Last week an embarrassed Verizon Corp. dropped plans to block text messages from an abortion rights group after the New York Times wrote about it in a front-page article. Through its actions, Verizon made an unassailable case for net neutrality -- the idea that Internet providers should be prohibited from blocking, speeding up or slowing down content based on its source, ownership or destination.

(This is guest blog from Joel Kelsey, a grassroots organizer for Consumers Union, the sponsor of this blog. He is attending a Federal Communications Commission public hearing on media ownership in Chicago and sent us this live blog from the event. He can be reached at kelsjo@consumer.org.)

XM and Sirius say support from Radio Shack and Circuit City for their controversial merger proposal is somehow proof positive that consumers will benefit from a deal that would combine two competitors to form a monopoly. We've got a better idea: Ask some consumers.

Verizon Wireless has filed a lawsuit to block some innovative airwave auction conditions recently adopted by the Federal Communications Commission aimed at spurring new competition and innovation in wireless devices and services. Consumers stand to be the biggest loser if the lawsuit succeeds.

The good folks over at Free Press want to know why the Justice Department has recently gone to extraordinary lengths to bash net neutrality and has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to find out. We think that's a great idea.

The National Cable Television Association is rolling out an "educational" advertising campaign it says will help consumers deal with the looming transition to digital television, which is set to take place in February 2009. There's a very big problem, however. The main message of the campaign isn't exactly true.

Wireless phone companies would be forced to be more open and honest with consumers about fees and services under proposed legislation that's expected to be introduced in Congress tomorrow. And there is a lot at stake when the Federal Communications Commission holds a public hearing on media ownership in Chicago on Sept. 20th.