[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 17, 1992]
[Page 1588]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders on Cable Television Legislation
September 17, 1992

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Senator:)
(Dear Congressman:)
    I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Conference 
Report to accompany S. 12 (Cable Television Consumer Protection and 
Competition Act of 1992), which the House and Senate will consider in 
the next several days.
    This legislation will hurt Americans by imposing a wide array of 
costly, burdensome, and unnecessary requirements on the cable industry 
and the government agencies that regulate it. The heavy-handed 
provisions of the bill will drive up cable industry costs, resulting in 
higher consumer rates, not rate reductions as promised by the supporters 
of the bill.
    The bill will also restrain continued innovation in the industry, 
cost the economy jobs, reduce consumer programming choices, and retard 
the deployment of growth-oriented investments critical to the future of 
our Nation's communications infrastructure.
    My vision for the future of the communications industry is based on 
the principles of greater competition, entrepreneurship, and less 
economic regulation. This legislation fails each of these tests and is 
illustrative of the Congressional mandates and excessive regulations 
that drag our economy down.
    Congress would best serve consumer welfare by promoting vigorous 
competition, not massive re-regulation.
    For these reasons I will veto S. 12 if it is presented to me, and I 
urge its rejection when the House and Senate consider the Conference 
Report.
    Sincerely,

                                                             George Bush

                    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. 
                        Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
                        Robert H. Michel, House Republican leader; 
                        George J. Mitchell, Senate majority leader; and 
                        Robert Dole, Senate Republican leader.