doubt that the legitimacy of all FCC decision making would have suffered had Commissioner McDowell yielded to pressure and agreed to vote on the merger."
C-SPAN to air FCC court case on language
Chicago Tribune Phil Rosenthal: December 15, 2006
It’s "uncommon, but not unprecedented" for TV cameras to be allowed into federal courts for arguments, said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, head of the Media Access Project, which is representing Center for Creative Voices, an intervenor in the case. "It’s entirely within the discretion of the courts."
Court Says Profanity Arguments Can Be Televised
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: December 12, 2006
The televised coverage is "uncommon but not unprecedented," said Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Access Project, which is representing intervenor Center for Creative voices.
FCC Briefing for Investors Criticized
LA Times John Dunbar, Associated Press: November 29, 2006
"When public officials are speaking privately, expressing things to influential investors, that they are unwilling to share with the rest of the public, taxpayers have a right to be upset," he said. "What do they have to say that they can’t say to everyone else?"
Comcast raising its cable-TV rates 3.2% Jan. 1
Philadelphia Inquirer Miriam Hill: November 23, 2006
"Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, a public-interest law firm, said the continued rate hikes disprove arguments from the cable and telephone companies that they need lighter regulation because of increasing competition."
MAP Asks Court To Overturn News Corp. Waivers
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: November 6, 2006
Consolidation critic Media Access Project (MAP) has appealed the FCC’s decision to allow News Corp. to continue to own WNYW New York and The New York Post.
Cross-Ownership Muddies Tribune Sale
Washington Post.com Frank Ahrens: November 3, 2006
"Anybody looking to buy the whole [Tribune] package is buying a lot of uncertainty," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, an advocacy group that generally opposes media consolidation and filed a petition yesterday to block Tribune’s waiver in Los Angeles, where it owns television station KTLA.
Tribune sale faces multiple obstacles
LA Times Thomas S. Mulligan and James Rainey: November 3, 2006
Tribune knew it would be creating cross-ownership situations in 2000 when it bought Times Mirror Co., owner of The Times, the Courant and Newsday. But it "made a multibillion-dollar bet that the rules would change," Media Access Project President Andrew Jay Schwartzman said.
FCC says yes to free Wi-Fi
Marketplace Radio Lisa Napoli: November 2, 2006
“This is an important decision because the principle at stake here is whether a landlord can control the wireless equipment that a tenant uses.”
FCC: Boston airport can’t block airline’s Wi-Fi
CNET News.com Anne Broache: November 2, 2006
Without the FCC’s decision in place, landlords may have been able to get away with blocking certain free or low-cost wireless services and equipment, Feld said. The order, he said in a statement, "provides a powerful affirmation to the community wireless movement in the United States by protecting the rights of users to operate Wi-Fi access points and other unlicensed devices, whether or not a landlord has an exclusive arrangement with a provider."
FCC’s Rules Against Cross-Ownership Haunt Media Companies
The Deal Chris Nolter: October 31, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, CEO of the Media Access Project in Washington, says the company can expect "vociferous opposition" to the Los Angeles waiver. The Media Access Project represented a Philadelphia group that opposed the 2003 lifting of the cross-ownership rules and had the rules stayed.
Org favors digital rights
Variety William Triplett: October 25, 2006
"Whether intended or not, these restrictions on technology muzzle free speech and put a straitjacket on creativity," said Harold Feld of the Media Access Project, a coalition member.
Critics still doubt AT&T sweeteners
The Deal Ron Orol: October 24, 2006
Schwartzman argues that the FCC should require AT&T-BellSouth to divest that spectrum so the agency can auction it to competitors that plan to develop Wi-Fi services. "This is primo spectrum for wireless services," Schwartzman said. "They admit they are hoarding it."
TV Issues May Shift With Vote
Television Week Ira Teinowitz: October 16, 2006
"The major change would be oversight," predicted Andy Schwartzman, president and CEO of the Media Access Project, a public interest law firmthat works on FCC matters. "I would expect the FCC members to be on the Hill early and often."
FCC Meets Today on AT&T Merger: Why You Should Care
Huffington Post Josh Silver: October 13, 2006
According to Harold Feld of Media Access Project, the only way to break the tie would be for Martin to force a fifth commissioner, Robert McDowell, to “un-recuse” himself from the process.
