For Immediate Release:  February 24, 2009

For Further Information Contact: 
Marlyn Ferguson
Access Montgomery
301-424-1730 x323

AMTV BUS RALLY TO ANNAPOLIS PLANNED

BOARD, PRODUCERS AND VOLUNTEERS SHOW STRONG
OPPOSITION TO BILL 1182

Rockville, MD.  On Thursday, February 26, the Maryland General Assembly will consider a bill that could eliminate community television as we know it, today.  In response, Access Montgomery has coordinated a bus rally to Annapolis on Thursday to show their solidarity in opposing House Bill 1182.

The Maryland Communications Tax Reform & State Cable Franchising Bill 1182 will mean the following to AMTV:

1.  Montgomery County will lose millions in local cable franchise fees that will become under the control of the State to disperse throughout the State, as they see fit, and not be dedicated to Montgomery County.  (These cable franchise fees fund Access Montgomery and support educational and governmental access cable programming, improved government communication, emergency communications, and Internet access in schools.)

2.  This bill will take away local control from the people of Montgomery County.  They will lose their voice in deciding local matters related to cable.

3.  This bill provides no protection for local programming and production services taking away their local voice on cable.

Numerous AMTV Board Members, staff members, producers, and volunteers will travel by bus and carpool to Annapolis on Thursday to make their voices heard they will emphasize to our state legislators that the current method of cable franchising works.

Access Montgomery, a service of Montgomery Community Television, Inc., is the County’s only independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing residents with diverse programming, television production, and training resources.  Access Montgomery has successfully educated, informed, and entertained county viewers for over 20 years, training more than 4,000 county residents in its television production workshops. Access Montgomery operates two cable channels, Access Montgomery TV 19 and Access Montgomery TV 21.

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