How and What to Communicate with Your Elected Leaders

1
How and What to Communicate with Your Elected
Leaders

• A Presentation to
• Gerry Lederer
• Miller Van Eaton
• May 3, 2009
• Myrtle Beach, SC

2
Program Outline

• Effective Advocacy Basic Steps
• Effective Advocacy The State of Play and
  Messages
• Having fun cause if its not a joy you cant
  win.

3
Understanding Policy Making(ers)

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

4
Communicating with Elected Leaders

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

5
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?

6
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

7
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.

8
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

9
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

10
Advocacy in Hard Times
11
Marshall Your Assets

• Cable Consumers
• PEG Viewers
• PEG Users
• Schools
• ____________

12
Example of Marshalling Assets

• Who is driving as far north tomorrow as Pedros?
• Need a ride after last session.

13
Party Tonight

• Room 930 starting at 9 pm

14
The State of Play

• Applying Advocacy Tools and Shared Messages

15
Talking Points -- Vision

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

16
Talking Points -- Vision

• Protect and enhance local ability to provide for
  homeland and hometown security.
• Dont impose rules on local government that
  industry would not accept.
• Recognize local roles in promoting
  nondiscriminatory access to the full range of
  communications services.

17
The Asks -- Please

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

18
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.)

19
Q A
20
State Franchising An idea whose time has past
and whose benefits have failed to appear.
21
Majority of States Have Rejected State
Franchising.
22
Number of States Adopting Legislation Has Fallen
Dramatically
23
HISTORIC TABLES PRIOR TO 2005, 10 STATES HAD SOME
STATE LEVEL OVERSIGHT WITH THREE STATES SERVING
AS FRANCHISING AUTHORITY
24
High-water Mark for Franchise Consideration was
in 2007
25
State Franchising Status today Majority Preserve
Local Franchise
26
Failure of Benefits to Arrive Prices Continue to
Rise
27
Failure of Benefits 60 of States Cut PEG Support
28
Failure of Benefits Consumer Satisfaction

• Ninety eight percent (98) of local regulators in
  state franchise states when surveyed disagreed
  with the statement Customer service is working
  better now than it was before the implementation
  of state franchising.
• Source NATOA