[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF LOCAL BROADCASTING FOR PUBLIC STATION KVCR

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, the residents of San Bernardino 
and Riverside Counties in Southern California are in a very unique 
position when it comes to television stations. The Los Angeles 
broadcasters are close enough to provide all the local coverage we can 
receive. But they consider most of our news too far away to cover.
  For the past 40 years, the only broadcaster that has continuously 
served the people of San Bernardino and Riverside counties has been 
KVCR, the public television station operated by the San Bernardino 
Valley Community College District. They have provided news, focus 
documentaries, features and creative programming that have often been 
the only source of local broadcasting for an area that includes nearly 
2 million people.
  Forty years of providing the only public broadcasting to such a large 
area would be worth celebrating even if this was the only service 
provided by KVCR and the community college district. But the station's 
other role may be even more important: It is an access point to the 
world of broadcasting for a student body that is among the most diverse 
and hard-working in Southern California. The graduates of this program 
have moved on to many of the commercial and cable broadcasters 
throughout our region and the nation, and they in turn have served as 
role models and mentors for other minority communities and other 
cities.
  In fact, Mr. Speaker, KVCR was the first TV station in the nation to 
be owned and operated by a public community college, and it has 
instructed tens of thousands of students via educational broadcasts and 
remains an essential component of the college district. The station is 
a national pioneer in the use of television for direct instruction 
intended for viewing in the area's classrooms, in the workplace, or 
conveniently in the homes of students.
  Mr. Speaker, KVCR-TV is a vital link in educating the new and 
existing workforce for tomorrow's business needs. And it remains the 
only broadcaster providing local news and public interest reports, as 
well as serving the diverse needs of our community. I ask you and my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating General Manager Lew Warren and 
the San Bernardino Community College District board for continuing to 
provide this valuable public service.

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