Blog

Welcome to the Free Press blog! We post several times a week on everything from Internet access to free speech to media mergers, so check back often to see what we’re up to.

Combating the Cable Cabal
S. Derek Turner
May 14, 2013

Two decades ago, something unusual happened.

Consumers were irate about their cable bills, which were increasing at nearly three times the rate of inflation. And Congress actually did something — adopting in overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion the 1992 Cable Act. The law resulted in lower cable bills, saving consumers $3 billion in just over a year’s time.
The Series of Tubes: Unlock Everything
Josh Levy
May 10, 2013

Want to learn how to be a better online spy? Curious to see a very brief history of the Internet? Tired of all those TV spoilers from your Twitter feed? Read on.

Also: Whatever you do, do NOT click that last link at the bottom. It might ruin your weekend.
Why the New Boss at the FCC Should Be Nothing Like the Old Boss
Craig Aaron
March 27, 2013
In announcing his departure as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski said: "The last four years have demonstrated that the country needs an effective FCC."
Georgia's Internet Uprising
Timothy Karr
March 12, 2013

The movement to connect more people to high-speed Internet services scored a win in Georgia last Thursday. It’s a victory that should resonate in every U.S. community that is struggling to give people better Internet access.
The Devil Goes Down to Georgia
Josh Levy
March 7, 2013
UPDATE, March 8: We won! On Thursday, the Georgia House of Representatives voted 94-70 to defeat the Municipal Broadband Investment Act, which would have blocked communities from building their own broadband networks.
Midnight Train to Dial-Up
Josh Levy
March 5, 2013
An awful bill in Georgia could prevent communities from building their own high-speed Internet networks. We may have less than a week to stop it.
Have You No Sense of Decency, AT&T?
Amy Kroin
February 28, 2013
AT&T — always looking out for the little guy, always thinking of ways to ensure we get great service for affordable prices. Um. Not.
Georgia Bill Aims to Limit Investment in Internet Networks
Christopher Mitchell
February 12, 2013
The Georgia General Assembly is considering another bill to limit investment in telecommunications networks in the state, an odd proposition when just about everyone agrees that states need as much investment in these networks as possible.
Susan Crawford Warns of Dire Consequences for Internet Users
Timothy Karr
February 1, 2013
Susan Crawford’s new book, Captive Audience, details a host of challenges for the Internet and its users as this network enters middle age. Many of its recent growing pains come at the hands of network providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon that sell access to the global network.
What AT&T's Latest Scheme Would Mean for American Consumers
Josh Levy
S. Derek Turner
January 31, 2013

In January, a German court ruled that the Internet is an “essential” part of life.

"The Internet plays a very important role today and affects the private life of an individual in very decisive ways,” said a court spokeswoman. “Therefore loss of use of the Internet is comparable to the loss of use of a car."