AT&T, Bell South merger vote delayed
Marketplace Radio Lisa Napoli: October 12, 2006
“The fact that there is a 2-to-2 split on this particular vote gives the two Democrats tremendous leverage to extract concessions in the form of conditions which have been attached in other mergers.”
FCC Puts AT&T-SBC Deal on Hold
Red Herring C. Medford: October 12, 2006
“If the FCC joins DoJ in shirking its responsibilities, all Americans will be beholden to this massive beast,” he continued. “If consumers thought gas prices were out of control, wait until they get their next phone bill.”
FCC OK’s Some Wireless Devices in Broadcast Band
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: October 12, 2006
Harold Feld, senior VP of unlicensed device fans The Media Access Project, was pleased with the FCC’s decision: "Today’s FCC action is another step forward in freeing more public spectrum for productive public use," he said.
Justice Department approves AT&T, BellSouth merger
Tulsa World D.R. Stewart: October 12, 2006
"AT&T, with the help of a complicit government, is poised to control nearly half of the nation’s phone lines and will also be the largest wireless and broadband Internet company in the country." Schwartzman said consumers will depend on the FCC to redress the competitive imbalance imposed by the Justice Department.
What Can We Do To Address Digital Inclusion?
Government Technology Sascha Meinrath: October 11, 2006
Harold Feld, Media Access Project’s Senior Vice President, would certainly agree, "I would shift to a focus on user empowerment away from the traditional model which emphasizes compelling or incenting large providers to provide service — create programs designed to diffuse technical knowledge and equipment within underserved communities and policies to empower local communities to self-provision."
DoJ Approves AT&T-BellSouth Merger, Without Conditions
New Telephony Kelly M. Teal: October 11, 2006
“Unfortunately, by endorsing the largest telecommunications merger in history, the DoJ ignored the interests of consumers and the valid concerns raised by many experts and organizations that the reconstitution of Ma Bell will lead to higher prices, job cuts, violations of customer privacy and a widening of the digital divide,” said Andrew Schwartzman of the Competition Coalition.
Why ‘Tokyo Rose’ Statutes Appear Outdated
Wall Street Journal Nikhil Deogun: October 4, 2006
Given Televisa’s dominance in Mexico, "I’m sure there are people in the Southwest who don’t want a company with as tight a connection to the Mexican government serving Spanish-language citizens here,"Mr. Schwartzman adds.
FCC Is Set to Revisit Rules on Ownership
Los Angeles Times Jim Puzzanghera and James S. Granelli: October 3, 2006
"The only local news available on the Internet is repurposed news from the same newspapers and television stations," Media Access Project President Andrew Jay Schwartzman said.
Pols call for delay of AT&T-BellSouth merger
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Scott Leith: September 28, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, a member of the Competition Coalition, supports requests for a delay. "Were the DOJ and FCC to approve the AT&T-BellSouth merger before federal judicial review of prior Bell mergers, this administration will have demonstrated yet again that it has never met a merger it won’t approve," Schwartzman said, in a prepared statement.
Marketing to kids might get harder
Marketplace Radio Lisa Napoli: September 28, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Access Project thinks the FCC has another goal “ … to pressure broadcasters and advertisers into doing something they would prefer not to have government regulation forcing.”
Foes pummel AT&T deal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Marilyn Geewax: September 26, 2006
"AT&T’s approach to the Internet is one which does not bode well for maintaining the Internet as an avenue of innovation, an avenue of free expression, an avenue of political speech," said Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, a nonprofit public interest group.
FCC chief pushes OK of merger
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Scott Leith: September 23, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project and a member of the Competition Coalition, said in a statement Friday that he was disappointed with Martin’s disregarding of the opposition. "By all accounts, the only voice calling for a rubber-stamp approval of this merger is AT&T itself," Schwartzman said.
ICANN to Stay American For Now
internetnews.com Roy Mark: September 22, 2006
Harold Feld, the senior vice president at the Media Access Project, told the panel the question to be dealt with was not turning over ICANN to the U.S., but, instead, how well does ICANN handle Internet governance.
FCC to Review Media Study
The Deal Ron Orol: September 18, 2006
Harold Feld, director of Washington-based public interest law firm Media Access Project, said Powell apparently sought only to produce studies that complemented his plan for media ownership rules. "It appears that it was Michael Powell, not the public, who preferred to make decisions based on ‘personal ideology,’" Feld said in a statement.
