NONCOMMERCIAL BROADCASTING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ACT OF 2000 (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
June 19, 2000 |
| Report Number |
RS20603 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Kevin B. Greely, American Law Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
On December 29, 1999, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an order
approving the license transfer of WQEX--a noncommercial educational television station--from
WQED (the license holder) to Cornerstone Television, Inc, a broadcaster that engages primarily in
religious programming. In approving the transfer, the FCC issued "additional guidance" on the
educational programming requirements applicable to noncommercial educational (NCE) television
licensees and concluded that "programming primarily devoted to religious exhortation, proselytizing,
or statements of personally held religious views and beliefs generally would not qualify as `general
educational' programming." Amid a firestorm of complaints and criticism over the order, the FCC
reconsidered and vacated the "additional guidance" on January 28, 2000.
Despite the recission, there has been continuing concern over the remnants of the analysis
underlying the FCC's ruling and its potential impact on future decisions by the agency to grant NCE
licenses to religious broadcasters. In response, H.R. 4201 --the "Noncommercial
Broadcasting Freedom of Expression Act of 2000 "--seeks to statutorily "clarify the service
obligations of noncommercial educational broadcast stations." This report will provide a summary
of the bill and background on the issues that led to its introduction. The report will be updated as
warranted by legislative action.
