[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 30 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E339-E340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        KBBF'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2006

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bilingual 
Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. for establishing KBBF 89.1. This station 
has served my constituents in Sonoma County for 35 years. KBBF is an 
example of how local broadcasters can serve and benefit their 
communities. In an era where media outlets are owned by fewer and fewer 
corporations, KBBF's voice rings brightly throughout the North Bay.
  KBBF was the dream of a few Sonoma State University students who had 
a vision of establishing a community owned and operated, non-
commercial, bilingual, bi-cultural, educational FM radio station that 
would be committed to social change and advocacy for the poor and would 
be devoted to meeting the educational, informational, and cultural 
needs of the Spanish speaking community.
  Its founding Board of Directors was far from the Fortune 500. It was 
made up of people like you and me; a farm worker, a lawyer, a

[[Page E340]]

housewife, a local professor and a college student. No wonder KBBF 
connects so well to the community it serves.
  The first test broadcast of KBBF-FM on March 31, 1973 made radio 
history by being the first public bi-lingual radio station in the 
United States. Regular broadcasts began two months later on May 31, 
1973.
  By 1976 the Bilingual Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. Board of 
Directors developed a statement of goals consistent with the philosophy 
of the original founders. In addition to social change and advocacy, 
the Board charged KBBF with programming goals to coordinate and 
facilitate efforts to advance the political, social, educational and 
economic conditions of the Chicano, and Spanish-speaking community and 
to provide an avenue to develop leadership and creative potential for 
the youth. The Board of Directors and KBBF have received national 
recognition from the John F. Kennedy Foundation and the Corporation for 
Public Broadcasting for achieving these goals.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate KBBF 89.1 on its 35th Anniversary for 
serving my constituents and the nation by being the first bilingual 
educational FM radio station in the United States.

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