FCC Reverses Ruling on Religious Broadcasting, Congressman Shows Pleased, Promises to Remain Vigilant

(Washington) - Congressman Ronnie Shows learned over this past weekend that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Friday they are reversing a ruling that would have severely restricted the ability of many religious broadcasters to stay on the air. Congressman Ronnie Shows had been an early foe to this ruling raising concerns about limiting religious liberties in a letter to the FCC and cosponsoring a bill that would have reversed this decision had the FCC failed to do so on their own.

"I am pleased that the FCC heard the voices of millions of Americans who, over the course of a few weeks, signed petitions, wrote letters, called the FCC, and voiced their concerns through their Congressmen," stated Congressman Shows. "Religious freedom must always prevail. The FCC, I hope, will not make such a mistake again. I am glad the FCC has reversed its ruling. The FCC should also know we will be watching to make sure it does not happen again."

On December 29, 1999 the FCC issued an Order which would have required television broadcasters operating on noncommercial educational licenses to devote as much as one-half of their programming hours to topics that serve the "educational, instructional or cultural needs of the community." To qualify, the Commission continued, programming must not be "primarily devoted to religious exhortation, proselytizing, or statement of personally-held religious views and beliefs."

Congressman Shows received several hundred letters and phone calls from concerned citizens throughout the 4th Congressional District of Mississippi. "Democracy and America is great because the people rule," Shows commented. "The people spoke and the FCC listened and reacted accordingly."