ACT
Begun in 1934 during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt when AM radio [often just one station per town - and no TV] was king, the Fairness Doctrine sought to ensure that radio listeners would get both sides of a political story by requiring that stations give equal air time to different opinions.
In 1987 the FCC voted to halt the doctrine's implementation when it had become obvious that the government's monitoring of the media led to censorship. Well before the 1980s Radio ceased having any sort of communication monopoly as it did in the 1930s, and has only expanded {many say because of the doctrine's demise} since. [snip]
"Under the rubric of 'broadcast localism' it is clear the Commission is proposing no less than a sweeping takeover by Washington bureaucrats of broadcast media. The proposals and recommendations for Commission action contained in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking amount to the stealth enactment of the Fairness Doctrine, a policy designated to squelch the free speech and free expression of specifically targeted audiences,"Boehner notes in his letter that forcing the licensees to recreate the so-called "advisory boards" of a bygone era would encumber broadcast media with onerous bureaucratic burdens not faced by cable, satellite, or the internet. The report's assertion that these boards would 'help' radio stations "determine the needs and interests of their communities" or promote "localism and diversity" borders on fantasy. [snip]
The FCC should make it clear, as soon as possible, that it has no intention of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine in any way, shape or form.
Also, the House Leadership should move H.R. 2905 out of Committee and give it a simple up-or-down vote on the House Floor. If they did, just about everyone might come out a winner.
READ MORE
Bring the Broadcaster Freedom Act, H.R. 2905 to the floor now.Pelosi (202) 225-0100 http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
YOUR Congressman > https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
3 comments:
"Under the rubric of 'broadcast localism' it is clear the Commission is proposing no less than a sweeping takeover by Washington bureaucrats of broadcast media."
In other words, giving small business a chance to drink at the trough of radio is anti-conservative???? Everything has to be Clear Channel pumping the same talk radio shows across the fruited plain????
I remember when every local radio station had its own local news department and told you what was going on in your own town. All those people have been fired.
Most AM talk radio stations outside the big markets are just computers in a closet, relaying satellite.
A lot of local people have lost their jobs to pump up the big companies' stock prices -- including a lot of LOCAL conservative talk hosts. And this is a good thing? Ask the advertisers who can't find anyone at the radio station when they call to complain that their commercial didn't air or the computer played something else over it.
Does being a conservative mean blowing off the people in Minot who suffered -- and even died -- because corporate radio was running nonstop satellite-fed ideoprop and had nobody home to answer the phone?
The conscience of a conservative: Government is best when it is closest to the people -- but radio is best when it is the farthest away.
Excuse me. There is a bit of factual error in your post.
The Fairness Doctrine was put into the FCC Rules and Regulations in 1967, not 1934.
Fairness Doctrine issues are quite distinct from the current "Localism" proposal.
Today's FCC Rules allow a single owner to own multiple radio stations in a single market. It is common today to find three or four radio stations gathered together in a single building even though the stations may have been granted to serve the unique opportunities of four different communities. With computerized automation doing the programming today, if the sheriff in one of those four towns wants to call the radio station and ask that announcements be made about evacuation for flood, gas line break, etc., there is no one on duty to take the phone call, break in on the automated programming machine, and do A PUBLIC SERVICE. Granted, some do-gooders are trying to add various bells and whilstles to muddy up a basically necessary discussion.
Some have rather rediculously proposed that each of the four stations should have it's very own human being on duty... even at 3 A.M. in the morning, sitting there watching the automation machine automate. That was simply tying a knot in the broadcasters tail so they would feel the need to come to the table and discuss what is reasonable stewardship of a license to occupy a part of the airwaves.
Goat Rodeo Cowboy
apologies for latency of comments posts - holiday and all...
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