Issue Area: Telecom Policy
The United States' original communications policy is the 1st Amendment. Freedom of the press was guaranteed in the Constitution because an exchange of information and an unfettered debate were considered essential components of a democratic society.Today, however, government policy is designed less to facilitate a democratic discussion than to protect the investments of media corporations. Regulations tend to promote the formation of huge media conglomerates and discourage new, competing voices.
Next in What's Wrong With the News: The PR Industry
Net Neutrality and the Supermedia Monopolies: Deregulation’s history of empty promises (March/April 2007) By
Memory Unerased: Deep Dish documents the unseen Iraq War (September/October 2006) By
Strings Attached: Telecom industry’s spin machine casts net over community broadband (September/October 2005) By
Memory Unerased: Deep Dish documents the unseen Iraq War (September/October 2006) By
Strings Attached: Telecom industry’s spin machine casts net over community broadband (September/October 2005) By
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Even Fewer Voices?: During crisis, FCC moves to accelerate media concentration (November/December 2001) By
FCC's Interference Argument Grounded: Commercial Radio, Not Micropower, Is More Frequent Hazard for Aviation (January/February 1999) By and
Net Loss:: Corporate Moves Could Doom the Internet's Participatory Culture (May/June 1996) By
Media Monopoly: Long History, Short Memories: ABC Was Born Out of Fear of Media Consolidation (November/December 1995) By
Radio Days: A Struggle From the Past With a Message for Today (July/August 1994) By
Superhighway for Sale: Will the Public Have Room on the Road? (July/August 1994) By
Even Fewer Voices?: During crisis, FCC moves to accelerate media concentration (November/December 2001) By
FCC's Interference Argument Grounded: Commercial Radio, Not Micropower, Is More Frequent Hazard for Aviation (January/February 1999) By and
Net Loss:: Corporate Moves Could Doom the Internet's Participatory Culture (May/June 1996) By
Media Monopoly: Long History, Short Memories: ABC Was Born Out of Fear of Media Consolidation (November/December 1995) By
Radio Days: A Struggle From the Past With a Message for Today (July/August 1994) By
Superhighway for Sale: Will the Public Have Room on the Road? (July/August 1994) By
Bart Laws on swine flu, Kristin Thomson on radio diversity study (5/8/09)
Robert Parry on conservative bias, Brandon Lacy Campos on digital TV conversion (2/20/09)
Mark Brenner on Big 3 bailout, Steve Rendall on the Fairness Doctrine (11/28/08)
Robert Parry on conservative bias, Brandon Lacy Campos on digital TV conversion (2/20/09)
Mark Brenner on Big 3 bailout, Steve Rendall on the Fairness Doctrine (11/28/08)
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Josh Silver on FCC ruling, John Conroy on Chicago police torture (12/21/07)
Mark Lloyd, Hannah Sassaman, Dory Graham and Bruce Dixon on the state of radio (7/6/07)
Robert Parry on Libby verdict, Paul Porter on Payola settlements (3/9/07)
Antonia Juhasz on Iraq and oil, Jenny Toomey & Peter DiCola on radio consolidation (12/22/06)
Gloria Tristani on Benton media studies, Diane Farsetta on RTNDA and video news releases (10/27/06)
Daniel Davies on the Lancet study, Peggy Charren on the FCC and indecency (10/20/06)
Michael Ratner on detainee legislation, Hannah Sassaman on suppressed FCC reports (9/29/06)
Anthony Riddle on telecom update, Nat Parry on Bush & secrecy (6/30/06)
Emily Whitfield on Abu Ghraib, Kenneth DeGraff on a la carte cable (2/17/06)
Joshua Holland on oil-for-food scandal, Andrew Schwartzman on license challenges (11/11/05)
Wenonah Hauter on Energy Bill, Anthony Riddle on Public Access (8/12/05)
