Frequently Asked Questions

What's all this about anyway?
What is a Local Franchise?
Why now? Who's pushing this legislation?
Why aren't our elected Representatives standing up for us?
What are these astroturf groups about?
What are the Cable Companies doing about this?
What can we do?
What's all this about anyway? Saveaccess is about saving public, educational and governmental access television from legislative oblivion. These are the more than 3000 community facilities running multiple cable channels around the country. These channels offer the only opportunity for uncensored first amendment speech anywhere in the media. But beyond that, they provide the localism and diversity lacking in the rest of the commercial media. More hours of public service media - and more media made by minorities - are produced in PEG centers each year than in all of the commercial media combined (actually - the difference is more than tenfold). Yet this hidden treasure of democratic media is under attack, by corporate greed and political ignorance and neglect. The legislation that moved quickly through Congress in 2006 was a rewrite of the the Tele-Communications Act of 1996, which itself was a revision of the Communications Act of 1934. Communications technology changes fast and there needs to be legislative alterations to improve and create new business environments while also improving and protecting the public interest. Unfortunately the recent legislation in the House, (Barton/COPE Act) only protected the business interests of it's primary patron, the Telephone industry (Telcos) while severely trampling the public interest. The Barton/COPE Act was only the latest legislation, there were many drafts before it. The Barton/Cope Act, as written, would have severely impacted the thousands of Public, Educational and Governmental Access channels and facilities around the country. The legislation effectively removed local municipal control over local rights-of-way and removed local voices from the process of negotiating for local video franchises. In addition, the legislation would have eliminated 'net neutrality' by allowing internet providers (phone and cable companies) the right to charge for preferential content delivery, creating a multitiered internet based on the ability to pay. Even worse, communications providers would no longer have been required to 'build-out' their networks equitably, that is, they could offer the new services in a wealthy neighborhood but neglect an adjacent low-income community (this is referred to as red-lining). The overall effect of this legislation would have been devastating to what we consider to be the basic principles of democratic media in our society, it will effect all of us. At present (1/20/07), the Barton/COPE Act passed in the House in 2006 but the Senate version failed to pass in the 109th Congress of 2006. The FCC intervened on December 20th, 2006 and issued their own version of a video franchise ruling (far worse than COPE). The FCC ruling will likely go to the courts and be in litigation for some time. In the meantime, the telcos have been unrelentless in pursuing State Video Franchises, spending as much as 40 million (in CA) to accomplish their mission. The battle in 2007 will truely be at the state level. Eleven states have fallen so far.
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What is a Local Franchise?
When cable TV was first introduced, the legislation required cable TV providers to negotiate local franchises with individual municipalities. Since the franchises were in effect partial monopolies, the municipalities could choose between competing providers. Most importantly, the municipality maintained control over local right-of-way (access to public areas for running cable, etc.). In exchange for access to the publicly owned right-of-way, municipalities can negotiate for fees and services from the cable provider. These fees and services are what make the Public, Educational and Governmental channels and facilities possible. In addition, a local franchise provided a mechanism for addressing local complaints (poor service) and it insured that build-out and other public interest requirements could be closely monitored. As franchises expire, the municipalities can re-negotiate (either with the same provider or another competitor) and the fees and services can be renegotiated based on real need (such as additional PEG channel capacity for instance). Now that the Telcos have decided to enter the business, they have determined that local franchises are just too troublesome for their business model. The Telcos assert that the prospects of negotiating with several thousands municipalities for local right-of-way would slow their planned deployment and negatively impact on their competitiveness with cable companies (though cable companies have always done this, and many municipalities have offered the Telcos the option of operating under the same franchise agreement). Instead the Telcos want a 'national franchise' agreement. This would pre-empt all local franchises and allow the Telcos to enter any local market they choose without any local oversight or control. Cable companies would reap the benefits of the 'national franchise' as well. The Telcos have also moved to establish 'state-wide franchises' both to set precedent for federal legislation and to have a fall-back strategy should it fail. A number of states have passed the Telco driven state-franchise legislation and we're already beginning to see the negative fallout in places like Texas (see below). National and state-wide franchising do offer recognition of PEG services and provide for some form of continuation of channel capacity and operating fees. In some ways this is a good first step, since there is presently no federal legislation 'requiring' PEG channels and support. But the baselines established thus far are far lower than what is needed and they fail to take into account 'real need' based on local demand and instead default to a statistical percentage. In addition, there is no local oversight or recourse should these agreements be violated. The legislation calls for FCC oversight of the national franchise, a mammoth undertaking for an agency ill-equipped to handle the workload. The legislation would also defer all legal action to the commission, thus preventing due process in the courts.
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Why now - Who's pushing this legislation?
The simple answer is profit, and the Telephone companies are the motivators of this legislation. They are spending tens of millions around the country in State and Federal lobbying to get what they want. Unfortunately, our elected representatives are only hearing one voice on this issue - that of the Telco lobbyists. The Telcos want to offer an array of new video, data and phone services to consumers (i.e. cable TV via fiber), but they don't want to be hindered by the same guidelines and laws that currently apply to Cable TV companies. It should be noted that Telcos have been able, under law, to provide video services for over ten years - they have not done so by their own choice. Instead the Telcos have spent the last ten years engaging in mergers, buy-outs, fiber infrastructure investments, outsourcing and huge layoffs. The result is that only three telephones companies (AT&T, Verizon, Qwest) now serve the bulk of the country (there were 8 regional bell companies after the 1984 split of AT&T). According to telecom analyst Bruce Kushnick, many of the Telco infrastructure upgrades of the last ten years (200 billion dollars worth) were paid for by tax cuts and other incentives granted through the '96 Telecom Act. Now that taxpayers have financed their new fiber infrastructures, the Telcos want even more public concessions. The Telcos

