Earlier this week, EFF learned that a "Broadcast Flag"
amendment might slip past legislative gates as part of an appropriations bill. We quickly sent out an action alert to EFF supporters in states with senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee, warning that within 48 hours, we could see a new law that would give Hollywood permanent veto power over how we use over-the-air digital television and force American innovators to beg the government for permission before adding new features to TV.
It's easy to see how this could happen. Despite the courts striking down the flag and powerful opposition in the Internet community, in many circles it's still considered "non-controversial."
But that was Monday evening.
Within the space of a few hours, the action alert hit the Internet. And you slammed Congress.
By 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the 27 members of the Senate Appropriations Committee received *more than 11,000 emails and faxes* from EFF supporters. That's nearly 500 faxes an hour. Dianne Feinstein alone received more than 2,600 messages in her inbox. Kay Hutchison, the senior senator for Texas, received 1,441 letters.
And these are just the numbers EFF has. We don't track telephone calls. But we do know that many of you listened when we joined Public Knowledge in urging you to call your senators directly. If you tried to call and the line was engaged, it was likely occupied by someone else griping about the same amendment. Staffers report that they are "swamped."
Today, the phone calls, email messages, and faxes continue to flood in. This is a mass protest even without voices from many of the more populous states, which don't have senators on the committee.
Suffice it to say that you don't get that kind of reaction except for *very* controversial bills. You did it. You got the attention of every senator on the Appropriations Committee.
And so far, it's working. No one proposed a Broadcast Flag amendment in the sub-committee on Tuesday. The next opportunity will be Thursday at 2 p.m. By then, everyone on the committee will have been briefed by their besieged staffers. And in the briefings will be words to the effect that this is an issue with "a great deal of voter concern."
For these senators, the Broadcast Flag now comes with its own red flag.
It's not over yet. The entertainment industry lobbyists won't give up easily, and there are plenty of sneaky tricks left to pull.
But by acting now, you've given your legislator a reason to decline Hollywood's advances. You may even have given a few the back-up necessary to *keep* declining.
We challenge you to keep the momentum going. Tell your friends and family about the Broadcast Flag, and forward the URL below. You know can make a difference - you already have.
Stop the Broadcast Flag!
<http://action.eff.org/site/Advocacy?id=145>
