NEWS                                                       June 16, 1997 
                                    
                  STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN REED HUNDT
               ON LETTER FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO
                                     
                                    
     Attorney General Reno has written to urge that the Commission issue a Notice of
Inquiry into the issues surrounding the introduction of hard liquor advertisements on TV and
radio.  She points to the Commission's "unique role" in "ensuring that the public interest is
not undermined by certain uses of the public airwaves."

     Like the President, dozens of Members of Congress, many Attorneys General, and
over 240 public interest groups, Attorney General Reno has asked us to gather the facts and
views of interested parties, and to report our findings to Congress and the President.  

     This should put to rest any suggestion that the Commission lacks jurisdiction to
examine the issues relating to hard liquor's push to get its advertisements on the airwaves. 
Plainly the Attorney General believes that we have such jurisdiction, and that we should not
remain inactive while the FTC examines distinguishable issues relating to alcohol advertising.
   
     I think that the Commission has an obligation to gather the facts here, and I do not
think that delay is useful.  I look forward to beginning the work that Attorney General Reno,
and others, have asked us to do.    

  - FCC -