Tell reps to make the right CHOICE

By Bill Balyszak

Monday, June 5, 2006 9:26 AM EDT

Ladies and gentlemen, we can finally prevail and for once - maybe get a break. But only if everybody contacts their senator and representative and urges them to vote yes on U.S. Sen. John McCain's proposed CHOICE Act (Consumers Having Options in Cable Entertainment Act).
Imagine the impact we could make if just the Monday readers of The Citizen made their voices heard.

This bill “would allow cable companies to compete nationally for your business (rather than only at the local level) in exchange for agreeing to offer channels a la carte, either individually or in smaller bundles.”

Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, also endorses this bill wholeheartedly. How about that! For once, we finally have a chairman of the FCC that is actually on the side of consumers. Hallelujah! Additionally, his “FCC found that consumers could lower their monthly bill by as much as 13 percent if they had a la carte programming options.”

In addition to saving money, we will be able to subscribe only to the channels that we want to watch and not what “mother cable” forces us to watch. And more importantly, we can choose only the channels that are suitable for our children. What a radical concept, eh?

But of course the cable companies are protesting to the high heavens. Why? In the words of Deep Throat #- follow the money (and greed) - and it explains everything.

“The same companies that oppose selling channels individually or in smaller packages in the U.S. offer their programming a la carte in other countries.” So, “their threats of financial ruin and a loss of diverse programming have proved hollow.”

“In Hong Kong, viewers can select and pay for only the channels that they want and can receive 15 free channels plus a selection of 11 additional digital channels for only $27.50 a month.” Now that's what I call a fair price. Hey, Auburn City Council and Adelphia #- are you listening?

And in Canada, digital subscribers can buy channels individually or enjoy significant savings on a 𔄝 pack,” 󈫺 pack” or 󈫿 pack” of their own choosing.

If this CHOICE Act bill gets defeated it will only serve to buttress the underlying corruption that exists on Capitol Hill. You and I will know by every “nay” vote who's been bought off by the cable industries' political contributions and corrupt lobbying efforts. Enough is enough!

Again, I urge everyone to contact U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer (202) 224-6542 and Hillary Rodham Clinton (202) 224-4451 and also your respective Congressmen: Sherwood Boehlert (202) 225-3665 or James Walsh (202) 225-3701. Or Google them and go to their Web sites and e-mail them. Letters or post cards will work, too.

Tell them you want a la carte TV CHOICE Act passed now.

It's your money.

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