[wplug] [Fwd: Rustbelt Radio presents: a Media and Democracy Workshop, with Prometheus Radio Project]

[Duncan Hutty]

I don't have a huge connection with these folks yet so I don't really 
know how good they are.
And indeed there are a variety of opinions in wplug, but I'm sure that 
'community wireless networks' will be of interest to some.

Duncan Hutty

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2006 13:30:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: radio at indypgh.org
To: imc-pgh-announce at lists.indypgh.org
Subject: Rustbelt Radio presents: a Media and Democracy Workshop,
    with Prometheus Radio Project


MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY WORKSHOP

Time:
Thursday, August 10
7:30 PM

Location:
Carnegie Mellon University, Baker Hall, Adamson Wing (room 136A)
(next to Frew St and the Hunt Library, near Schenley Park)

Contact:
Pittsburgh Independent Media Center at 412-923-3000 or radio at indypgh.org


The folks at Prometheus Radio Project (who are known for helping low power 
community radio stations get off the ground and for suing the FCC to put the 
brakes on even greater corporate consolidation of the media) are going on a 
state-wide roadshow to tell Pennsylvanians about the possibilities of community 
wireless networks and how they play a role in bigger media and democracy 
issues.

Community wireless internet is a hot issue in Pennsylvania.  Act 183, recently 
passed by the state legislature, is supposed to guarantee every home in our 
state with access to high-speed internet.  However, the law is flimsy in that 
it leaves loopholes for Verizon and other involved telecommunications companies 
to back out easily.  The Prometheus Radio Project's WIRELESS SPECTACULAR 
teaches you how to get community-controlled wireless internet, as well as 
gearing you up for upcoming legislative battles involving community wifi, 
low-power FM, and other media/democracy issues (all falling under the umbrella 
of what is called 'spectrum reform.')

In most towns across Pennsylvania, companies like Clear Channel, Tribune CO. 
and General Electric own the newspapers, television stations, and radio 
stations your family relies on every day.  Why don't we hear local news, music, 
or culture on our media anymore?  Because these companies don't find it 
profitable!  And this year, the Federal Communications Commission plans to 
deregulate the broadcast media system so that your local daily newspaper can 
own TV stations, radio stations, and more in your town.  Find out how to 
protect local content, and tell the FCC that media consolidation is bad for our 
communities.

Prometheus will have up-to-the-second information on cable franchising, 
Municipal and Community Wireless, the looming deregulation of corporate Media 
Ownership, and the Future of the Internet, from allies across the state and the 
diverse national groups of the Media and Democracy Coalition.  We'll also have 
video, audio, and photographs showing how communities across PA, the country, 
and the world are building their own media solutions.

http://www.prometheusradio.org/newsflashes/newsflash/the_prometheus_pennsylvania_media_megatour.html