----------------------------Original message---------------------------- It seems to me that there are some very compelling arguments in favor of PBS and NPR that were made before Congress immediately after detractors, such as L. Jarvik testified. First, people actually get an education through PBS stations that provide high school equivalency programs and courses. Public television started out as educational television, and this role continues to be an important one. Second, the educational mission is a pervasive one. How many commercial programs have followed Reading Rainbow's lead in using television to promote reading books, or the lead of other PBS programs in terms of teaching reading or encouraging a cooperative in addition to a competitive approach to life? Is there any other children's programming that is as profoundly educational as that which has appeared on PBS? Third as much as forty+per cent of the population doesn't have access to cable, can't afford it, or has chosen not to subscribe. Nothing is a ubiquitous as broadcast television. Does anyone really believe that commercial broadcasters will step forward to fill the void left by defunct PBS stations with comparable programming? Fourth, is there a better source of noncommercial art and culture, as opposed to commercial popular culture, than PBS and NPR, and won't our society be impoverished if both forms of art and culture aren't available to virtually everyone? $1 per year seems a small price to pay, and a real bargain given the amount of additional money it generates, to ensure universal coverage, at least from my point of view. I don't pretend to be a neutral observer, however since I have produced documentaries that have been broadcast over PBS, one of which was also cablecast by the Discovery Channel, but then it didn't reach as many people, and since it dealt with African American art and culture it was very important to me that it be freely available to everyone. A portion of the film was also shown on Reading Rainbow, where it made a very small contribution to encouraging Americans to appreciate African American culture and to read. Gorham "Hap" Kindem