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states- Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri - losing all funding for PEG channels, in 2012. In addition, in 2007, the FCC ruled, subject to some important exceptions, that PEG franchise fees could only be used for facilities and equipment, and not for operating expenses. As a result, many communities are closing PEG facilities because, while they have equipment,there are no funds to operate them. The CAP Act amends the Cable Act to ensure that PEG fees can be used for any purpose, including paying employee salaries. The legislation reaffirms that cable operators must deliver PEG channels to subscribers without additional charges, and via channel placement with the same quality, accessibility and functionality as provided to local television broadcast stations. Finally, it requires operators to provide the support required under state laws, or the support historically provided for PEG, or up to 2 percent of gross revenue, whichever is greater. The CAP Act costs nothing,will address the severe challenges faced by PEG access channels and local community media, and will save thousands of jobs across the country. "Congress,through the cable acts of 1984 and 1992, intended to make sure that local communities could have PEG access channels and funding in return for the cable operators' use of public rights-of-way," said John Rocco,President,American Community Television. This legislation will restore what Congress intended and helps to secure a local community's ability to use these channels to communicate. We want to thank Senator Baldwin and Senator Markey for working together to save these channels." "Wisconsin needs the CAP Act," said Mary Cardona,Executive Director of Wisconsin Community Media. "In 2007, state franchise legislation eliminated PEG funding. Since then, citizen-produced local programming has withered while local governments strive to retain coverage of local affairs. Some key public access centers in the state have closed their doors. The CAP Act will restore support for the community programming residents want. The continuing erosion of community television services in the state has been of great concern to Wisconsin Community Media and we could not be more thrilled at the re-introduction of the CAP Act by Senators Baldwin and Markey." "In a time when religious programming face increasing challenges to its voice being given an equal platform, PEG channels offer a venue for these programs to be accessed," said Bishop John C. Wester,Diocese of Salt Lake City and chair of the USCCB Committee on Communications. "This is of particular importance for the elderly, disabled or homebound who long to remain connected to their religious communities but are unable to take part in their religious or community activities." The CAP Act is supported by the Alliance for Community Media(ACM), American Community Television, The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), The National Association of Counties (NACo), The National League of Cities, The United States Conference of Mayors, Americans for the Arts, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.