[ivie] H.R.3101 Passes Through Subcommittee and will ReceiveFullCommittee Mark Up Soon

[Robert Shaw]

Thanks for the good work.
			Robert "Barry" Shaw




-----Original Message-----
From: ivie-bounces at acb.org [mailto:ivie-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of Ardis
Bazyn
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 5:03 PM
To: CCB-l; BSC; rsva-l at acb.org; ivie at acb.org
Subject: [ivie] H.R.3101 Passes Through Subcommittee and will
ReceiveFullCommittee Mark Up Soon

Yesterday H.R.3101, The Twenty-First-Century Communications and Video
Accessibility Act of 2009 was reported favorably out of subcommittee and
will be taken
up by the full committee on Energy and Commerce in the next two weeks.
 
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Boucher (D-VA) introduced a new draft of 3101
which more accurately shows the on-going negotiations we have had and
continue
to have with industry and committee staff. There are, however, two aspects
of this draft that are absolutely unacceptable to ACB and naturally the COAT
steering committee.
 
Sec. 105 of the original bill has been removed completely.
 
This section granted authority to the FCC to designate as eligible for
universal service support, programs for the distribution of specialized
equipment
used to make telecommunications, Internet access services and advanced
communications accessible to individuals
 
who are deaf-blind.  Such support is capped at $10 million per year.
 
Having this provision struck from the legislation is crazy! A list of the
full committee membership is below. I urge you to contact these offices to
let
them know that this population of individuals cannot be left even further
behind as technology continues its rapid pace forward. Furthermore, $10
million
in congressional terms is next to nothing but could do a world of good for
individuals who are forced to pay extremely high prices for assistive
technology
in order to simply communicate with one another.
 
I am pleased to report  that the 2000 requirements for video description are
in the new legislation. However, the authority to broaden the amount and
geographic
location of described content has been completely taken away from the
Federal Communications Commission. If this legislation were to pass
tomorrow, only
individuals living in the top 25 designated market areas would be able to
enjoy described content. Those lucky individuals living in the top 25
markets
would only be able to get a few hours of content per week.
 
In essence, as it is written now, the legislation would deny access to
people who are blind or visually impaired in the majority of this country.
 
Please call the members of the committee and let them know that in each of
their districts they are impacted by a designated market area outside of the
top 25. How can they allow some of their constituents to have video
description and others to be left in the cold? Furthermore, there are
several committee
members who are completely out of the top 25 altogether.
 
The list of committee members also shows the designated market areas that
coincide with their congressional districts.
 
Finally, It appears that at the time of this writing that both H.R.3101 and
S.3304 will both be marked up in full committee during the ACB Conference
and
Convention. Please call the members below to voice your concerns. To be
clear, the changes above only reflect H.R.3101. Negotiations with the Senate
are
on-going.  While these changes may make us feel uneasy,  the legislative
process is moving forward and ACB affiliates and members  should be proud of
the
  passionate and highly effective advocacy that has been displayed. Please
keep it up! We still have a critical roll to play in advocating for our
provisions.
 
Eric
 
House Energy and Commerce Committee
 
Democrats
 
Rick Boucher (D-VA-9) 202-225-3861
 
Tri-Cities (93) & Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill (156) & Roanoke-Lynchburg (67)
& Greensboro (46)
 
Bart Gordon (D-TN-6) 202-225-4231
 
Nashville (29)
 
Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA-14) 202-225-8104
 
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (6) & Monteray-Salinas (124)
 
Bart Stupak (D-MI-1) 202-225 4735
 
Duluth-Superior (139) & Marquette (180) & Green Bay (70) & Traverse
City-Cadillac (117) & Alpena (208)
 
G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-1) 202-225-3101
 
Greenville-New Bern (103) & Raleigh (26) & Norfolk-Newport News (43)
 
Charlie Melancon (D-LA-3) 202-225-4031
 
Lafayette (123) & New Orleans (51) & Baton Rouge (95)
 
Baron P. Hill (D-IN-9) 202-225-5315
 
Evansville (102) & Indianapolis (25) & Cincinnati (33) & Louisville (49)
 
Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT-5) 202-225-4476
 
Hartford-New Haven (30) & New York (1)
 
Zachary T. Space (D-OH-18) 202-225-6265
 
Columbus (34) & Cleveland-Akron (18) & Wheeling-Steubenville (159) &
Charleston-Huntington (63)
 
Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) 202-225-4115
 
Burlington-Plattsburg (94) & Boston (6) & Albany Schenectady (57)
 
Cliff Stearns (R-FL-6) 202-225-5744
 
Jacksonville (47) & Gainesville (160) & Orlando (19)
 
Fred Upton (R-MI-6) 202-225-3761
 
Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo (41) & South Bend-Elkart (91)
 
John Shimkus (R-IL-19) 202-225-5271
 
Champaign-Springfield-Decatur (84) & St. Louis (21) & Terre Haute (152) &
Cape Girardeau (78) & Evansville (102)
 
Roy Blunt, Deputy Ranking Member (R-MO-7)  202-225-6536
 
Joplin-Pittsburgh (147) & Springfield (74)
 
George Radanovich (R-CA19) 202.225.4540
 
Fresno-Visalia (55)
 
Mary Bono Mack (R-CA-45) 202-225-5330
 
Los Angeles (2) & Palm Springs (142)
 
Lee Terry (R-NE-2) 202-225-4155
 
Omaha (76)
 
Mike Rogers (R-MI-8)  202-225-4872
 
Flint-Saginaw-Bay City (68) & Detroit (11) & Lansing (115)
 
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) 202-225-2811
 
Memphis (50) & Jackson (173) & Nashville (29)
 
Parker Griffith (R-AL-5) 202-225-4801
 
Huntsville-Decatur (81)
 
Robert E. Latta (R-OH-5) 202-225-6405
 
Columbus (34) & Toledo (73) & Cleveland (18) & Dayton (65)
 
Joe Barton, Ranking Member (R-TX-6) 202-225-2002
 
Houston (10) & Dallas-Fort Worth (5) & Waco (89) & Tyler-Longview (109)
 
Eric Bridges
 
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs

Ardis Bazyn
For inspirational speaking, business coaching, or writing:
www.bazyncommunications.com
newsletter: http://www.bazyncommunications.com/newsletter.php
Blog: abazyn.blogspot.com
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