On Wednesday 11/9/05 the House Commerce Subcommittee will meet to discuss legislation that could seriously impact public, educational, and governmental (PEG) TV nationwide.

The Alliance for Community Media (ACM) - which represents the interestes of access TV in Washington - says that although they met with the Commerce Committee during the drafting of this legislation - NONE OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT and THE ACM HAS NOT BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN FURTHER LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSIONS!

WE NEED TO ACT IMMEDIATELY!

Call or email House Commerce Committee Members this week and tell them: 1) the public interest must be strongly represented at all hearings and in all legislation impacting our communities. 2) The Alliance for Community Media and municipal organizations represent the needs of tens of thousands of communities and millions of voters, and should have input into this legislation. Below is a sample email you can send to members of this committee.

The legislation, known as the "BITS Bill" or the "Commerce Committee Staff Draft", is the latest in a barrage of Bills that could end or seriously undermine the operation of public access TV. This Bill will likely be “marked-up” during the week beginning November 15, and then be moved out of committee hearings after the Thanksgiving break. We need to take action this week!

For a listing of phone and fax numbers for the members of the Commerce Committee go to: http://www.alliancecm.org/index.php?page_id=37

Or to email members of this committee go to: http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/members/members.htm

For additional resources go to:

www.mnn.org/saveaccess

SAMPLE EMAIL:

Dear House Commerce Subcommittee Member

I wish to express my opposition to the ‘BITS” Bill now being discussed by the House Commerce Subcommittee. This Bill does not protect the public interest. It will strip local communities of the ability to operate local franchises and to control their own ‘rights of ways’. And it will seriously impact the operation of public, educational, and governmental TV in my community. I strongly urge you to protect the public interest, and to include input from the Alliance for Community Media in the writing of any legislation related to the introduction of broadband services in my community.

Regards

For additional resources go to:

www.mnn.org/saveaccess