093_HR0079
LRB093 09836 HSS 10083 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Running for political office has become
3 prohibitively expensive for most ordinary citizens; and
4 WHEREAS, The high cost of broadcast advertising is the
5 single most significant factor that has driven up the cost of
6 running for political office; and
7 WHEREAS, Many citizens believe radio and television
8 stations do not provide sufficient information about election
9 issues and candidates; and
10 WHEREAS, The nation's broadcast television and radio
11 stations are scaling back on substantive coverage of
12 candidates and campaign issues even as they raise their ad
13 rates to take advantage of the spike in air time demand
14 generated by elections; and
15 WHEREAS, The increased cost and reduced flow of campaign
16 communication on broadcast television and radio has created
17 an unfair advantage for wealthy candidates and candidates
18 with access to monied special interests, an unhealthy
19 development for our democracy; and
20 WHEREAS, The broadcast airwaves belong to the people; and
21 WHEREAS, The people, through their federal government,
22 have provided exclusive licenses to broadcasters to operate
23 within assigned frequencies on these airwaves, but only on
24 the condition that they serve the public interest; and
25 WHEREAS, This "public interest" standard must include
26 providing opportunities for candidates to deliver, and
27 citizens receive, a free and open flow of information just
28 prior to elections so that citizens can cast informed votes;
29 therefore, be it
30 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
-2- LRB093 09836 HSS 10083 r
1 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
2 we support a proposal endorsed by the Free Air Time Coalition
3 that calls on the federal government to require that all
4 broadcasters provide increased coverage of campaigns and
5 elections and a reasonable amount of free air time to
6 candidates just prior to elections as a condition of
7 receiving their broadcast licenses.