JAMES M. INHOfE
OKlAIlOMA
WASHINGTON OFFICE
205 RUSSElL SEriATE OffiCE BU\UIING
WA,SIfu\G101i, DC 20510-3603
(202J 224...H21
TULSA OFFICE
1924 SouTH UTICA, SUITE 530
TULSA, OK 74104
(918) 748-5111
OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICE
1900 N.W. EmtESSWAV, SUITE 1210
OKLAlIO.\1A CITY, OK 73118
(4051 608-4381
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3603
July 12,2012
ARMED SERVICES
ENVIRONMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS
FOREIGN RELATIONS
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commissions
445 12th Street SW, Room: 8-B201
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I am contacting you regarding clarification on the commercial restrictions of Non­
Commercial Educational (NCE) Public Interest Obligation (PIO) channels.
I support the ability of NCE PIO's to air limited messages of for profit entitIeS,
particularly when there is a direct connotation to education, health, and/or religious aspects of the
underlying mission of the station. As you are aware, Public Broadcasting Stations (PBS), whose
stations are carried on cable and satellite as NCE PIO channels, air sponsorships of for-profit
entities with numerous programs on their stations.
1 support PBS' current practice in this regard, as long as the policy is uniform for all non­
commercial stations. Therefore, 1 am seeking assurance and clarification from the FCC that all
NCE PIO channels are afforded and permitted this same ability, specifically independent and
religious programmers.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
c~- P~'.~fi?~tor James Inhofe
hnp:/IInhofe.senate.goY