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Channel America (CA) was the first United States terrestrial broadcast television network to be intentionally assembled out of LPTV, or low-power television licensees. The network was founded by David Post in 1987 and launched in 1988. It offered a 24-hour feed of mostly inexpensive programming, delivered to its affiliate stations, many owned and originally established by the network, via satellite. In this, it was a model for the American Independent Network (subsequently succeeded by the rather similar programming of Urban America Television) and the somewhat more visible ION Television (formerly PAX), both of which also were largely seen around the United States on LPTV signals and on cable systems required to clear them.

History[link]

Channel America was founded in 1987 by David Post, who had hopes of creating a network with one thousand low-power television stations. The network never reached its goal in terms of affiliates, but still launched in 1988.^[1] In late 1995, the network peaked with a reach of 44,000,000 households through 100 affiliates. On September 18, 1995, EVRO Entertainment of Kissimmee, Florida acquired a 51% interest in the Channel America Network, with the option to buy the remaining 49%.^[2] The new owners had plans to create a sports-themed home shopping network. Many of the Channel America owned and operated stations were sold to PAX prior to the EVRO sale. Most of the affiliates eventually switched to America One.

Programs[link]

Among the shows on Channel America was Hot Seat, a talk show hosted by Wally George which was produced by KDOC in Anaheim, California. (Ironically, KDOC never joined the Channel America network). The network also aired several classic shows from Columbia Television. Those shows included Hazel, Gidget, The Flying Nun, Family, Ghost Story, Bridget Loves Bernie, and The Fantastic Journey.

References[link]

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Joel M. Skousen is an American conservative political commentator^[1] non-fiction Survivalist author, and retreat consultant who specializes in preparedness topics, particularly survival retreat and fallout shelter design and construction, as well as in what he calls "strategic relocation."^[2] Skousen is the founder and chief editor of World Affairs Brief,^[3] a weekly news-analysis service. He has offered in both North and Central America consultation regarding architectural and retreat design.^[4]

Skousen has written several books. including Essential Principles for the Conservation of Liberty, Strategic Relocation—North American Guide to Safe Places, The Secure Home, Survival Home Manual: Architectural Design, Construction, and Remodeling Of Self-Sufficient Residences and Retreats, and How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home. He also published a booklet titled 10 Packs for Survival, which he has also posted to several web sites.^[5]

Skousen designs and consults on hardened retreat homes,^[6] often including fallout shelters with HEPA air filtration systems. In the book Dancing at Armageddon: Survivalism and Chaos in Modern Times by Richard G. Mitchell, Jr., (2001) Skousen was quoted: "'You never want to make a house look like an obvious fortress. Those who want in can always move up a bigger gun. There is no way you can design a home to withstand RPG (Rocket-propelled grenade) rockets and tanks. I design these homes so you virtually cannot tell inside or out that they are any different from a conventional home.'"^[7]

Because of its low population density and diverse economy, both Skousen^[8] and survivalist writer James Wesley Rawles ^[9] recommend the Intermountain west region of the United States, as a preferred region for relocation and setting up survival retreats.

Skousen was raised in Oregon and later served as a USMC fighter pilot during the Vietnam Era. During the 1980s Skousen was the Chairman of the Conservative National Committee. He was also the Executive Editor of Conservative Digest.^[10]

In late 2007, Skousen gained attention^{[citation needed]} when he gave his support to Ron Paul rather than to fellow LDS church member Mitt Romney in the 2008 US presidential campaign, in a widely-circulated YouTube video clip.^[11] After John McCain became the Republican Party's presumptive nominee in early 2008, Skousen also endorsed Pastor Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party: "As Ron Paul goes back to Congress to continue the fight there, I believe Chuck Baldwin is the person to continue the fight during this election cycle and beyond."^[12]

Joel Skousen is the older brother of Mark Skousen and the younger brother of Royal Skousen. The three Skousen brothers are the nephews of conservative author and commentator Cleon Skousen.^[10]

Books[link]

• Survival Home Manual: Architectural Design, Construction, and Remodeling Of Self-Sufficient Residences and Retreats, ISBN 1-199-30639-6 (1982)

• Essential Principles for the Conservation of Liberty, ISBN 1-199-30661-4 (1984)

• How to Implement a High Security Shelter in the Home, ISBN 1-199-30652-4 (1998)

• The Secure Home, ISBN 1-199-30672-0 (May, 1999)

• Strategic Relocation—North American Guide to Safe Places, ISBN 1-56861-053-X (various editions, latest listed is February, 2006)

Quotes[link]

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• Many Christians think it is wonderful anytime government officials mention God or quote from the Bible. I take strong exception, and not because I believe it is improper for government officials to appeal to God. I simply object to dropping the name of God or quoting scripture to cover for evil, and otherwise convince naive troops and Christians in general that an evil cause is just.^[13]

• More than ever, I still consider the nuclear attack on America as inevitable, both because the real axis of evil (Russia and China) are still building for that attack, and because our own government is controlled by those intent upon destroying US sovereignty and delivering our nation over to a socialist New World Order (NWO). [2006]^[14]

• The one thing you can learn from the liberal and controlled media, including arch liberal newspapers like the Washington Post, NY Times, and LA Times, is the direction in which the conspiracy against liberty is going. I spend about a third of my time watching what the opposition does. When they start uniformly promoting certain issues in all the liberal journals (global warming, smart growth, gun control, etc.), it is obvious that there is some coordination going on. But remember, you can only learn to see through the selectively filtered news dispensed by the establishment media if you have other sources that feed you the missing pieces.^[15]

• In terms of unity, we are at a real disadvantage up against the left. It only takes one thing in common for “liberals” to unite. It only takes one difference of opinion for conservatives to divide.^[16]

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	United States Marine Corps portal

• Self-sufficiency
• Intentional Community
• Blast shelter

References[link]

External links[link]

• Skousen's web site
• World Affairs Brief, Joel Skousen's weekly news analysis
• 10 Packs for Survival
• Joel Skousen Bill of Rights Day Speech, Salt Lake City, Utah. December 15, 2007