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| Red Rock Eater Digest | Most Recent Article: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 |
Public Space on Info Highway: Call Congress ASAP!
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Date: Mon, 25 Jul 1994 09:37:32 -0500
From: Center for Media Education
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Public Space on Info Highway: Call Congress ASAP!
ACTION ALERT -- From People For the American Way (DC)
SENATE TO ACT ON INFO-HIGHWAY BILL -- ACTIVISTS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT
PUBLIC ACCESS PROVISIONS ARE INCLUDED.
The Issue
The "information superhighway" has the potential to give rise to a new
era of democratic self governance by providing the means through which
civic discourse can flourish. Turning this into a reality means that
those committed to promoting this new marketplace of ideas must be given
the tools to use new telecommunications networks. A diverse coalition of public interest organizations is supporting
legislation introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Chairman of the
Communications Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, to encourage
this new marketplace of ideas by ensuring that the public has access to
the information superhighway is protected (S. 2195). Without reserved capacity, the ability of local governmental
institutions, libraries, schools, public broadcasters and other nonprofit
organizations to take advantage of new telecommunications technologies
will be determined by private gatekeepers who have few economic incentives
to permit those institutions without the means to pay commercial rates
access to their networks. Without Senator Inouye's legislation, the information superhighway will
carry little more than video games, movies on demand and home shopping. There has been a great deal of rhetoric about the telecommunications
networks of the future being of unlimited capacity. This is certainly the
goal. However, it is necessary to ensure that between now and the time
that such capacity is unlimited, that there is meaningful access available
for those entities proving important educational, cultural, informational,
civic and charitable services to the public. Senator Inouye's legislation must be included in the debate with the
larger telecommunications legislation (S. 1822) introduced by Senator
Ernest Hollings (D-SC), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.LEGISLATIVE TIMING
Senator Hollings (D-SC), Chairman of the Commerce Committee, and Senator
Danforth (R-MO), Ranking Minority Member of the Commerce Committee are
busily working on amendments to S. 1822, a major telecommunications reform
bill. Next week, the full Committee is expected to consider these
amendments. Therefore, a public access provision must be included now.
ACTION REQUEST
Please call Senator Hollings at the Commerce Committee and Senator
Danforth (Ranking Minority Member) immediately!! Ask them to support S.
2195 and guarantee that requirements are put in place for public access at
low or no-cost rates are included in the Chairman's Mark. Phone calls on
this issue by the public will have a profound effect on the outcome of
this legislation--so please call! Senator Hollings 202-224-5115
Senator Danforth 202-224-6154
Please also call Senator Inouye and encourage him to continue to push
for passage of S. 2195 and to seek it's combination with S. 1822. Inouye (D-HI) 202-224-3934
Please try to find the time to make a few calls and ask the other
Senators on the Commerce Committee to support S. 2195 and ensure public
access provisions are included in S. 1822. Other Senators on the Commerce
Committee are:Exon (D-NB) 202-224-4224
Ford (D-KY) 202-224-4343
Rockefeller (D-WV) 202-224-6472
Kerry (D-MA) 202-224-2742
Breaux (D-LA) 202-224-4623
Bryan (D-NV) 202-224-6244
Robb (D-VA) 202-224-4024
Dorgan (D-ND) 202-224-2551
Matthews (D-TN) 202-224-4944
Packwood (R-OR) 202-224-5244
Pressler (R-SD) 202-224-5842
Stevens (R-AK) 202-224-3004
McCain (R-AZ) 202-224-2235
Burns (R-MT) 202-224-2644
Gorton (R-WA) 202-224-3441
Lott (R-Miss.) 202-224-6253
Hutchison (R-TX) 202-224-5922
Calling these Senators works!!---
People For the American Way is 300,000-member nonpartisan constitutional
liberties public interest organization. 2000 M Street NW, Suite 400,
Washington DC 20036.
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