Date

Name, title
Address
City, State ZIP
 

Dear (Name):
 

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. 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.

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. 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.

Broadcasters have urged the Federal Communications Commission to issue voluntary guidelines regarding their public interest obligations. The public deserves mandatory broadcasting obligations. I respectfully request that the FCC convene hearings [or: that Congress require the FCC to convene hearings] to hear from those of us who are concerned about women's images in the media and our access to the airwaves. We should expect something substantial in return for giving away such vast public resources.

Sincerely,
 

Your Name
Your Address, City and State

cc: National Organization for Women