Probe Called for in FCC’s Quashing of Local News Study
Television Week Ira Teinowitz: September 14, 2006
Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Free Press and Media Access Project, in a letter to Mr. Martin, asked for the probe to "determine the circumstances under which the public was denied access to this important, taxpayer-funded research, the parties involved and the processes that may allowed any record of its existence to be destroyed."
Court puts on hold FCC ruling on TV profanity
Reuters Jeremy Pelofsky: September 07, 2006
"It cuts the heart out of the FCC’s strengthened enforcement effort for the time being," said Andrew Schwartzman, president and chief executive of the Media Access Project, a consumer advocacy group.
FCC Gets To Reconsider Profanity Rulings
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: September 07, 2006
Media Access Project President Andrew J. Schwartzman, whose group represents one of the parties in the case, says it differently. He says that by staying, for the forseeable future, the FCC’s decision that uses of the s-word and f-word in an isolated way is presumptively profane—at least until the case is decided—"cuts the heart out of the FCC’s crusade against potty-mouth speech."
Is FCC’s Martin On The Senate Agenda?
tvnewsday Kim McAvoy: September 1, 2006
“I wouldn’t be surprised if very little happens [on media ownership] before election day,” says Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project.
BellSouth pulls plug on DSL fee
Chicago Tribune Jon Van: August 26, 2006
Calling the move "deceitful exploitation of consumers," Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, said when phone companies argued the FCC should stop taxing DSL customers, it would lower broadband fees.
Thompson crony cut from deal
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Cary Spivak & Dan Bice: August 26, 2006
"MAP considers these policies and practices to be woefully inadequate to protect the public," Schwartzman wrote. He added, "Indeed, it is entirely possible that there are, at this moment, broadcast licensees operating their businesses from jail cells."
Bell South Drops New DSL Fee
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: August 25, 2006
“After convincing the FCC that elimination of USF fees would lead to lower broadband prices," said Media Access Project President Andrew Schwartzman, "the Bells simply replaced the government fees with their own sneaky surcharges."
MMTC Asks FCC to Start Over
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: August 24, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman of Media Access Project, which represented Prometheus, says that the court specifically cited the FCC’s failure to consider minority ownership and directed the FCC in the remand to examine the issue. "This motion is, in effect, accusing the FCC of failing to comply with the court’s directive," he said.
FTC Task Force To Tackle Net Neutrality
TechWeb Technology News K.C. Jones: August 22, 2006
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and CEO of Media Access Project, said that the market forces are not working in favor of consumers now. "The market is failing because right now 98 percent of broadband service is provided by either the phone company or the cable companies, and a duopoly is anti-competitive and a marketplace failure," he said during an interview Tuesday.
FTC Boss Claims Authority Over Net Neutrality
Television Week Ira Teinowitz: August 21, 2006
Andy Schwartzman, who heads the Media Access Project, a public interest law firm, said the FTC essentially created net neutrality when it conditioned Time Warner’s merger with AOL on "open access." "There is little doubt that the AOL/Time Warner consent decree, which has essentially mandated what we now call net neutrality, has provided lower rates and competitive choices to Time Warner cable customers for five years."
Should courts defer to the "Chevron deference" in telecom cases? An interview with Andrew Jay Schwartzman
Lasar’s Letter on the FCC Matthew Lasar: August 15, 2006
In essence, Chevron gives the Federal Communications Commission the benefit of the doubt when it is interpreting laws passed by Congress. Specifically where there is any ambiguity in the words of Congress, the courts will defer to a reasonable construction by the agency.
Groups: Beware the ‘Merger Monster’
Multichannel News Steve Donohue: August 15, 2006
AT&T is facing a new attack involving its plan to merge with BellSouth on a new “Merger Monster” Web site (www.mergermonster.com) launched Tuesday by a coalition led by the Media Access Project.
Airwaves auction may earn billions
Cincinnati Post John Dunbar, Associated Press: August 9, 2006
Feld said the cable companies may also be getting into the auction simply to drive up the cost to the satellite companies, their primary competitors. “But if they win, certainly they’ll be able to put the spectrum to good use,” he said.
Brave New Broadcasting World
Fort Worth Weekly Kay Mills: August 2, 2006
In 1995 the Media Access Project, a public interest advocacy law firm in Washington acting with a number of other organizations, urged that broadcasters, with so much more programming time available, be required to provide free time for candidates for federal and local political offices, educational programs for children, and public access to digital broadcasting for nonprofit groups that could provide community-based programs.
