WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, released an interim report from the Government Accountability Office highlighting the lack of female and minority-owned broadcast stations. <b>S. Derek Turner</b>, research director of Free Press, issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON – The Senate Commerce Committee grilled all five members of the Federal Communications Commission on the issue of media ownership at an oversight hearing today.

WASHINGTON -- Last night, Free Press, Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union filed the attached Further Comments addressing FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's policy proposal by press release that would relax the longstanding newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership ban. From the summary:

WASHINGTON -- The <a href="http://www.stopbigmedia.com">StopBigMedia.com Coalition</a> has teamed up with the <a href="http://www.thehpalliance.org">Harry Potter Alliance</a> to mobilize thousands of Harry Potter fans against media consolidation.

WASHINGTON -- A coalition of public interest groups and technology innovators today formed the Wireless Innovation Alliance, a campaign to utilize valuable vacant broadcast airwaves -- known as 'white spaces' -- for wireless Internet access. Free Press Policy Director <b>Ben Scott</b> issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON -- Today the Federal Communications Commission released its Section 257 report – an analysis on market barriers faced by small media and telecommunications businesses released by the federal agency every three years. <b>S. Derek Turner</b>, research director of Free Press, issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Today, Google announced that it will apply to participate in the Federal Communications Commission's upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction. <b>Ben Scott</b>, policy director of Free Press, issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Communications Commission agreed to grant broadcast-newspaper cross-ownership waivers to Tribune Co. -- including a permanent waiver in Chicago. <b>Josh Silver</b>, executive director of Free Press, issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, launched an inquiry by the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to investigate the policymaking process at the Federation Communications Commission. <b>Ben Scott</b>, policy director of Free Press, issued the following statement:

Public interest groups today told the Federal Communications Commission that telephone companies should not have the legal ability to interfere with text messages.