SENATE RESOLUTION No. 87

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED APRIL 17, 1997

By Senator CIESLA

A Senate Resolution urging the Congress of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission to reject free television broadcast auctioning.

Whereas, The "Communications Act of 1934" authorized the federal government to issue licenses for the use of free broadcast spectrum; and

Whereas, In return for the use of that one one-hundredth of total spectrum, broadcasters committed to operate in the public interest by airing public service announcements; reporting on news, weather, and sports; offering emergency information; informing consumers; supporting charitable drives; and performing countless other services without expense to the viewer; and

Whereas, In an attempt to raise additional revenue to balance the federal budget, Congress is considering a proposal to auction off airwaves designated for high definition television; and

Whereas, In order to offer viewers high definition television, the transition to a digital signal will require a significant investment and expenditure by each locally-owned station for new equipment; and

Whereas, If broadcasters must compete in an auction against giant communications companies who charge consumers for their services, the combined cost of new equipment and airwave use may bankrupt local stations and threaten the existence of free television; and

Whereas, The American system of broadcasting has been one of the most successful experiments in public/private enterprise in this Nation's history; and

Whereas, More Americans have access to a television set than a telephone, and it is estimated that over 30 percent of Americans rely on free local television as their sole source of news, entertainment, and information; and

Whereas, American broadcast television is fundamentally different from all other forms of communications technology because it is free to the consumer; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper and in the public interest for this House to oppose any action such as spectrum auctions that would endanger the continued access of all Americans to free television and insist that a spectrum auction be debated on its merits, not on its revenue potential; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    This House opposes any action such as spectrum auctions that would endanger the continued access of all Americans to free television and insists that a spectrum auction be debated on its merits, not on its revenue potential.

    2.    This House urges the Congress of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission to reject free television broadcast auctioning.

    3.    Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested to by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, the chairs of the appropriate standing committees of Congress, each member of Congress elected thereto from New Jersey, and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

STATEMENT

    This Senate resolution urges the Congress of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission to reject free television broadcast auctioning.

Urges Congress and FCC to reject free television broadcast auctioning.