Policy and Research

Free Press works to ensure people have a seat at the table for important policy debates and decisions in Washington, D.C., and beyond. Below you will find our press releases, filings with the Federal Communications Commission and other government agencies, letters to key lawmakers, reports, information on media and technology legislation and all of our latest research.

Want proof that we need to change our media? Look no further than Free Press' thorough analysis of the state of Internet freedom, journalism, public media, election coverage and media ownership.

Topic

Senate Letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski on Media Ownership
November 30, 2012

On Nov. 30, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Patrick Leahy, Tom Harkin, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Jon Tester, Al Franken and Jeff Merkley sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about his proposal to weaken longstanding media ownership rules.
Sen. Cantwell Letter to FCC Chairman Genachowski on Media Ownership
November 29, 2012

On Nov. 29, Sen. Maria Cantwell sent a blistering letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about his proposal to weaken longstanding media ownership rules.
Missing Out: Political Ads, Spanish-Language TV and the Latino Vote
November 2, 2012

The Free Press report Missing Out: Political Ads, Spanish-Language TV and the Latino Vote examines political ad spending in the battleground states of Colorado, Florida and New Mexico.
Money, News and Deception in Denver
October 1, 2012
Our new report tracks political ad spending in Denver. Since Aug. 1, campaigns, Super PACs and other groups have bought time to air more than 26,000 ads on the city’s four major-network affiliate stations. Many of the ads — if not most of them — contain misleading information. But that hasn’t stopped these stations from continuing to do business with the groups that have purchased ad time — even groups that local newscasters called out for spreading dishonest information. In this report, Free Press focuses on ads from the five Super PACs and outside groups spending the most in Denver. Read the full report here.
Left in the Dark: Local Election Coverage in the Age of Big-Money Politics
September 24, 2012

With more than $3.3 billion in political ad spending projected by Election Day, Free Press has turned its attention to the local television stations airing these ads. Left in the Dark explores whether stations barraging viewers with political ads are balancing this out with coverage of the role money is playing in this year’s elections. Read the full report here.
The Facts about AT&T's FaceTime Blocking
September 20, 2012

It's harmful to consumers, competition, innovation and investment.
Letter Notifying AT&T of Intent to File Formal Net Neutrality Complaint
September 18, 2012

Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute notified AT&T of their intent to file a formal complaint against the company. In the complaint, the three organizations will assert that AT&T is violating Net Neutrality by blocking the popular video-conferencing application FaceTime. The groups will file the complaint with the Federal Communications Commission in the coming weeks.
FCC Brief in Verizon vs. Federal Communications Commission and the United States of America
September 13, 2012

The Federal Communications Commission filed this brief on Sept. 10, 2012, in response to Verizon's claim that the FCC lacks the authority to craft and enforce Net Neutrality rules.
Free Press Letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates
August 29, 2012

Letter from Free Press to the Commission on Presidential Debates regarding the Commission's failure to choose a journalist of color to moderate one of the upcoming presidential debates.
Free Press, Consumers Union and New America Foundation Reply Comments on Interoperability
July 23, 2012

Consumers Union, Free Press, New America Foundation and Public Knowledge (“Public Interest Commenters”) respectfully submit these Reply Comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s 700 MHz Band Interoperability Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released on March 21, 2012.