Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 August 1999 — Page 20

The Muncie Times, August 19, 1999, page 20

Group seeks consumer-responsive TV

NEW YORK, N.Y—About 89 percent of African Americans support an independent TV ratings system for violence, sexual content and inappropriate language. In response, People for Better TV, a coalition of civil rights groups, pediatricians, consumer groups, women’s groups, and religious organizations, has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to open public hearings on these and other issues affecting television and TV broadcasters. The poll was taken as part of an initiative by People for Better TV to urge public hearings by the FCC on the “public interest obligations” of the nation’s television broadcasters as TV enters the digital age and stations across the country move to digital television. “The vast majority of African Americans are concerned about TV. There is too much violence and too much sex on TV. And, TV is

becoming more expensive. It’s time for African Americans and all Americans to speak up and call upon the FCC to hold public hearings on these and other issues. “The public wants an easy-to-understand TV ratings system for violence, sexual content and inappropriate language as a tool for parents,” said Mark Lloyd of the Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy (The Civil Rights Forum) “The ainvaves belong to all Americans. TV must begin to put families and children first and take greater responsibility for how we allow the airwaves to be used.” Members of the People for Better TV coalition include: the NAACP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy, the Consumer Federation of America, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the National Association of the Deaf, the National Council of Churches, the National

Organization for Women (NOW), and the Project on Media Ownership. The poll was coordinated by the Project on media Ownership and was conducted by the Washingtonbased polling firm of Lake Snell Perry and Associates between April 6 to 11, among about 300 registered African American voters nationwide. The survey has an error rate of plus or minus 5.7 percent. Among the findings were: 89 percent of African Americans favor an independent TV ratings system for violence, sexual content and inappropriate language. 8 percent are opposed; 78 percent favor limiting commercials to 6 minutes per hour during children’s programming, while 12 percent are opposed; 68 percent favor making ail children’s shows commercial free; 26 percent are opposed; 92 percent favor closed captioning; 5 percent are opposed; 84 percent favor measures to protect privacy; 9 percent are opposed; 91

percent favor providing at least 7 hours of educational programming per week; 7 percent are opposed; 80 percent favor producing programs that address local concerns; 14 percent are opposed; 83 percent favor providing more adult education and community college courses on TV; 15 percent are opposed; and 74 percent say the FCC should regulate “pay-for-view” programming; 26 percent are opposed. When asked, “As you may know, television broadcasters need access to the ainvaves in order to broadcast their programs. They get that access from the FCC. Do you think that broadcasters pay to use these airwaves or do you think they get to use them for free?” Two-thirds of African Americans are unaware that TV broadcasters use the airwaves for free. In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the U.S. Congress gave broadcasters $70 billion worth of additional public airwaves for digital TV

broadcasts. In May, broadcasters in the nation’s top 10 television markets began using digital TV. On June 3, People for Better TV filed a petition with the FCC asking for public hearings on how the broadcasters should compensate communities. The FCC has yet to schedule public hearings on the issue. “The FCC indicates that existing public interest requirements apply to all television broadcast licensees and the digital broadcasters will remain trustees of the public’s airwaves,” said Lloyd. “The commission has stated that, at the appropriate time, it would institute a proceeding and consider all views. That time is now.” The coalition has established a Web site to obtain more information about the group and for the public to file an electronic petition with the FCC at www.bettertv.org.

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FACT SHEET on Sickle Cell Trait & Anemia

Many African Americans die each year from Sickle Cell. .. Martin Center University in Indiana is providing Sickle Cell testing at the Black Expo Health and Employment Fair. In some individuals the red blood cells can be changed from a round to a sickle shape. If you are born with this tendency from one parent you have Sickle Cell Trait. If you are born with this tendency from both parents you have Sickle Cell Anemia. A person with Sickle Cell Trait does not have sickle cells in the blood stream and does not have a disease.

A person with Sickle Cell Anemia has sickle cells in the blood stream and has a disease. Sickle Cell Anemia causes severe pain from time to time. Sickle Cell Anemia is incurable, at the moment. Sickle Cell Anemia shortens some individuals’ lives. Individuals with Sickle Cell Anemia can live satisfying lives. One of 12 black Americans has Sickle Cell Trait. One of 500 black Americans has Sickle Cell' Anemia. If both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, each time a child is born there is a 25% chance the child will have

Sickle Cell Anemia. Sickle Cell Anemia is diagnosed during childhood. If you are an adult, do not worry about wether you have unrecognized Sickle Cell .Anemia. Since you don’t get sick from having Sickle Cell Trait, you will not know whether you have it unless you take a special blood test. All black persons in the child-bearing age should take the blood test to find out whether they have Sickle Cell Trait. By CHARLES F WHITTEN, M.D. Wayne State University School of Medicine.

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