Old Rules, New Alliances
Technology Daily Drew Clark: July 31, 2006
Supporters of the cross-ownership ban call it the best of both worlds. “You don’t need to own the TV and radio station” to exploit synergies, says Andrew Jay Schwartzman, President of the Media Access Project. The Bonneville-Post collaboration means “you have the diversity advantages of different viewpoints.”
Rethinking Philly
Daily Deal Ron Orol: July 21, 2006
Community blogs and other Internet content sites often rely on newspaper and TV reporting for their source material, says Harold Feld, director of Washington-based public interest law firm Media Access Project. “They [community Internet sites] may have a different perspective, but it’s unlikely they will report on what is going on in a local community council,” Feld says. “Clearly, they are not a substitute for investigative news outlets.”
Microsoft opening up Windows a lot wider
The Seatlle Times Benjamin J. Romano: July 20, 2006
"The commitments with respect to APIs are very important and represent a marked change from the Microsoft of several years ago," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and CEO of the Media Access Project, a nonprofit law firm focused on First Amendment issues relating to electronic media.
Let’s Play Monopoly
The American Prospect Christopher Moraff: July 14, 2006
But Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of advocacy group Media Access Project, thinks the golden days of the “Allen Camp” may be numbered. “I think that the big boys in Sun Valley haven’t noticed that they’ve peaked, and that the political system is starting to react to two decades of deregulation,” he suggests.
Cable Giants Cleared to Buy Systems of Adelphia
Los Angeles Times Jim Puzzanghera & James S. Granelli: July 14, 2006
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, a Washington-based public policy law firm, said the conditions made the deal more acceptable, but he predicted it would lead to higher prices.
Comcast, Time Warner win FCC approval for Adelphia
Washington Post.com Jeremy Pelofsky, Reuters: July 13, 2006
“In the end, the higher prices and reduced competition that will result from today’s action is contrary to the public interest,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and chief executive of the consumer group Media Access Project.
FCC Approves Adelphia Deal
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: July 13, 2006
That sentiment was echoed by Andrew Jay Schwartzman, President of Media Access Project, one of the groups that had called for conditions on the merger. “We got some of what we asked for, which is a lot more than anyone thought when this all started,” he said.
Friend’s troubles give radio deal a bad spin
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Cary Spivak and Dan Bice: June 30, 2006
Schwartzman said he’s urging the FCC to change its way of operating because it doesn’t make sense to let a group have a license and make money off the stations, only to later revoke it if a partner is convicted of a felony. The criminal would have a chance to make a few more bucks when the station was sold, he said.
FCC Head ‘in Bed’ With Business in Magazine Spread
The Washington Post Arshad Mohammed: June 26, 2006
“It probably seemed okay at the time, but in light of the flap that has ensued, I am sure chairman Martin has come to regret taking this picture,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Projectm, a public interest law firm that often takes positions against major media companies at the FCC.
The battle to enact network neutrality
The Philadelphia Inquirer Jeff Gelles: June 25, 2006
Feld said the findings in the antitrust case against Microsoft proved the effectiveness of a strategy network owners could adopt today: “When you used another company’s program, it didn’t work as well.” Feld says that to discourage a computer user from preferring, say, Google’s movie-download service over Comcast’s, intermittent failure would work better than blocking.
Seattle Times Ryan Blethen: June 23, 2006
bq.The rule changes never went into effect because of Andrew Schwartzman, another person Americans should get to know, and thank. Schwartzman, an attorney and head of the Media Access Project (www.mediaaccess.org/) challenged the FCC in court. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia sided with Schwartzman and tossed the FCC rules out.
FCC Begins Media Ownership Review
Tecnology Daily Drew Clark: June 21, 2006
“Chairman Martin continues to ignore public and congressional requests that he complete the FCC’s long delayed localism inquiry,” said Andrew Schwartzman, chief executive officer of the Media Access Project.
FCC Will Review Ownership Rules
SFGate.com Michael Sniffen, Associated Press: June 21, 2006
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, head of Media Access Project, a law firm for citizens groups that won the 3rd Circuit ruling, criticized the FCC for not completing a study of local issues before proceeding.
Ownership Rule Review Launched
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: June 21, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, whose Media Access Project was instrumental in the suit that resulted in the court remand of the original rule changes, said that if the FCC actually does take a neutral look at the rules, rather than approaching them from a deregulatory presumption, it will leave them alone.