Sam Zia-Zarifi on Marla Ruzicka & Jeff Chester on CPB (4/22/05)
Bob McChesney on FCC and Indecency, Daniel Ellsberg on Whistleblowers (4/1/05)
Phyllis Bennis on Bush's inauguration speech, Bob McChesney on Michael Powell (1/28/05)
Marx Aristide on Haiti, Angela Campbell on FCC case (2/20/04)
Josh Silver on FCC ruling, John Conroy on Chicago police torture (12/21/07)
Mark Lloyd, Hannah Sassaman, Dory Graham and Bruce Dixon on the state of radio (7/6/07)
Robert Parry on Libby verdict, Paul Porter on Payola settlements (3/9/07)
Antonia Juhasz on Iraq and oil, Jenny Toomey & Peter DiCola on radio consolidation (12/22/06)
Gloria Tristani on Benton media studies, Diane Farsetta on RTNDA and video news releases (10/27/06)
Daniel Davies on the Lancet study, Peggy Charren on the FCC and indecency (10/20/06)
Michael Ratner on detainee legislation, Hannah Sassaman on suppressed FCC reports (9/29/06)
Anthony Riddle on telecom update, Nat Parry on Bush & secrecy (6/30/06)
Emily Whitfield on Abu Ghraib, Kenneth DeGraff on a la carte cable (2/17/06)
Joshua Holland on oil-for-food scandal, Andrew Schwartzman on license challenges (11/11/05)
Wenonah Hauter on Energy Bill, Anthony Riddle on Public Access (8/12/05)
Sam Zia-Zarifi on Marla Ruzicka & Jeff Chester on CPB (4/22/05)
Bob McChesney on FCC and Indecency, Daniel Ellsberg on Whistleblowers (4/1/05)
Phyllis Bennis on Bush's inauguration speech, Bob McChesney on Michael Powell (1/28/05)
Marx Aristide on Haiti, Angela Campbell on FCC case (2/20/04)
Coup Co-Conspirators as Free-Speech Martyrs: Distorting the Venezuelan media story (5/25/07)
FCC To Investigate Suppressed Reports: But presses on with proceedings on media ownership (9/20/06)
FCC Destroyed Media Ownership Report: Study found local ownership means more local news (9/15/06)
FCC To Investigate Suppressed Reports: But presses on with proceedings on media ownership (9/20/06)
FCC Destroyed Media Ownership Report: Study found local ownership means more local news (9/15/06)
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CPB Exerting Political Pressure on Public Television: Chair cites dubious evidence of public television's "liberal bias" (5/5/05)
Roll Back the FCC's Rule Changes (6/18/03)
Networks Pick up on FCC Story (5/30/03)
Will the FCC Help Big Media Get Even Bigger? (5/20/03)
Speak Out for Media Democracy: Why isn’t the FCC doing its job? (3/9/03)
Broadcast Networks File FCC Comments-- But Not Stories (1/29/03)
Media Giants Cast Aside Regulatory “Chains”: FCC should resist attempt to gut ownership restrictions (3/1/02)
FCC Moves to Eliminate Cable Ownership Cap; Move Would Also Impact Internet (12/21/01)
FCC Moves to Lift Cross-Ownership Ban (10/26/01)
The FCC, Radio & Censorship: Defining Decency (6/25/01)
FCC Moves to Intensify Media Consolidation (4/20/01)
AOL-Time Warner:: Dawn of a Golden Age, or a Blow to Media Diversity? (1/13/00)
FCC Weakens Rules, to Delight of Broadcasters (8/9/99)
CPB Exerting Political Pressure on Public Television: Chair cites dubious evidence of public television's "liberal bias" (5/5/05)
Roll Back the FCC's Rule Changes (6/18/03)
Networks Pick up on FCC Story (5/30/03)
Will the FCC Help Big Media Get Even Bigger? (5/20/03)
Speak Out for Media Democracy: Why isn’t the FCC doing its job? (3/9/03)
Broadcast Networks File FCC Comments-- But Not Stories (1/29/03)
Media Giants Cast Aside Regulatory “Chains”: FCC should resist attempt to gut ownership restrictions (3/1/02)
FCC Moves to Eliminate Cable Ownership Cap; Move Would Also Impact Internet (12/21/01)
FCC Moves to Lift Cross-Ownership Ban (10/26/01)
The FCC, Radio & Censorship: Defining Decency (6/25/01)
FCC Moves to Intensify Media Consolidation (4/20/01)
AOL-Time Warner:: Dawn of a Golden Age, or a Blow to Media Diversity? (1/13/00)
FCC Weakens Rules, to Delight of Broadcasters (8/9/99)
