Sample Letter to the FCC
(Please put in your own words)
(Date)
William Kennard,
Chair
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Mr. Kennard:
Television plays an important and powerful role in my community, and
I am concerned about the lack of positive images of women, the dearth of
public interest programming that addresses women's needs and the influence
of television programming on children. I understand that television broadcasters
in major cities across the United States began implementing the use of
digital television signals on May 1, 1999. I want to know what responsibilities
broadcasters will be required to assume in exchange for the free use of
our airwaves.
The airwaves are a public trust, yet Congress has given exclusive control
of those airwaves to major corporations for free. In return, broadcasters
are supposed to act in the public interest; but this has never happened.
Women and people of color have never had truly equal access to the airwaves,
and television programming is filled with harmful and negative images and
stereotypes of women.
Broadcasters have urged you to issue voluntary guidelines regarding
their public interest obligations. The public deserves mandatory broadcasting
obligations. I respectfully request that the FCC convene hearings to hear
from those of us who are concerned about women's access to and images in
the media. We should expect something substantial in return for giving
away such vast public resources.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Your city and state)
Copies:
National Organization for
Women Headquarters
Representative ______________________
Senator ______________________
Senator ______________________
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