Bill would aid telecom, media deals
The Daily Deal Ron Orol: June 20, 2006
“If the bill passes with the measure intact, it would be a major victory for Bells and other incumbent telephone companies and a setback for cities. Even though cities rarely can block deals, many have succeeded at slowing down transaction approval and drawn concessions during the review process,” said Andrew Schwartzman, president of Media Access Project, a Washington-based public interest law firm.
Anti-Big Media Groups Mobilize For FCC Fight
TV Newsday Kim McAvoy: June 19, 2006
“We would like to have some assurances that the commission will provide for public hearings and will give some specific proposals that we can address and chew on before it is done,” says Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project.
U.S. court backs government broadband wiretap access
Reuters Peter Kaplan: June 10, 2006
“We will give serious consideration to asking for Supreme Court review,” said Andrew Schwartzman, president of Media Access Project, a co-counsel for the groups.
‘Network neutrality’ supporters vow fight
The Atlanta Journal Constitution Marilyn Geewax: June 10, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, president of the nonprofit Media Access Project, said neutrality supporters want to slow down the process to allow more time to build public support for their position. He said in a telephone news conference that most Americans aren’t yet aware that “this is about the future of the Internet.”
Martin Faces Digital Dilemma
The Daily Deal Ron Orol: June 09, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, president of Media Access Project, a Washington-based public interest law firm, is among those who see reasons to link the two. “There is a concern that the government should be promoting the free flow of information, and net neutrality does that, and rules that limit the size of media companies does that as well,” he says. “There is a commonality of objectives among net neutrality and media ownership rules.”
Foes of AT&T Merger with BellSouth Detail Concerns
Technology Daily David Hatch: June 06, 2006
Both Cooper and Andrew Schwartzman, president and CEO of the Media Access Project, a non-profit public interest law firm, also want any approval conditioned on the divestiture of spectrum held by both companies that could be used to offer high-speed wireless broadband service.
Net Neutrality Issue Attracts Top Lobbyists to the Hill
Technology Daily Drew Clark: June 06, 2006
“There has been some talk of trying to come up with a compromise amendment, but right now it is unclear whether Markey’s people and Sensenbrenner’s people will be able to come to an agreement,” said Harold Feld, senior vice president of the Media Access Project.
AT&T/BellSouth Opponents Talk Litigation
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: June 06, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Access Project said his filing on behalf of the Center for Digital Democracy emphasized the threat to net neutrality of the merge, homing in on the issue of removing a potential competitor for wireless Internet access.
FCC Commish Has Republican Majority; Now What?
Weekly Variety William Triplett: June 05, 2006
“A lot of Republicans had problems with the 2003 rule changes,” says Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of watchdog group Media Access Project. “Kevin Martin is extremely savvy and adroit and he’s very adept at not repeating Michael Powell’s mistakes.”
FCC’s New Republican Tilt Invigorates John Sturm’s Fight to Lift Limitations
Television Week Doug Halonen: June 05, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, said there’s no evidence that deregulation would benefit the public. “They want to do it from a misguided view that they can cut costs and make money,” Mr. Schwartzman said.
Gridlock at the FCC
Broadcasting & Cable Elizabeth Jensen and John Eggerton: May 29, 2006
Schwartzman, president/CEO of Media Access Project (MAP), a non-profit public-interest law firm that concentrates on telecommunications issues, says “Martin runs a tightly top-down controlled” commission. MAP is awaiting action on a number of issues that are “not indecency related and not fifth-vote related,” he says, including license renewals, use of the digital spectrum and low-power FM. “Those don’t seem to be high-priority issues.”
Despite Satellite Policy, Ads Fly
LA Times Sallie Hofmeister: May 28, 2006
“The FCC is asleep at the switch when it comes to the commercialization,” said Schwartzman, adding that in general, the set-aside program’s “implementation is not consistent with the intent of the law.”
I say slander, you say accurate
The Hill Jonathan E. Kaplan: May 25, 2006
“As a general rule, broadcasters have the right and responsibility to refuse to carry ads that they consider inappropriate, including independently paid-for political ads,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project(MAP).
MAP Asks FCC To Brand Rural Programmer
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: May 22, 2006
Media Access Project wants the FCC to declare DBS programmer RFD Communications a commercial service and ineligible for the protected status of a public-interest channel.