The Ma Bell monopoly was split up by anti-trust legislation in 1984 resulting in seven regional or 'baby' bells. Through mergers and buy-outs only three of these companies now remain (pending the AT&T - Bell South merger announced recently). The three survivors are AT&T, Verizon and Quest. Today they are much stronger than before and combined they control virtually the entire country.

AT&T AT&T the long distance provider merged with SBC, one of the largest Baby Bells, in 2005. With it's impending acquisition of Bell South (approved by the FCC Dec. 2006), AT&T is on the verge of controlling most of the desirable urban markets in the country. SBC previously gobbled up Pacific Telesis, Southwestern Bell, Ameritech and SNET. The AT&T strategy has been heavyhanded to say the least. In some areas, they are leaning heavily on state legislatures to get state franchises while funding astroturf campaigns to shape public opinion. In other areas they are 'reaching out' and suing small municiplaities, either to get the deals they want or to set examples for other cities in their path (image a 50 billion dollar corporation bearing down a small municipality of 50,000). On the federal level they are a major campaign contributor along with Verizon. Verizon Though serving a smaller geographic region than AT&T, Verizon controls the riches of the Northeastern cities and surburban sprawl. Verizon previously gobbled up NYNEX and Bell Atlantic to expand their reach. They too have been pushing heavily for state and national franchising and are also guilty of some of the dirtiest astroturf campaigning. Qwest Qwest, originally US West, services largely rural states in the southwest and north west and has the smallest subscriber base of the three Telcos. Qwest has been the quietest, probably because it faces far more difficult infrastructure challenges than AT&T and Verizon who could more quickly capture the richer surburban and urban markets. Nontheless, Qwest will stand to gain like the others from COPE.
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Why aren't our elected Representatives standing up for us?
Good Question - we should ask them! There are two factors at play; first understanding what the issues are, and secondly, the amount of money and noise that is involved. The problem with telecommunications legislation is that it is deals with new technologies and often very technical issues. In many cases our elected representatives simply don't understand the implications of the legislation before them. They rely on those around them to inform and guide their decision-making, and in this case the people they are hearing most are Telecom lobbyists. Combine this with a free market, anti-regulatory atmosphere and you have a recipe for disaster. This is why a piece of legislation as discriminatory and damaging as the COPE ACT can be called the "Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006" while it's sponsors maintain a straight face. When SBC/AT&T pushed similar state-wide franchise legislation through Texas recently, they spent over seven million dollars and had one lobbyist for every elected state representative and senator. The result, the billed passed. Today in Texas, PEG centers are already threatened and AT&T just announced a consumer rate increase that will net them over two million more in revenue a month. They can pay off their lobbying investment in four months. At present, widespread deployment of video services has yet to start. Then there is money, and lots of it. One of the most coveted committee appointments in Congress is to be on the House or Senate Commerce Committees where Telecom legislation is drafted. Politicians on these committees are virtually guaranteed record political and PAC donations. Alot has been written on the negative impact of political donations, most recently Bill Moyers summed it up in his article "The Culture of Corruption". The point is, most of our politicians will follow the money unless there is a huge public outcry to the contrary. We need to make noise - and lots of it!
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What are these astroturf groups about?
As the Telcos push for their legislation at the state and federal levels, they have funded non-profit organizations to create public campaigns for their desired legislation. These groups are referred to as 'astroturf' or fake grassroots organizations. These astroturf campaigns take the form of print ads, TV ads, and web sites. They sell the public the need for "competition' and "consumer choice" in video/cable TV services and create artificial support for the Telco legislative agenda which in fact has little to do with consumer needs or protections. In some cases these astroturf campaigns have even resorted to borderline mail fraud to advance the telecom agenda. In all cases they have sold the public lies and deception. The public interest group Common Cause has produced a report on astroturf groups, called "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing".
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What are the Cable Companies doing about this?
Cable companies have much at stake in the current legislation. On the one hand, they stand to lose by having another competitor in their market (especially one with possibly a superior infrastructure), but they also stand to gain from the same concessions granted to the Telcos. For this reason they have run counter campaigns in some states where they have been attacked directly, but in other places they have remained silent. For years cable companies have wanted to wriggle out of local franchise requirements for PEG and they would also enjoy reaping the profits to be made by eliminating net neutrality and red-lining requirements. So, while cable may lose its monopoly status in many communities, it could stand to profit handsomely from this legislation too.
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What can we do?
We can do alot, but we need to act quickly. We need to: • organize locally to build strong local bases of awareness and support both in cities and in states to counter the Telco agenda for state and national video franchises • organize nationally to let our elected representatives know that the current legislation is unacceptable - and that it will effect our vote in November! • Tell everyone you know about this web site so they can take action too! • Please take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to SAVE COMMUNITY ACCESS TV! – OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION! Send an email to Congress! Tell a Friend!

