Thanks to wglide for posting this on Texas KOS.
In Texas the Repubs think they can do anything. We need to change this attitude & we need everyone's help to do it.
Remember -- Texas has been their sandbox. If they find something that works here, they try to take it national -- like Delay's redistricting scheme (see Georgia & Wisconsin & others).
I'm tired of them treating Texas like a damn laboratory!! Let's STOP THEM NOW
Please see the Common Cause letter below (MeetOn has one too).
Basically, powerful utilities are trying to prevent increased competition via the Internet & are using Rep. Phil King to do it.
Please contact Mr. King or others in Texas & let's stop this here before it spreads.
Texas House of Reps:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/welcome.php
King's Contact:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist61/king.htm
Capitol Office
Room EXT E2.822
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0738
(512) 463-1957 Fax
District Office
2110 Fort Worth Hwy.
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 596-4796
(817) 596-8375 Fax
FROM COMMON CAUSE:
Giant telecom and cable companies are making a final push to pass legislation that would prevent many Texans from having access to affordable high-speed internet service and limit local control of media. Late last night, Rep. Phil King (R-61) attached two controversial bills, HB 789 and HB 3179 to a "must-pass" bill, maintaining the Public Utility Commission.
If the Texas legislature includes these bills in the Public Utility Commission ("PUC") bill (SB 408), they would prohibit local communities from setting up community broadband networks even in rural and low-income areas currently without service. They would also strip many cities of the funding they need to provide educational and public access channels that cover local issues and support public safety. We need your help to prevent our lawmakers from including HB 789 and HB 3179 in the PUC bill.
Please tell our legislators in Austin not to mess with our internet access. You can find the contact information for your representative by entering your address here:
http://www.commoncause.org/FindElectedOfficials
Urge your Texas state representative to oppose the inclusion of HB 789 and HB 3179 in the PUC bill. Also, please call your senator and tell them you are concerned about provisions in SB 408. The House version contains highly controversial measures that threaten local voices, access to the internet, and even public safety, and it doesn't belong in the senate bill.
After contacting your representative and senator, call Governor Rick Perry at (800) 252-9600 (toll free for Texas residents). The governor needs to know you don't approve of these HB 789 and HB 3179.
It's not right for media giants to pull an end run around the legislative process. Our legislators need to serve the local interests of Texas, not the profits of powerful telecom corporations.
Thank you for all you do for media access in Texas.
Sincerely,
Suzy Woodford
Executive Director
Common Cause Texas
http://www.commoncause.org/Texas