State Bill No. LD920 will take control of video service fees away from cities and towns, hiking monthly payments for Mainers, hurting our most vulnerable families, seniors, and rural citizens.
As localities across Maine begin to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Mainers – especially those in rural communities, small business owners, seniors, and fixed- and low-income residents – still struggle to feed their families, access critical medical services, and stay connected.
But as we face these difficult times, lawmakers in Augusta are considering State Bill No. LD920, which would implement new video service fees, creating a mandatory five-percent assessment on cable and other video services through local franchise fees, and a second fee of up to $0.25 per month. More than 200 localities across the state either do not assess franchise fees, or assess them at lower rates, because they know these fees hurt their citizens. The second fee would be new for everyone.
But as we face these difficult times, lawmakers in Augusta are considering State Bill No. LD920, which would implement new video service fees, creating a mandatory five-percent assessment on cable and other video services through local franchise fees, and a second fee of up to $0.25 per month. More than 200 localities across the state either do not assess franchise fees, or assess them at lower rates, because they know these fees hurt their citizens. The second fee would be new for everyone.
State Bill No. LD920 would needlessly increase monthly expenses for Mainers across the state while undermining the ability of cities and towns to make decisions on behalf of their own residents.
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Auburn Mayor Levesque in the Bangor Daily News:
“Cable Fee Legislation Would Strip Away Local Control, Increase Customer Costs.” |
Letter from Town Leaders Opposing LD920
Local leaders are pushing back to protect their communities by adopting a resolution opposing State Bill No. LD920.
Download the resolution for your own community here:
Adobe PDF document
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MS Word document
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LD920 will disproportionately hurt Maine’s most vulnerable citizens, from seniors living on a fixed income to those who are still out of work due to the pandemic. Adding to Mainers’ monthly expenses with costly new fees will make recovery from a difficult year even more challenging.
LOCAL MAINE COMMUNITIES OPPOSE HIGHER, STATE-MANDATED VIDEO FEES.
TELL OUR LAWMAKERS TO VOTE “NO” ON State Bill No. LD920.
TELL OUR LAWMAKERS TO VOTE “NO” ON State Bill No. LD920.