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<TITLE>Local TV- urgent call to action</TITLE>
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<P><B><FONT FACE="Arial">Planning for Local and Community Digital TV in the UK</FONT></B>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">The future of free to air local and community TV on digital may be under threat …. please read on for more information.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">The Government is currently planning how to use the broadcast television spectrum after analogue switch off. The planning is being carried out based on 3 scenarios. Recently we have been advised that Scenario 1, the Radical Replan is being seriously considered by the DTI. This would leave little or no room for local and community TV. There are two other scenarios that would leave potential space for community and local TV and it is urgent that we let the politicians know that there is demand for local and community TV.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">The Government is working towards a decision on this by February 2003. </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">The CMA is approaching this from two angles and it would be useful to have your support on this, and to hear your views.</FONT></P>
<P><B><FONT FACE="Arial">Approach 1</FONT></B>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">1. Write to Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">2. Ask MPs in your area to write to Stephen Timms supporting your project.</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Please could you let me know if you do decide to contact the Minister and your MPs. Also, please forward this email to anyone who you know who may be interested in supporting local and community TV.</FONT></P>
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<P><B><FONT FACE="Arial">Approach 2</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">The Communications bill is presently being debated in the House of Commons. The CMA has asked for an amendment to be tabled which would ensure that capacity is created for local digital TV services. (see below). If this and the other amendments on local and community TV are debated it will most likely be between 9.00 and 11.30 on Thursday 16 January. CMA will also lobby to have these issues raised in the Lords. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">Amendment to <SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></FONT><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B> <FONT FACE="Arial">Clause 153</FONT></B></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Arial">Page 138, line 35, after "service" insert "and that there is sufficient remaining capacity for at least two local digital television services in every locality"</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial">Please get in touch if you have any questions. Email nicky@commedia.org.uk. Tel 0114 279 5219.</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial">Best wishes</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial">Nicky Edmonds</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial">Community Media Association</FONT></SPAN>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial">Visit the Community Media Association!</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN><A HREF="http://www.commedia.org.uk"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">http://www.commedia.org.uk</FONT></U></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial">Telephone 0114 279 5219</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT FACE="Arial">Email nicky@commedia.org.uk</FONT></SPAN>
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