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Show Hnittil States Senate COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY WASHINGTON. DC 20510 fTMOM TWUHMOHD. CVTK CAMOUH. CHAIRMAN UtCOMMtTTU ON COUKTI CHMLf S MeC tVUTXUU A. MARTUNO JOSt'M II IIOIM. J. OC1AWAM "0 f 5"! " " PAUL kAXALT. MCVASA IOWAR0 M KINMIOV MAStACHUSCTTS ITOtl TWtMMOND. tOUTM CAMOUNA HOW1J. Mf UN A1AIAMA OMIK C HATCH UTAM KMtftT C eVAD WIU VMCINIA ALA I HION. WYOMING , BiMNIt MCOMClNI. AAtfOKA ALAN t f nttOH WYOMING HOWARD M MrTZINAlM. OHIO PAUL IAXALT, MCVAOA jom p tAST. NOT Carolina Mnnh piconcinl Arizona mtM . , n. M cmul urn trm mmto CMARLft I RAMLTf.OWA PATR,C J. UAKT. VtRMONT i. UMMW. m " ""U. JCRCM.AM OINTON. ALA1HMA MOWtU MIFUN. ALAlfMA AHUM S'trrtft. Pf NNSTLVAN1A PAUL SIMON. ILUNDIS Mire mcCOnniu. uwTveir tmmm nido om ceuvtn tm t' macro MMwt llH'li CnMCJU ' . MM M. 6rTUTUH. MMOMTV CMW SfeMSU. June 19, 1986 Mr. Stephen M. Voody Publisher Daily and Sunday Eerald Post Office Box $20 Roanoke Rapidi, Forth Carolina 27870 Dear Mr. Voody: Thank you for your letter in opposition to S. 231b vhich vould amend the Newspaper Preservation Act As you knov, that lav provides an antitrust exemption for newspapers vhich combine their production, circulation and advertising adver-tising functions vhile .maintaining separate editorial .and reporting report-ing functions. This ex'emption vas enacted in 1970 to help financially finan-cially troubled, competing local nevspapers fey enabling them to Join their commercial functions under Joint operating agreements (JOAs). Because of the marked changes in the newspaper publishing business since then, the sponsors of 8. 2llk contend that the Newspaper Preservation Act needs updating. In my opinion, it is Important that a atarket environment is maintained vhereby nevspaper competition is fostered in local communities so that separate and distinct nevs voices and sources are available to all Americans. For this reason, the Congress should not take precipitous action vhich might encourage the . development of nevs monopolies, thereby stifling competition in the marketplace of ideas and information. In the vlev of many independent nevspapers Vho nave vrltten to me about this matter, the 1970 act may have actually vorked to diminish rather than encourage en-courage competition, and S. 23lb vould only exacerbate the situation situa-tion by alloving giant nevspaper organisations to take avay unjustly un-justly the revenues of home-town nevspapers in smaller markets. Hearings on S. 231 vere held last veek, and I expect that additional 'hearings vill be scheduled before this legislation is considered by the full Judiciary Committee. At present time, I do not believe a sufficient case has been made to liberalise or broaden the provisions of the Newspaper Preservation Act. I shall certainly oppose any auch amendment if I am convinced it vould endanger the viability or eilstence or local Independent nevspapers. Tour discussion of the Impact of S. 231b vas informative and helpful. You can be sure that I vill keep your vievs in mind vhen and if this bill is voted out of subcommittee. Thank you for taking the time to contact me about this important impor-tant Issue. It vas good hearing from you. Sincerely, John P. East United States Senator JPZ:Jhl ' 1 1 |