URGENT ALERT! Act Now to Save PEG Access and an Open Internet!

The future of your PEG community television stations
and your access to an open internet are being decided
this week in Congress!

Take action now!

This week the Commerce Committee of the Congress will mark-up and vote on the Barton/COPE Act. The COPE Act will create new rules allowing the Phone Companies to enter the business of video delivery – but the legislation changes existing rules and protections in ways that will adversely impact on community media and democratic principles. In it’s present form the Act:

1) Fails to provide enough protection for the Public, Educational and Government Access (PEG) channels and facilities around the country. The current language could have a seriously negative impact on current centers and their future viability.

2) The Act fails to protect Net Neutrality (open internet) which means internet service providers could prioritize internet traffic based on a willingness to pay. This means commercial traffic could receive preferential treatment over non-commercial traffic.

3) The Act has very weak red-lining protections for low-income communities – even though it is evident that the Telcos plan to ‘build out’ their networks in more affluent and profitable areas.

There are two campaigns you can participate in to make your voice heard:

SaveAccess.org
Send an email to Congress on these three issues.
Call Congress on these three issues.
go to: http://saveaccess.org/

SaveTheInternet.org (Free Press / MoveOn)
Send an email to Congress on Net Neutrality.
go to: http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Please forward this message widely!
The Commerce Committee will be meeting and voting on this Bill the week of April 23rd!

Thank You,

saveaccess.org