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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             CONTACT:
August 21, 2000                         William J. Friedman at (202) 418-2300 
                              Maureen Peratino at (202) 418-0506


FCC COMMISSIONER TRISTANI RELEASES LETTER SENT TO CBS PRESIDENT 
     REGARDING "SNIPERS WANTED" GRAPHIC BELOW A PICTURE OF 
                    GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH
     
     Washington, D.C.   Today, Gloria Tristani, Commissioner of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), released the attached letter addressed to Mr.
Leslie Moonves, President of CBS Television, regarding a "Snipers Wanted" graphic
which appeared below a photograph of Governor Bush on "The Late Late Show with
Craig Kilborn."


                            - FCC -
                                
                                                      445 12th Street, SW
                          Suite 8-C302
                     Washington, DC  20554
                                
                        August 18, 2000
                                
                                
                                
Mr. Leslie Moonves, President
CBS Television
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA  90036

     RE:  "Snipers Wanted" graphic / Governor George W. Bush

Dear Mr. Moonves:

     I am writing to advise CBS that many Americans have written to me about the above-
referenced appalling broadcast demanding government action.  They believe violence suggested
on television too easily and too often becomes violence attempted.

     The New York Times reported a caller on the Howard Stern radio show threatened to kill
Senator Lieberman.  After the caller's arrest, the caller's uncle reportedly said it was just a "joke
gone bad."  A joke gone too far is not a joke.  The graphic reading  "snipers wanted" below the
picture of Governor Bush was similarly not a joke.  

     Two concerns dominate the calls I have received:  the misuse of the public's airwaves to
suggest that violence solves problems and the implicit endorsement of vigilante action against
those with different opinions.

     Perhaps there is no government solution for bad taste or the thoughtless broadcast of
misguided humor.  However, America's patience with gratuitous violence on her airwaves is
perilously thin.  Calls for voluntary codes of conduct are changing to calls for enforceable
regulatory standards.  I urge CBS to meaningfully respond to these citizens and use this incident
to assess its public interest obligations.

                                   Sincerely,



                                   Gloria Tristani
                                   Commissioner

cc:  The Honorable George W. Bush