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Communications Industry to Honor 
Rev. Dr. Benjamin Hooks
First Black FCC Commissioner and
Executive Director, NAACP

  Benjamin L. Hooks, the nation's first black appointee to the Federal Communications Commission and present Executive Director of the NAACP will be honored for his distinguished services to the FCC by leaders in the communications industry and government at an awards dinner May 12, 1980 at the Sheraton Washington Hotel, Washington, D.C.
  The program is being sponsored by a national dinner committee of notables in the industry and related fields, chaired by Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin, Chariman of the House Sub Committee on Communications; Willie Davis, President of the All Pro Broadcasting company; Ragan A. Henry, President of Broadcast Enterprises National; Eugene D. Jackson, President of the National Black Network; Thomas E. McKinney, President of the Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation, and Percy Sutton, Chairman of the Board of Inner City Broadcasting Corporation.
  The Federal Communications Commission regulates broadcasting. It was established as a 7-member commission by the Communications Act of 1934, to regulate existing stations, issue station licenses, allocate frequency bands to various services, specific frequencies to individual stations, license radio operators, control station power and assign call letters. Commissioners are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

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  Benjamin Hooks served on the Commission from 1972 until 1977, when he left to assume directorship of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP for more than 70 years has been the largest and most influential civil rights organization dedicated to racial justice for all Americans. The agency has 1700 branches throughout the country  and abroad and its dynamic social programs to combat bigotry and injustice are legend.
  Proceeds of the communications tribute to Dr. Hooks will be used for the NAACP's Afro-American Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO Program) instituted by Dr. Hooks to encourage minority youth achievement in th arts, humanities and technical and social sciences.
  The dinner will be one of the most significant events in recent history, and sponsors and participants anticipate record attendance.
  Additional information and tickets may be obtained from the Communications Media Testimonial Dinner Committee at 250 West 57 Street, New York City, 10019, telephone (212) 247-1282.
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This [program is reinforced by our NSI Minority Purchasing Council made up of the tope Purchasing executives from each of our operating companies. Council members are active in developing minority vendor sources, sharing information about vendors and assisting each other to achieve their goals. The potential of our council is great. We intend to use the talents of council members to work with minority firms to further develop the technical and managerial skills necessary to reach corporate America on a large scale.
  I am aware that all too often a major hurdle for the minority firm is piercing the infrastructure of the corporate purchasing agent's office. However, once the connection has been made, the minority vendor must represent his or her firm professionally, clearly identifying the mutual benefits of doing business.
  NSI purchasers recognize the difficulties of minority firms and will make every effort to meet them halfway.
  In my view, such efforts do not conflict in any way with NSI's or any other corporation's primary goal to earn a reasonable return for shareholders. I would argue, in fact, that these programs very much serve the interests of shareholders. They open the economy and our society to further entrepreneurial growth, and broaden our perspective.
  While I am proud of what NSI has done to help minority enterprise, I recognize that this is a long-over-due start. We can and will do much more to meet our responsibilities to minority enterprise and to the minority population as a whole.
  I am optimistic about the future of minority enterprise, My optimism is based not so much on what the public and private sectors have done to help minority business but on what minority Americans have done themselves. Opportunities have been seized. More and more young  people are pursuing business studies and careers. Minority managers are forming their own businesses. There is a unique ferment within the black business community.
  I see minority business fast approaching the point where growth is translated into economic power. The road ahead is narrow and twisting, but it is there, and people are on it. Large corporations and minority enterprises are part of an interdependent private sector: corporate America needs the skills, the vitality, and the special insights of minority businesses; minority business needs the capital, the technical aid, and the markets large corporations command.
  Our mutual needs and our joint concern for our nation's prosperity should be the basis for our partnership. 
  That partnership has taken root, and it will continue to grow.
  At NSI, we are committed to helping this growth continue. This is our promise to you and the ICBO.

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