US House Representatives on the Committee on Energy and Commerce	109th Congress
Reps Sorted by State - Jump to a State: \| AR \| CA \| CO \| FL \| GA \| ID \| IN \| IL \| KY \| MA \| MD \| MI \| MO \| MS \| NC \| NE \| NH \| NJ \| NM \| NY \| OH \| OR \| PA \| TN \| TX \| VA \| WI \| WA \| WY \|
Representative names link to additional information at congress.org
'06 Cable/Telco Donations to individual Representative are for 2006 cycle. For donation breakdowns, additional info and 2005 donations, see this page

Representatives	State	Office Address	Phone	Fax	'06 Cable/Telco$
Mike Ross (D-AR-4th), aide - Monique Frazier	AR	314 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3772	202-225-1314	$19,250
John B. Shadegg (R-AZ-3rd) aide - Eric Schlecht	AZ	306 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3361	202-225-3462	$24,000
George Radanovich (R-CA-19th) aide - Hollyn Schuemann	CA	438 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4540	202-225-3402	$29,100
Mary Bono (R-CA-45th) aide - Chris Lynch	CA	405 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5330	202-225-2961	$31,500
Lois Capps (D-CA-23rd) aide - Randolph Harrison	CA	1707 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3601	202-225-5632	$12,000
Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA-14th) aide - Jason Mahler	CA	205 Cannon HOB Washington DC 20515	202-225-8104	202-225-8890	$24,500
Hilda L. Solis (D-CA-32nd) aide - Don Lyster	CA	1725 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5464	202-225-5467	$19,000
Henry A. Waxman (D-CA-30th) aide - Pat Delgado	CA	2204 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3976	202-225-4099	$14,000
Diana DeGette (D-CO-1st) aide - Shannon Good	CO	1527 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4431	202-225-5657	$17,000
Michael Bilirakis (R-FL-9th) Vice Chairman aide - Rebecca Hyder	FL	2408 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5755	202-225-4085	$1,000
Jim Davis (D-FL-11th) aide - J.J. Piskadlo	FL	409 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3376	202-225-5652	$0
Cliff Stearns (R-FL-6th) aide - David Hickey	FL	2370 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5744	202-225-3973	$28,000
Nathan Deal (R-GA-10th) aide - Merritt Myers	GA	2133 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5211	202-225-8272	$24,500
Charlie Norwood (R-GA-9th) aide - Greg Facchiano	GA	2452 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4101	202-226-0776	$26,000
C.L. “Butch” Otter (R-ID-1st) aide - Jani Revier	ID	1711 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6611	202-225-3029	$5,000
Steve Buyer (R-IN-4th) aide - Laura Zuckerman	IN	2230 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5037	202-225-2267	$30,750
Bobby L. Rush (D-IL-1st) aide - Yardly Pollas-Kimble	IL	2416 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4372	202-226-0333	$21,000
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9th) aide - Diane Beetle	IL	1027 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2111	202-226-6890	$14,000
John Shimkus (R-IL-19th) aide - Ryan Tracy	IL	513 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5271	202-225-5880	$29,500
Ed Whitfield (R-KY-1st) aide - Brent Dolen	KY	301 Connaon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3115	202-225-3547	$34,900
Edward J. Markey (D-MA-7th) aide - Colin Crowell	MA	2108 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2836	202-226-0092	$39,000
Albert R. Wynn (D-MD-4th) aide - Ben Branch	MD	434 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-8699	202-225-8714	$19,100
Tom Allen (D-ME-1st) aide - Todd Stein	ME	1127 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6116	202-225-5590	$11,500
John D. Dingell (D-MI-15th) Ranking Member aide - Josh Tzuker	MI	2328 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4071	202-226-0371	$30,000
Mike Rogers (R-MI-8th) aide - Mike Ward	MI	133 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4872	202-225-5820	$39,500
Bart Stupak (D-MI-1st) aide - Sonya Wendell	MI	2352 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4735	202-225-4744	$18,399
