Legislation in the US House to Preserve Funding for PEG TV
CCTV is a long time member of the Alliance for Community Media, which has been working diligently to preserve community access since statewide franchising resulted in the closure of many community media centers and access channels across the country. Please write to Representative Peter Welch and urge him to support this legislation. Contact him through this online form: http://www.house.gov/formwelch/issue_subscribe.htm or via his Vermont office at: 30 Main Street • Third Floor, Suite 350 • Burlington, VT 05401 • Phone: (802) 652-2450 or (888) 605-7270 •
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nancy Lu
703-556-7175
nlu [at] allcommunitymedia [dot] org (nlu [at] allcommunitymedia [dot] org)
ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY MEDIA
APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF CAP ACT
(McLean, VA, May 5, 2011) – The Alliance for Community Media commends Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and their colleagues that joined as co-sponsors for introducing The Community Access Preservation Act (CAP Act), H.R. #1746 today. The CAP Act addresses several immediate issues facing PEG channels by:
· Permitting PEG fees to be used for any PEG-related purpose;
· Banning the practice of cable operators charging for special equipment to view only PEG operators
· Preventing cable operators from charging for the transmission of channels;
· Requiring operators to provide the greater of support required under state laws, historically provided for PEG, or 2% of gross revenue, and
· Requires the FCC to study the effect state video franchise laws have had on PEG channels.
“We are grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Baldwin, Congressman LaTourette and other House members who understand and value the critical services and local programming provided by ACM members,” said Sylvia Strobel, ACM Executive Director. “The CAP Act is critical for the sustainability of our community media centers so that future generations will have access to local news, programming and information.”