Sunday, February 05, 2006

Bulletin:

SAVE ACCESS TV CAMPAIGN ACTION ALERT!

TELL THE FCC: SAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TV! BY FEB. 13TH


**PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL 3 INTERNET COMPUTERS ON THE 2ND FLOOR AT MNN WILL BE DEVOTED SOLELY FOR THE FILING OF COMMENTS TO THE FCC, NEXT WEEK FEB. 6th – 13th FROM 5-10PM**

Tell the FCC to Save Public Access TV!
Deadline: Feb. 13th
February 13th is the deadline to make your voice heard by submitting comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - expressing your support for Public, Educational, Governmental (PEG) Community Access TV.
Tell your friends, family and community members to also submit comments to the FCC!

What is happening at the FCC?
The FCC has announced it is reconsidering its rulemaking on local franchising. This could have huge implications for PEG Community Access TV as it is local franchises that make PEG Community Access TV possible. A good FCC ruling reflecting the public’s support for local franchising could influence Congressional activity around any new legislation on this issue. We need Community Access TV producers and supporters to tell the FCC why we need franchising rules that support PEG Community Access TV.

Where to go to file?
We've set up a web page where you can quickly and easily file your comments with the FCC. The page contains simple “how-to” instructions. Click here to file your public comments:
http://mnn.org/saveaccess/nprmhowto.html

If you don’t have regular access to a computer or need help filing:
From Monday, Feb. 6th to Monday Feb. 13th from 5-10pm, all 3 internet computers on the 2nd floor of MNN (537 W. 59th Street in Manhattan, NYC) will be designated solely for people to file comments with the FCC.

Also the S.O.S. (Save Our Shows) Committee, a group of volunteer producers committed to defending Public Access, is organizing tabling at MNN all next week. If you are interested in helping out with tabling or with outreach to producers about the FCC filing, please email Manuel Rivera, a volunteer producer of S.O.S. His email address is: rivera188@yahoo.com

Remember the deadline to file is Feb. 13th!

What are the bills now in Washington about?
The telephone companies want to compete with the Cable TV companies in providing video-services to consumers, but they don’t want to play by the same rules as the Cable TV Companies. They are seeking to avoid having to negotiate the local franchises that Cable TV companies now have. Local franchises ensure that channel space and resources are available for Community Access TV; that cable and telecommunications companies offering video services in the community are accountable to the local public interest; that companies offer affordable services and don’t “redline” low-income communities; and that they are responsive to customer complaints.

In Washington the telephone companies are now pushing for legislation that could dismantle these local franchises. This would lead to all kinds of repercussions for the public - including ending Community Access TV, and silencing the many voices in communities from coast-to-coast that exercise their freedom of expression on Community Access every day. You can play a crucial role in promoting media democracy and media justice by filing your comments in support of Community Access TV and calling for the protection and advancement of this valuable local resource in our communities that gives us a voice. Tell the FCC to support the local franchises that make PEG Access TV possible. This lets Washington how you stand on this issue.

For more info on these bills:
http://www.mnn.org/saveaccess

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DON’T FORGET TO TUNE INTO “ACCESS UPDATE” - A PUBLIC ACCESS BI-WEEKLY TV PROGRAM
Available on MNN, Free Speech TV, and other local Access TV Stations

About the Program:
In response to the escalating threats to Community Access TV, we are producing a bi-weekly “Access Update” TV program that keeps the public informed about what’s happening with PEG Access TV & the Congressional legislation that threatens it.

Watch on MNN:
Every other Tuesday on Channel 34 (TWC) or Channel 110 (RCN) from 6:30-7:00pm or
Watch it streamed live on our website at www.mnn.org (click onto Channel 34):
Upcoming airtimes:
Tuesday, February 7th
Tuesday, February 21st
Tuesday, March 7th

Also watch on Free Speech TV (available on Dish Network) -- the nation's first progressive TV channel reaching over 25 million homes:
Click onto this link to find upcoming airdates on FSTV:
http://www.freespeech.org/fscm2/genx.php?search_text=access+update&name=fstv_schedule&tz=

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About MNN & the Save ACCESS TV Campaign:

Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) is the Public Access organization for borough of Manhattan in NYC. MNN launched the SAVE ACCESS TV Campaign and is committed to organizing opposition to any local or national legislation that would harm or end Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access TV. The SAVE ACCESS TV Campaign is composed of independent producers, community organizations, faith-based groups and supporters of Community Access TV. We are committed to protecting the PEG Access TV resources that provide communities with vital resources to create local programming that serves the public interest, upholds media democracy and freedom of speech.
For more info about the Save ACCESS TV Campaign:
Website: http:www.mnn.org/saveaccess/
Phone: 212-757-2670 x 308
Email: saveaccess@mnn.org

2 comments:

Clarisel said...

Commentary I wrote on the save access TV campaign issue:

http://tiempony.com/Docs/editorial01.htm

Clarisel said...

For more info., click on the PRSUN at My Space link.