Weekly News from the ACM President

April 22, 2019

FCC Update

Another week, another letter from Congress to the FCC about their not-so-kind “in-kind” rule making.   

This time the letter comes from Rep. Ann Kuster of New Hampshire, who writes:

PEG stations provide local communities with access to critical information and represent an important platform for local viewers and fulfill a crucial role in the communities they serve.
[T]he FCC's current proposal would result in a significant reduction in financial support for local programs by allowing cable operators to deduct in-kind contributions from the franchise fees that go to funding public programming. If the proposed rule is adopted, I am concerned PEG stations across my district will lose their ability to fulfill their vital mission.

To date, you’ve helped generate letters of concern or disapproval from 42 Members of Congress.  Here’s the list:

US Senate Tammy Baldwin (WI) Richard Blumenthal (CT)     Ben Cardin (MD) Maggie Hassan (NH) Masie Hirono (HI) Angus King (ME) Patrick Leahy (VT) Edward Markey (MA) Jeff Merkely (OR) Gary Peters (MI) Bernie Sanders (VT) Jeanne Shaheen (NH) Elizabeth Warren (MA) Ron Wyden (OR)

US House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA) Elliot Engel (NY) Anna Eshoo (CA) Tulsi Gabbard (HI) William Keating (MA) Joseph Kennedy III (MA) Ann Kuster (NH) John Larson (CT) Stephen Lynch (MA) James McGovern (MA) Gwen Moore (WI) Richard Neal (MA) Chris Pappas (NH) Chellie Pingree (ME) Ayanna Pressley (MA) Mark Pocan (WI) Lori Trahan (MA) Peter Welch (VT)

If you don’t see your Senator or Representative here, we need you to be in contact with them to ask them to tell the FCC the rule-making will have a devastating effect on local channels and local communities (It would be great to see some Rs on this list by the way).   We can provide templates and tips for contacting those congressional offices.  
And thank you to all our colleagues in New Hampshire who’ve been reaching out to their delegation on the issue!  

Job Listings Board

One of the nice features of the new ACM website in an improved Job Listings Board.   We feature job opportunities to help our members advance their careers and member organizations find talent.    The Jobs Listing Board now allows you to post your own listings – go to (link) to either see or post listings. 

ACM Board Service

Join members of the ACM Board of Directors on Wednesday April 24 at 3pm ET as we talk about serving on the national board.   ACM members will be electing three members of the Board this summer, and the call is an opportunity for you to find out about board service, and to encourage folks to run in the election. Call in to UberConference at 202-768-7275 on Wednesday and come with questions!