SENATE RESOLUTION No. 28
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED MARCH 14, 1996
By Senator INVERSO
A Senate Resolution encouraging the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to support federal legislation providing for greater local television coverage for the State of New Jersey.
Whereas, The residents of New Jersey have a strong desire to receive television coverage of local news and information of their immediate community; and
Whereas, The small number of full power television stations allocated to the State of New Jersey is inadequate to meet the television coverage needs of the State; and
Whereas, There are five licensed Low Power Television (LPTV) stations on the air, which cover local news and community information, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized the construction of 16 additional LPTV stations in the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, LPTV stations do not have the right, enjoyed by full power stations, to be carried on the local cable systems within New Jersey because of a provision in the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, which limits "Must Carry" to LPTV stations outside the largest 160 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and communities of license with populations less than 35,000; and
Whereas, The cable operators of New Jersey have been very reluctant to carry LPTV stations unless legally compelled to do so, even when LPTV stations are broadcasting local news and community information; and
Whereas, This provision in the federal law and the conduct of cable systems severely hamper the ability of LPTV stations to provide local news and community information desired by residents of New Jersey; and
Whereas, The FCC is planning the transition of television broadcasting from analog to digital but has not provided for the same transition for LPTV stations, and the FCC's failure to preserve LPTV service during and after the transition to digital broadcasting threatens the future of the local news and community information provided by those stations to the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House to urge the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to introduce and support legislation to grant "Must Carry" rights for LPTV stations within the State of New Jersey when those stations broadcast local news and community information on a regular basis and to ensure the preservation of LPTV service during and after the transition from analog to digital television, as such legislation will greatly benefit the citizens of the State of New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The New Jersey Congressional Delegation is urged to introduce and support legislation to grant "Must Carry" rights for Low Power Television stations within the State of New Jersey when those stations broadcast local news and community information on a regular basis and to ensure the preservation of Low Power Television service during and after the transition from analog to digital television.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to each member of Congress elected thereto from this State.
STATEMENT
This Senate Resolution urges the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to introduce and support legislation to grant "Must Carry" rights for Low Power Television (LPTV) stations within the State of New Jersey when those stations broadcast local news and community information on a regular basis and to ensure the preservation of LPTV service during and after the transition from analog to digital television.
LPTV stations provide television coverage of local news and community information. There are five licensed LPTV stations on the air in New Jersey and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized the construction of 16 additional stations. However, LPTV stations do not enjoy the same right as full power stations to be carried on local cable systems under the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992. Further, while the FCC is planning the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting, it has not made transitional arrangements for LPTV stations. As such, it is vital that legislation granting "Must Carry" rights for LPTV stations and ensuring the preservation of Low Power Television after the transition to digital broadcasting be passed.
Urges NJ Congressional Delegation to support federal legislation providing for greater local television coverage.