Recently Apple’s iPhone app store came under scrutiny again when news surfaced that the new Google Voice application had been blocked. Though no reason has been specified by Apple, there are strong suspicions that the company is attempting to prevent competition from AT&T’s voice service and other businesses that Google Voice might pose a challenge to. Now the FCC has stepped in with letters of inquiry to Apple, AT&T and Google. Free Press’ Tim Karr has been covering the issue of mobile device freedom and fills us in on the details and implications of this situation.
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mediageek 6 August 2009 broadcast quality mp3
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[mp3]http://www.mediageek.net/sound/2009/mg2090806.mp3[/mp3]
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Tags: app store, Apple, at&t, cellular, Free Press, google, Google Voice, iPhone, mobile, phone, Tim Karr
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August 9, 2009 7:56 pm | 
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A lot happened in the media and telecomm world this first week of the new year, so Andrew and I review some of the items at the top of our list. First up is the growing list of politicos and groups calling for a delay of the Feb. 17 digital TV transition. We also touch on Sun Times Media shutting down suburban newspaper and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan looking into allegations that AT&T is shortchanging public access channels on its U-Verse service.
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mediageek 8 January 2009 broadcast quality mp3
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Tags: analog, at&t, dtv, illinois, lisa madigan, sun-times, sun-times media, transition, tv, u-verse
Download, Listen Now, Podcast | Paul | January 11, 2009 5:56 pm | Comments (0)
A little-recognized aspect of Illinois’ new statewide cable TV franchise law is that it takes away local municipalities’ ability to enforce zoning laws and similar provisions when it comes to how cable TV providers use the public right-of-way. Residents of Evanston, IL got a rude wake up call to this provision when AT&T started installing large and loud refrigerator-sized utility boxes in front of and behind residences all over this Chicago suburb. Not only is the city government prevented from doing anything about it, but it’s actually required to help AT&T put them in place.
Scott Sanders of Chicago Media Action has been working with Evanston residences who’ve organized a coalition called Stop the Box to press for changes in the state franchising law. On the second half of the Oct. 16 radioshow Scott calls in from outside a public meeting held on this subject, and hands the phone to Mary Beth Kisner-Griffin, one of the local organizers, who tells us more about how AT&T has worked hard to disempower local residents and governments.
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mediageek 16 October 2008 part 2 – broadcast quality mp3
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