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From Broadcasting & Cable
Senate Drafts Huge Telecom Bill

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/1/2006 3:59:00 PM

The Senate Commerce Committee has released the draft of its telecom reform bill, and it is a doozy.
In addition to video franchise reform, the main thrust of the House version of the bill, the Senate deals with a host of other issues in its 135-page opus.

The Senate just needs to pass "anything to get us into conference," where the real decisions will be made.
– House telecom subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.)

The COPE Bill (The Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Bill, HR.5252) was formally introduced May 2nd (download the bill). After many delays, this legislation is still expected to reach a full House vote in June. Please continue to send emails and call your House Representatives and say NO to COPE!

The Stevens Senate Telecom Bill draft (S.2686) was released May 1, read a summary or download the 135 page document. This Bill is suddenly moving fast, the Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled two hearings on May 18th and 25th prior to Committee mark-up in late June. By all accounts this Bill is as bad as COPE in regards to PEG and net neutrality.

The BARTON/COPE Act (The Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act) passed last Wednesday (4/26) in the House Commerce Committee by a 42-12 vote. It is now expected the Bill will reach the Full House for a vote in June. We need a better model now! We need our representatives to transform this legislation into something that protects and serves the public interest – or we need them to stop this process until such reason can prevail.

The Commerce Committee defeated amendments that would protect PEG access, prevent redlining and ensure that video providers open their networks to competitors and independent content. Changes made to the bill offer no real protections or enforcement. The future of community communications is at stake.

Take Action Today!
We have revised our email campaign to take into consideration these recent changes. Please take a moment to do the following:

1) Go to our action page to send the electronic letter to your Congress people and Senators. Add your own personal comments too.

2) Print the preview page! This has the phone numbers for your House Representatives at the top - and the letter you're sending.

3) Reach out and touch your House Representatives! Call and ask them how they are voting on the COPE bill. If they support the Bill, tell them you don't support their vote unless they can guarantee that the three provisions in the letter are addressed - that is, really addressed with strong ironclad language. Also, see our scorecard on the Commerce Comittee vote - your Rep may be on that committee.

4) Tell others to do this! We need thousands of emails and phone calls!

By JAY GOETTING, Register Staff Writer
Saturday, April 15, 2006 1:12 AM PDT

Cable television battles being waged in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento may have a profound effect on Napa TV -- the two cable access channels full of local programming -- and hurt the bottom line of local government.

Two pieces of legislation raise questions about who has the right to award cable and other communications franchises, and who collects the related fees. One would give the state the control, the other would give it to the Federal Communications Commission. Right now, cities award cable franchises.

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Check out these state campaign sites!
Massachusetts
Keep it Local MA
MassAccess
Tennessee
Keep it Local Tennessee