All posts by Midnightschildren

Press Room, Surveillance

Changing Oakland’s reputation With The Development Of A Privacy Policy

 

By Tracy Rosenberg , Guest Commentary – Oakland Tribune Posted:   02/03/2015

When out-of-towners think about Oakland, stories about dangerous flatlands filled with guns and gangs have been regular images. But we can change the story and, slowly, we are.

One more opportunity to rebrand Oakland as a progressive and forward-thinking city lies in front of us next Tuesday, when the city will begin a review of the privacy policy recommendations developed over the past year by the Ad-Hoc Privacy Committee.

Continue reading Changing Oakland’s reputation With The Development Of A Privacy Policy →

Press Room, Surveillance

San Leandro Police Face Opposition in Push for New Armored Vehicle

 

KQED News – January 9, 2015

San Leandro residents sounded off Thursday night about the potential purchase of an armored transport known as a BearCat, objecting to what they say is the militarization of local law enforcement

More than 100 people came out to the San Leandro Senior Center to get a look at the vehicle, called a MedEvac, which is advertised as “an armored Response & Rescue SWAT truck” and which police say will be used primarily for rescue operations throughout the region. Protesters chanted “No Thanks, No Tanks,” while police officials showed off two stretchers from the vehicle. Continue reading San Leandro Police Face Opposition in Push for New Armored Vehicle →

Media Ownership, Press Room

New Members Flock to Stop Mega Comcast Coalition

 

For Immediate Release: January 12, 2015

The Stop Mega Comcast Coalition, which comprises public interest organizations, private companies, labor unions and industry associations opposed to the proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, today announced the addition of 12 new organizations, bringing the coalition to 27 total members. The new members include:

Continue reading New Members Flock to Stop Mega Comcast Coalition →

Media Ownership, Press Room

Radio World: LPFM Application Tally Surprises

 

Randy J. Stine   January 2 2015
WASHINGTON — The low-power expansion of the FM dial will not include as many stations as some LPFM faithful had estimated. The FCC said some 2,819 applications were filed in the LPFM window, which closed in November. Some LPFM supporters had predicted upwards of 10,000 applications. The typical cost for putting a LPFM on the air — cited as $15,000 to $20,000 by some observers — could have been a deterrent. Other observers believe self-filers may have been discouraged because they felt they lacked the technical expertise needed to file an LPFM application.

Continue reading Radio World: LPFM Application Tally Surprises →

Media Ownership, Press Room

Low Income, Consumer, & Media Advocacy Groups Urge California PUC to Reject the Comcast – Time Warner Cable Merger

 

For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 11, 2014

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Advocacy groups representing low income Californians, consumers, and diverse media voices urged the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reject the proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable in filings made with the PUC late yesterday.

The merger would combine the two largest providers of both cable and Internet service into one giant corporation that would dominate the marketplace here in California and across the country. The California PUC, which oversees telephone and broadband Internet service in the state, is currently reviewing the merger to determine whether it is in the public’s interest.
Continue reading Low Income, Consumer, & Media Advocacy Groups Urge California PUC to Reject the Comcast – Time Warner Cable Merger →

Accountability and Representation, Internet Freedom, Press Room

All We Want Is Equal Representation Online

1 Comment

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2014

Statement from Media Action Grassroots Network MAG–Net.org

Oakland, California —  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal revealed that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  is considering a legally dubious “hybrid” approach to new open Internet rules that would allow some forms of discrimination.  Communities of color and low-income families are among the more than 3.7 million people in the United States that have urged the FCC to reclassify broadband as a common carrier, and enforce Title II rules that prevent online censorship and discrimination.

Tracy Rosenberg, Director of MAG–Net Member Media Alliance in Oakland, CA, said, “The courts have already thrown back awkward compromises twice. The third time won’t be the charm. Full reclassification with forbearance is the only proven road to level the playing field on the Internet our communities need”. Continue reading All We Want Is Equal Representation Online →

Press Room, Surveillance

Grassroots activism brings reform to California

 

October 15, 2014 by Matthew Kellegrew

On Tuesday September 30th, California governor Jerry Brown signed SB 828 , otherwise known as the Fourth Amendment Protection Act, into law making California the first state in the union to push back against unconstitutional NSA mass surveillance. The bill makes state-level participation or cooperation with federal surveillance operations a crime if the state agency knows the spying is unlawful. SB 828 is the product of the BORDC/ Tenth Amendment Center -led OffNow coalition . OffNow represents a grassroots led transpartisan network of organizations that crosses political, racial and generational lines to work together to restore constitutional protections in the face of unprecedented levels of governmental surveillance.

 

Continue reading Grassroots activism brings reform to California →

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