AJR109

A Joint Resolution urging the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the broadcast license of WWOR-TV.

Whereas, WWOR-TV, Channel 9, is a television station licensed in Secaucus, New Jersey; and

Whereas, WWOR-TV, as the only large, commercially-owned station in New Jersey, is the source for New Jersey-centric commercial television news coverage in this State; and

Whereas, With the exception of WWOR-TV, New York and Philadelphia-based commercial television stations dominate the airwaves in New Jersey, providing little or no coverage or analysis of State issues and news; and

Whereas, As a condition of WWOR-TV’s license for the public airwaves granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), WWOR-TV is required to focus its coverage on the news occurring in the northern part of the State; and

Whereas, Studies show that WWOR-TV has continually diminished its coverage of New Jersey news and public affairs in the last decade; and

Whereas, Fox Television Stations, Inc., the licensee on behalf of WWOR-TV, has done everything in its power to avoid any commitment to WWOR-TV serving as a New Jersey-centric news television station; and

Whereas, With no notice to its viewers, WWOR-TV recently canceled its 10:00 p.m. half-hour news broadcast, the only newscast WWOR-TV had operated; and

Whereas, WWOR-TV’s decision to cancel this newscast leaves millions of New Jersey residents without a news source on the issues and news that are important to people of this State; and

Whereas, The FCC is urged to revoke WWOR-TV’s pending television broadcast license renewal application because WWOR-TV failed to satisfy the conditions of its license by continually diminishing its coverage of New Jersey news and public affairs in the last decade and canceling its 10:00 p.m. half-hour news broadcast; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Federal Communications Commission is respectfully urged to revoke the broadcast license of WWOR-TV, Secaucus, New Jersey.

2. Duly authenticated copies of this joint resolution shall be transmitted by the Secretary of State to the Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution urges the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke the broadcast license of WWOR-TV.

WWOR-TV, Channel 9, is a television station licensed in Secaucus, New Jersey. WWOR-TV, as the only large, commercially-owned station in New Jersey, is the source for New Jersey-centric commercial television news coverage in this State. With the exception of WWOR-TV, New York- and Philadelphia-based commercial television stations dominate the airwaves in New Jersey, providing little or no coverage or analysis of State issues and news.

As a condition of WWOR-TV’s license for the public airwaves granted by the FCC, WWOR-TV is required to focus its coverage on the news occurring in the northern part of the State. Studies show that WWOR-TV has continually diminished its coverage of New Jersey news and public affairs in the last decade. Fox Television Stations, Inc., the licensee on behalf of WWOR-TV, has done everything in its power to avoid any commitment to WWOR-TV serving as a New Jersey-centric news television station.

With no notice to its viewers, WWOR-TV recently canceled its 10:00 p.m. half-hour news broadcast, the only newscast WWOR-TV had operated. WWOR-TV’s decision to cancel this newscast leaves millions of New Jersey residents without a news source on the issues and news that are important to people of this State.

The FCC is urged to revoke WWOR-TV’s pending television broadcast license renewal application because WWOR-TV failed to satisfy the conditions of its license by continually diminishing its coverage of New Jersey news and public affairs in the last decade and canceling its 10:00 p.m. half-hour news broadcast.