JOHN O. PASTORE, NATIONAL BROADCASTING CO., INC., Chairman, Subcommittee on Communications, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR PASTORE: In 1967 I appeared before your Subcommittee and testified in support of the original legislation creating the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. I pointed out at that time that NBC was in full accord with the principal that non-commercial broadcasting offered a potential for the public welfare important enough to justify support from public funds. In concluding my statement I said: "The Bill establishes the principles on which a system of non-commercial broadcasting can fluorish. It covers those steps that must be taken initially for this purpose and it wisely allows for time and study to develop the approaches that will meet the future requirements of growth." The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has made important strides toward accomplishing the objectives for which it was established in the development of programming, station operations and interconnection, and NBC in recognition of its accomplishments and its promise for the future has made a grant to the Corporation of $500,000 to be paid in five annual installments beginning in 1969. We believe that we have demonstrated both in words and action our conviction that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is in the public interest. In our opinion, the public interest will be served by adequate financial support for the Corporation from public funds. Therefore, we urge the adoption of S. 3558, and we particularly recommend the provisions of paragraph 2 authorizing appropriation of matching funds equal to contributions other than those of the Federal government. Sincerely, JULIAN GOODMAN. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE ARTS, Washington, D.C., April 2, 1970. Senator JOHN O. PASTORE, Chairman, Subcommittee on Communications, Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR SENATOR PASTORE: On behalf of the National Council on the Arts I would like to go on record in support of S. 3558, the Public Broadcasting Financing Act of 1970. We believe the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public broadcasting throughout the United States, would benefit greatly from the proposed three-year, intermediate method of financing beginning in Fiscal Year 1971. We also feel that the procedure of two-part funding-a definite annual appropriation, and Federal funding on a one-for-one matching basis based on contributions to the Corpora tion-is a valid and effective means of increasing the total support for public broadcasting. The National Council on the Arts has been financed through such a two-part method and our experience has demonstrated that his procedure can generate considerable public support. In its short existence the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has proven that its work is more valuable than its many ardent supporters believed it might be when the organization was initially planned. The Arts Council encouraged the establishment of the Corporation and has subsequently conducted a variety of cooperative and productive projects with CPB. Recently, the Arts Council and the Corporation announced joint funding for the production of a series of films for public television, films which are to be produced by local public television stations throughout the country. The final series of twenty programs, entitled ARTISTS IN AMERICA, will illustrate the work of local artists, craftsmen, composers, and in some cases, writers and actors, In addition to showing the work of the artists, the programs should reveal their philosophies as well as their artistic environment. Production opportunities under the terms of this project will be open to all public television stations. The Council and the Corporation are sharing the total funding of $230,000. For several months the Council and the Corporation have been discussing plans for long-range cooperative review and support for promising proposals_in the field of the arts. Both organizations are responsible for supporting effective arts programs through public media—film, television, and radio. Often good program ideas languish because neither funding organization has sufficient resources itself to foster the work. We are considering, therefore, the creation of a joint panel of persons experienced in both the arts and public media to evaluate proposals and suggestions and to make recommendations to both organizations. These and other cooperative staff activities have persuaded us that the Council and the Cooporation will continue to work well together on projects benefiting the entire country. We believe the interim, three-year financing procedures proposed in S. 3558 will serve to give the Corporation a much more stable base for planning, as well as for continuing its extremely valuable work, and we hope that this measure will be approved. Sincerely, NANCY HANKS, Chairman. STATEMENT BY MAYOR RICHARD G. LUGAR OF INDIANAPOLIS, VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES Mr. Chairman, during my service as a member of the Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners a few years ago, I became aware of the urgent need for developing and using new media opportunities in order to improve educational prospects. In the past year, I have been among the millions of Americans profoundly impressed by the efforts of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to strengthen the potential benefits of television. I can testify without hesitation that the people of Indianapolis-now the nation's twelfth largest city-share my own enthusiasm for the potential of public broadcasting. I would like to share with you the very impressive evidence of that enthusiasm. Early in January of 1970, a distinguished citizen, Mrs. John Burkhart, agreed to assume the leadership of a door-to-door campaign designed to secure enough individual memberships to put a public television station on the air in Indianapolis by September, 1970. My office pledged full support to Mrs. Burkhart's efforts from the outset, but I do not think any of us could have anticipated the degree of support for public broadcasting in our community. During January, Mrs. Burkhart organized a team of over 7,000 women volunteers for the door-to-door solicitation. By late March, 1970, this campaign had produced over $260,000 in cash and well over 10,000 memberships for the station. I have every confidence that the goal of $350,000 will be reached. Our educational television station will go on the air, September 8. We are blessed with strong commercial stations in our city, but as Mrs. Burkhart and her volunteer leaders learned, the people of Indianapolis responded strongly to the idea that they should have a greater choice of television programming. In fact, many young mothers were recruited to "the cause" after seeing the unique blend of education and entertainment offered by the public television series, "Sesame Street". My enthusiasm for public broadcasting has another dimension. During my conversations with other mayors and visits to other cities in my work with the National League of Cities, I have sensed an increasing awareness of and enthusiasm for the potential of public broadcasting in helping to meet the complex problems of cities and understanding urban dilemmas. The League and the U.S. Conference of Mayors are active participants in the Corporation's Advisory Committee of National Organizations. We have been pleased to learn that more and more public television and radio stations are reaching out into their communities to provide citizens with a better understanding of important local issues and a close-up look at candidates for local public office. Public broadcasting can provide the time, continuity, and depth of coverage required for such a thorough exploration. I am pleased to see that many stations are doing this in a way which makes programming substantive as well as interesting for viewers and listeners. In the short time since the Congress authorized the organization of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, it has demonstrated the kind of national leadership which is essential if public broadcasting is to provide excellence in both educational and community programming. This leadership deserves the continuing support and encouragement of the Congress, and I welcome the chance to offer my own support for the vital work of the Corporation. ( ) |