Petition to the FCC Stop the phone companies from making it harder to share free speech

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED: Help your communities speak out through FCC Reply Comments! Defend Public Access Channels everywhere We need action and reply comments in record numbers to send a signal to the FCC that PEG channels matter to a broad diversity of people from all across America. Why? Read More TODAY Public ACCESS CHANNELS are being attacked. AT&T is vigorously lining up support from chambers of commerce, cities, educational institutions and groups that claim to represent the community. Claiming, through various “Astroturf” groups, that YOU want PEG channels to be placed in the upper channel tiers and not be treated equally to the commercial channels. Should Public Access channels be harder to find, poorer quality, or made dificult for people to watch? It seems that apparently AT&T thinks you do. Do not let such “Astroturf” groups speak for you . Public Access is a valuable community resource. One that foster civic values, inclusion, while encouraging participation and a free flow of relevant local news, information and free speech. Together, we can stop phone company attempts to censor these channels along with your free speech. The attachment makes the reply comment process simple. Stand by your community; they’ll step up for you. Here's how we set the record straight: 1. If you have used WCCA public access in the past or plan on using our facility in the future we need your help. Ask others to send in their comments as well. This is your opportunity to speak out in support of equitable access via PEG channels. 2. Send in your comments to the FCC and ask your friends to ehlp as well. See the following information. 3. Encourage nonprofits and educational organizations to file on their own letterhead. 4. By Friday, March 27 do a follow up call. If they have not yet filed, if anyone needs any help please have them contact me at 508-755-1880 ext. 11. Reply comments are due April 1. We know the big corporations are lining up support. Give your community the same chance. Thanks for your help. Mauro DePasquale, WCCA TV 13, “The People's Channel” Here are the instructions and a sample letter: Instructions to file FCC reply comments supporting the Alliance for Community Media and partner petitions to preserve PEG access channels. To file via email, go to the FCC comments page at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi or click here Complete the "Cover Sheet" on that page. Use this information, step by step: 1. The docket number is 09-13. 2. Mail Correspondence to: leave “Name selected” 3. Put in the name of the organization or individual. 4-5: leave blank; 6 (email) is optional 7-10. Put in mailing address, city, state, zip 11. Leave blank 12. Scroll down to “Reply” Attach a letterhead reply (better if saved in PDF) under Send Comment Files to FCC. You do NOT need a signature for an electronic version. Press send button. You may also print and mail to: Ms. Marilyn Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St SW Washington, DC 20554 Here is a sample letter feel free to use accordingly: [ YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS OR LETTER HEAD HERE] March 25, 2009 Ms. Marilyn Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St SW Washington, DC 20554 RE: Docket 09-13 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access Channels, Alliance for Community Media CRS-8126, the City of Lansing, Michigan CSR-8127 and the City of Dearborn, Michigan CSR-8128 The FCC should recognize that Public Access channels are MORE than traditional TV channel. Unlike for profit networks, public access exist to serve the needs of communities. Therefore I am asking the FCC to preserve local PEG Channels by granting the petitions of the Alliance for Community Media CRS-8126, the City of Lansing, Michigan CSR-8127 and the City of Dearborn, Michigan CSR-8128. These petitions will stop the harmful acts by AT&T, Comcast and others that will make PEG channels less accessible to the public in each community. AT&T’s system makes these PEG channels hard to find, deprived of timed DVR recording capability, deprived of channel surfing capability and deprived of closed captioning or a second audio program. PEG channel offerings will be further invisible to viewers due to AT&T excluding PEG program information from program listings and channel guides. In Michigan, the Dearborn petition notes problems created there when Comcast placed PEG channels in a less accessible location with added expense to the customer. [YOUR COMMENT MAY GO HERE] I strongly encourage you to visit the website of our local Public Access Channel, WCCA TV. Public Access provides a strategic opportunity for municipalities to empower their citizens through all inclusive participation. Public Access television centers is an amazing community resource that deserves to be prioritized, preserved and encourage to flourish. Our community programming is important and we depend on PEG channels for this local perspective. PEG channels must be treated with the same quality and care as broadcast and out-of town satellite channels. Our community fairly negotiated a cable TV franchise that provided for local channels and support. We need and expect those channels to be here now and in the future. We ask the FCC to act now to preserve the intent of Congress and grant all three petitions. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME, TITLE HERE]