First we want to thank you! Thousands of letters were sent to Senators
last week as a result of your efforts. We applaud you for taking the
time to make your voice heard and sending a strong message in support of
PEG community media, net neutrality and the need for stronger red-lining
provisions. The mark-up hearing on Senate Bill S.2686 resumes tomorrow,
Tues. June 27th at 10:00. Very little progress was made in the first day
of the mark-up last week (a rundown is at:
http://saveaccess.org/node/322).
Please continue to email your Senators if you haven't already at
http://saveaccess.org/takeaction!
We want to take a moment to inform you of other issues that have arisen
in the mark-up proceedings, some good, some bad. If you have Senators on
the Commerce Committee (list below), this would be a good day to call
them!
S.2686 Amendments and What You Can Do:
Over 200 amendments are to be discussed for possible inclusion in
S.2686, including one on broadcast flag with onerous copy protection
that impacts on 'fair use' issues. Another amendment would expand local
radio licenses - a good addition.
1) Broadcast Flag - This is a copy protection scheme that would make it
virtually impossible for broadcast media to be reused under current
'fair use' practices. To counter the broadcast flag amendment there is
an another amendment to strike it. Public Knowledge calls on people with
Senators on the Commerce Committee (see list below) to:
Call your Senator today with this simple message: "Support the Sununu
Amendment to strike the broadcast and radio flags."
Learn more Public Knowledge: http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/479.
2) Expand Local Radio - Sen. McCain has offered an amendment that would
expand Low Power Radio licenses. This could result in hundreds of new
local radio stations serving local communities. Our friends at
Prometheus Radio are asking people to call on their Senators to support
TITLE XI: LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT by calling and saying:
I support, and my community supports, the language in Senate Bill 2686
that would expand low power FM across our state and across this country.
In an era of natural disasters, and few opportunities for churches,
schools, and community groups to make their voices heard, we need more
local radio stations in our cities and towns. Please support low power
FM in Senate Bill 2686."
Learn more at:
http://www.prometheusradio.org/take_action/emergency_alert:__take_action
_to_expand_low_power/
3) Protect PEG Provisions - The Alliance for Community Media is asking
supporters to support the gains made including PEG provisions in S.2686
by:
- Calling or faxing your Senators again.
- Send a copy Senators Inouye and Stevens.
- The message is simple:
"We ask that you prevent any amendments to S2686 that attack PEG
funding, franchise fees or municipal authority. Thank you."
These phone calls/faxes are especially important if your Senator is on
the Commerce Committee (see the list below). And please continue to send
your emails via our site which also seeks to protect PEG provisions.
Senate Commerce Committee Members
Republicans:
Ted Stevens - Alaska - Chairman
Hart 522 202-224-3004
http://stevens.senate.gov/
Fax (202) 224-2354
John McCain - Arizona
Russell 241 202-224-2235
http://mccain.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-2862
Conrad Burns - Montana
Dirksen 187 202-224-2644
http://burns.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-8594
Trent Lott - Mississippi
Russell 487 202-224-6253
http://lott.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-2262
Kay Bailey Hutchison - Texas
Russell 284 202-224-5922
http://hutchison.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-0776
Olympia Snowe - Maine
Russell 154 202-224-5344
http://snowe.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-1946
Gordon Smith - Oregon
Russell 404 202-224-3753
http://gsmith.senate.gov/
Fax: 202.228.3997
John Ensign - Nevada
Russell 364 202-224-6244
http://ensign.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-2193
George Allen - Virginia
Russell 204 202-224-4024
http://allen.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-5432
John Sununu - New Hampshire
Russell 111 202-224-2841
http://sununu.senate.gov/
FAX (202) 228-4131
Jim DeMint - South Carolina
Russell 340202-224-6121
http://demint.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-5143
David Vitter - Louisiana
Hart 516202-224-4623
http://vitter.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-5061
Democrats
Daniel K. Inouye - Hawaii - Co-Chairman
Hart 722 202-224-3934
http://inouye.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-6747
John D. Rockefeller IV - West Virginia
Hart 531 202-224-6472
Fax (202) 224-7665 Fax
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/
John F. Kerry - Massachussetts
Russell 304 202-224-2742
http://kerry.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-8525
Byron L. Dorgan - North Dakota
Hart 322 202-224-2551
http://dorgan.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-1193
Barbara Boxer - California
Hart 112 202-224-3553
http://boxer.senate.gov/
Fax: none listed
Bill Nelson - Florida
Hart 716 202-224-5274
http://billnelson.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-2183
Maria Cantwell - Washington
Hart 717 202-224-3441
http://cantwell.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-0514
Frank Lautenberg - New Jersey
Hart 324 202-224-3224
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-4054
E. Benjamin Nelson - Nebraska
Hart 720202-224-6551
http://bennelson.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-0012
Mark Pryor - Arkansas
Russell 217202-224-2353
http://pryor.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-0908
