Time Range For Action Alert:
Mar 19 2024 to Mar 21 2024Summary
Income level should not dictate whether you have access to crucial information regarding local and state government and whether or not you can effectively participate in our democracy.
Yet, federal funding to help our lower-income residents with internet bills is ending because Congress cannot pass a federal budget.
From the provider side, nonprofits that have made Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) access channels available to the public are seeing their funding streams plumet due to an outdated tax structure that relies on taxing only cable providers but not internet streaming providers.
Tell your state reps - we can't wait for Congress to fix this; co-sponsor HB 5446 today!
Action:
- Email and call your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor HB 5446 An Act Concerning Funding for Community Access Television, the Connecticut Television Network and Low-Income Internet Access.
- If your legislator is on Energy and Technology Committee, also ask them to vote Yes to send the bill forward out of committee.
TIPS: If you are involved with digital literacy or training in your community, tell them what you know about the need in Connecticut. If you put your local League programs on the community access channels or online, mention that. If you watch your local government meeting via community access, mention that.
More information: LWVCT members and friends are welcome to email Pua Ford for more information (pua4d [at] yahoo.com)
Find out who represents you:
Find Your representatives' email addresses:
Find out if your representatives are on the Energy and Technology Committee:
MORE INFORMATION
Since 2008, LWVCT has supported universal affordable high-speed internet access, adequate funding for Public, Educational, and Governmental Access TV/media and for CT-N. In 2022 as we recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, LWVUS Convention voted for concurrence with these positions.
The problem:
Broadband internet has become a necessity to assure equal access to local and state government, for maintaining openness and transparency in government activities, for communicating with legislative leaders, for engaging in political discourse, for competing in the global marketplace, and for assuring that voters receive the information they need to participate in our democracy. Federal funds are helping to make broadband available in more places.
But the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help our lower-income residents with internet bills is ending because Congress cannot pass a federal budget. Nonprofit PEG access organizations have seen the backbone of their operating funds—based on the number of cable TV subscribers—plunge. Although they provide their local programs both on cable TV and online, they receive nothing from the revenue collected for internet service by the same companies that have provided cable TV. Those PEG access organizations have been forced to lay off staff, to move from one location to another when rents rise, and make other concessions as they struggle to continue their work.
Whatdoes the bill do and what needs to happen next?
HB 5446 had a public hearing on 3/14. It needs a Joint Favorable vote to move forward.
- HB 5446 extends a tax on all communications service companies with facilities and equipment along public roads, not just on cable and video companies.
- It stabilizes annual funding of PEG access organizations, but would still be less than 1% of the total tax amount that goes to state’s General Fund.
- It creates a funding source for a possible Connecticut Internet for All program to replace the federal ACP.
Email template to adapt
Remember to cc advocacy [at] lwvct.org when you send your email.
Subject: HB 5446 An Act Concerning Funding For Community Access Television, The Connecticut Television Network And Low-Income Internet Access.
Dear [Senator/Representative] [name]:
[I urge you to co-sponsor HB 5446 An Act Concerning Funding For Community Access Television, The Connecticut Television Network And Low-Income Internet Access.]
OR
[Please vote Yes on a Joint Favorable vote for HB 5446 An Act Concerning Funding For Community Access Television, The Connecticut Television Network And Low-Income Internet Access.]
HB 5446 was discussed in the ET hearing on March 14. It may be on the agenda for a Joint Favorable vote soon and needs all our support to succeed.
An existing tax on cable and satellite companies would be expanded to others, making it fair for all communication companies that have facilities in Connecticut. The expanded tax would help support other programs without increasing other taxes. A state program could be created to help low-income families with internet bills. Our nonprofit PEG access TV stations would get more support, still less than 1% of what the state might receive, but enough to keep going.
The large corporations who use our public roadways makes more than enough money to help support our institutions and programs and still make a healthy profit. They are allowed but not obliged to pass taxes onto their customers.
Since the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program is ending without help from Congress, this bill may provide our lower-income residents help with their internet bills in the near future. Broadband internet and all its possible uses are truly available only if they are affordable to everyone. Thank you, [Your Full Name] [Your City]
[Your Full Name]
[Your City]
