[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E589-E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING SHOULD CONTINUE

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                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 14, 1995
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I want to spend a few 
minutes telling my colleagues about four public broadcasting television 
stations in Florida's Third Congressional District. WJCT in 
Jacksonville, WFME in Orlando, WUFT in Gainesville, and WCEU in Daytona 
Beach are truly community assets. They provide programming which 
enlightens, enriches, entertains, and touches the lives of thousands of 
north and central Floridians.
  These public broadcasting stations have been an integral part of our 
communities. They have been important partners in public education, 
providing instructional television and media technology resources to 
our schools since their beginning.
  Public broadcasting reaches 99 percent of all American television 
households. Its high quality educational and cultural programs have 
contributed significantly to the quality of life in north Florida. And 
it's a great investment. Public broadcasting is one of the best public-
private partnerships ever developed, matching Federal dollars on a 5 to 
1 basis. And it delivers these dollars to the local level. It is also 
at 
[[Page E590]] the forefront of the development and utilization of 
technology in education. For instance, through WJCT's National Teachers 
training Institute in Math, Science, and Technology, our local teachers 
learn the latest techniques for using technology in the classroom.
  Programs like ``Reading Rainbow,'' Sesame Street,'' and ``Mr. Rogers' 
Neighborhood'' are seen by school children and preschoolers in our 
community every day. Helping to prepare youngsters for school, and 
enhancing their education once they start school, are among public 
television stations' and our community's highest priorities.
  Federal dollars are extremely important to these stations. Without 
them, WJCT's ``Radio Reading Service for the Blind and Visually 
Impaired,'' and captioning of regularly televised local government 
meetings for the hearing impaired would not be possible. WCEU would not 
be able to produce programs like ``Mathline,'' a pilot project, which 
trains teachers in the latest mathematics techniques. WMFE could not 
provide programming for public school systems in grades K-12, audio 
reading services for the visually challenged and print disabled, and 
public affairs shows like ``Opinion Street.'' WUFT's daily half-hour 
News Five broadcasts, local television programs like the weekly ``North 
Florida Journal'' public affairs television programs, and the weekly 
minority affairs series ``Reflections'' would have to be reduced or 
eliminated.
  Public radio and television provide these and many other services 
nationwide at the remarkable low cost of $1.09 annually per person. On 
the local level, Federal funds make up approximately 14 percent of 
WJCT's budget, 17 percent of WFME's budget, 20 percent of WUFT's 
budget, and 34 percent of WCEU's budget.
  ``Privatizing'' public broadcasting means commercials, and dollar-
driven programming, which would radically change the face of this 
unique broadcasting medium. If instructional/educational broadcasting 
could generate high profits, public broadcasting already would have 
become a commercial venture.
  As representatives of the people, we must be constructive, creative, 
and cost-efficient in achieving our national goals of good education 
and the opportunity for rich cultural resources for all of our 
citizens. If we realistically evaluate what public broadcasting 
actually offers to our communities, I believe that we will see the 
value of continued funding for this very cost efficient and successful, 
national educational and cultural institution. Thank you for allowing 
me this time to tell you about the importance of continued Federal 
funding for public broadcasting for my constituents in the cities of 
Jacksonville, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, and Orlando.


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