June 27, 1997



         PRESS STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER CHONG REGARDING 
                SUPREME COURT RULING INVALIDATING 
                  THE COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT

     Yesterday, the Supreme Court unanimously held that cyberspeech is entitled to
full First Amendment protection.  Hallelujah!  I am extremely pleased that the Court
acknowledged the important role that the Internet plays in promoting the exchange of
ideas.  And, I applaud their recognition of the potential destructive impact that undue
government intervention would have on this vibrant medium.  

     The base conclusions of the Court's decision are worthy of special note.  The
Court clearly held that the government interest in protecting the rights of children -- as
important as that goal may be -- it is not a carte blanche for intruding upon First
Amendment rights.   Rather, as I have continually argued during my tenure at the FCC,
government regulation of protected speech must be narrowly tailored to achieve a
compelling government interest.  This is a principle that we must keep in mind for all
media content regulation, including the broadcast media.  

     I was struck by Justice Stevens' statement that "we presume that government
regulation of the content of speech is more likely to interfere with the free exchange of
ideas than to encourage it."  I think this statement should apply not just in cyberspace,
but across all media.  It should send a special message to me and my colleagues at the
FCC -- regulation of media content should be a last resort.  We should not be seeking
new ways to control media content.  Instead, we should be looking for ways to minimize
government regulation wherever possible.

     We must be careful not to tread upon the important values preserved by the First
Amendment.  As Senator Daniel Inouye said at my confirmation hearing -- it is the First
Amendment that sets us apart from the rest of the world.  The Supreme Court's
momentous decision should remind us that we all must work to preserve the important
rights that the First Amendment provides.



                            - FCC -