Fred Upton (R-MI-6th) aide - Will Nordwind	MI	2183 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3761	202-225-4986	$61,250
Roy Blunt (R-MO-7th) aide - Mark Anderson	MO	217 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6536	202-225-5604	$66,500
Charles Pickering (R-MS-3rd) Vice Chairman aide - Brian Perry	MS	229 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5031	202-225-5797	$65,000
Sue Myrick (R-NC-9th) aide - Matt Priest	NC	230 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-1976	202-225-3389	$26,000
Lee Terry (R-NE-2nd) aide - Robert Stien	NE	1524 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4155	202-226-5452	$25,000
Charles F. Bass (R-NH-2nd) aide - Tad Furtado	NH	2421 Rayburn HOB Washington DC 20515	202-225-5206	202-225-2946	$22,500
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-6th) aide - Tim Delmonico	NJ	420 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4671	202-225-9665	$28,500
Mike Ferguson (R-NJ-7th) aide - Greg Orlando	NJ	214 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5361	202-225-9460	$62,200
Heather Wilson (R-NM-1st) aide - Bryce Dustman	NM	318 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6316	202-225-4975	$27,000
Eliot L. Engel (D-NY-17th) aide - Pete Leon	NY	2161 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2464	202-225-5513	$45,999
Edolphus Towns (D-NY-10th) aide - Ruth Morrison	NY	2232 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5936	202-225-1018	$22,000
Vito Fossella (R-NY-13th) aide - Brendan Williams	NY	1239 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3371	202-226-1272	$28,500
John Sullivan (R-OK-1st) aide - Wendy Der	OK	114 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2211	202-225-9187	$26,250
Sherrod Brown (D-OH-13th) aide - Diana Baron	OH	2332 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3401	202-225-2266	$12,000
Ted Strickland (D-OH-6th) aide - Michelle Dallafior	OH	336 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-5705	202-225-5907	$0
Paul E. Gillmor (R-OH-5th) aide - Ryan Walker	OH	1203 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6405	202-225-1985	$11,000
Greg Walden (R-OR-2nd) aide - Brian Hard	OR	1210 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6730	202-225-5774	$20,500
Tim Murphy (R-PA-18th) aide - Michael Mason	PA	322 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2301	202-225-1844	$21,000
Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA-16th) aide - Gabe	PA	221 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2411	202-225-2013	$14,733
Mike Doyle (D-PA-14th) aide - Mike Mullen	PA	401 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2135	202-225-3084	$18,000
Bart Gordon (D-TN-6th) aide - Dana Lichtenberg	TN	2304 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-4231	202-225-6887	$17,000
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7th) aide - Mike Platt	TN	509 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2811	202-225-3004	$36,000
Joe Barton (R-TX-6th) Chairman aide - Theresa Lavery	TX	2109 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2002	202 225-3052	$98,200
Michael Burgess (R-TX-26th) aide - Barry Brown	TX	1721 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-7772	202-225-2919	$22,250
Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX-20th) aide - Tony Zaffirini	TX	327 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3236	202-225-1915	$16,500
Gene Green (D-TX-29th) aide - Andrew Wallace	TX	2335 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-1688	202-225-9903	$12,000
Ralph M. Hall (R-TX-4th) aide - Elizabeth Stack	TX	2405 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6673	202-225-3332	$15,000
Rick Boucher (D-VA-9th) aide - Amy Levine	VA	2187 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-3861	202-225-0442	$40,000
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI-2nd) aide - David Stacy	WI	1022 Longworth HOB Washington DC 20515	202-225-2906	202 225-6942	$20,673
Jay Inslee (D-WA-1st) aide - Brian Peters	WA	403 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-6311	202-226-1606	$15,500
Barbara Cubin (R-WY-AL) aide - Patrick Thompson	WY	1114 Longwoth HOB Washington, DC 20515	202-225-2311	202-225-3057	$21,000

