How and What to Communicate with Your Congressional Leaders

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How and What to Communicate with Your
Congressional Leaders

• A Presentation to NATOA by TeleCommUnity
• Michael Bracy Gerry Lederer
• September 21, 2005
• Washington,DC

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Presenters

• Gerry Lederer

• Mike Bracy

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Program Outline

• Effective Advocacy Basic Steps Michael Bracy
• Effective Advocacy The State of Play and
  Messages
• Gerry Lederer

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Understanding Washington

• Power Comes From Three Sources
• Money
• Information
• Ability to Reach an Audience
• Every Policy Decision is a
• Risk/Reward Calculation

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Communicating with Elected Leaders

• Identifying the Members role
• Scheduling the Meeting
• Meeting Preparation
• The Meeting
• Follow-Up

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Identifying the Members Role

• On what committees does the member serve?
• How involved is the member in this issue?
• What position has the member taken on the issue
  in the past?
• Is the member a friend or foe? A champion?

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Scheduling the Meeting

• Identify existing relationships with staff
• Note any previous interaction with staff
• Identify points of mutual interest (upcoming
  events, specific actions being taken, etc.)
• Assess how much time
• to ask for

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Meeting Preparation

• Research past legislation on the issue that the
  member has introduced, co-sponsored, supported,
  or discussed.
• Identify the members position on any related
  issues.
• Limit the number of people attending the meeting.
• Assign talking points.

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The Meeting

• Maintain a friendly demeanor - avoid
  confrontation
• Remind the staffer of past support and success
• Ask questions to determine the members current
  position on the issue

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Follow Up

• Thank the member or staffer for meeting with you
• Promptly send any materials were requested during
  the meeting
• Schedule the next meeting or follow up call with
  staff

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The State of Play

• Applying Advocacy Tools and Shared Messages

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Brand X Fallout

• FCC Affirmed Emboldened?
• Bells pushing for the perceived advantages of
  interstate information services and national
  franchise.
• Threat does not reside only in Congress.

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Commerce Committees - Parallel Processes

• The Fundamental Issue Facing Policy Makers -
  Managing Transition from Analog to Digital
  Telecommunications Framework

• Closed-door leadership negotiations.
• Attempts at consensus building.
• Timeline is unclear, but nearing.
• Katrina slowed, but did not derail effort.

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Marker Legislation

• National Franchise
• House Staff Draft
• Ensign Bill (S. 1504)
• Smith/Rockefeller (S. 1349) Blackburn/Wynn
  Bills (H.R. 3146)
• Muni-Provisioning
• House Staff Draft
• McCain/Lautenberg (S. 1294)
• Sessions Bill (H.R. 2726)

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Marker Legislation

• DTV Transition
• Slaughter - Low-Power Radio Expansion/Protection
• Hinchey - Media Ownership Rollback

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Talking Points -- Vision

• Preserve local authority to manage public rights
  of way for the benefit of everyone.
• Protect local authority to establish taxes that
  are consistent with local needs and maintain
  adequate revenue.

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Talking Points -- Vision

• Protect and enhance local ability to provide for
  homeland and hometown security.
• Recognize local roles in promoting
  nondiscriminatory access to the full range of
  communications services.

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The Asks -- Please

• National Franchise
• Do not nationalize franchising.
• Do not co-sponsor any bill without checking at
  home.

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The Asks -- Please

• Muni-Provisioning
• Protect local governments ability to facilitate
  or offer advanced communications services to
  their citizens.
• Co-sponsor S.1294 to protect local governments
  authority to offer these services.
• Oppose H.R.2726.

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The Asks -- Please

• Public Safety Spectrum
• Move quickly to adopt a firm date for
  broadcasters to return digital television
  spectrum for use by local first responders.

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The Asks --Please

• Any reform of the collection and administration
  of communications taxes must preserve local
  authority to collect revenue consistent with
  local needs and treat like services alike.

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Be Wary of the Deal

• Congress wants to please everyone
• Outline of a proposed deal include
• 5 Franchise Fee
• Right of Way Management
• PEG Capacity
• Must articulate why this
• deal is unacceptable.

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Models of Successful Engagement

• Invite Members to tour facilities
• Town Hall Meetings
• Press Events
• Introductions to Compelling Community Leaders
• Build Alliances with like-minded advocates (Free
  Press, Common Cause, Alliance for Community
  Media, National Hispanic Media Coalition, etc.)

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Q A