Frist Pushes Senate to Pass Bill on Indecency
Washington Post.com Arshad Mohammed: May 04, 2006
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, the president of the Media Access Project public interest law firm, said he opposed expanding the Federal Communications Commission’s authority over broadcast indecency but thought that a bill could pass. “My guess is that something will pass this year. In the end, no one wants to be against decency in an election year,” Schwartzman said.
Net Neutrality Effort Suffers Major Setback
Newsfactor Magazine Online Jay Wrolstad: April 27, 2006
“We remain optimistic that some variant network-neutrality legislation will be adopted, despite the House Committee’s vote,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project.
Net Neutrality Amendment Defeated
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: April 26, 2006
“This outcome was expected,” said MAP President Andrew Schwartzman, “but we are somewhat surprised – and encouraged – by the progress that net neutrality advocates have made in the last few weeks.
Utility sues over digital phone fees
St. Petersburg Times Online Louis Hau: April 20, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman, president and chief executive of Media Access Project, a Washington consumer advocacy group, said he would prefer that federal regulators classify cable broadband and DSL connections as telecom services because it would require them to allow other companies to lease access to their networks. That would promote competition and increase consumer choice, he said.
FCC enacts wireless auction reform, but critics say not enough
Lasar’s Letter on the FCC Matthew Lasar: April 12, 2006
Feld called today’s decision a “baby step” towards solving the problem. “We can only hope that, if the conduct of the AWS auction shows the FCC bet wrong, it will reconsider its decision before it auctions the returned analog television channels in 2008,” he concluded.
Dirty Words Cost
TV Technology.com Deborah D. McAdams: April 12, 2006
Schwartzman said the legal arguments will more than likely involve the inconsistencies in the application of indecency laws rather than a challenge to the scarcity doctrine. The scarcity doctrine holds that broadcast content regulation is constitutional because public airwaves are scarce.
RPT-UPDATE 2-US FCC compromises on secret bids at wireless sale
Reuters Jeremy Pelofsky: April 12, 2006
“The FCC has chosen to bet billions of dollars and the future of the wireless industry on an untested (competition threshold) theory proposed by the very industry that manipulated the old rules,” said Harold Feld, senior vice president, Media Access Project.
FCC Tightens Rules for Airwave Auction
Washington Post.com Leslie Miller, The Associated Press: April 12, 2006
“Today’s decision recognized that big companies have used spectrum auctions to keep out competitors and drive down auction revenues _ essentially stealing billions of dollars from U.S. citizens and depriving them of the benefits of competition,” the Media Access Project said in a statement.
FCC to vote on secret bidding in wireless sale
Reuters Jeremy Pelofsky: April 10, 2006
“Companies use well understood bids and ‘dummies’ to buy licenses cheaply in the same way bridge players use bidding signals to ‘bid’ for ‘game contracts’ or ‘preempt’ the other team,” said the group, which included the Media Access Project, Consumer Federation of America and the National Hispanic Media Coalition.
Legal Armies, in Search of New Battles
Washington Post.com Arshad Mohammed: April 10, 2006
Standing in his K Street office with a headset glued to his ear, Andrew Jay Schwartzman thinks of himself as a guerrilla leader launching lightning raids against the nation’s big communications companies to defend the public interest.
Network Neutrality Amendment Defeated
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: April 05, 2006
Andrew Schwartzman of Media Access Project was not pleased with the amendment’s defeat: “The committee today rejected an amendment that would have imposed meaningful non-discrimination requirements on broadband providers,” he said Wednesday.
Getting the frequency
globeandmail.com Grant Robertson: April 04, 2006
“The idea of interoperability is to encourage competition between the pay services,” Mr. Feld said. “Without it, nobody’s ever going to switch, which is of course why the companies don’t want to bring it to market because there’s not that much in it for them.”
MAP Maps Out Cable Re-Reg
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: April 04, 2006
Saying the cable business has become sufficiently dominant that the FCC needs to step in, media consolidation critic Media Access Project (MAP) has proposed a laundry list of “fixes.”
Internet Firms Steamed Over Draft Bill’s ‘Net Neutrality’ Language
National Journal David Hatch: March 29, 2006
“This legislation would tie the FCC’s hands and thereby undermine the promise of the Internet,” Media Access Project President Andrew Schwartzman said.
Network neutrality is sticking point in watered-down communications bill
RCRNews.com Heather Forsgren Weaver: March 29, 2006
“This legislation does not just do nothing. It does something. It restricts the FCC’s rule-making authority,” said Andy Schwartzman, president and chief executive officer of the Media Access Project. “This is a terrible piece of legislation.”
