| Washington, DC —The Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) has reversed its decision to impose new definitions and rules
on religious programming that would have tightened qualifications on
the operators of noncommercial, educational television stations. The
action came under pressure from new legislation proposed by
Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt and others, plus, a storm
of opposition from Christian groups and religious
broadcasters. "The FCC finally woke up," Congressman Blunt
said, "and realized their decision was unfair, unworkable and
discriminatory."
Blunt welcomed the FCC's 4-1 decision to withdraw its ruling of
December 29, 1999 and return to current rules covering educational
programming. "This pattern of regulate first and ask
questions later is becoming a troubling trademark of this
Administration." Blunt pointed out that the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration is trying to implement 1,200 pages
of regulation on ergonomics injuries without the benefit of learning
the scientific evidence first. OSHA tried in January to turn
the hands of time back on telecommuting and people who work in their
homes by holding employers liable for home-work injuries.
"Public outrage over the federal government's power play to
control religious broadcasting and intrusions into the home
workplace have been the first steps in the withdrawal of these
rules," Blunt said. "These actions by the FCC and OSHA are reminders
that Washington bureaucrats want to avoid public confrontations when
they know their actions are wrong and contrary to the public's
values."
The FCC had voted to change rules which would have required at
least 15 religious televisions stations, and perhaps as many as 95,
holding noncommercial educational licenses to devote more than half
of their programming to educational shows. The FCC rules would
have limited programming that uses religious "exhortation" or
"proselytizing" and personal testimonials of their faith.
Current rules simply require stations to serve the educational and
cultural needs of their community. |
