Communications Daily publishes article about the CAP Act and FCC Petitions
The December 30, 2011 Communications Daily, a national magazine devoted to communications industry issues, published an article entitled, PEG Channels Look to Passing CAP Act, as 2009 Petitions Remain Stalled at FCC. The article quoted Executive Mary Cardona several times in regard for the need for the CAP Act, the effect of channel slamming on stations, and the need to reinstate the PEG fee, particularly for two stations that are on the brink of closure.
The CAP Act: Hope for community television
The Community Access Preservation Act, H. R. 1746, provides community television stations with dedicated funding and ensures community television channels will be viewable by all cable subscribers. This federal bill also makes clear that any provider using "wired facilities" that offers video programming is subject to the provisions of current cable television law. The bill also requires the FCC to investigate the impact state franchise laws have had on community television stations across the country.
This is the second session a version of the CAP Act has circulated in the House. Last session, Representative Tammy Baldwin (D - WI) authored the legislation. This year, it is a bi-partisan effort with Representative Steven LaTourette (R - OH) co-authoring the bill.
Resolutions have been passed in favor of the bill by the City of Milwaukee, the City of Marshfield, and the Village of Deerfield.
To learn more, take a look:
Alliance for Community Media CAP Act Summary
Wisconsin's Congressional District 7 Stations, "Why we need the CAP Act"
Wisconsin's One-Page Summary of the CAP Act
Deerfield passes CAP Act Resolution
The Deerfield Village Board passed a resolution in favor of passage of the the Community Access Preservation Act (the CAP Act) at its meeting of January 23. Deerfield is the second city in Wisconsin to pass a resolution. Marshfield is the first.
Congratulations are in order to Lyn Meyer and Dave Lemke of Deerfield Community Television and Patrick Smythe-Eagle, Village Board, who asked the board to consider the resolution. To assist them in making the case to the Village Board, they invited Mary Cardona, Executive Director of WCM to make a presentation about the CAP Act. Cardona provided background material on the bill and answered questions. Based on that discussion, the board requested that a resolution be drafted for consideration at the next meeting, during which it passed.
Deerfield is located in Rep. Tammy Baldwin's congressional district. Rep. Baldwin is the co-author of the CAP Act. Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) is the other.
Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like assistance in working with your local city council or board to pass a resolution. The City of Milwaukee passed a resolution in July 2011 and the City of Marshfield passed a resolution in December.
Marshfield passes resolution in support of the CAP Act
The City of Marshfield, Wood and Marathon Counties have urged Congressman Sean Duffy to sponsor the Community Access Preservation Act ("the CAP Act") through a Resolution passed on December 13. Resolution No. 2011-46 noted that "PEG channels are a unique and valuable resource for local information and discourse for the residents of the City of Marshfield, Wood, and Marathon Counties" and that "the CAP Act provides important solutions for critical and immediate threats to PEG channels and facilities across the country."
The federal bill is a response to state franchise laws passed by many states beginning in 2005.
Read more: Marshfield passes resolution in support of the CAP Act
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin named WCM's 2012 Friend of Access
Thank you Tammy!
Representative Tammy Baldwin (D - Madison) has been named WCM's 2012 Friend of Access for the tireless work she has done on the federal level for community television nationwide. This is the second time the congresswoman has received the Friend of Access Award. Rep. Baldwin was the first person to receive a WCM Friend of Access Award in 2006.
Representative Baldwin is the co-author and co-sponsor of the Community Access Preservation Act with Representative Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio). This is the second session Representative Baldwin has authored and championed the CAP Act. The bill would undo many of the most egregious harms that befell community television in Wisconsin after state franchise legislation was passed here in 2007.
The 2007 law was modeled after ALEC legislation and eliminated local control over community television. Today's stations are unable to collect fees from cable subscribers to support community programming. Cities must also pay for any new links that carry local programming to cable operator systems. Besides relieving cable operators of much of their public interest obligations, the law also emboldened Charter to move the access channels from long-held low-numbered spots on the line-up to the 90s and 900s, where reception problems have been common.
The CAP Act would restore the right of local governments to establish a limited PEG fee on subscriber bills to pay for local access channels and would require cable operators to supply all upstream links.
WCM will be presenting the Friend of Access Award to Representative Baldwin or her representative at the WCM Spring Conference on May 3 and 4 in Marshfield. To see the letter sent to Congresswoman Baldwin, go HERE.
To learn more about the CAP Act and Wisconsin's State Cable Franchise Law and Community Television, see our articles elsewhere on the site.
