[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 4 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORT RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING FREEDOM ACT

  (Mr. OXLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, it is a cold day in Washington, but the chill 
is on religious broadcasters. A word to the Members: If one has a 
religious broadcaster or people who listen to religious broadcasters in 
one's district, their rights have been compromised. The rights are less 
than they were in 1999 because of an FCC decision on the Cornerstone 
license swap in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  Since this order, traditional religious programming can no longer be 
counted toward the 50 percent educational programming requirement that 
must be met by those who would hold noncommercial television licenses.
  Basically, the FCC wants less religion and more of what it considers 
educational on the noncommercial airways. The majority of commissioners 
apparently want religious broadcasters to look more like PBS.
  My office has received hundreds of e-mails and telephone calls from 
people who want to protest this decision. I know many other Members 
have been contacted, and I want to invite all the Members to cosponsor 
the bill, the Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act. Join me and over 50 
cosponsors already to protest the FCC's efforts to limit religious 
programming.

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