Critics: Telecom Bill Guts Net Neutrality
internetnews.com Roy Mark: March 28, 2006
Andy Schwartzman of the Media Access Project said the bill: “Restricts the FCC rulemaking authority. It’s a tremendous blow to the open Internet.”
Groups Protest Lack of Net Neutrality in New Bill
CIO Magazine Al Sacco: March 28, 2006
“This legislation ties the FCC’s hands, thereby undermining the promise of the Internet as a vehicle for innovation and democratic networks,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and chief executive officer of the Media Access Project, a nonprofit law firm working for free expression online.
Out of Thin Air
Columbia Journalism Review Daniel Schulman: March/April 2006
“You can do this dirt-cheap and the fact is you avoid any ownership limits,” said Harold Feld, the senior vice president of the Media Access Project, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm that specializes in telecommunications. The FCC has long been warned that this loophole could be exploited to create national radio networks, according to Feld, but the commission has dismissed those concerns as “speculative and alarmist.”
Regulating the Web
Washington Post.com Letter to the Editor: March 21, 2006
The regulatory nightmare that The Post fears would not come from adopting “net neutrality” policies but from trying to fix the mess if such policies were not enacted.
MAP Queries FCC on Possible Rule Violation
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: March 20, 2006
MAP says that any communications relating to merger timing are “presentations” and should show up on a list of disclosed communications about the transaction. If such exist, MAP can’t find them and wants access to them “in sufficient time for other parties to have a meaningful opportunity to comment on any previously undisclosed communications.”
FCC out of context with ‘Trace’ indecency fine
The Hollywood Reporter.com Cynthia Littleton: March 20, 2006
“This is the classic chilling effect,” says Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and CEO of the Washington-based nonprofit Media Access Project law firm. “The uncertainty that the FCC has created here is going to force programrs to err on the side of caution. For people trying to plan programming and the lawyers who have to advise them, the state of the (indecency) law is much more confusing today than it was on Wednesday morning.”
Disney Looks Long, Hard at Telecom
Washington Post.com Arshad Mohammed: March 18, 2006
“He’s rooting for [the phone companies], but with some trepidation,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project public interest law firm. “Whether his company makes money in the future is going to be profoundly affected by whether, when and how telephone companies get into distribution.”
Lobbyist McDowell In FCC Post Hearings Thursday
Forbes.com Jessica Holzer: March 8, 2006
But Alaska is one of the fund’s biggest recipients, and Senator Stevens would never support someone who didn’t see the need to shore up the fund, says Andy Schwartzman of the Media Access Project. “First, second and third, [Stevens] is worried about what’s going to affect Alaska,” he said.
IFEX Conference Higlights Growing Threats to Free Expression
International Freedom of Expression of eXchange: February 22, 2006
“The consolidation of media control can represent a subtle and discreet form of censorship,” said Andrew Schwartzman, President and CEO of Media Access Project, a U.S. public-interest law firm that represents civil society groups on media regulation issues.
Telecom Subcommittee Chairman Urges Radio Consolidation
The Deal Ron Orol: February 22, 2006
But Andrew Schwartzman, president of Media Access Project, a Washington-based public interest law firm, contends that the radio industry is extremely consolidated already and the addition of satellite radio does not give listeners an additional source of local news.
Dearth of Adelphia Deal Data Has FCC, Industry Fretting
Communications Daily, pages 2 – 3 Jonathan Make & Adrianne Kroepsch: February 22, 2006
Media Access Project(MAP), which wants curbs on the deal, is upset at Comcast’s reluctance to allow it entree to flowcharts and other data on the number of subscribers attributed to the cable operator. MAP was to meet Tues. with FCC officials, including Chief Economist Leslie Marx, to air its concerns, said Harold Feld, MAP senior vp.
Observer: Opponents size up the new FCC
Financial Times: February 21, 2006
Schwartzman, visiting Brussels to share his experience with European campaigners, said Martin was a tougher opponent than Powell. “He’s 38 years old and looks 28 . . . and that works in his favour as people underestimate him. In fact he is a very powerful political operator.”
