Save Muni Wireless

ACT NOW: Write State Legislators

March 7 update: This action alert has been superceded. Please see the revised posting.

Now is the time to tell our Texas state representatives that we want the anti-wireless provisions removed from HB 789. We especially need to send this message to the representatives on the House Committee for Regulated Industries. They are holding a public hearing on the the bill this Tuesday, which will determine whether the anti-wireless provisions remain.

The representatives on this committee are:

(* - The marked number currrently is listed wrong on the House of Representatives web site. The number in the table has been verfied as correct.)

If you live in any of these districts, it is critically important that you write to your representative this week. Please click the name to see contact information. For other districts, please visit this page to determine your representative.

When writing to your representative, please be sure to do the following:

• Let them know you live in their district.
• State that you oppose the ban on community internet (sec. 54.202) in HB 789.
• Tell them how you believe the ban would adversely affect your community.
• If your community has a public internet project that would be harmed by HB 789, let them know.
• If your community has no broadband access (or gained access only after a community network was deployed), let them know.
• We recommend sending your message by fax or postal mail, in preference to email.

We have prepared some sample letters. Your own words will be most effective, but these will give you some ideas about what you might say. Also, please see our fact sheet for more information on how HB 789 will harm Texas.

This first letter would be helpful if your community already has a public access project:

Dear Representative (name),

I live in (my town... Houston, Belton, Corpus Christi). I'm writing to oppose the ban on community internet in HB 789 (section 54.202).

In (my town) we have a public wireless network. This network provides (public safety, economic development, tourism, access to underserved communities). In the future, we are planning to expand the network, to increase (geographic coverage, the number of people served, provide broadband access). If the community internet ban remains in HB 789, our network will be harmed.

Like roads and streetlights, community internet is a public service that benefits the (city/town/county). Cities, towns and counties have the right to manage our public services so they benefit the community. The community internet ban in HB 789 will interfere with this right.

I urge you to remove the ban on community internet from HB 789, to protect the public network in (my town).

Signed ...

This second letter signifies more general support:

Dear Representative (name),

I live in (my town... Houston, Belton, Corpus Christi). I'm writing to oppose the ban on community internet in HB 789 (section 54.202).

Like roads and streetlights, community internet is a public service that provides broad benefits. Community internet services promote economic development, improve public safety, create jobs, and support education and tourism.

There are many areas in Texas that don't have network service. Community networks are the only choice to provide access to these underserved areas.

It doesn't make sense to require all county roads to be privately owned toll roads, and it doesn't make sense for the state to impose such a mandate on our digital highways. The ban on community internet serves the narrow interest of the telephone companies, and harms civic life and economic development in Texas. I urge you to remove this provision from the bill.

Signed ...

Please send us a copy of your letter, so we can track who has been contacted. You can send copies either by email to info@savemuniwireless.org or by fax to 815-301-8302. If you receive a response, please let us know what they said.