September 19, 1997
                                  
                   COMMISSIONER CHONG CHALLENGES
                    RADIO BROADCASTERS TO FIGHT
                     FOR FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOM
     At the NAB Radio Show in New Orleans, Commissioner Rachelle B. Chong warned
broadcasters of "an insidious trend toward limiting the First Amendment freedom of
broadcasters," and called for an end to increased government intrusion into program content
decisions.

     Characterizing her luncheon speech as a "swan song," she highlighted a long litany of
examples of this trend, including efforts to require quantitative guidelines for children's
educational television, calls for free advertising time for political candidates, laws requiring
"voluntary" TV content ratings, and calls for bans of hard liquor ads.  Commissioner Chong said
that she and others had consistently opposed efforts to launch FCC inquiries that were really
"thinly disguised efforts to dictate program content."  She chided some broadcasters for
assuming that they must accept government mandates "for business reasons," and challenged
them to speak out to protect free speech in editorials, public affairs programming, and lobbying
efforts.  She urged them to strengthen their case for free speech by being responsible in their
programming decisions and responsive to concerns of parents about violence on television
during hours when children are likely to see it.

     Commissioner Chong also said that it was unlikely that the current Commission would
resolve pending broadcast ownership issues, and that this "hot potato" would likely be decided
by the incoming Commission.  She highlighted Congress' clear intent in the 1996
Telecommunications Act to liberalize the broadcast ownership rules, but noted that some
continue to argue that liberalization of the rules will lead to a loss of diversity and localism.  She
urged the broadcasters to "dispel any myths."  She argued that the radio industry, not
government, should decide what ownership structures work best in their increasingly
competitive businesses.

     She counseled the broadcasters "to take the time to give [the new Commissioners] your
perspective on the realities of station ownership in the competitive radio world of the Nineties." 
With that knowledge, she hoped the incoming Commission would establish sensible rules that
would allow radio station owners to realize some economies of scale and respond to new
competition from cable-provided audio, Digital Audio Radio Service, Internet Radio and CD
players. 

                                                        -FCC-