Upton Seeks FCC Rule Increasing Radio Ownership Cap
Communications Daily, page 2 Anne Veigle: February 17, 2006
The Media Institute is the only forum this side of the NAB where such a proposal is likely to be presented where the audience isn’t going to respond with skepticism,said Andrew Schwartzman, exec. dir.-Media Access Project. The model of increasing local ownership groups has not been financially successful. It’s bad for the public, bad for the industry and I’m sure there’s very little Congressional support.
Martin leads FCC with firm hand
The Hollywood Reporter.com Brooks Boliek: February 10, 2006
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and CEO of the public interest law firm the Media Access Project, said Martin has at least listened to their side. MAP won its case against the FCC over its decision to ease media-ownership rules. The federal court in Philadelphia has sent the regulations back to the FCC to be redone.
The Adelphia Deadlock
Multichannel News Ted Hearn: February 06, 2006
And public-interest groups represented by the Media Access Project, a Washington, D.C.-based public interest law firm, are seeking assurances that the cable companies won’t play favorites among Web services that want to use their networks to reach homes and businesses.
Targeting TV
ZMagazine Steve Macek & Mitchell Szczepanczyk: February 02, 2006
On November 1, 2005 attorneys for the Media Access Project, a DC-based public interest law firm, filed two license challenges in Illinois and Wisconsin. The target was unprecedented: all of the major commercial TV stations in Milwaukee and Chicago.
The End of the Internet?
The Nation. Jeff Chester: February 01, 2006
To ward off the prospect of virtual toll booths on the information highway, some new media companies and public-interest groups are calling for new federal policies requiring “network neutrality” on the Internet. Common Cause, Amazon, Google, Free Press, Media Access Project and Consumers Union, among others, have proposed that broadband providers would be prohibited from discriminating against all forms of digital content.
MAP Calls Adelphia OK ‘No Surprise’
Broadcasting & Cable John Eggerton: February 01, 2006
Media consolidation critic Andy Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, called the Federal Trade Commission’s approval of the Adelphia sale to Time Warner and Comcast Tuesday no surprise, but pointed hopefully to the dissenting commissioners’ statement “almost begging” the FCC to apply conditions.
Dish has ‘Free Speech TV’ Problem
Multichannel News Ted Hearn: January 28, 2006
Schwartzman said his preference would be to let families decide whether to block FSTV. “This is not a complete solution, you understand, he added. The way out of it is that DirecTV [Inc.] and Dish have much more effective parental-control devices than cable has in the first place. You can block out on a per-channel basis a lot easier than you can on cable.”
Rivals fight Comcast, Time Warner
The Deal.com Bill McConnell: January 18, 2006
“This proposed merger will create monopoly-level consolidation,” said Andrew Schwartzman, president of Media Access Project. “When competitors are denied access to critical content, it means viewers either lose access to programming or are forced to pay higher prices. Both outcomes should be unacceptable.”
Adelphia Deal Opposition Grows as Pay TV Group Seeks Conditions
Communications Daily, page 1 Jonathan Make: January 18, 2006
“The parties are acting as if this is all a done deal at the Federal Trade Commission. That’s certainly what they told the FCC people,” said Schwartzman. “Our impression is that while the staff is completing its recommendations, they are several weeks off before there is any action,” said Schwartzman, CEO of Media Access Project.
Hard to Out-Verizon Verizon, Muni Broadband Advocate Says
Communications Daily, page 2 Howard Buskirk: January 9, 2006
Passing state or federal laws barring local govts. from getting into broadband is “a far worse cure than any ill that people are going to identify as coming from these municipal Wi-Fi networks,” Feld said. “We should let local people make local decisions about how to spend local money and deploy local services.”
Wi-Fi Run by cities: Yea or Nay?
CNet News.com Anne Broache: January 6, 2006
Not only should city governments have the unrestricted ability to create their own wireless broadband networks, but they should also consider baking broadband plans into disaster recovery scenarios, argued Harold Feld, senior vice president of the Media Access Project. “At this point I think most of us recognize that the Internet is not a luxury,” Feld said. “It has become something essential for the conduct of business and even the conduct of everyday life.”
News from Washington Post Co.‘s flagship newpaper will be available on radio
Communications Daily, page 9 Jonathan Make: January 6, 2006
The “experiment” is “wonderful,” said Andrew Schwartzman, exec. dir.-Media Access Project, an activist who’s often critical of large media firms. “If they can successfully leverage Washington Post content onto radio, they are spreading their costs,” he said. He said the paper may also be able to boost circulation, at a time of declining readership of many large metropolitan dailies.