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:

* Canadian consumers 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.

Tell the CRTC to put an end to this insanity

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

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. 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.

The deadline for comments to reach the CRTC is February 1st so please send your comments today.

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

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