Jim Hightower speaking in Portland on March 16
February 21, 2008 - Progressive political activist, author and commentator Jim Hightower will be in Portland, Maine on March 16 discussing his new book, Swim Against the Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow.
Join Common Cause from 5:00-6:00pm at Zero Station on Anderson Street for a special reception or from 6:30-9:00pm at Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodford Street, for a discussion and book signing.
Tickets are $75 for the reception and include a signed copy of Jim's book and $15 for the discussion. The proceeds from this event will benefit the Common Cause Education Fund.
FCC will head to Portland on June 28
June 14, 2007 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that it will hold its long-awaited hearing on media localism in Portland, Maine on June 28. The hearing will take place at the Portland High School Auditorium, from 4:00pm to 11:00pm.
Common Cause and the Maine Media & Democracy Coalition want to make sure you are prepared to testify when the the FCC comes to town, and will be holding several training workshops in the days leading up to the hearing. Click here to get all the details! Pass it on -- be sure to let your friends and neighbors know.
Maine: First in the Nation on Net Neutrality
June 12, 2007 - Maine, whose motto is "Dirigo" -- Latin for "I lead", is now the first state in the nation to make a strong stand in support of net neutrality.
Today the Maine State Senate gave final passage to a resolve that states how important the issue of net neutrality is to Maine consumers, democracy and the economy, and that directs the State Office of the Public Advocate to study whether or not Maine has legal jurisdiction to pass net neutrality protections and to analyze the impact the issue has on Mainers.
This resolution (the full text is here) sends a message to policymakers in Washington that people really do care about net neutrality. The FCC is accepting public comments on the issue of net neutrality for a few more days -- make your voice heard at www.commoncause.org/KeepTheInternetOpen!
Attend the taping of "Beyond Monopolies - Maine's Media Crisis"
May 8, 2007 - Please join us Wednesday, May 9 at 8:00 PM for our first foray into public access TV in Maine. We are co-producing a show entitled "Beyond Monopolies - Maine's Media Crisis" which will air live from the CTN studio on Channel 4 in the Portland area.
This show will focus on the threats to local control of the media, such as media consolidation, the 1996 Telecommunications Act, actions being considered by the FCC and how net neutrality factors into the equation for the new media online.
If you come to the show, you can ask a question of our panelists so they can address your concerns about our modern media.
The show will begin at 8:00 PM (therefore, please come earlier) at 516 Congress Street in Portland. The CTN studio is right next to MECA on Congress Street.
April 13, 2007 - Right now, the state of Maine has a chance to send a strong message to the rest of the country about the future of the Internet. State Senator Ethan Strimling has introduced a bill to protect net neutrality.
What is net neutrality? It's like the First Amendment of the Internet. It means the freedom to use whatever websites or applications you choose online. It means that Internet users can access a homegrown blog or small business from Maine just as easily as a giant corporate site.
Ask your state legislator to support Sen. Strimling's net neutrality bill!
Net neutrality standards have always existed, until a technical ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repealed them last year. Now there is nothing stopping Internet service providers from playing favorites or discriminating against small companies and individuals who can't afford to pay them hefty fees.
Senator Strimling's bill will show Congress and the FCC that Maine believes in freedom and innovation on the Internet. The Internet has always been an arena of democracy, where every person can speak and be heard. Together we can keep it that way.
June 28, 2006 - Common Cause is pleased to announce a new staff member. Jon Bartholomew has been brought on to work on national media reform issues, and will be based in Maine.
Of immediate concern is the issue of "net neutrality" as this is moving through Congress this summer. Maine Senator Olympia Snowe has introduced a bill to protect Net Neutrality - the "Internet Freedom and Non-Discrimination Act" - and we will be working to support her efforts and encourage Senator Collins to join her as a co-sponsor.
In addition to this work, Jon will be coordinating the formation of a Maine Media and Democracy Coalition. This coalition will include diverse organizations, businesses and individuals who share these basic principles:
To this end, the coalition will be supporting community broadband efforts, opposing consolidation of the media, and generally working to ensure the media works to enhance our democracy. |
