Community Access Preservation (CAP) Act (HB 3745) Alliance for Community Media website "Local access channels bring unique voices, perspectives, and programming to television. The nature of television programming is changing, as are the methods in which that programming is delivered. These changes should not come at the expense of the diversity and vibrancy of local voices.” –Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI Read More...
What is the CAP Act? On October 8, 2009, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Community Access Preservation (CAP) Act, or HB 3745, to address the challenges faced by public, education, and government (PEG) TV channels and community access television stations across the country. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA has signed on to this legislation as a co-sponsor. Why is it needed? Nationwide, many community access television stations have been forced to shut down or severely limit their operations as a result of a combination of state law changes and FCC decisions, which cable television operators are claiming permit them to eliminate funding and important in-kind support they have traditionally provided to local community access television channels. In addition, several video providers have begun to carry PEG channels differently than commercial channels, broadcasting them in reduced resolution and in a way that makes it impossible for subscribers to select or record them like other channels. In some cases, customers must now pay extra fees in order to receive PEG channels, which were intended by Congress to be available to everyone in the community. In other cases, operators are refusing to pass through PEG closed captioning unless by special request. The Alliance for Community Media (ACM) is coordinating a nationwide grassroots campaign working for passage of the CAP Act. The ACM’s mission is to advance democratic ideals by ensuring that people have access to electronic media and by promoting effective communication through community uses of media. Davis Media Access (DMA) is a longtime member of the ACM and an active participant in this campaign. The information in this document has been provided courtesy of the ACM. What is its relevance to Davis? Davis Media Access is the community media center for Davis, CA and surrounding areas in Yolo County. While DMA and our PEG partners from the City of Davis and the Davis Joint Unified School District have historically enjoyed strong support from our elected officials, we do so in an environment that is rapidly changing and fraught with obstacles. In California alone, 84 access centers have closed their doors since statewide franchising went into effect in 2007. What you can do -
- Visit http://alliancecm.org and check out the CAP Act Toolkit – it has direct links to legislators.
- Write a letter of appreciation to Rep. Thompson for his support of this issue (he was also very supportive during our 2007-2008 fight to save KDRT from commercial encroachment). Be sure to mention what makes DMA valuable to you. The ACM is using these letters to demonstrate the widespread support for community access & community media centers across the country).
- Write letters to Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein encouraging their support of companion legislation in the Senate.