Alertt! Corporate Cable "Reform" Bill Threatens Broadband, Access, etc

[democraticinsurgent]

Reprinted in full from an email sent today by Indy Public Access. Not only are the Pukes trying to outlaw abortion, they're trying to outlaw free municipal broadband while regulating cable systems via state regulatory board instead of by municipality. This is important!!!!

ndy Access News Flash
I am sending you a letter from Common Cause about the recently announced Indiana Telecom Reform Bill, SB 245. This sweeping telecommunications reform bill would have negative impact on telephone, broadband internet, and cable television in Indiana.

As it is now written, this bill would reduce cable/video franchise revenue to municipalities through numerous revenue exclusions such as late fees and new channel "launch fees," and would put further financial stress on public, education and government access channels. Local cable franchising would be replaced by a statewide franchise system run by the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission (IURC).

If you can, please plan to attend the Senate hearing detailed below or contact your contact your State Senator.

From Common Cause:


SB 245, sponsored by Senator Brandt Harshman, would prohibit cities and towns from developing community broadband networks. Common Cause/Indiana opposes this bill because we believe community broadband networks are an efficient, affordable way to connect people to the Internet, regardless of their income level or geographic location.

Broadband access is essential to economic growth, health care and education. What electric power and telephones were to the 20th Century, broadband will be to the 21st. Municipalities have a valuable role to play in ensuring that all communities in Indiana have access to this important tool. Passage of SB 245 would mean that only the telecommunication giants can provide broadband service. This legislation is anti-competitive and will not allow local governments to serve the needs of their citizens.

You can help us defeat this bad bill. Please attend the hearing on Tuesday, January 12 and contact your State Senator to let him or her know that big business should not control community Internet access.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 12 at 9:30 a.m. in the Senate chambers on the 3rd floor of the State House. Industry lobbyists will be out in force and we need a large turnout of citizens to demonstrate support for community broadband internet access and stop this bill before it builds up momentum.

Whether or not you attend the hearing, please contact your State Senator today and ask him or her to oppose SB 245. In metropolitan Indianapolis, call your Senator at 317-232-9400. Outside Indianapolis, call 800-382-9467.

For more information, contact Julia Vaughn at Common Cause/Indiana at 317-767-0209 or [e-mail].

Thanks for all you do for Common Cause/Indiana.

Sincerely,

Julia Vaughn
Common Cause/Indiana

[Progressive4Life]

1. Link in original email dead

Thanks for posting! Just FYI, the link in the original email is dead (at least it was when I clicked it).

If you don't know who your state senator is, click below. Find your county on the map and which district it's in. (For instance, if you live in Clark County, you are in District s45.)
http://www.in.gov/legislative/legislators/senate_district_map.html

If you know who your state senator is, click below and scroll down. (You'll have to scroll through House addys first.) The link in the appropriate column will take you to his/her web form. Listings are in alphabetical order. District numbers are in the 3rd row.
http://www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.pl

Keep broadband affordable in Indiana!