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Our Public Airwaves, a coalition pushing to revitalize public broadcasting, has launched an online petition urging Paul Martin to follow a parliamentary committee’s recommendation for more funding for the CBC and the Canadian Television Fund.

The group’s web site features background and commentary on the state of public broadcasting. From their mission statement:

We advocate revitalization of Public Broadcasting to expand public airspace in which Canadians can share their ideas, meet their neighbours and tell their stories.

We believe urgent action is required because:

  • Growing economic integration with the U.S. is increasing concern about the preservation of our cultural identity.
  • The availability to commercial broadcasters of a large supply of low-priced American programming has resulted in the virtual disappearance of Canadian drama from our TV screens.
  • Concentration of ownership has seriously reduced the number of independent media voices.