Stop the 21st Century Gatekeepers

Dear Friend,

Verizon recently blocked text messages with political content -- raising very serious concerns about free speech over new communication technologies. Verizon claimed to have fixed this mistake, but they and other large phone companies still reserve the right to censor certain cell phone communications and cut off Internet users for "any reason or no reason."

Millions of Americans use cell phones and the Internet to connect to one another. The fundamental democratic principle of free speech is too precious to be left to the whims of the corporate gatekeepers that control these networks. Congress must take immediate action to protect free speech on our cell phones, over the Internet -- everywhere!

I strongly urge you to call for Congressional oversight hearings on cell phone censorship.

I thought you might be interested in the campaign to save
Internet freedom and protect free speech everywhere at
www.savetheinternet.com .

Unless we speak out to our members of Congress they could move
to allow large telephone and cable companies to control what you
do, where you go and what you watch online. To learn more,
visit: www.savetheinternet.com

Visit the URL below to check out what's at stake and send a loud
message directly to the Congress:
http://action.freepress.net/campaign/cell_freedom?rk=s1xhEsM1fH2GW

Blogroll Me!

Call on Congress to Hold Hearings on Media Ownership

Dear Friend,

The FCC has been moving forward with a secret timeline to vote
on sweeping changes to media ownership rules. This is just the
most recent in a long series of outrageous moves the FCC has
made to avoid public scrutiny.

If you go to the URL below you can check out what is at stake
and send your own message directly to your elected officials.
Take action on this campaign at:

http://action.freepress.net/campaign/fcc_oversight?rk=97xhEsM1ufSdW

What's at Stake
Big isn't always bad – unless you're talking about the companies that dominate our country's media.

A handful of companies control most of what we see, hear and read every day. They own our TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, cable channels, movie studios, music labels – even our favorite Internet sites.

Unchecked consolidation means that Big Media are getting even bigger, giving these firms more control over our news and information. Bottom line? Big Media are bad news – for all of us.

What's So Bad about Big Media?

Big Media fail local communities.

Big Media companies get a sweet deal from the government. They get to use the public airwaves – for free – to make billions in profits. In exchange for this government handout, broadcasters are supposed to serve the public by offering quality programs that meet the needs of local communities. Instead, Big Media companies gut local newsrooms and ignore local issues.

Big Media ignore diversity.

Big Media have limited ownership opportunities for women and people of color, pushing them off the public airwaves and stifling vital voices. Coverage of issues that matter to people of color, women, the middle and working class, and rural communities has disappeared. The result? Media that fail to represent our nation's diversity.

Big Media are bad for democracy.

Democracy can't exist without an informed public. We rely on unbiased news from independent sources to stay informed and to hold our government accountable. But media consolidation means fewer sources of news, opinion and information. Instead of hard-hitting critical journalism, Big Media give us a junk diet of celebrity gossip and sensationalism.

Going from Bad to Worse

The Federal Communications Commission is considering sweeping changes to media ownership rules that would allow media conglomerates to swallow up more local radio and television stations and newspapers. A single company could own the major daily newspaper, and as many as eight radio stations and three TV stations in a single city. That's too much media power in too few hands.

Don't Like It? Do Something.

If we want better media, we need better media policies. It's time to promote local ownership, amplify minority voices, support quality journalism, and bring local artists, voices and viewpoints to the airwaves. The only way to stop Big Media is by getting organized in our communities and demanding our leaders in Washington start listening to the public instead of the industry lobbyists. Use this Web site to learn more about the issues and find out how you can get involved.