[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        25TH ANNIVERSARY OF PBS

                                 ______


                     HON. DOUGLAS ``PETE'' PETERSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. PETERSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, next month marks the 25th 
anniversary of the Public Broadcasting Service [PBS]. Today, I rise to 
pay tribute to PBS and its 346 member stations across this country. 
Together they have produced an unparalleled tradition of excellence in 
television programming.
  PBS maintains a unique position as an independent, noncommercial 
organization owned and directed by its member stations. Unlike other 
networks which depend on advertisers' funding to support programming, 
PBS remains reliant on donations from viewers, corporate sponsors, and 
to a small degree, Federal funding through the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting.
  Free from commercial constraints, PBS has efficiently and effectively 
brought a diverse range of educational, cultural, and informative 
programming to over 96 million Americans each week. With series such as 
Sesame Street, NOVA, Masterpiece Theater and The MacNeil/Lehrer 
Newshour, combined with special programming such as the Civil War, Eyes 
on the Prize, and most recently Baseball, PBS has proven its ability to 
offer quality programming in a noncommercial environment.
  Recently, critics have attacked PBS for certain programming which 
ventured into controversial issue areas. Despite an organized effort to 
punish PBS by cutting off Federal funding, I applaud Congress's 
decision to once again support the continued investment in this 
important institution.
  While public television has been accused at different times of being 
both too conservative and too liberal, I firmly believe that throughout 
its 25 year history, PBS has demonstrated a commitment to fair and 
balanced coverage of differing points of view. Above all, PBS has 
created truly public television, generating a high standard of 
programming produced by member stations in local communities that 
reflect the great diversity of this Nation.
  Beyond the programming legacy PBS has given us, they also have 
pioneered the use of new telecommunications technologies. In the early 
1970's, PBS proved instrumental in developing closed captions for the 
deaf and hearing-impaired. In 1978, PBS became the first American 
station to distribute its programming nationwide via satellite and in 
1984, a member station in Chicago became the first in the United States 
to broadcast direct stereo sound. Clearly, PBS has a proven record of 
achievement in both programming and technology.
  While the accomplishments of PBS's first 25 years have been many, the 
promises for the future are just as great. As the entire world of 
telecommunication continues to change, one challenge is to ensure that 
America does not divide into a society of information haves and have-
nots. To this end, public television can play a critical role in 
providing equal access to educational and informational programming. By 
assuring continued Federal funding, I believe Congress can and must do 
its part in investing in this future.

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