PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE | December 13, 2021
Protecting Community Television Act
No community should be penalized for exercising their rights.
And yet that was the system set in place by the FCC when it adopted its 2019 cable franchising order. Communities under the Telecommunications Act have the right to ask for cable channels and resources that serve the needs of residents. But the FCC’s order provides a disincentive for local channels as it penalized cities and towns for so-called “in-kind” costs that the cable industry incurred when it met those same needs.
That’s why reintroduction and passage of the Protecting Community Television Act (S 3321/HR 6219) is important for all communities and every state.
The bill was introduced this past week by Senators Ed Markey and Tammy Baldwin and Representatives Anna Eshoo and Pete DeFazio. It clarifies what has been the case since 1984 when Congress passed the Telecom Act – that cable franchise fees are monetary and should not subject to reduction by so-called “offsets”.
Passage of the Act ensures that hidden fees from the cable industry (who heard of such a thing?) won’t dissuade local government for fighting for community television. And who likes hidden fees?
We’re asking all ACM members to help out in the effort to pass the bill in this Congress. Tell your Representatives and Senators to become co-sponsors – and let us know if you need materials like sample letters, videos and petitions.
Here’s a list of the co-sponsors for S 3321/HR 6219 so far:
US Senate:
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Diane
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Feinstein
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CA
|
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Chris
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Murphy
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CT
|
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Richard
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Blumenthal
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CT
|
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Mazie
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Hirono
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HI
|
|
Ed
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Markey
|
MA
|
|
Elizabeth
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Warren
|
MA
|
|
Ben
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Cardin
|
MD
|
|
Chris
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Van Hollen
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MD
|
|
Amy
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Klobuchar
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MN
|
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Kristin
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Gillibrand
|
NY
|
|
Chuck
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Schumer
|
NY
|
|
Jeff
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Merkley
|
OR
|
|
Ron
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Wyden
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OR
|
|
Bernie
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Sanders
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VT
|
|
Tammy
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Baldwin
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WI
|
US House of Representatives:
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Anna
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Eshoo
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CA
|
|
Jim
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Costa
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CA
|
|
Jared
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Huffman
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CA
|
|
Eleanor
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Holmes Norton
|
DC
|
|
Ed
|
Case
|
HI
|
|
Jamie
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Raskin
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MD
|
|
Chellie
|
Pingree
|
ME
|
|
Betty
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McCollum
|
MN
|
|
Chris
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Pappas
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NH
|
|
Donald
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Payne Jr
|
NJ
|
|
Grace
|
Meng
|
NY
|
|
Earl
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Blumenauer
|
OR
|
|
Pete
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DeFazio
|
OR
|
|
Peter
|
Welch
|
VT
|
IF you see your Congress member in this list – THANK THEM for co-sponsoring the bill!
IF you DON’T see them, ask them to become a co-sponsor today!
Let’s get rid of the penalty for letting communities communicate with each other.