I’ve been focusing on the Public part of PEG funding, but the G stands for government and although the city cut the P part a year early to fund the G part, next year, your Government television will be facing serious cuts as well. Call your legislators today if you like your Government or Public Access television! Seriously, we don’t have much time left in this session and your voices are needed NOW!
This is from Brad Clark from the city/government access end of things . . . if you like your city council meetings and county board meetings on television where you can sit home and yell at the telvision and drink a beer, it might be worth making a call!
Hi all,
I am writing you today to enlist your support. You’re on this list because in recent years Madison City Channel has helped support and promote the goals of your organization by covering your presentations, events, annual meetings, etc., and running that coverage on our channel and on our website at www.madisoncitychannel.com. We provided that coverage at no charge to your organization because we have had the resources to provide a more robust look at our community than simply covering the Madison Common Council and other local government meetings.
As you may be aware, however, those resources are in some jeopardy. The passage in 2007 of the so-called “Video Competition Act” put a three-year limit on the continuation of a significant part of our organization’s funding – a small dedicated fee paid for by Madison cable subscribers. Should this fee sunset as currently scheduled in January 2011, City Channel’s ability to fully promote openness and accessibility in government – and cover future events of your organization – may be severely compromised.
However, there is some good news. We have a lot of allies in the State Legislature, and two of them – Rep. Gary Hebl of Sun Prairie and Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma – have introduced legislation that would preserve the funding mechanism I’ve described. These bills – Assembly Bill 721 and Senate Bill 585 – are collectively known as the “Save Our Community Television Bill,” and are supported by the entire Madison delegation to the Legislature.
We hope that these bills become law, and are acted upon this legislative session (which isn’t going to last much longer!). And in order to encourage the success of these bills, we want to demonstrate broad support for them. That’s where you come in.
I’m asking you to contact the Legislature on our behalf, to express support for Madison City Channel and for this legislation. The more groups these legislators hear from, the better our chances. I’ve even made it easy for you by drafting possible language you could use:
“I’m writing in support of Assembly Bill 721 and Senate Bill 582. Our organization has had a long association with Madison City Channel, and their coverage of many of our meetings and other events has proven very beneficial in getting our message out to the Madison community. We think it’s therefore vitally important to preserve Madison City Channel’s funding, which this legislation will accomplish. Please support this legislation and do everything you can to bring it to a successful vote this legislative session.”
Feel free to expand on that message with specific details if you’d like, but that’s the basics. I’ve also attached a letter from Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz that you can use as a guide as well.
Who needs to hear this message from you? Well, certainly your local State Senator and Representative, because even though the Madison delegation is supportive, it certainly helps to hear from constituents!
Here’s a simple way to deliver your message to legislators:
E-mail them using this formula:
For the Assembly —
Rep.Lastname@legis.wisconsin.govFor the Senate
Sen.Lastname@legis.wisconsin.govIf you want to look up your legislator on-line, you can go to the Wisconsin Legislature site and enter your address. If you can send this message as a PDF or a Word document on your organization’s letterhead, PLEASE DO, but please get the message out today!
In addition, please send the same message of support to Speaker of the Assembly, Rep. Mike Sheridan (D – Janesville), Senate Majority Leader Sen. Russ Decker (D- Wausau), and Senate President Fred Risser (D – Madison). Their support is crucial in bringing this legislation to a vote. Also please copy Rep. Hebl, Sen. Vinehout – and me!
This effort should take you just a couple of minutes, yet it could be crucial to the success of this legislation. Naturally, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, and thanks in advance for your support. We look forward to working with you in the future!
Thanks so much,
Brad Clark
Station Manager
