Congressman Michael G. Oxley Fourth Ohio District OXLEY MOVING TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENDA  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 12, 2000
 
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Michael G. Oxley has two telecommunications bills under consideration in the House of Representatives tomorrow.  Oxley's bill to scale back the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) low-power FM licensing program will be considered on the floor.  Additionally, Oxley's Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act will be the subject of a hearing in the Telecommunications Subcommittee.  The bill seeks to turn back FCC efforts to limit the amount of traditional religious programming broadcast by those who hold non-commercial television licenses.
 
"The FCC wanted to add everything but the kitchen sink into the nation's FM radio spectrum, creating significant interference with existing radio stations and services," Oxley said.  "We have a finite amount of spectrum that belongs to the public, and it's important to manage it in a responsible way."
 
Oxley's bipartisan measure on low-power radio has been cosponsored by 165 members of the House of Representatives.  The bill says that the FCC cannot weaken the number of dial positions placed between signals in order to guard against interference.  The effect of the legislation is that the FCC will be able to grant the new 10 and 100-watt licenses in places where there is plenty of room on the FM dial.
 
Oxley's Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act has 125 House cosponsors.  The issue was created in December of 1999 when, in a television license swap order in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the FCC added new restrictions on religious content.
 
In the House, Oxley is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials and vice-chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications.
  more News Releases - home