[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 13 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S811-S812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PUBLIC SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MINNESOTA BROADCASTERS

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the public 
interest contributions of the radio and television broadcasters in my 
home state of Minnesota. As a former broadcaster, I appreciate their 
efforts in our communities, and their accomplishments should not be 
overlooked.
  Last month, I reflected upon how radio has become an influential 
medium in the lives of many Americans throughout its 78 years of 
operation in the United States. As my colleagues know, January was 
recognized as ``National Radio Month.'' Today, I wanted to highlight in 
broader terms, the extraordinary influence and unselfish nature of both 
radio and television broadcasts.
  Broadcasts over the 12,200 radio stations in the U.S. serve a variety 
of purposes. Radio communicates with listeners during time of 
emergency, informs them of noteworthy community events such as 
fundraising drives, educates them about developing stories and current 
events, and entertains during long drives across our states. Americans 
listen to the radio an average of three hours and twelve minutes on 
weekdays, and four hours and 42 minutes on weekends.
  Similar to the listening power of radio, television has also become a 
vital part of our daily lives. Since the

[[Page S812]]

first television broadcast test in the U.S. took place during the 
1920s, this medium has evolved and grown from approximately 36 
broadcast television stations in 1948 to more than 1,550 stations 
across the country today. According to the National Association of 
Broadcasters, 98 percent of U.S. households currently own television 
receivers. And television is the main news source for 70 percent of the 
American public.
  Mr. President, many of our country's radio and television stations 
have participated in public service to their communities, not only out 
of statutory obligation for the licenses they receive, but because they 
have become part of their communities' way of life. I am proud of a 
recent Minnesota Broadcasters Association survey of station executives 
in which all 16 commercial television stations and 50 percent of the 
242 radio stations responded. As impressive as these findings are, I am 
sure they represent only a microcosm of the public interest 
contributions of our nation's broadcasters.
  I was pleased to learn that radio and television stations across 
Minnesota raised more than $19.4 million for charities between June 
1996 and June 1997, including $65 million in donated air time for 
Public Service Announcements. The hundreds of public service 
announcements broadcast each week highlighted such issues as AIDS 
awareness, disaster relief, safety campaigns, drunk driving, and drug 
and crime education programs.
  Additionally, of those stations surveyed, 100 percent of television 
stations and 95 percent of radio stations have helped charitable causes 
or needy individuals through fund-raising and other types of support.
  I know my constituents who suffered through the midwest floods of 
1997 are grateful to those stations in Minnesota who were involved in 
local news broadcasts, public service announcements, public affairs 
programming, and off-air campaigns to aid disaster victims.
  A typical example of the Minnesota broadcasters' efforts during last 
year's spring floods is how Minnesota radio and television stations 
worked together with their listeners to raise $1.6 million to help and 
assist the flood victims. These stations also produced a video titled 
``Beyond the Flood,'' donating the profits to the hundreds of thousands 
of Minnesotans who had their lives disrupted by the floods.
  Mr. President, the statistics I have cited do not tell the whole 
story. There have been hundreds of examples of how Minnesota's 
broadcasters have provided extraordinary local public service to 
communities around Minnesota.
  Additional past noteworthy accomplishments that come to mind include 
efforts by WJON-AM and its two sister stations in St. Cloud to raise 
money to buy bulletproof vests for the police departments. Its goal was 
$50,000, but ultimately raised $75,000. And stations 92 KQRS-FM and 
93.7 KEGE-FM in Minneapolis have worked with Minnesota Job Services to 
set up a free interactive telephone hotline to connect employers with 
qualified applicants. Amazingly, this service registers 10,000 calls 
each month.
  Finally, some of my colleagues in the Senate have advocated that 
Congress or the Federal Communications Commission mandate ``free'' or 
further discounted air time for political candidates. While I share the 
concern of many of my colleagues over the decreasing level of voter 
participation over the last few years, I believe proponents of this 
idea should more closely examine the level to which broadcasters are 
already raising the political awareness of the electorate through news 
coverage and free debate time. In 1996, two-thirds of Minnesota radio 
stations and four in ten television stations offered free air time to 
political candidates, with many of those stations actually holding the 
events.
  Many more stations aired a local political affairs program or segment 
dealing with the local elections, and special segments profiling 
candidates and their positions on the issues. And nearly all of the 
stations surveyed appealed to their audiences to vote, whether through 
public service announcements, public affairs programming or the news. 
These efforts by Minnesota's broadcasters have helped to restore the 
people's faith and participation in our democracy.
  Through disaster relief efforts, holiday safety initiatives, fund-
raising drives, school announcements, public affairs programming, and 
weather emergency information, Minnesota broadcasters have demonstrated 
their commitment and dedication to public service.
  I am proud to say that in some instances, these efforts have been 
recognized by the Minnesota Broadcasters Association through their 
``Media Best Awards'' and by the National Association of Broadcasters 
annual ``Crystal Radio Awards.''
  I applaud the leadership shown by all of Minnesota's stations, and am 
pleased to have shared their accomplishments with the Senate.

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