Issues

Top Issues

Media Ownership
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates the size and ownership interests of an increasingly wide variety of media companies. MAP advocates for ownership rules that encourage greater diversity and limit an individual company's ability to dominate public discourse. A greater number of owners, means more competition and a wider variety of individuals making decisions about what the American people see and hear.

Broadband/Open Access
"Open access," the ability of any citizen to chose their Internet service provider, access any content or service, and transmit any information desired, is the hallmark of the existing Internet. The medium has thus become, in the words of the Supreme Court, "as diverse as human thought." MAP works to broaden accessibility, and maintain low barriers to entry, so that the Internet remains a haven for free speech and civic engagement.

Low Power FM (LPFM)
LPFM provides individuals and small community groups the opportunity to connect with and reach out to their neighborhoods and local communities. The stations transmit via ordinary radio signals over a three-to-seven mile diameter and provide local news, information, and community programming not carried by corporate radio. MAP serves as a legal resource to the LPFM community, advising on FCC regulations and rule changes, and pushing for greater LPFM access to the airwaves.

Public Interest Obligations
In return for their use of public airwaves, broadcasters are required to provide certain services and programming for the benefit of the public. They include public file obligations, children's television requirements, and other obligations stemming from the public interest standard under Title III of the Communications Act. MAP, in cooperation with other watchdog groups, monitors broadcast licensees to ensure they are fulfilling their public interest obligations.

Protecting Free Speech in Broadcast Media
Media, particularly broadcast media, serves as a crucial medium for educating citizens about important issues of the day. A free and legally protected press is an essential component of democracy, and MAP works to defend and promote this critical 1st amendment right.

Civil Rights and Non-Discriminatory Deployment
Historically, certain groups have been left behind or ignored by media and telecommunication companies. MAP champions FCC rules and broadcaster initiatives that encourage minority ownership, require fair deployment of communications infrastructure and promote diversity in our media.

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