CHICAGO MEDIA ACTION ALERT, November 2, 2004
http://www.chicagomediaaction.org

Again, apologies for the extra email, but we are facing yet another critical
juncture for the future of Chicago public access television.  

We have some good news: The current CAN TV funding ordinance passed
Monday's Finance Committee vote.  

The bad news is that Comcast is asking for a 30-day delay of the ordinance
before the city council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance at its next
meeting, which is scheduled on Wednesday (tomorrow!), November 3.  

With such little time remaining before the 2005 Chicago city budget is
scheduled to pass, an additional delay could prove disastrous to this
ordinance and to the future of CAN TV.

We hate to have to ask again, but we need one more round of support before
the ordinance comes to a vote.  If you're a Chicago resident, please
contact your alderman *today* to encourage support of the Daley/Stone
ordinance to support CAN TV.  Consider it a way to impact positive media
in Chicago, and another way to be involved in civic participation on this
Election Day.

Learn how to contact your city alderman through this website:

http://tinyurl.com/4cuyr

Additional details from CAN TV are listed below.  (And thanks to everyone
for all their work and support.  Please also note that the CMA newsletter, 
usually sent on the first of the month, will probably be delayed until 
the weekend or later.)

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

CAN TV Funding Ordinance passes Finance Committee
More Support Needed at City Council
Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at City Hall
http://www.cantv.org

The ordinance to fund CAN TV, sponsored by Mayor Daley and Ald. Stone, was
passed at the November 1, 2004 Finance Committee meeting.  Cable provider,
Comcast, objected to the ordinance and sought 30 days to present a 
different solution. The City Council will determine on Wed. Nov. 3, 
whether the ordinance is passed or delayed.

The City Council meeting will be held at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle, in the
Council Chambers on the 2nd floor at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 3,
2004.

The ordinance calls for CAN TV to receive 5% of the cable franchise fee
that is currently paid by cable companies to the City.  Funds generated
from the franchise fee will help stem the loss of revenue caused by RCN's
failure to fulfill its obligations in 3 out of 4 of its cable areas.

Once passed, the ordinance goes into effect January 1, 2005. Passage of
this ordinance would be an important step in safeguarding CAN TV's
future.  Urge your alderman to vote in favor of this ordinance.  Join us
in thanking Mayor Daley and Alderman stone for co-sponsoring the
ordinance.

For more information call CAN TV at (312) 738-1400.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

This is an email from Chicago Media Action, a Chicago activist
group devoted to media issues.

Chicago Media Action, P.O. Box 14140, Chicago IL 60614-0140  
Call toll-free: 1-866-260-7198  
Web: http://www.chicagomediaaction.org
E-mail: cma@chicagomediaaction.org

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