CHARLES B. RANGEL
15TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
NEW YORK
COMMITIEE,
WAYS AND MEANS
JOINT COMMITIEE
ON TAXATION
CHAIRMAN
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GEORGE A. DALLEY
CHIEF OF STAFF
JAMES E. CAPEL
DISTRICT DIRECTDR
October 31, 2009
Chairman Julius Genachowski
Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Commissioner Michael 1. Copps
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
RE: Petitions before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for Declaratory Ruling re:
Public, Educational and Governmental Access Channels, MB Docket No. 0913, CSR 8126 (ACM et
al.), CRS 8127 (City of Lansing, MIt and CSR 8128 (City ofDearborn, MI et al.)
Dear Commissioners:
For over 40 years, Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access cablecast channels have been
forums for free speech, for the development ofa marketplace ofideas, and for the exercise of
citizens' First Amendment rights. PEG channels increase public access to the day-to-day workings
of local civic processes and institutions, including the broadcasting ofcommunity meetings, local
election debates, public hearings, public policy for a and community events with both live and
taped cable casts.
However, several cable systems are proposing changes to their programming that threaten to make
this free content less accessible to the public. That is why I am urging the Federal Communications
Commission to grant the three above-mentioned petitions as soon as possible.
This action will be invaluable in helping to safeguard localism and diversity in the nation's media
landscape. PEG channels are a unique source ofcommunity-based, local information across the
nation, especially in my Congressional District. These stations, and the passionate coalition ofstaff
and volunteers that run them, are powerful living examples ofhow democracy is strongest when its
citizens can engage in the full and free exchange of information and ideas.
This fact was recognized by a recent bipartisan report entitled, Informing Communities: Sustaining
Democracy in the Digital Age. The 17-member Committee on the Information Needs in a
Democracy, which included former FCC chairmen Michael Powell and Reed Hundt said in their
report that, "Public, educational, and government cable channels belong in a favored tier in terms of
ease of access." This statement goes to the core ofthe three above referenced petitions.
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As such, it is imperative that the FCC take action to uphold and enforce the provisions ofthe 1984
Cable Act. Any system rendering PEG channels inaccessible to viewers and stripping those
channels ofclosed captioning and second audio programming (tools benefiting literacy and
language development) dismisses the needs of significant sectors ofthe community.
I urge the Commission to grant all three petitions as expeditiously as possible.
Charles . angel
Chairman
Committee on Ways and Means