FCC Caves To Pressure From Religious Broadcasters.

Faced with a high-pressure lobbying campaign from religious broadcasters and their allies, the Federal Communications Commission has backed down from proposed rules governing religious programming at noncommercial educational television stations.

In December, the FCC approved the transfer of a license between a noncommercial educational television station and a Christian network in the Pittsburgh area, and in the process, clarified its criteria for religious programming. The agency said at least half of the programming at educational stations must be educational and that worship services and sermonizing would not count as educational.

However, on Jan. 28, the commission announced it had voted to vacate the controversial order. "Regrettably" said the FCC, "it has become clear that our actions have created less certainty rather than more, contrary to our intent."

The change came after an outpouring of criticism from religious broadcasters, Religious Right activists and friendly lawmakers. Rep. Michael Oxley (R-Ohio) led the criticism in Congress, sending a Jan. 6 letter to FCC Chairman William Kennard describing the changes as "outrageous." Oxley also helped cosponsor a bill in the House to undo the FCC's order.

The FCC vote to reverse itself drew one dissent. "This is a sad and shameful day for the FCC" said Commissioner Gloria Tristani. "In vacating last month's `additional guidance' on its own motion, without even waiting for reconsideration petitions to be filed, this supposedly independent agency has capitulated to an organized campaign of distortion and demagoguery."