[Seattle-editorial] Citizens For C-SPAN Introduces New Tools to Counter Threats to C-SPAN Access

[Citizens for C-SPAN]

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: 
contact at citizensforcspan.org
www.citizensforcspan.org

Seattle, October 28, 2003

Citizens For C-SPAN Introduces New Tools and Programs to Counter
Threats to C-SPAN Access

Group’s mission is to organize a national constituency to support
access to all C-SPAN channels on all cable and multi-channel systems


Citizens for C-SPAN, the independent, nonprofit organization whose
mission is to build a national constituency to support the future of
the C-SPAN networks, today introduced new content, tools and programs
on Citizensforcspan.org.  The tools will assist citizen viewers to
fight cutbacks in C-SPAN carriage and to campaign for access to all
C-SPAN channels in their communities.

"C-SPAN is a national treasure and access to public affairs
programming is more important now than ever.   But access to C-SPAN
is limited on most cable systems and the network faces threats in
many communities," said Regina LaBelle, President of the Citizens for
C-SPAN board of directors.

Because C-SPAN is solely funded by the cable and multi-channel
industry, it is precluded from aggressively lobbying for carriage on
cable systems.  Many cable systems have dropped or limited C-SPAN
carriage in response to regulatory changes and pressures within the
rapidly changing cable industry.

C-SPAN is the twenty-four-hour non-commercial public affairs cable
television network that provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of the House
of Representatives and Senate. The network also covers a broad range
of other primary source public affairs events and topics on C-SPAN,
C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3.

"We believe the tools and information on Citizensforcspan.org will
empower people to fight cutbacks in C-SPAN carriage and to advocate
for full-time access to all three C-SPAN channels in their
communities," said Paul Miller, a Citizens for C-SPAN member involved
in developing the site content.

New features on Citizensforcspan.org include:

- Contact listings of officials at cable companies and links to cable
company Web sites that cable subscribers can use to request access to
all three C-SPAN channels.

- Tools viewers can use to lobby cable companies and public officials
to ensure carriage for C-SPAN.

- Information on legislative and regulatory issues that affect C-SPAN
carriage.

- Links to state public affairs networks and local public,
educational, and governmental (PEG) television resources.

- A special "Testify for C-SPAN" feature that lets users register
their support for the C-SPAN networks.

The site also carries news about access campaigns and other topics
related to C-SPAN access.

 "It’s imperative that people who care about access to democracy on
TV act now to ensure the future of C-SPAN and non-commercial public
affairs programming," Regina LaBelle said.

About C-SPAN

C-SPAN (the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network) was launched in
1979 to cover the House of Representatives, followed by C-SPAN2 with
coverage of the Senate in 1986 and C-SPAN3 in 2002. C-SPAN Radio
began service in 1997. More than 28 million viewers tune to the
television networks each week. C-SPAN was created by the cable
industry as a public service and is funded by cable and satellite
subscriber fees.

C-SPAN has been called "America’s Town Hall," "The most revolutionary
form of television," and "Fundamental to the preservation of our
society."

About Citizens for C-SPAN

Citizens for C-SPAN is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization committed
to building a national network of grassroots support for C-SPAN. The
organization is dedicated to assisting communities in their efforts
to restore and expand access to C-SPAN and to advocate for full-time
access to all C-SPAN channels.

Citizens for C-SPAN was founded by Regina LaBelle in 1996 to fight
cutbacks in C-SPAN by cable companies in the Seattle area, and
quickly grew into a national organization. Citizens for C-SPAN
members across the country have launched successful campaigns to
restore C-SPAN service. Citizens for C-SPAN is not affiliated with
C-SPAN or the cable industry.

For more information, visit the Website at www.citizensforcspan.org,
or contact the group at contact at citizensforcspan.org.


# # #



C-SPAN Facts

- 28 million Americans view C-SPAN each week. (Compare to 17 million
West Wing viewers.)

- C-SPAN operating budget is just $40 million (.084% of $50 billion
spent on cable subscriber fees).

- Regular viewers watch for an average of 12 hours per week.

- 8 million homes have no access to C-SPAN at all.

- Only 7 percent of cable subscribers receive C-SPAN3.

- Thirty percent of cable homes have no access to C-SPAN2.

- Ten percent of cable subscribers have no access to C-SPAN(1).



To receive alerts about threats to C-SPAN and C-SPAN access campaigns around
the country, visit www.citizensforcspan.org/alerts1.html.
 
To opt out of receiving future messages from Citizens for C-SPAN, send a blank
email message to optout at citizensforcspan.org.




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