Religious Broadcasting

Church & State Magazine

Religious Broadcasting

Summary:

The FCC has reserved a small amount of the broadcast spectrum in most communities for noncommercial educational radio and television stations. Stations operating on the "reserved" spectrum are typically licensed to universities, school boards, statewide educational networks, and nonprofit educational organizations. The "Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom Expression Act of 2000," H.R. 4201, introduced by Rep. Charles Pickering (R-MS), expands eligibility to hold a reserved license to virtually any nonprofit organization or entity by allowing nonprofits to decide themselves whether their broadcast material serves an educational, instructional or cultural purpose. Thus, the bill would require the FCC to award noncommercial educational licenses to nonprofits without due regard to an organization's purpose. The cumulative effect of the this bill would not only deprive the public of valid educational programming, but elevate religious broadcasting to a level non-compliant with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Status:

The House passed the bill by a vote of 264-159 on June 20, 2000 and it was sent to the Senate. On October 13, 2000, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) attempted to pass the bill under Unanimous Consent, but Senator Conrad (D-ND) objected. Sen. Lott made passage of this bill a top priority, but it was not part of the final appropriations bill.

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