Title: Media Access Project

Source/Sponsoring Agency: Media Access Project

URL: http://www.mediaaccess.org/

Date Checked: 4/9/2008      Status: Active

Date Annotated: 4/9/2008

Topics: Communications Law; Consumer Protection Law

Other keywords: Information Law; Telecommunications; Telecommunications Law; Media Law; free speech; open access

Contents: The Media Access Project (“MAP”) is a non-profit advocacy organization “dedicated to promoting the public’s First Amendment right to access a diverse marketplace of ideas in the electronic mass media.” Most information available on the site reflects MAP’s positions. MAP focuses on and devotes sections of its website to six specific issues: ownership, broadband/open access, low power FM radio, public interest obligations, free speech, and civil liberties. Each issue’s section explains the issue and MAP’s position, and provides sidebar links to “resources.” The resources are documents created by MAP, and include press releases, legal filings, and articles. While slanted, MAP’s documents provide a basic, easy to read, overview of the major legal and social considerations for each area of concentration. Some resources sections contain “Featured Issues” links to subtopics. These links takes users to a webpage for the subtopic, with additional issue-specific resources. The “Links” section of the site, available from the main sidebar, contains links to outside legal resources, and is notable for its collection of links to other public interest advocacy organization, telecommunications law sources, and media trade associations. Users can sign up for email updates of MAP news through the “Press” link at the top of the page. The site has a policy blog, but it does not appear to be very active, and most postings appear to echo MAP press releases.

Author of Annotation: L. Buechner