In each of these instances, the television medium seems to be trying to reinforce age-old myths (most distinctively, that a woman's ultimate goal is marriage), yet these myths are better left alone; to die of obvious and natural causes. The effects of telvision's stereotyping are numerous and far-reaching. Two investigators (Frueh and McGee) have studied the effect on children and have found that children in kindergarten, second, fourth and sixth grades, who view a great deal of television show significantly greater identification with their traditional sex role than do children of that age who view television infrequently. In addition, because medium television is a mass individuals of all age groups are susceptible to its effects. The stereotyping, so much a part of this industry, only serves to reinforce the general public's prejudices. I am deeply concerned about the barrage of stereotyping that the media produces and the fact that no current communication legislation, including H.R. 3333, make any provisions for change. I am by no means advocating any type of censorship, yet I feel that it is imperative that television provide a realistic view of society and its members. I call upon this nation's political leaders, and particularly those involved with communication legislation, to seriously contemplate this issue, listen to the concerns of the public, and include processes for change in any forthcoming communications legislation. Testimony before CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS HEARING SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA June 1, 1979 I am Evelyn L. Clarke. County. Mail address: I reside in San Diego 9701 Sunset Avenue, La Mesa. I am a community volunteer, and a member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA of San Diego County. I am speaking as an individual member today. The Public Service Announcements, provided in the present law, form the necessary service method of getting the story of human care agencies before the public. This service is irreplaceable. The proposed legislation would cut off the opportunity to tell the story... to communicate the needs of women and of the YWCA Movement. Our public affairs and affirmative action stands including our first imperative -- the elimination of racism wherever it exists, would deeply suffer without the platform presently provided by the Television and Radio industry. We put Congressman VanDeerlin on notice that we shall be monitoring the voting by all of our Congressional representatives, not only in California but nationwide, with our 1.3 million members. member: Young Women's Christian Association STATEMENT REGARDING H.R. 3333 PRESENTED TO THE CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATIONS HEARINGS June 1, 1979 San Diego, California by Rev. William J. Kelly-Fleming I have several concerns about the proposed communications legislation, especially H.R. 3333 by Rep. Van Deerlin. I am deeply concerned about maintaining a policy in communications which is in the public interest, convenience, and necessity. At this point, I wish only to adress two issues related to the public broadcasting section 1 H.R. 3333. The inclusion of the Community Advisory Boards (Sec. 484) is to be commended. This type of ascertainment is crucial for public broadcasting appropriate to public needs. Since only public broadcasting requires any ascertainment under the provisions of this bill, it seems that such a board should be a strong one. Also, given this circumstance, it seems one station could not handle the many and pluralistic needs present in most communities. The solution would require either additional public stations, which the writers of the bill have advocated, yet one wonders how this would come to be in such an open situation and the competition for appropriate funding. Another solution could be similar boards and proceedures to be also applied to commercial stations. The suggestion of allowing a "limited number of announcements which promote the sale of a product or service..." (sec. 483 b.1) is appalling. The current practice of corporate sponsorship of puplic broadcasting programs is under question. Commercials lead to the ratings Saler game and degenerate broadcasting topability rather than to content and quality. There is a difference between sponsorship and advertising. A sponsor may get public relations credit, but it does not pretend to tell us how good a product or service is. Commercials on the other hand are highly powered persuasion complete with all the gimmicks of deception. Such should not be a part of or related to any programing which attempts to serve the purposes of public broadcasting. The approximately 60 commercials: a day aired under this provision would be disasterous to the best interests of the public. CITIZENS' COMMUNICATIONS HEARINGS San Diego, CA, June 1,1979 San Diego Common Cause, San Diego Committee on Media CABLE TV James K. Poole, Pioneer United Church of Christ The Public Access Cable TV National Conference, held in San Diego H.R. 3333 would apparently remove all regulations, federal, H.R. 3333 would prohibit retransmission of broadcast programming without the express consent of the broadcaster or copyright holder. This would effectively reverse Supreme Court decisions (Fortnightly Corp v. United Artists TV Inc., 1968, Teleprompter V. CBS, 1974) which held that a cable system did not incur copyright liability by retransmitting broadcast signals. Full and complete debate should be required before making such a change in the laws. In exchange for this increased protection for broadcasters and copyright holders, further rules on the subject by the FCC, or any other rules or regulations by stae or local authorities, are prohibited. Coupled with the sharp curtailment of the FCC's authority in a recent Supreme Court case (Midwest Video II), cable systems would be virtually completely deregulated. Some While the Hollings Bill (S. 611) would protedt essential services and subsidize the development of new services in rural areas, H.R. 3333 would limit protected essential se services to basic telephone service. Everyone agrees that the telephone is annesity essential service, for yesterday's luxury has become a necessity. Many would argue that TV is a necessity in many cases, providing a link to the world for the aged, sick and handicapped as well as an educational aid for at least the first twenty years of life. Many teachers seem to give assignments related to TV rather than newspapers. When one considers what Cable TV could offer in years to come, limited federal regulation as an "umbrella" to assure that competition is maintained nationwide and that essential public needs are met seems reasonable. For instance, when Cable provides the only effective access to Public TV (as in some neighborhoods in San Diego), it seems appropriate for the FCC to have the authority to ensure that equal opportunity for access to Cable is provided to all on an equitable basis. The effect of H. R. 3333 on local regulations is unclear, since franchise agreements between local governments and cable systems have regulatory effect. If local governments are to be denied authority to regulate systems through frahchise prodedures, many questions arise: |