[Advisors] Fwd: URGENT: Last Weekend to Ask CRTC and CBC for PubCaster's Equipment to Be Donated to Communities

[Marita Moll]

>From: <cathyedwards@sympatico.ca>
>To: "Catherine Edwards" <cathy@timescape.ca>
>Subject: URGENT:  Last Weekend to Ask CRTC and CBC for PubCaster's 
>Equipment to Be Donated to Communities
>Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:04:53 -0400
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5931
>X-OriginalArrivalTime: 14 Jun 2012 19:04:51.0168 (UTC) 
>FILETIME=[9344AE00:01CD4A60]
>
>Dear Members and Friends of Community TV,
>
>This weekend is your last chance to participate in the CRTC's public 
>review of the CBC's plans to shut down all remaining 623 analog TV 
>transmitters countrywide.  These transmitters will NOT be upgraded 
>to digital (at least, according to the CBC's proposal) and so 
>Canadians outside Canada's 20 biggest urban centres will no longer 
>have access to free over-the-air CBC or Radio-Canada (the CBC's 
>French service) with bunny ears or a rooftop antenna.
>
><http://www.friends.ca/free_cbc>www.friends.ca/free_cbc
>
>This represents the end of an era for public broadcasting if it is 
>allowed to go through.  It discriminates against those very 
>Canadians (in rural areas and small-towns) who are least likely to 
>afford high-priced cable and satellite subscriptions.
>
>The second shocking part of the CBC's plan is that there has been 
>ano outreach to the communities affected by the service losses.  A 
>statement on the CBC's web site says they'll begin outreach after 
>the CRTC's public consultation is over!  In other words, we'll only 
>tell you about, when it's too late to comment.
>
>It will also be very difficult for most communities in the short 
>time remaining before the July 31st shutdown, to consider whether 
>they themselves would like to maintain the CBC transmitters (and in 
>many cases the towers too)before they are taken down.
>
>This is infrastructure has been paid for by Canadians and should not 
>be disposed of before we have a chance to consider our options.
>
>Please join us this weekend (dead-line for comment is 8 p.m. EST 
>Monday) in calling for the CBC to conduct a co-ordinated outreach 
>campaign to affected communities before the shut-off, to develop 
>options to keep service available.
>
>You can use the link above (suggested talking points are provided) 
>or the following link for sample text.  Both can be submitted direct 
>to the CRTC with a single button-click.
>
>Thanks for your support.  If you yourself won't be affected by the 
>service loss (i.e. if you live in a big city or subscribe to cable 
>or satellite), please support the idea that a national broadcaster 
>should be available to all, from COAST TO COAST TO COAST.  You've paid for it.
>
><http://www.openmedia.ca/lifeline>www.openmedia.ca/lifeline
>
>Thanks,
>Cathy Edwards
>Canadian Association of Community TV Users and Stations
>(CACTUS)
>(819) 772-2862
>cactus.independentmedia.ca