Two Days to Take Back $100 Million in Funding for Indie Media in Canada
*Please share this with everyone you know - we have until Feb. 1 to send in letters.
The Numbers:
* Cable monopolies are taking nearly $120 Million dollars a year from a public trust that is supposed to be used for independent citizen media!
* Over the last ten years more than $800 million dollars has been taken by big cable companies and used largely for their own commercial media production and infotainment
The Facts:
* You, as a citizen of Canada, pay for the public trust.
* The community media public trust is being exploited by four family-controlled cable monopolies: Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw and Vidéotron.
* These bloated cable monopolies' already earn a 25% profit margin (almost $2 billion each year).
* Rogers has also increased their basic cable rates an average of 85%, and Shaw has made its customers pay an average of 68% more.
We only have until Feb. 1 - Tell the CRTC to put an end to this insanity:
http://openmedia.ca/action
More info:
The misuse of these funds is a scam, and it's costing us more than just money.
If cable monopolies weren't pocketing public funds we could have:
* Independent media centres in communities across the country that act as incubators for job creation, empowerment, and media innovation.
* A platform for local debate, culture, and programming that is controlled by citizens - not cable monopolies.
* Media centres where everyone, including marginalized citizens like at-risk youth, can freely develop their own ambitions, skills and capacities.
It is outrageous and unfair that four of the most profitable companies in Canada are taking public
funds to promote their brands.
The deadline for comments to reach the CRTC is February 1st so please send your comments today.
http://openmedia.ca/action
Have already sent your letter?
Share it with your Facebook friends: http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.openmedia.ca/action
If you're a twitter user let your followers know about this dire situation:
http://act.ly/R1t7
Email your friends and family:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/community/forward
Watch our funny video:
http://openmedia.ca/big-cable-rip-off
Wow that's alot of money to have taken from us. I hope the CRTC is receiving a lot of letters!
Kill your TV.
Next thing we know our news, radio and TV will be 95% owned by private enterprising jackals, like that country to the south of us. And then our minds will become fertile ground for the seeds of corporate liberal fascism 24-7. Trust and obey, it's the only way.
Democracy is the merger of state and corporate power. - Steve Harper