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 Blasts Wireless Companies' Plan to Favor Some Traffic
May 15, 2013
WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson told a group of investors that he expects content providers and app developers to pay him to keep their traffic from counting against mobile data caps. This follows earlier news that Verizon Wireless was in talks with ESPN to get the sports network paying the carrier so that ESPN content would not count against monthly limits.
Free Press Action Fund Praises 'Unlocking Technology Act'
May 9, 2013

WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, California Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced a bill to restore wireless users' ability to “unlock” their phones, tablets or other mobile devices. The "Unlocking Technology Act" is co-sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie, Anna Eshoo and Jared Polis. In March, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Mike Lee and Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill to allow users to unlock their phones. Sen. Ron Wyden also introduced his own bill, as did the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.
Dangerous Cybersecurity Bill Passes House, Despite Opposition from White House and Civil Liberties Groups
April 18, 2013
WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to pass its privacy-threatening cybersecurity bill, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). The White House indicated on Tuesday that it would veto the bill in its current form given CISPA's failure to safeguard privacy and civil liberties.
Free Press: DISH-Sprint Merger Wouldn't Counter Market Power of Largest Providers
April 15, 2013
WASHINGTON – On Monday, DISH Network announced a $25.5 billion proposed merger with Sprint Nextel. The offer competes with a move by Japan's SoftBank to acquire Sprint.
Free Press Applauds Department of Justice Letter on Wireless Competition
April 12, 2013

WASHINGTON - On Thursday the Department of Justice Antitrust Division sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) calling on the agency to adopt "rules that ensure the smaller nationwide networks, which currently lack substantial low-frequency spectrum, have an opportunity to acquire such spectrum." The letter’s authors wrote, these rules "could improve the competitive dynamic among nationwide carriers and benefit consumers."
FCC Chairman Genachowski to Step Down
March 21, 2013
WASHINGTON -- The Wall Street Journal reports that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski will announce on Friday that he will step down from his position as head of the agency. Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron made the following statement: "When Julius Genachowski took office, there were high hopes that he would use his powerful position to promote the public interest. But instead of acting as the people's champion, he’s catered to corporate interests."
Free Press Action Fund Focuses on Wireless Freedom in Copyright Hearing
March 20, 2013

WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet will hold a hearing to consider updates to U.S. copyright law. The hearing will cover a wide range of topics but will spotlight mobile freedom issues raised in phone-unlocking bills unveiled during the past two weeks.
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 Action Fund Praises Congressional Response on Cellphone Unlocking
March 7, 2013

WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Mike Lee and Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill to restore wireless users' ability to “unlock” their phones, tablets or other devices. Wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers use software locks to keep people from using their devices on another network — even when such use would not violate any contract between the carrier and the customer.