Dear Friend of the PTC:

As you may know, cable programming does not fall under the FCC's indecency regulations - in spite of the fact that more than 80% of US households are cable subscribers. That means the same content that would get a broadcast network (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, etc...) in trouble with the FCC, is perfectly fine for basic cable. That means that when your children are flipping through the channels it is likely that at some point, they are going to stumble across something you'd rather they not see. From chilling violence, to explicit language, to nearly pornographic sex, pretty much anything goes on basic cable. And what's worse - you, as a cable subscriber, are expected to pay for that content. Even if you never watch it... even if you find it offensive… even if you choose to block those channels on your cable box...you're still paying for it. It's nothing short of forced extortion by the cable industry.

In order to get Nickelodeon or the Disney channel or other cable channels that you enjoy watching with your family, you are forced to accept MTV, FX, and a slew of other cable channels that regularly air indecent programming. But it doesn't have to be that way.

There has been a strong push to offer cable subscribers the option of choosing cable channels on an a la carte basis. Offering parents the ability to choose the channels they want, and to pay only for those channels, puts power back in the hands of the consumer - of parents - and forces the producers of indecent or violent programming to fund their own raunch.

We are asking you to take a moment today to contact your elected officials in support of a la carte cable packaging.

Thank you for your support.