[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           MR. HSU'S MEETING

                                 ______


                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 1995
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, in every advanced society, 
regulation of the airways and the electronic media is both a necessity 
and a recognized duty of government. In the United States, we have long 
believed that the airways belong to the public. Therefore, the United 
States licenses frequency assignments in each market. Section 301 of 
the Communications Act of 1934 clearly states that no one may operate a 
radio, television, or other wireless transmission facility without a 
license from the Federal Communications Commission. This law was 
enacted to prevent several parties from attempting to use the same 
frequency and, in the process, destroying their ability to reliably 
broadcast. It also ensures that the public is compensated for one of 
its greatest assets and ensures that persons granted use of this 
resource do not abuse their privilege.
  Mr. Speaker, other developed nations have followed the lead of the 
United States by enacting laws like our Communications Act. In 1993, 
the Republic of China on Taiwan enacted comprehensive legislation to 
permit the licensing of new radio stations and the establishment of 
cable television stations. Under this law, many former operators of 
underground radio stations, which had been operating illegally for many 
years, were permitted to apply for new licenses. To date, 17 of the 20 
former operators of these underground stations have received licenses 
after their applications were reviewed by a nonpartisan professional 
licensing board. These licenses were granted without regard to the 
operators' political affiliations. In fact, three licenses were awarded 
to operators who are openly opposed to the current party in power.
  Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Republic of China has been 
extremely generous in its licensing policies. In the United States, 
anyone found to be illegally operating a commercial radio station 
rarely gets a chance to obtain a commercial radio station after being 
found in violation of the law. Despite this generous policy, several 
operators of illegal radio stations in Taiwan have refused to apply for 
licenses and have continued to operate illegally, thereby jamming the 
frequencies lawfully allocated to licensed operators.
  Mr. Speaker, one such illegal radio operator is Mr. Hsu Rongchi. This 
week, Mr. Hsu has requested and, in fact, has been granted, a meeting 
with a select few Members of the U.S. Congress to discuss the issue of 
licensing radio stations in the Republic of China. It is my expectation 
that Mr. Hsu will argue that the Republic of China on Taiwan has 
prevented him from exercising his right to free speech by shutting down 
his illegal radio operation.
  Mr. Speaker, I fully respect Mr. Hsu's right to meet with Members of 
the U.S. Congress. I also respect the right of Members of Congress to 
solicit the opinion of foreign citizens on foreign policy related 
matters. At the same time, I am deeply concerned about how this meeting 
may be portrayed in the American and foreign media. In my 12 years in 
Congress, I have witnessed on numerous occasions foreign nationals who 
have deliberately misrepresented their interaction with Members of 
Congress in order to achieve their own political objectives.
  Mr. Speaker, I feel it is important to emphasize that Mr. Hsu has not 
been granted a hearing by the House Committee of International 
Relations or the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. I sit on this 
full committee and this subcommittee. In the House of Representatives, 
they have exclusive jurisdiction to hold hearings on issues impacting 
United States-Republic of China relations. While Mr. Hsu and others may 
be billing this February 2, meeting with Members of Congress as a 
hearing, it is actually a meeting with a few Members of Congress. 
Furthermore, the fact that a few Members of Congress have conceded to 
meet with Mr. Hsu should not be portrayed as any affirmation by the 
U.S. Congress of Mr. Hsu's viewpoint, or for that matter, that the U.S. 
Congress views this issue of great importance. In fact, I believe that 
the majority of my colleagues would disagree with Mr. Hsu's opinions 
regarding the fairness with which the Republic of China on Taiwan 
licenses radio stations.
  Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that my remarks will have clarified for all 
those interested parties what is and is not taking place this week in 
the U.S. Congress regarding the radio licensing issue.


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