March 11, 1996 

                         STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN REED HUNDT ON
             PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CALL FOR FCC ACTION TO
                REQUIRE FREE AIR TIME FOR CANDIDATES
                                  
     
     I was thrilled to hear the President today call for the
FCC to take the steps necessary to guarantee that access to
the public's airwaves for political debate is reformed in
ways consistent with the clear need to fix our campaign
process.
          
     As the President communnicated, the FCC has the
power, the precedent and the procedures to issue a rule
ordering free air time access by candidates and to assure
free access to the airwaves for political candidates.  The
President asked us to take the rulemaking steps to do that. I
hear the call and I agree with him.

     The FCC is now writing the rules and preparing to
grant the broadcast digital television licenses.  We intend to
make clear that these licenses will be issued subject to
concrete and commensurate public interest obligations.   

     The President, Senator McCain and Walter Cronkite
all agreed today that a part of the solution to the destructive
campaign money chase is to call on the broadcasters to help
the country solve this problem by providing some free time
for candidates.

     The broadcasters have always had an obligation to
use the public's airwaves to serve the public interest and
what could be more in the public interest than providing a
small portion of the hundreds of thousands of broadcasting
hours to reform our system of democracy by minimizing the
impact of money in campaigns. 

     This is an opportunity for broadcasters to make their
own immense contribution to the political life of the nation
by renewing their compact with the American people.

                                        - FCC -