Conservative talk radio fans have new reason to fear for the future of their favorite shows.
For years, these loyal listeners have worried that one day, a Democratic Congress and White House would revive the Fairness Doctrine, which was abolished by President Reagan in 1987.
That longstanding FCC policy obliged broadcasters to offer "balanced" commentary on "controversial issues of public importance."
The Fairness Doctrine sounds noble, but, as noted by Val E. Limburg with the Museum of Broadcast Communications:
The doctrine, nevertheless, disturbed many journalists, who considered it a violation of First Amendment rights of free speech/free press which should allow reporters to make their own decisions about balancing stories. Fairness, in this view, should not be forced by the FCC. In order to avoid the requirement to go out and find contrasting viewpoints on every issue raised in a story, some journalists [and radio producers/programmers] simply avoided any coverage of some controversial issues. This "chilling effect" was just the opposite of what the FCC intended.
The abolition of the Fairness Doctrine led directly to the phenomenal growth of conservative talk radio as we know it today: a multi-million dollar industry boasting hugely popular, opinionated, controversial (and politically powerful) hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
Now some observers believe one of Obama's new FCC appointments indicates another "chill" on the horizon.
Last month, Mark Lloyd was granted the rather Orwellian title of "Chief Diversity Officer" at the FCC. In his 2006 book Prologue to a Farce: Communications and Democracy in America (University of Illinois Press), Lloyd recommended that private broadcasters be forced to, in effect, heavily subsidize their competition: those public broadcasters that already receive millions in taxpayer dollars each year.
This financially onerous combination of fines and fees -- amounting to an estimated $100-million and $250-million each and every year -- would essentially force many private broadcasters out of business. It's hard for some cynics not to wonder if that might not be the whole idea.
Lloyd has repeatedly stated that he opposes the reintstatement of the Fairness Doctrine, but that's only because he's come up with other ways to castrate conservative talk radio. Naturally, these strategies all come complete with the usual, harmless-sounding calls for "diversity" and "community."
Seton Motley, of the conservative Media Research Center, said Lloyd "laid out a battle plan" in a 2007 report for the George Soros-funded progressive think tank, Center for American Progress.
According to Motley, Lloyd wanted "the FCC to threaten stations' licenses with whom they do not agree with politically, and now he's at the FCC waiting to take their calls. This is not about serving the local interest, it's about political opposition."
In response to such concerns, today Senator Chuck Grassley sent a letter to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, expressing his concerns about the Lloyd appointment. Grassley wrote, in part:
I do not believe that more regulation, more taxes or fines, or increased government intervention in the commercial radio market will serve the public interest or further the goals of diversifying the marketplace. I am concerned that despite his statements that the Fairness Doctrine is unnecessary, Mr. Lloyd supports a backdoor method of furthering the goals of the Fairness Doctrine by other means. Accordingly, I ask that you clarify and reaffirm your commitment to me to oppose any reincarnation of the Fairness Doctrine. Further, I ask you to affirmatively state that you will not pursue an agenda that includes any new restrictions, fines, fees, or licensing requirements on commercial radio that would effectively create a backdoor Fairness Doctrine.
Comments
The FCC with its evil sister the CRTC in America & Canada respectualy. They have no buisness in a Democracy anymore than Phoney anti-Human rights boards.
If you need some type of regulation on Licences have them Made by the Media for the Media.
The internet becomes more orginized every day. No one brought this about but human nature to turn chaos into order. Unless your a collectivist.
People ought to be free to watch or see what they want unless its against the innocent or does real harm.
Are people now deemed so stupid by there Leaders now they can't concive of adults being adults?
JMO
The left can't debate us in the open court of public opinion because we have the truth on our side. Thus they stack the deck in their favour, they create legislation outlawing our point of view under the guise of hatelaws and fair nonsensical legislation such as this. I fear for the US and Canada the modern socialist left hate open dialogue because it exposes them to ridicule and the truth eventually prevails. The Modern Left offer nothing but tyranny and subjugation of liberty, they are the West's version of the Taliban light.
