Request for National Broadband Plan Reply Comments
On January 11, Media Access Project submitted a request to the Federal Communications Commission asking for the opportunity to submit reply comments addressing issues which have arisen during the course of the Commission’s consideration of the National Broadband Plan docket.
12 January 2010 under Legal Filings » Broadband/Open Access | Read more »
Public Interest Groups Urge FCC to Gather Its Own Data to Evaluate Wireless Competition
Today, a coalition of public interest organizations submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission, warning the agency about the lack of effective competition in the nation’s mobile wireless marketplace. The commenters – including Media Access Project (MAP), Free Press, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, New America Foundation, and Public Knowledge – asked the Commission to gather and analyze its own data on wireless competition rather than relying on third party sources, to increase its understanding of the market.
1 October 2009 under Legal Filings » Wireless | Read more »
MAP Files Reply Comments to FCC on musicFIRST Petition
MAP wishes to stress that it takes no position on the merits of the policy debate which gave rise to this proceeding, namely whether royalties should be paid to performers for the broadcast of their work. Rather, MAP’s interest here is to vindicate the rights of the public to have access to diverse points of view on legislative and other important issues of the day, including but not limited to the proposed Performance Rights Act.
You can find the entire document here.
24 September 2009 under Legal Filings » | Read more »
MAP Challenges Constitutionality of Restricting Incidental Indecent Broadcasts
On September 16, 2009 MAP filed a brief challenging the constitutionality of the FCC’s policies restricting even incidental broadcast of “indecent” words or images. Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the FCC’s practices are permissible under the Communications Act and other laws, it specifically directed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to consider the constitutionality of the FCC’s actions. That review is now under way. MAP’s clients are the Center for Creative Voices in Media and the Future of Music Coalition.
You can find the entire brief here.
17 September 2009 under Legal Filings » First Amendment Issues | Read more »
MAP Opposes Industry Challenges to FCC Cross-Ownership Decision
Several publishers and the newspaper industry trade association filed two separate challenges to the FCC’s 2007 newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership decision. They did so because one of the appeals would be heard in the DC Circuit court, which they think may be a more favorable forum than the Third Circuit court in Philadelphia.
MAP moved to dismiss that appeal because it is barred by the Communications Act. The FCC agrees with MAP that this appeal should be dismissed.
9 April 2009 under Legal Filings » Press Releases | Read more »
MAP and Prometheus: Martin Newspaper Proposal Will Hurt Minority Ownership
On behalf of Prometheus Radio Project, Media Access Project filed comments with the FCC regarding Chairman Martin’s plan to repeal the newspaper cross-ownership ban in the 20 largest markets. As the comments provide:
Nearly half of the TV stations owned by people of color are in the top 20 markets, and not one of them is in the top four of their markets. Thus, almost every one of those stations will be in the cross-hairs as potential acquisition targets. The dearth of minority ownership will be even worse if the FCC ultimately votes to go further than the Chairman’s current plan.
11 December 2007 under Legal Filings » Press Releases | Read more »
MAP President Testifies Before House on Media Ownership
Andrew Jay Schwartzman, President and CEO testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet regarding Chairman Martin’s proposal to repeal the newspaper cross-ownership ban. Allowing for the cross-ownership of a local newspaper and broadcast station would reduce the diversity of voices in a local market and result in a market wide diminution of the total amount of local news available to the public. Cross-ownership crowds out competition, resulting in the public receiving less, and lower quality, service.
5 December 2007 under Legal Filings » Media Concentration | 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.
20 November 2007 under Legal Filings » Cable Ownership | 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%.
16 November 2007 under Legal Filings » Cable Ownership | Read more »
MAP, Free Press and Public Knowledge Press FCC to Stop Comcast's Internet Blocking
Responding to Comcast’s blocking of Internet traffic, members of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition and Internet scholars at the nation’s top law schools today filed a petition and complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. MAP Senior Vice President, Harold Feld had the following comment:
“Last year, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and opponents of Net Neutrality told Congress that the FCC has all the authority it needs to prevent exactly this sort of customer abuse by a major provider. Now we come to the acid test. Will the FCC, which vowed to protect our freedom to run the applications of our choice, stand up for citizens in the face of Comcast?”
1 November 2007 under Legal Filings » Broadband/Open Access | Read more »