Press Releases

If you are a member of the media and have inquiries, interview requests, or would like to join our press list, please contact Jenn Ettinger at 202-265-1490, ext. 35, or email her at jettinger@freepress.net.

Recent press releases are below. Learn more about our spokespeople here, and download our media kit here.

Free Press Commends Commissioner Clyburn for Lifeline Remarks
March 15, 2013

WASHINGTON – On Friday, Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn delivered a speech about the Universal Service Fund and Lifeline support at the Consumer Federation of America Consumer Assembly.

Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood made the following statement:
Free Press Action Fund Celebrates Win for Community Broadband in Georgia
March 8, 2013

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Georgia House of Representatives voted on a convincing and bipartisan basis against an industry-sponsored bill to limit community broadband networks. With a 94–70 vote against, the deceptively named "Municipal Broadband Investment Act" lost despite backing from Windstream and other phone and cable companies that seek to control broadband access statewide.
Free Press: FCC Should Ignore AT&T's Bullying
February 14, 2013

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, Free Press responded to claims in a blog post by AT&T Senior Vice President Bob Quinn that the Federal Communications Commission is moving too slowly on a petition that would eliminate certain regulations that ensure consumers and businesses have access to quality services at reasonable prices.
Free Press: AT&T Plan Would End All Oversight of Communications Networks
January 29, 2013

WASHINGTON -- On Monday, Free Press filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission concerning AT&T's request for the FCC to facilitate the transition to all-IP networks. If granted under the FCC's current broadband classification framework, AT&T’s request would result in the complete removal of all regulatory oversight of our nation's critical telecommunications infrastructure.
Free Press Pleased With FCC Action on Special Access and DISH Spectrum
December 12, 2012

WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission adopted an order that enables the Wireline Bureau to gather broadband-industry data, allowing the agency to assess the level of competition that exists in the special access market.
Free Press: Commissioner Pai's Claims About Internet Oversight Distort Reality for Consumers
October 16, 2012
WASHINGTON -- On Tuesday, Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai called the agency's ability to oversee Internet access services under common carriage rules a "hopelessly outdated" approach. The remarks continued the debate about the FCC's authority to require Internet service providers to abide by the non-discrimination and interconnection policies that currently govern telephone and enterprise telecommunications networks.
FCC Special Access Order Takes Steps Toward Promoting Broadband Competition and Lowering Prices
August 23, 2012

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission released an order in its longstanding special access proceeding. The term special access refers to a broad category of services and technologies used by cellphone providers, large and small businesses, and institutions like colleges and hospitals. They depend on these services to transport data to and from the Internet and the public telephone network, and typically need to buy such high-capacity connections from companies like AT&T, Verizon or large cable companies.
For Third Consecutive Year, FCC Report Finds Broadband Deployment Lacking
August 21, 2012
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission released the results of its annual section 706 report finding – for the third consecutive year – that broadband services are not being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely manner.
AT&T Blocking iPhone's FaceTime App Would Harm Consumers and Break Net Neutrality Rules
August 18, 2012

WASHINGTON – Late Friday, reports confirmed AT&T's plans to restrict the use of Apple's popular FaceTime video chat application on new iPhones due this fall. With the current crop of iPhones, users can access this app only when they are connected to a Wi-Fi network. However, FaceTime will work on mobile networks with iPhones running iOS6, the next generation of Apple’s mobile device operating system.
Free Press Concerned About AT&T’s Plan to Charge for FaceTime
July 17, 2012

WASHINGTON – According to press reports, AT&T may begin charging customers an additional fee to use the FaceTime app over the carrier's cellular network. Until now, users have been able to access the application only on Wi-Fi networks. iPhone owners reportedly will be able to use FaceTime over cellular networks in new phones running iOS6, the next generation of Apple’s mobile device operating system, which will be released to the general public in September.