NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT

Your help is needed immediately. THIS WEEK WAS A RECORD WEEK FOR NC TELECOM REFORM BUT MORE HELP IS NEEDED!

On Tuesday, our proposed cable choice bill passed through both the House Finance and Senate Commerce committees! We expect a full vote on the floor of the House as early as Monday evening. In the Senate, the bill must now pass through the Senate Finance committee before it can receive a full vote of the Senate. We believe the bill will be heard in Senate Finance on Wednesday.

Between now and Monday afternoon, please telephone or e-mail your Representatives and ask them to support House Bill 2047. Please also telephone or e-mail your Senators and ask them to support Senate Bill 1559. Both bills are entitled, “Video Service Competition Act”. When you call or e-mail, please refer to both the bill number and title, “Video Service Competition Act”. Some legislators do not know the bill by “telecom reform” or “cable choice”.

Some key talking points:

Competition of video services would naturally lead to:

1. Fuller coverage (more areas beign offered service and more kinds of services)
2. Lower cost for the consumer
3. Increased choice for the consumer

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE CALLS AND E-MAILS BE VERY NICE and as always, leaving a message on a machine is just fine. We believe our change of getting the bill through this session is quite good. However, as we all know from experience, keeping the calls and e-mails coming can be really key especially during such a busy legislative week.

The main number for the North Carolina General Assembly is (919)733-4111. You may e-mail your legislators through links on the North Carolina General Assembly website at www.ncga.state.nc.us