WASHINGTON, July 19, 2004 -- Good morning. I'm Gloria Tristani with the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, a former FCC Commissioner and a member of the Public Interest, Public Airwaves Coalition. Throughout the years the United Church of Christ has advocated for those historically excluded from the media, especially women and people of color.

Today, with the national elections a few months away and a national convention about to begin, the Coalition unveils a community and grassroots campaign to hold broadcasters accountable. We are asking citizen groups throughout the nation to meet with their local TV broadcasters and ask them to sign a pledge to air a minimum of 2 hours per week of candidate and electoral discourse in the six weeks leading to the November 2nd election. That's asking for about 17 minutes a day of broadcasting for democracy.

This year's election is being labeled one of the most partisan, divisive and raucous in recent history, and many Americans believe that the future and the values of our country are at stake. Yet study after study after study shows that issue and electoral coverage by television stations is at an all time low. And just last week the big networks unveiled their plans to give lip service to the national political conventions.

Our democracy is grounded on an informed citizenry. It is time for TV broadcasters to truly serve the public and cover the issues they are concerned about - whether it's the reasons for going to war, how environmental policies will affect their community, who will pay for a loved one's medications or how will we pay for the burgeoning federal deficit.

Before we hear the details of our community campaign we will hear from 2 FCC commissioners. We are always glad to be joined by Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein and to hear their views on the public interest and democracy. They both have stood steadfast against allowing for increasing media consolidation and against cementing the control of the airwaves into fewer hands. They understand that airing a diversity of viewpoints and voices is vital to our democracy. They also clearly understand that when you are making changes on who controls the public airwaves, first, you hear from citizens. And they have traveled the country seeking citizen input at every turn.

The Commissioners were vindicated by the recent court decision that sent the FCC media ownership rules back to the drawing board. The FCC has a golden opportunity to get it right this time and it should act without delay. It should also act without further delay on the proceeding it started almost four years ago, I know, because I was there, to redefine the public interest obligations of broadcasters in the digital age.

Thank you Commissioners Copps and Adelstein for being here to hear about our community citizen campaign to hold TV broadcasters accountable. You well understand how citizen input is at the heart of our democracy.

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