Activism

source: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

SAVE ACCESS TV ACTION ALERT

THIS WEEK TELL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE "NO TO COPE!"

ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 7TH CONGRESS WILL VOTE ON "THE COPE ACT"—IF PASSED "COPE" WILL END PUBLIC ACCESS TV AS WE KNOW IT!

TAKE A MOMENT FROM YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE AND SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
GO TO: http://saveaccess.org/takeaction

TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY!
Even if you’ve reached out to your representatives already, we need you to contact them one more time and tell them to vote "NO" to the "Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006" (COPE Act/HR.5252). And encourage them instead to support legislation that guarantees local franchises and local control of Public Access TV.

Please raise your voice and tell your Congressional Representatives:

1) The COPE Act will weaken or end Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) TV! PEG TV is a cornerstone of local government, education, and our democracy. Any new legislation must guarantee current or increased levels of funding and channel capacity for Public Access TV .

2) The COPE Act will end local control and local oversight of PEG TV. PEG TV is America's local television service—local communities must be able to determine our own PEG TV needs!

3) The COPE Act does not include "build-out" requirements—it would allow phone companies to 'redline' low income, rural and minority communities. All communities must have equal access to video, data, and voice services!

4) Also, remind them the New York City Council unanimously passed Resolution (Res. 0136-2006) on May 10th, opposing the COPE Act or any similar legislation. The COPE bill could take away the $80 million New York City currently receives in local video franchise fees each year —local franchises make Public Access TV possible.

Thanks for all your support! Please continue to check http://mnn.org/saveaccess for up to date local info—and http://saveaccess.org/ for updates on what's happening on this issue nationally.