ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 18, 1990                   TAG: 9003162348
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WRITE TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT CABLE TV BILL

This letter is about a bill in Congress that could give cable service to those of us who live in rural areas, not just here in Southwestern Virginia, but across the United States.

This bill, called the Cable Competition Act, HR2437, is in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. If this bill is passed, it would allow telephone companies like C&P Telephone to use their facilities to bring cable to all homes that have telephones. This is the same bill that would regulate the charges and quality of service of cable companies that provide service right now.

Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, introduced this bill in May 1989. Cable companies are fighting to kill it. They don't believe they need any regulation. They don't even address the problem of no cable service in rural areas.

If we want the choice of having cable or quality cable at reasonable prices, then we need to let Boucher know we support this bill. We can also let Sens. John Warner and Charles Robb know how we feel. We could also write to the Federal Communications Commission to let its members know we favor this bill as they will be a part of the decision-making process. You can get the addresses through the League of Women Voters or the library.\ Barbara Garrett\ Riner 


 by CNB