A nonprofit, national membership organization founded in 1976, the Alliance represents over 1,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access organizations and community media centers throughout the country. It also represents the interests of millions of people who, through their local religious, community and charitable groups, use PEG access to communicate with their memberships and the community as a whole.

Local community groups, public schools, religious institutions, colleges and universities, government officials, the disabled, and second language communities as well as national institutions such as NASA, the US Department of Education, and the US Army, to name a few, all use PEG facilities and equipment to advance their causes through cable television and the Internet.

The Alliance for Community Media provides critical support services for these community media centers and for the primarily volunteer staff that keep these electronic outposts of democracy in operation. The Alliance's activities in providing technical assistance, grassroots organizing and opportunities to share experience promote the broader goals of supporting our nation's communities and families and promoting effective communication through community use of media.

The Alliance's public policy program is dedicated to promoting legislation and regulation which supports PEG access. To achieve this, the Alliance works with Congress, state legislatures, the Federal Communications Commission, state public utilities commissions, and coalition partners and brings suits when necessary in courts around the country.