A Comcast-NBC Universal mega-merger would be bad news for consumers. And the FCC has jump-started its 2010 media ownership review process with a series of workshops. Public interest groups weighed in about research methods and focus.

In response to ColorofChange.org's call for advertisers to stop airing commercials on the Glenn Beck Show after Beck's racist remarks, 57 companies have pulled their ads. And an appeals court threw out the FCC's ruling that cable companies can't control more than 30 percent of a market. But that doesn't mean that the agency gets to ignore the issue of capping cable ownership.

The FCC wants to know if Comcast is favoring its own digital phone service over others. And Progress Illinois is fighting Fox News for suspending their YouTube account for using video clips from the local Fox affiliate.

Media Minutes looks at five of the top stories of 2008: The FCC proceedings concerning Net Neutrality, the 700 MHz spectrum auction and white spaces; Pentagon propaganda; journalists’ arrests at the RNC; and grassroots media organizing for PEG and LPFM.

The FCC voted to punish Comcast for blocking users’ access to the Internet. And the People’s Production House arms up-and-coming journalists with the skills they need to create media.

One big problem with the outcome of the 700 MHz auction: Giant telecom companies Verizon and AT&T were the big winners while women and minority businesses were squeezed out. And guest commentator Craig Aaron explains why Comcast should be voted America’s worst company.

Public pressure may have forced Comcast to work with BitTorrent on finding ways to distribute large Internet files, but their collaboration is no substitute for actual policy that would keep the Internet open. And 25 rural Vermont towns have joined in a regional effort to bring high-speed fiber optic Internet access to their homes.