From: frank.kennedy@u2u.lonestar.org (Frank Kennedy)
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: CSC11                 1/2
Date: 26 Aug 92 13:58:00 GMT
Reply-To: frank.kennedy@u2u.lonestar.org (Frank Kennedy)
Organization: USER-TO-USER PCBoard (214)492-6565 (USR DS v32bis)


 From : Al Stahl                    1:325/1201              22 Aug 92  01:28:00
 To   : All                                                 25 Aug 92  09:03:30
 Subj : CABLE BUNK 1 of 2
                +------------------------------+
                | Consumer Satellite Coalition |
                |     Informational Update     |
                |        August 21, 1992       |
                +------------------------------+
The following imformation is what the Cable Antenna Television
Association (CATA) is dispensing to all cable operators across
the United States. CATA is headed up by Steve Effros who was
instrumental in destroying the satellite industry through negative
advertising by the cable industry. Now CATA is trying to get the
cable operators to involve their unknowing subscribers in a
campaign aganist the Cable Television Consumer Protection and
Competition Act of 1992... in a major attempt to stop the passing
of this consumer bill out of the conference committee.

This CATA inside information is provided by the Consumer Satellite
Coalition to provide a look at how cable plots and plans aganist
you the TV Viewing consumers:

1.      ALL CABLE OPERATORS MUST ACT NOW - TAKE THESE SIX STEPS

        STEP 1 - GENERATE 50,000 PIECES OF MAIL with consumer
                 petitions; and letters from employees, contractors,
                 consultants, attorneys and others that would be
                 affected by S.12. Letters should be addressed to
                 U.S. Senators - addressing information supplied.
                 Letters should begin arriving in Washington
                 August 24 and continuing through September 8.

        STEP 2 - COME LOBBY IN WASHINGTON SEPTEMBER 8-10 as personal
                 contact makes a difference. Bring a delegation of
                 cable operators for a final lobbying effort prior
                 to the vote.

        STEP 3 - KEEP YOUR HOUSE MEMBERS INFORMED even though our
                 primary focus is on our Senators. We cannot neglect
                 our House members. Make sure they are aware of the
                 impact of this bill. Republicans who voted aganist
                 Markey; and who voted for the Lent alternative and
                 then voted for Markey need to be reinforced. Thank
                 them and urge a "NO" vote on the conference report.

        STEP 4 - MEET WITH EDITORIAL BOARDS AND ARRANGE PLACEMENT OF
                 OP-ED ARTICLES as this is a crutial element since
                 over a dozen national papers have gone on record
                 aganist this bill. We need as many newspapers as
                 possible to get on the bandwagon.

        STEP 5 - RUN PRINT ADS TO GENERATE EXTRA MAIL such as those
                 supplied by CATA, NCTA, and several MSO's.

        STEP 6 - RUN ADS ON CABLE AD AVAILS TO GENERATE SUBSCRIBER
                 OUTRAGE - these are locally inserted 60 second ads
                 at the top and bottom of the hour.

        A PARABLE

        We have been at this fight for a long time. We have come to
        you often to request action on your part. At each juncture it
        has been critical. But now, if you remain passive, the cable
        industry, as you know it, will die.

2.      WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT THIS BILL, SENATOR!

        In summary: this legislation will raise, not lower, rates; and
        will impose a sweeping regulatory regime that will stifle
        cable's investment in new programming and technology. Instead
        of focusing on consumer concerns about rates and consumer
        services, focus on the following:

        A. increases cost for each cable subscriber by $23-51 per year.

        B. adds $1 billion annually in "retransmission consent" fees
           for carriage of "free TV".

        C. forces cable to install addressable technology in their
           cable systems thereby saddling consumers with an added cost.

        D. mandates the sale of cable-developed programming to all
           comers at government-mandated prices, terms and conditions.

        E. forces cable operators to drop popular cable networks, such
           as CNN or C-SPAN, in order to carry "local" broadcast
           stations.

        This is a strange form of consumer protection legislation. Only
        nine of 83 pages of the Senate bill deal with rates, customer
        service and picture quality. The House version is very similar
        in its approach. The overwelming remainder of both bills is
        devoted to provisions fueled by our media rivals attempts to
        gain a competitive advantage on the cable industry.

        The result: the cable industry's incentive to invest in new
        programming and new technology will be curtailed, and consumers
        will lose, not benefit.

3.      SUGGESTED SAMPLE LETTERS

        A. suggested Employee letter

        The Honorable Senator...

        I am writing to urge you to oppose S.12, the cable reregulation
        legislation.

        I am an employee of (NAME OF CABLE COMPANY) in (LOCATION).
        I have worked at the cable system for _#_ years and have
        enjoyed being part of the team that has brought more and better
        television to the communities we serve. Since I have been with
        the company, [BRIEFLY EXPLAIN YOUR JOB AND HOW YOU HAVE HELPED
        IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF CABLE SERVICES IN YOUR
        SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE: As a customer service representative, I
        have been part of an ever-expanding team of professionals that
        helps respond to the needs and concerns of the _#_ subscribers
        we serve. I am proud to say that our CSR department responds to
        customer telephone calls within _#_ rings and that a customer
        is never on hold for longer that _#_ seconds. When we get
        complaints, and in our system this is rare, we respond to them
        courteously, professionally, and rapidly. This level of service
        gives rise to a very high level of satisfaction among
        subscribers in our system.]

        Given the many improvements we have made at our system, I don't
        understand the reason for the excessive regulation in S.12.
        What started out as a consumer protection bill will instead
        hurt consumers and my cable company.

        Please don't add cable to the list of depressed industries,
        which will happen if Congress passes excessive reregulation
        of our industry. S.12 will hurt cable subscribers and cable
        companies. Please oppose S.12.

        B. suggested Consumer letter

        Dear Senator...

        I strongly urge you to vote aganist S.12.
        It is clear that this bill won't help consumers, but would
        actually make rates go higher.
        Please vote no.
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