Commissioner	Media Aide	Phone Number
MacDowell	Christina Pauze (paw-ZAY)	202-418-2200
Tate	Chris Robbins	202-418-2500
Chairman Martin	Heather Dixon	202-418-1000
Adelstein	Rudy Brioche (bree-o-SHAY)	202-418-2300
Copps	Bruce Gottlieb	202-418-2000

Flyers and Palm Cards
	Letter Size Flyer Use the Blank version and fill in your own info Download BLANK Version 500KB Download NYC Version 500KB
	Palm Cards 5.5 x 4.25 Use the Blank version and fill in your own info Download BLANK Version 800KB Download NYC Version 800KB
General Info Flyers and Palm Cards
	Letter Size Flyer Use this to distribute in your community if there is no protest Download General Info Version 500KB
	Palm Cards 5.5 x 4.25 Use this to distribute in your community if there is no protest Download General Info Version 800KB
Audio PSAs for Radio
	AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre PSA Use for cities with AT&T service Download
	Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg Use for cities with Verizon service Download
	Add this city information to the files above Boston Download San Francisco Download Chicago Download New York City Download Thanks to Kat and Joshua for these files, see their source page
Video PSA
	Save Access Video PSA for M24 TRT: 60 seconds Watch 2MB A broacast quality file (220MB) is available - write protest@saveaccess.org for the link.

DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR COPE - HR 5252
State	District	Name
AL	5	Robert Cramer, Jr.
AL	7	Artur Davis
AR	1	Marion Berry
AR	4	Michael A. Ross
AZ	4	Ed Pastor
CA	18	Dennis Cardoza
CA	20	Jim Costa
CA	36	Jane Harman
CA	43	Joe Baca
CA	47	Loretta Sanchez
CO	2	Mark Udall
CO	3	John Salazar
CT	1	John Larson
CT	3	Rosa L. DeLauro
FL	2	Allen Boyd
FL	3	Corrine Brown
FL	17	Kendrick B. Meek
FL	19	Robert Wexler
FL	20	Debbie Wasserman Schultz
FL	23	Alcee L. Hastings
GA	2	Sanford Bishop, Jr.
GA	3	Jim Marshall
GA	12	John Barrow
GA	13	David Scott
IA	3	Leonard L. Boswell
IL	1	Bobby L. Rush
IL	2	Jesse Jackson, Jr.
IL	3	Dan Lipinski
IL	4	Luis V. Gutierrez
IL	7	Danny Davis
IL	8	Melissa Bean
IN	1	Peter J. Visclosky
IN	7	Julia Carson
KS	3	Dennis Moore
KY	6	Ben Chandler
LA	2	William J. Jefferson
LA	3	Charlie Melancon
MA	2	Richard E. Neal
MA	9	Stephen Lynch
MD	2	C. A. Ruppersberger
MD	3	Benjamin L. Cardin
MD	4	Albert Wynn
MD	5	Steny H. Hoyer
MD	7	Elijah E. Cummings
MD	8	Christopher Van Hollen, Jr.
ME	2	Mike Michaud
MI	1	Bart Stupak
MO	1	William Lacy Clay, Jr.
MO	3	Russ Carnahan
MO	4	Ike Skelton
MS	2	Bennie G. Thompson
NC	1	G. K. Butterfield, Jr.
NC	2	Bobby Etheridge
NC	7	Mike McIntyre
NC	12	Melvin L. Watt
ND	At-L	Earl Pomeroy
NJ	1	Robert E. Andrews
NJ	6	Frank Pallone, Jr.
NJ	8	Bill Pascrell, Jr.
NJ	9	Steven R. Rothman
NM	3	Thomas Udall
NV	1	Shelley Berkley
NY	1	Timothy H. Bishop
NY	2	Steve J. Israel
NY	4	Carolyn McCarthy
NY	5	Gary L. Ackerman
NY	6	Gregory W. Meeks
NY	7	Joseph Crowley
NY	10	Edolphus Towns
NY	11	Major R. Owens
NY	15	Charles B. Rangel
NY	17	Eliot L. Engel
NY	27	Brian M. Higgins
OH	6	Ted Strickland
OH	11	Stephanie T. Jones
OK	2	Dan Boren
OR	5	Darlene Hooley
PA	13	Allyson Schwartz
RI	1	Patrick J. Kennedy
RI	2	James R. Langevin
SC	5	John M. Spratt, Jr.
SC	6	James E. Clyburn
SD	At-L	Stephanie Herseth
TN	4	Lincoln Davis
TN	5	Jim Cooper
TN	6	Bart Gordon
TN	8	John S. Tanner
TN	9	Harold E. Ford, Jr.
TX	9	Al Green
TX	15	Ruben Hinojosa
TX	17	Chet Edwards
TX	18	Sheila Jackson-Lee
TX	20	Charles A. Gonzalez
TX	27	Solomon P. Ortiz
TX	28	Henry Cuellar
TX	29	Gene Green
TX	30	Eddie Bernice Johnson
UT	2	James D. Matheson
VA	8	James P. Moran
VA	9	Rick Boucher
WA	1	Jay Inslee
WA	6	Norman D. Dicks
WA	9	Adam Smith
WI	3	Ron Kind
WV	1	Alan B. Mollohan
WV	3	Nick Joe Rahall, II

DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING
FL	11	Jim Davis
IL	17	Lane Evans
TX	16	Silvestre Reyes

