Congressman Michael G. Oxley Fourth Ohio District Oxley Floor Statement on the Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act   January 27, 2000  It's a cold day in Washington, but the chill is on religious broadcasters.  A word to the members -- if you have a religious broadcaster in your district, his rights have been compromised.  His rights are less than they were in 1999, because of a Federal Communications Commission order on the Cornerstone license swap.
 
Since this order, traditional religious programming can no longer be counted toward the 50 percent educational programming requirement that must be met by those who hold non-commercial television licenses.
 
Basically, the FCC wants less religion and more of what it considers educational on the non-commercial airwaves.  The majority of the commissioners want religious broadcasters to look more like PBS.
 
My office has received hundreds of e-mails and telephone calls from people who want to protest this decision.  I know many other members have been contacted, and I want to invite all the members to cosponsor my new bill, the Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act.  Join me and the 60 cosponsors to protest the FCC's effort to limit religious programming. more Speeches, Statements, and Letters - home