SEATTLE -- The Federal Communications Commission got an earful Friday at a packed media ownership hearing in Seattle. Although the public was given just five business days' notice, more than 1,100 concerned citizens crowded into Seattle's Town Hall to oppose new rules that would allow big companies to swallow up more local media.

WASHINGTON -- At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing today, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) announced plans to introduce legislation that would halt the Federal Communications Commission's rush to gut longstanding media ownership rules.

The following statement can be attributed to Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press: "On late Friday afternoon, Chairman Kevin Martin announced the last so-called public hearing on media ownership for just one week from today -- next Friday in Seattle.

WASHINGTON -- Responding to Comcast's blocking of Internet traffic, members of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition and Internet scholars at the nation's top law schools today filed a petition and complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. The filings call for urgent action to stop violations of consumers' right to access the software and content of their choice.

WASHINGTON -- More than 250 people packed the hearing room at Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday to voice their opposition to media consolidation. Testimony from members of the <a href="http://www.stopbigmedia.com">StopBigMedia.com Coalition</a> challenged the FCC's rush toward relaxing media ownership rules. <b>

More than 150 citizens crowded the sidewalks outside Federal Communications Commission headquarters in a Halloween-morning rally against media consolidation.

WASHINGTON -- Free Press applauded the House Energy and Commerce Committee today for approving the "Broadband Census of America Act" (HR 3919), legislation that will improve the measurement of the availability, speed and value of U.S. broadband. Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON -- Citizens concerned about media consolidation will rally outside of Federal Communications Commission headquarters before the agency's hearing on localism on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The rally will take place: Wednesday, Oct. 31 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Federal Communications Commission Headquarters 445 12th Street, SW Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON -- Free Press commended the Senate Commerce Committee today for passing the bipartisan Community Broadband Act (S.1853).

WASHINGTON -- Free Press praised the Senate Commerce Committee today for advancing the bipartisan Local Community Radio Act (S.1675). Co-sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), this critical legislation could help bring hundreds of local, Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations to cities and suburbs across the country.