Congress Seeking to pass Bill to Cancel Faith Based Television

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Christian Programming Restricted From TV? New Bill Aims to Ban Faith Based Television

By William Rameau, BREATHEcast News Reporter

Congress might try to pass a bill to cancel Christian and local TV programming if it goes through.
Louisiana Republican Representative Steve Scalise presented the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act, which aims to eliminate the “must-carry” set of laws honoring free, local television.
“Decades-old broadcast, cable and satellite laws dramatically restrict access and limit consumer choice,” Scalise said in a statement.
If The Next Generation Television Marketplace Act is ratified, many Television ministers feel it will become extinct on cable stations.
“(The bill) would be a significant detriment to Christian TV stations and the viewers who rely on them for spiritual guidance,” said National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) network CEO and President Dr. Jerry Johnson.
Trinity Broadcasting Network, one of the nation’s prevalent Christian networks in America and worldwide, echoes Dr. Johnson’s sentiments.
“Anytime you decide that you’re going to change the marketplace without really understanding the marketplace we think it is a mistake, and I’m sorry that Rep. Scalise didn’t seem to know that. He certainly never reached out to any of us in the religious broadcasting community and certainly none of the local broadcasters that I’m aware of,” said TBN’s advocate Colby May who believes the proposal is “ill advised.”
“Valuable local affiliate programming, strongly demanded by consumers including myself, is proof that archaic government regulations are unnecessary today,” said Scalise, who is also the Republican Study Committee Chairperson.
NRB President Dr. Johnson disagrees with Scalise because he believes “long-standing carriage rules ensure that viewers can access the important and edifying programming their local Christian broadcasters offer free-of-charge.”