[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H3441-H3442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE BROADCASTERS FAIRNESS IN ADVERTISING ACT OF 1999

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, today I am here to introduce the 
Broadcasters Fairness in Advertising Act of 1999. There is a silent and 
pervasive trend among ad agencies and the companies they represent to 
engage in discriminatory practices which are called, quote, ``no urban/
Spanish dictates'' end of quote, and they are called, quote, ``minority 
discounts,'' end of quote. The term: ``No urban slash Spanish 
dictates'' means not advertising products on stations that cater to 
minorities. ``Minority discounts'' means paying minority-owned stations 
far less for advertising the same product that is paid to nonminority-
owned stations. These policies have no business rationale and are 
purely discriminatory.
  Madam Speaker, year in and year out minority broadcasters lose 
millions of dollars in revenues, however the advertising companies 
would have us believe otherwise. They will contend that they do not 
advertise in these stations because minorities do not buy their 
products.

[[Page H3442]]

  For example, in a study conducted by the FCC, a major mayonnaise 
manufacturer told a station manager that, quote, black people do not 
eat mayonnaise, end of quote. Or worse, one minority station 
salesperson was told that, and I quote again, black people do not eat 
beef, end of quote. Such a blatantly absurd statement demonstrates the 
openly racist obstacles minority broadcasters face from the advertising 
industry.
  My bill will prohibit discrimination against minority formatted 
stations by directing the FCC to adopt regulations to prevent such 
discrimination. It would also allow private right of action by any 
minority broadcaster who has been subjected to advertising 
discrimination. And finally, my bill will prohibit Federal agencies 
from contracting with ad agencies that utilize these discriminatory 
practices.
  Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle will join me in supporting this very, very important 
initiative.

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