By: Coleman H.C.R. No. 147 73R10612 WMS-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Public television is a broad-based resource that not 1-2 only entertains and enlightens many Texans but also has the 1-3 potential to benefit greatly the lives of people of all ages and 1-4 interests; and 1-5 WHEREAS, When President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the 1-6 Public Broadcasting Act in 1967, public television broadcasting in 1-7 Texas already had enjoyed a long history of excellence dating back 1-8 to May 25, 1953, when station KUHT first went on the air in 1-9 Houston; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Since that time 13 other public television stations 1-11 across the state have joined pioneering KUHT to bring quality 1-12 programming within the reach of 98 percent of all Texans; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Each of the 14 Texas public television stations is 1-14 equipped with a satellite receiver to import programming from a 1-15 myriad of sources and can originate widespread distribution of 1-16 programming via nationwide fiber-optic networks or satellite uplink 1-17 technology; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Texas public television stations are committed to 1-19 serving the state's diverse citizenry by providing quality 1-20 programming that embraces different age groups, ethnicities, and 1-21 cultures; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The technological infrastructure at the disposal of 1-23 Texas public broadcasters constitutes a significant resource whose 1-24 unique potential has yet to be fully determined, and the 2-1 possibility of deriving even greater benefit for the citizens of 2-2 this state through innovative uses of current technology and of 2-3 developments yet unforeseen should not remain unexplored; now, 2-4 therefore, be it 2-5 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 2-6 hereby request the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of 2-7 representatives to create a joint interim committee to study how 2-8 the considerable resources of public television might best be used 2-9 to further enhance service to the people of Texas; and, be it 2-10 further 2-11 RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and 2-12 recommendations to the 74th Legislature when it convenes in January 2-13 1995; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be 2-15 governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim 2-16 committees as the 73rd Legislature may adopt, and that such rules 2-17 and policies supersede the provisions of this resolution to the 2-18 extent of any conflict.