Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 217: Advisory committee to study cable television programming relative to the showing of obscene material

Date: 06/11/1982
Issuer: Edward J. King
Mass Register: No. 316
Revoked by: Executive Order 383

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, advances in the field of television technology have resulted in the unprecedented growth of cabletelevision systems; and WHEREAS, federal government restrictions applicable to commercial television broadcasts have not been extended to the cabletelevision industry; and

WHEREAS, there exists a growing concern that the lack of such governmental regulation may result in the unbridled availability of obscene or pornographic transmissions over the growing number of cabletelevision networks,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the Commonwealth, do hereby order and direct that:

I. There is to be created a committee, to be known as the Advisory Committee to Study Cabletelevision Programming Relative to the Showing of Obscene Material, to consist of twenty-five members who shall serve without compensation. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Governor, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor or until such time as a report shall be presented to the Governor of the Committee's findings.

The membership shall consist of representatives from both the private and public sectors, from which the Governor shall appoint a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.

II. The Committee shall conduct an analysis of the methods by which other states have sought to curtail, through regulation or otherwise, the transmission of obscene programs over cabletelevision networks, and furthermore, make recommendations as to whether or not such state intervention is necessary in the commonwealth, delineating the reasons therefore and the extent of permissible action necessary to satisfy such demands.

III. The Chairperson may form such subcommittees as he deems necessary and establish the objectives and schedule of each said subcommittee in order to accomplish the purpose of this study.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 11th day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-two and of the independence of the United States of America two-hundred and six.

EDWARD J. KING

Governor

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY

Secretary of the Commonwealth

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