NRB OPPOSES FCC NONCOMMERCIAL PROPOSALS
NRB URGES FCC TO LEVEL THE FIELD

Manassas, VA – (March 18, 1999) In comments filed with the FCC, National Religious Broadcasters opposed proposals that would provide some applicants with special preferences and prevent religious applicants from competing for noncommercial radio and television station licenses on the same footing. Specifically, NRB urged the Commission to adopt selection criteria that would be neutral toward religious applicants.

NRB asked the FCC to reject preferences for applicants that receive government funding. The proposed preference would in effect exclude religious broadcasters because of their inability to qualify for such funding. Thus the Commission would effectively "zone" religious broadcasters out of the remaining noncommercial spectrum. Creating a licensing system that directly disfavors religious broadcasters also would raise grave content- and viewpoint-based discrimination issues under the Free Speech Clause.

The Commission’s proposal would grant a preference to "stations that would be part of an existing education plan of a state or municipality." While NRB does not oppose a preference for so-called "statewide networks," there is no need to limit such a preference to publicly owned and operated networks. If such a preference is given, NRB favors extending the preference to private institutions as well.

NRB also opposes a proposed preference for applicants who can demonstrate that "their leadership is broadly representative of the community." NRB feels the Commission lacks the power to require that the religious presence be split among several faiths or denominations, and it would be constitutionally problematic for the FCC to favor one configuration of religious representation over another.

NRB’s 1999 Directory of Religious Media identifies 573 radio stations and 64 television stations as noncommercial or educational.

Brandt Gustavson, NRB president, said, "Christian radio and television stations have a great contribution to make to the world. Giving preferences for these noncommercial licenses unfairly restricts legitimate applicants. We are simply asking the FCC to level the field."

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