From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Christian Broadcasters Take Issue with Bush on Cable Legislation
Organization: NDA
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 00:07:58 GMT

Here is a press release from the National Religious Broadcasters
 Christian Broadcasters Take Issue with Bush on Cable Legislation
 To: National Desk, Media and Political writers
 Contact: Anne Dunlap of the National Religious Broadcasters,
          703-330-7000,
          or Bob Chlopak or Andrea Sussman, 202-296-2777

   WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- President Bush may have won
over conservative religious leaders to his campaign, but that hasn't
stopped many of them from criticizing the president's threatened veto
of the cable TV bill.
   Today, the National Religious Broadcasters, a coalition of
Christian broadcasters, released a letter to the president claiming
that his veto would "threaten the future of many religious broadcast
stations."  The groups urged Bush to sign the bill, and stated that
they would aggressively support an override vote in the Congress: "We
would prefer not to oppose you in a veto override fight....However,
we will support an override if it is necessary."
   President Bush told Congress two weeks ago he would veto the cable
TV bill, calling its regulatory provisions "excessive." Even so, both
Houses approved the legislation by more than the two-thirds margin
needed to override the anticipated veto.  The cable bill, which the
president must sign or veto by midnight Saturday, reregulates basic
tier rates and equipment, provides minimum customer service standards
and promotes competition.
   Religious broadcasters have long argued that many cable operators
arbitrarily exclude Christian stations from cable systems and
seriously undercut their audience and viability.  Today privately
owned cable monopolies can legally choose which local televisions
they carry, even though every local station is a federal licensee.
The pending cable bill corrects this problem.  Under its provisions,
local stations that choose the "must carry" option would
automatically be carried on cable systems, but they woud forgo all
rights to any compensation for their signals through the bill's
"retransmission consent" provision.
   Religious broadcasters have mounted an all-out campaign to
mobilize their members in support of the cable bill.  Most religious
stations are running 60 second ads which ask their viewers to contact
the White House and Congress in support of the bill.
   Following is a copy of the letter:

   Oct. 1, 1992

   President George H.W. Bush
   The White House
   Washington, D.C. 20500

   Dear Mr. President:

   I am writing to urge you not to veto the cable must-carry bill,
which is now on your desk.
   Carriage of local Christian stations by cable is essential if
many stations are to survive.  Thus, a veto of this bill would
threaten the future of many religious broadcast stations.
   Cable systems have been granted a license by the Federal
Communications Commission and a monopoly by local governments to
supply programming to the local community as a fiduciary in the
public interest.  This is a privilege, not an inherent right, which
is granted by the government, and with this privilege goes the
responsibility of representing the community.
   It is ironic that the FCC holds local stations accountable to
serve the community interest, and then allows the cable industry to
rob them of their ability to do so.
   Holding a monopoly does not carry with it the right of
exclusion.  Because of this privileged position, cable systems
should be required to carry all local stations so as not to
disenfranchise any.  The concept of exclusion violates the very
intent of the Communications Act.
   The FCC has assigned the local station the responsibility to
serve the public need.  The stations that really deserve to serve
this need -- the religious, minority, educational and specialty
stations -- are the ones hurt the most by no "must-carry."  To be
excluded from a cable system means a certain decline for most of
these stations.
   Cable systems should not be allowed to determine which of the
local stations deserve to serve the public need.  This
determination as to what is in the community Interest should not be
in the hands of an industry whose concern for the public interest
is subordinated to their profit motive--that is their bottom line.
   Cable should be regulated like a common carrier, and a common
carrier cannot deny service.  Countless people in small towns and
outlying areas would suffer the loss of religious, specialty,
educational and minority programming without cable carriage.
   Once having met local requirements, the cable system should be
free to import whatever stations or networks it wishes in order to
attract subscribers.
   National Religious Broadcasters will continue to do all it can
to ensure that cable legislation requiring local station carriage
is passed.  This is and has been an issue of great concern to our
members.  We would prefer not to oppose you in a veto override
fight.  However, cable coverage is so crucial to the future of
Christian television that we will support an override if it is
necessary.  The enclosed resolution was passed unanimously by the
NRB membership on Jan. 27, 1992, at our 49th Annual Convention in
Washington, D.C.
   Again, I urge you to sign the cable must-carry bill.  Many of
our stations are now running advertisements to let millions of our
TV viewers and radio listeners know the importance of this
legislation and to encourage them to express their support for the
bill to you and the Congress.

   Sincerely,

   /s/ E. Brandt Gustavson
       Executive Director

 -30-

--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv,misc.consumers,alt.cable-tv.re-regulate