DEMOCRATS VOTING AGAINST COPE - HR 5252
AR	2	Vic Snyder
AZ	7	Raul Grijalva
CA	1	Mike Thompson
CA	5	Doris Matsui
CA	6	Lynn C. Woolsey
CA	7	George Miller
CA	8	Nancy Pelosi
CA	9	Barbara Lee
CA	10	Ellen O. Tauscher
CA	12	Tom Lantos
CA	13	Fortney (Pete) Stark
CA	14	Anna G. Eshoo
CA	15	Mike Honda
CA	16	Zoe Lofgren
CA	17	Sam Farr
CA	23	Lois Capps
CA	27	Brad Sherman
CA	28	Howard L. Berman
CA	29	Adam Schiff
CA	30	Henry A. Waxman
CA	31	Xavier Becerra
CA	32	Hilda A. Solis
CA	33	Diane E. Watson
CA	34	Lucille Roybal-Allard
CA	35	Maxine Waters
CA	37	Juanita Millender-McDonald
CA	38	Grace Napolitano
CA	39	Linda T. Sanchez
CA	51	Bob Filner
CA	53	Susan A. Davis
CO	1	Diana DeGette
GA	4	Cynthia McKinney
GA	5	John Lewis
HI	1	Neil Abercrombie
HI	2	Ed Case
IL	5	Rahm Emanuel
IL	9	Janice Schakowsky
IL	12	Jerry F. Costello
MA	1	John W. Olver
MA	3	James McGovern
MA	4	Barney Frank
MA	5	Martin T. Meehan
MA	6	John Tierney
MA	7	Edward J. Markey
MA	8	Michael Capuano
MA	10	William D. Delahunt
ME	1	Thomas H. Allen
MI	5	Dale E. Kildee
MI	12	Sander M. Levin
MI	13	Carolyn Kilpatrick
MI	14	John Conyers, Jr.
MI	15	John D. Dingell
MN	4	Betty McCollum
MN	5	Martin Olav Sabo
MN	7	Collin C. Peterson
MN	8	James L. Oberstar
MO	5	Emanuel Cleaver, II
MS	4	Gene Taylor
NC	4	David E. Price
NC	13	Brad Miller
NJ	10	Donald M. Payne
NJ	12	Rush Holt
NY	8	Jerrold Nadler
NY	9	Anthony Weiner
NY	12	Nydia M. Velazquez
NY	14	Carolyn B. Maloney
NY	16	Jose E. Serrano
NY	18	Nita M. Lowey
NY	21	Michael R. McNulty
NY	22	Maurice D. Hinchey
NY	28	Louise Slaughter
OH	9	Marcy Kaptur
OH	10	Dennis J. Kucinich
OH	13	Sherrod Brown
OH	17	Tim Ryan
OR	1	David Wu
OR	3	Earl Blumenauer
OR	4	Peter A. DeFazio
PA	1	Robert A. Brady
PA	2	Chaka Fattah
PA	11	Paul E. Kanjorski
PA	12	John P. Murtha
PA	14	Michael F. Doyle
PA	17	Tim Holden
TX	25	Lloyd Doggett
VA	3	Robert C. Scott
VT	At-L	Bernard Sanders
WA	2	Richard R. Larsen
WA	3	Brian Baird
WA	7	Jim McDermott
WI	2	Tammy Baldwin
WI	4	Gwen Moore
WI	7	David R. Obey

The Cable Companies

Wall Street

The Public Interest Groups

Call or Fax Your Representative!

Cities to the Telcos and Washington - Can You Hear Us Now?

Democratic Voting Scorecard for COPE

FCC Video Franchising Alert - Take Action

FCC Action Alert - Four Steps to Being Heard

FCC Action Alert - Step One

FCC Action Alert - Step Two

FCC Action Alert - Step Three

FCC Action Alert - Step Four

In the States

Colorado Legislation

Florida Legislation

Georgia Legislation

Illinois Legislation

Iowa Legislation

Louisiana Legislation

Maine Legislation

Massachusetts Legislation

Michigan Legislation

Minnesota Legislation

Missouri Legislation

New York Legislation

Ohio Legislation

Pennsylvania Legislation

Tennessee Legislation

Utah Legislation

Washington Legislation

Wisconsin Legislation

It's Time: National Day of Out(R)age

Join These Other Campaigns Too!

Letter to the FCC

MA: Massachusetts Video Franchise Bill Faces Delay

National Day of Out(R)age

May 24 materials

Boston protest

Day of Out(R)age Reportbacks

NYC Protest

San Francisco Protest

What You Can Do

Boston Press Release 5.22

Chicago Press Release 5.22

FAIR Press Release 5.22

saveaccess.org nyc Press Release 5.22

News Items

NYC Resolution

OH: House Committee Version Preserves Local Video Franchising

Organizing

Readings

Resources

reverend billy

Senate Contacts

The Issues and the Players

The Telephone Companies

Astroturf Groups

House Telco Bill: COPE HR5252

Senate Telco Bill: S.2686 (aka HR 5252)

What's all this About? FAQ

Long Story Short: The 2006 Rewrite of U.S. Communications Policy

Your World. Delivered . . . to the NSA

The Politicians

The Telco TV Boxes Are Coming!

Elm Street USA

Local Church

Victorian house

Suburbs

Colonial House

Craftsman house

Falling Water

Pink Palace

Cathedral

Monticello

Arlington

Lincoln Memorial

Mesa Verde

Liberty

Mt Rushmore

White House