WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-West
Chester) has joined U.S. Rep. Michael G. Oxley (R-Findlay) in support of
new legislation meant to reverse a recent Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) directive singling out religious broadcasters for
content regulation by the federal government. Oxley will introduce
the legislation with Boehner as an original co-sponsor when Congress
reconvenes January 24th.
"The FCC's ruling is an unconstitutional stealth
attack on religious broadcasting and the millions of Americans who tune
into these programs," Boehner said. "It has all the markings of a
backdoor attempt to force religious programming off the airwaves, and it
should be reversed immediately."
In a move that has sparked outrage beyond the
Beltway, the Clinton Administration's FCC recently released an order
requiring religious broadcasters who apply for licenses to replace a
portion of their traditional religious programming with FCC-approved
"educational" content. The FCC did not seek public comment before
issuing the directive.
"In our free society, the FCC has no business
suppressing the expression of religious belief," Oxley said
Tuesday. "I know the FCC will try to put a good face on this
action, but the simple truth is the Commission is restricting those who
express faith. This is wrong, and it cannot stand."
Non-commercial television licenses are intended to
serve the educational and cultural needs of smaller audiences and
under-represented populations. They are required to devote a minimum of
50 percent of regularly scheduled broadcasting to educational
programs. General educational programming had previously been
defined as having its primary purpose be to meet "educational,
instructional or cultural needs of the community."
Oxley's bill would reverse the new "guidance" on
this issue and require the FCC to use its normal rulemaking procedures,
which include taking public comment, if it chooses to regulate this area
in the future. Oxley is currently circulating the proposal,
seeking co-sponsors from both parties. He has also written letters
to Vice President Al Gore and FCC Chairman William Kennard requesting an
immediate reversal of the directive.