Since this issue is kinda important to all of us (as we all want to see as many channels as possible) and the elections are coming up, it might be interesting to post the responses we get from our senators/elected officials from all over the states.
Eventhough I don't have any distant channels (I live in a major metro area) through either Dish or DTV, I still send an email to each of my senators and candidates for the senate and I have received a response from Senator Norm Coleman from MN. He's not up for re-election, but is the first one to respond. It took less than 2 hours to get a response from him.
Maybe, if you are undecided about who to vote for, these responses might change your mind.
Here's the response:
Dear Mr. Wetzels :
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006 (H.R. 5252). As a former mayor, I understand the concerns regarding legislation that would affect local franchising authority.
Given the significant technological and market developments of the past several years, Congress is considering various changes to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. As a member of the Republican Senate High Tech Task Force, I am focused on removing barriers to innovation and competition by updating our telecommunications laws for the 21 st century.
As you may know , the COPE Act was passed by the House on June 8, 2006. This legislation would allow new entrants wishing to offer video service to receive a national franchise authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), while still allowing the option of negotiating with a local franchising authority (LFA). From my reading of the bill, this legislation would allow a LFA to manage its rights-of-way and be compensated for such management, as well as collect an annual franchise fee of up to five percent of the national franchisee's gross revenues. It also allows LFAs to require public, educational and government channels and collect one percent of gross revenues to support such channels. Furthermore, virtually all existing video regulations - including the must-carry provision - would continue to apply to national franchisees.
During the week of May 1, Senator Stevens (R-AK), the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, issued draft legislation that would reform the current franchising process while still keeping ultimate authority with the LFA. There were two hearings in May on this legislation, and will be a final business meeting to consider this legislation in June.
I will continue to follow this important issue. I value your advice and will take it into consideration should legislation come before the full Senate for a vote.
I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you in the future.
Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate
I hope you all post the responses you get, so we can all maybe get an idea about what they are up to in Washington regarding this issue.
Eventhough I don't have any distant channels (I live in a major metro area) through either Dish or DTV, I still send an email to each of my senators and candidates for the senate and I have received a response from Senator Norm Coleman from MN. He's not up for re-election, but is the first one to respond. It took less than 2 hours to get a response from him.
Maybe, if you are undecided about who to vote for, these responses might change your mind.
Here's the response:
Dear Mr. Wetzels :
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006 (H.R. 5252). As a former mayor, I understand the concerns regarding legislation that would affect local franchising authority.
Given the significant technological and market developments of the past several years, Congress is considering various changes to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. As a member of the Republican Senate High Tech Task Force, I am focused on removing barriers to innovation and competition by updating our telecommunications laws for the 21 st century.
As you may know , the COPE Act was passed by the House on June 8, 2006. This legislation would allow new entrants wishing to offer video service to receive a national franchise authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), while still allowing the option of negotiating with a local franchising authority (LFA). From my reading of the bill, this legislation would allow a LFA to manage its rights-of-way and be compensated for such management, as well as collect an annual franchise fee of up to five percent of the national franchisee's gross revenues. It also allows LFAs to require public, educational and government channels and collect one percent of gross revenues to support such channels. Furthermore, virtually all existing video regulations - including the must-carry provision - would continue to apply to national franchisees.
During the week of May 1, Senator Stevens (R-AK), the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, issued draft legislation that would reform the current franchising process while still keeping ultimate authority with the LFA. There were two hearings in May on this legislation, and will be a final business meeting to consider this legislation in June.
I will continue to follow this important issue. I value your advice and will take it into consideration should legislation come before the full Senate for a vote.
I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you in the future.
Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate
I hope you all post the responses you get, so we can all maybe get an idea about what they are up to in Washington regarding this issue.
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