From: Stephanie C Haynes <schaynes@juno.com>

To: NTIADC40.NTIAHQ40(piac)

Date: 12/2/97 5:31pm

Subject: Free TV

I write to urge you to require digital broadcasters to provide

substantial

free TV time to candidates for public office.

One reason big money has so much influence in American politics is the

need

for candidates to pay for expensive TV time to get their message out.

But

we own the airwaves! While the broadcasters use our commonly

owned resource to make profits of hundreds of millions of dollars, they

should have an obligation to reduce the role of big money in politics, by

providing free TV time to qualified candidates. This will lead to a more

representative democracy, where ideas rather than dollars have the most

influence.

The threshhold to qualify for free time should be reasonable, and low

enough to allow third party and independent candidates to have access as

well. Free TV could be linked to spending limits, to reduce the ability

of

rich candidates to buy public office. Additionally, free TV could

require

candidates to appear in their own ads, and to speak for longer than a

typical thirty second ad, to raise the level of debate in our politics

and

engage a citizenry now largely "tuned out" by negative political

advertising.

While the broadcasters may argue that such an obligation impinges on

their

profits, such profits are only possible because of their use of a

publicly

owned and limited resource. Does anyone think there will be a lack of

new

applications for digital broadcasting licenses, simply because the

licenses

come along with a requirement for substantial free TV for candidates?

Not

very likely, in my view.

I urge the Committee to support such a requirement, and look forward to

hearing your response.

Sincerely,

Stephanie C. Haynes

1324 S. Broad St.

Philadelphia, PA 19146

schaynes@juno.com

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