Cable Choice Would Empower Families

Citizenlink.org reports that a bipartisan effort by elected representatives in Washington are currently seeking to enact a new law to keep harmful television programming from children:

Legislation introduced [this month] in the U.S. House would allow consumers to choose the cable channels that enter their homes.

Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R Neb., are sponsoring the Family Choice Act of 2007. The bill calls for a family tier, indecency standards or "a la carte" programming and would allow subscribers to get a refund for channels they choose to block.

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, said the current climate of TV makes it nearly impossible for parents to shield children from profanity and violence. "Television programmers steal children's innocence in their drive to the bottom to outdo each other," she said in a statement. "Their irresponsible and arrogant behavior in the face of protests from consumers is an invitation for this legislation."

The polls are clear: people want choice. However, the cable industry has tried to confuse the public into thinking their current “cable choice” programs already provide what consumers want. However, cable subscribers are not buying it. They know the technology is there for them to pay per channel. A lot of families want their FOX NEWS, their Discovery Channels, their ESPN, their favorite hobby channel; but they don’t want to pay for channels, like M-TV, that bring down their family. However, the detrimental channels are being forced into many of the so-called “family-friendly” choice packages.

FCC Says A La Carte Cable Pricing Means “Substantial” Savings To Consumers

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced last year that cable customers would see “substantial benefits” if a la Carte programming is allowed to be instituted.

Wouldn’t it be nice to see all your money go to only those channels you want to watch? Instead of paying $50 a month while wasting your time flipping through hundreds of channels you really don’t want to watch anyway, imagine being able to pay say $1.99 per month for every channels you do want to watch – as well those you know are safe for your whole family.

TAKE ACTION: By just a few simple clicks here, you can write a short letter to all your elected representatives in Washington. Tell them you want “a la carte” programming instituted into actual policy. Tell them it’s shown to work, and it helps your pocketbook at the same time. Mandate that cable providers offer “a la carte” television programming to its viewers so consumers are not forced to pay – and thereby support – channels they find morally detrimental to their families.