August 4, 1998


            STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER SUSAN NESS 
                   ON THE DEATH OF SHARI LEWIS


The sun is just a little bit dimmer today.  For Shari Lewis, educator and television performer
extraordinaire, has died.  For half a century, Ms. Lewis enthralled as she educated children the
world over with her magic, her music, her can-do spirit.  

Winner of 12 Emmy Awards and author of 60 children's books, Ms. Lewis began performing
on television in the 1950's and was still producing a popular educational television series for
PBS at the time of her death.  Her puppets Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy and Charlie Horse
captivated audiences young and not-so-young.

We as a nation are deeply indebted to Shari Lewis for her devotion to children's educational
television. She testified before this Commission during our deliberations on the children's
television act implementation.   She lamented that she had to go to Canada to find funding for
educational children's programming.  Her remarks inspired us to forge ahead to increase the
demand at home for quality educational programming for our children.  

Thank you, Ms. Lewis.