Put Community Back Into Community TV

OTTAWA , Jan. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - "Canadians have paid over a billion dollars over the last decade for community TV channels. Cable companies have responded by curtailing access," says the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations.

"The CRTC created these channels so Canadians could learn about broadcasting and produce their own programs," CACTUS spokesperson Catherine Edwards noted. "But cable companies have gutted community TV by closing studios, 'firing' volunteers, and regionalizing programming."

CACTUS is urging Canadians to tell the CRTC to reinstate access as it reviews its community TV policy. "Communities should run these channels, not profit-driven corporations," said Edwards. "But the CRTC needs to hear this from Canadians themselves-before February 1st."

A link and tips for responding to the CRTC's call for public comments are available from CACTUS at:

http://cactus.independentmedia.ca

To send the CRTC your views with just one click, go to:

http://openmedia.ca/action

CACTUS is an association of independent and community-owned channels and individual Canadians concerned about the loss in public access to the broadcasting system.

For further information: Catherine Edwards, [phone]