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The Senate Commerce Committee passed S.2686 in a 15 to 7 vote. Stevens will now need to submit the Bill to a full Senate vote.

6/28 Updates:
PEG Provisions are intact (good!)
Broadcast Flag Passes (bad!)
Kerry-Boxer Build-out, red-lining, Amendment Fails, 12-10 (bad!)
McCain À La Carte Bill Fails 20-2 (good!)
LPFM Amendment Passes 14 to 7 (great!)
Net Neutrality Snowe/Dorgan Fails 11-11 (bad!)
See our previous amendment update below.

News updates from 6/27 by Broadcasting & Cable, National Journal and Reuters.

S.2686 Amendments and What You Can Do:
Over 200 amendments are to be discussed for possible inclusion, including one on broadcast flag with onerous copy protection that impacts on 'fair use' issues. Another amendment would expand local radio licenses - a good addition.

1) To counter broadcast flag there is an another amendment to strike it. Public Knowledge calls on people with Senators on the Commerce Committee (see list below) to:
Call your Senator today with this simple message: “Support the Sununu Amendment to strike the broadcast and radio flags.” If you’re from New Hampshire, you might want to express your gratitude to Senator Sununu, and let him know you’re a supportive constituent.
Learn more at EFF and Public Knowledge.

2) Sen. McCain has offered an amendment that would expand Low Power Radio licenses. This could result in hundreds of new local radio stations serving local communities. Our friends at Prometheus Radio are asking people to call on their Senators to support TITLE XI: LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT by calling and saying:
I support, and my community supports, the language in Senate Bill 2686 that would expand low power FM across our state and across this country. In an era of natural disasters, and few opportunities for churches, schools, and community groups to make their voices heard, we need more local radio stations in our cities and towns. Please support low power FM in Senate Bill 2686."

3) The Alliance for Community Media is asking supporters to support the gains made in including PEG provisions in S.2686 by:
- Calling or faxing your Senators again.
- Send a copy Senators Inouye and Stevens.
- The message is simple:
"We ask that you prevent any amendments to S2686 that attack PEG funding, franchise fees or municipal authority. Thank you."

These phone calls/faxes are especially important if your Senator is on the Commerce Committee (see the list below). And please continue to send your emails via our site which also seeks to protect PEG provisions.

Republicans:

Ted Stevens - Alaska - Chairman
Hart 522 202-224-3004
http://stevens.senate.gov/
Fax (202) 224-2354

John McCain - Arizona
Russell 241 202-224-2235
http://mccain.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-2862

Conrad Burns - Montana
Dirksen 187 202-224-2644
http://burns.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-8594

Trent Lott - Mississippi
Russell 487 202-224-6253
http://lott.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-2262

Kay Bailey Hutchison - Texas
Russell 284 202-224-5922
http://hutchison.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-0776

Olympia Snowe - Maine
Russell 154 202-224-5344
http://snowe.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-1946

Gordon Smith - Oregon
Russell 404 202-224-3753
http://gsmith.senate.gov/
Fax: 202.228.3997

John Ensign - Nevada
Russell 364 202-224-6244
http://ensign.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-2193

George Allen - Virginia
Russell 204 202-224-4024
http://allen.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-5432

John Sununu - New Hampshire
Russell 111 202-224-2841
http://sununu.senate.gov/
FAX (202) 228-4131

Jim DeMint - South Carolina
Russell 340202-224-6121
http://demint.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-5143

David Vitter - Louisiana
Hart 516202-224-4623
http://vitter.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-5061

Democrats

Daniel K. Inouye - Hawaii - Co-Chairman
Hart 722 202-224-3934
http://inouye.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-6747

John D. Rockefeller IV - West Virginia
Hart 531 202-224-6472
Fax (202) 224-7665 Fax
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/

John F. Kerry - Massachussetts
Russell 304 202-224-2742
http://kerry.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-8525

Byron L. Dorgan - North Dakota
Hart 322 202-224-2551
http://dorgan.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-1193

Barbara Boxer - California
Hart 112 202-224-3553
http://boxer.senate.gov/
Fax: none listed

Bill Nelson - Florida
Hart 716 202-224-5274
http://billnelson.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-2183

Maria Cantwell - Washington
Hart 717 202-224-3441
http://cantwell.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-0514

Frank Lautenberg - New Jersey
Hart 324 202-224-3224
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-4054

E. Benjamin Nelson - Nebraska
Hart 720202-224-6551
http://bennelson.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-0012

Mark Pryor - Arkansas
Russell 217202-224-2353
http://pryor.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-0908