The Numbers:

* Cable monopolies are holding back nearly $120 Million dollars a year from a public trust that is supposed to be used for independent citizen media.

Reality:

The misuse of these funds is 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 would act as incubators for job creation, empowerment, and media innovation.
* A platform for local debate, culture, and programming controlled by citizens, not private media monopolies.
* Media centres where everyone, including marginalized citizens like at-risk youth, could freely develop their skills and capacities, and share their experience and perspectives.

Tell the CRTC you want the community media trust to go to media
innovation hubs, not private media monopolies!

Tell the CRTC to put an end to this insanity

If you're a twitter user let your followers know about this dire situation:

It is outrageous and unfair that four of the most profitable companies in Canada are taking public
funds to promote their brands. Please help put a stop to this

The choice is ours: we can allow big cable to continue to use our money to promote their brands, or we can reclaim these funds to create new-media incubators that lead to job creation, empowerment, and media innovation.

More ways to help:

1. Share on Facebook

2. Join our Facebook group

3. Email your friends and family

For more on this issue read Steve Anderson and Michael Lithgow's article: "A new vision for community media", or visit the CACTUS web site at http://cactus.independentmedia.ca.


The CRTC has removed a public report that they commissioned from their website. Read the report: Community TV Policies and Practices Around the World


If you would like to show your organization's support for the Community Media Now campaign,
you can sign up here!

Help us fight for community and independent media: Support OpenMedia.ca

Related Information:
Is community TV facing its Waterloo?
A National Public-Access Channel for Canada
Advertising on the Community Channel

Attachment	Size
communitymedia.jpg	10.93 KB