Who cares. If Americans, who always claim to be so free among other nations, allow this stuff, too da-- bad. Apathy will only get us so far. Apathy is the politicians source of power over Americans. We are their servants. They are NOT public Servants.
Rose, well said. I would just add that the left is internationalist, open borders, and therefore, cannot possibly claim, as they always do, to care about quality of life, the environment or jobs for Americans. You can't be internationalist and these things at the same time. They are totally incommpabible.
Kathy, I'd like to thank you for an informative article, and mentioning Senator Charles Grassley. Senator Grassley, while not perfect by any means(he is a politician)is one of the few members of the Senate, in my opinion, who has repeatedly shown that he has all Americans best interests at heart.
SCARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who is Rush to preach anything? My motto is lead by example. He is full of hate. Likes to promote hate and lives a life full of excess and self-indulgence. Lead by example. Rush has not had an exemplary life, IMO.
President Obama has lead by example and will continue to do so.
We live in one world people. nationalism needs to stop. When our another countries economy suffers so does ours. We are all humans. We all love our children. We all feel pain and suffering. We are all a product of our environment. Until we begin to listen to the words of john lennon's song Imagine. We will live in a world full of division an hate and lack of empathy for those different than ourselves.
in reference to the comment "President Obama has lead by example and will continue to do so", nothing could be further from the truth. He and his Diversity Czar represent modern Socialism. He is trying to silence anyone who disagrees with him or his policies. This writer needs to wkae up and look at the facts. Freedom of speech was granted by the founders of this country. Obama and his cronies will not take it from us!!! We will stand up and make our voices heard!!!
We live in one world people. nationalism needs to stop. When our another countries economy suffers so does ours. We are all humans. We all love our children. We all feel pain and suffering. We are all a product of our environment. Until we begin to listen to the words of john lennon's song Imagine. We will live in a world full of division an hate and lack of empathy for those different than ourselves.
We live in one world people. nationalism needs to stop. When our another countries economy suffers so does ours. We are all humans. We all love our children. We all feel pain and suffering. We are all a product of our environment. Until we begin to listen to the words of john lennon's song Imagine. We will live in a world full of division an hate and lack of empathy for those different than ourselves.
<b>Orlandofit</b> writes: "We live in one world people. nationalism needs to stop."
If you love life, you need to understand that America was the first - and so far the only - country founded upon an idea: Individual human beings have rights.
I'll agree with you when all other countries agree that individuals have rights and the only legitimate function of governments is to protect those rights.
Until then, long live nationalism!
The American people misled through the artful misrepresentations of interested men and women have elected individuals intent on pursuing their own agenda. The checks and balances placed within our Constitution has given way to the unrestrained passions of extremist who have no regard for Constitutional government. Our Former President Rutherford B. Hayes warned, “The executive power is large because it is not defined in the Constitution. The real test has never come, because the presidents have down to the present have been conservative, or what might be called conscientious men, and have kept within limited range. But if a Napoleon ever became President, he could make the executive almost what he wished to make it.” How ironic was President Hayes observations as our current president is by passing the oversight of Congress, ruling in despotic principle through his appointment of Czars.
Robert Moon is spamming The Activity Pit again: twi.cc/lAlq
orlandofit ...
why do you hate Conservatives so much ??
Loving others does not mean giving them everything they want and lessening your own life to do so.
I'd rather give them a hand Up instead of a hand out.
What Conservatives are against is the Democrats taking control of our lives and taking away our Freedoms . . that is not hate .. it is just expressing ourselves.
The same way the liberals expressed themselves a few years ago ...
only they used HATEful emotions and words .. but are hypocrites now that they are in office.
Get your facts straight before you spew your hatred.
Under the guise of fairness and compassion free will is eliminated and, by the people, grant the government the power to forcibly seize assets from the "haves and do'ers" and give to the "have nots". Charity will die as government, not the individual, will decide how your resources are used. This is how oppression begins and how it is maintained amongst a non virtuous citizenry as they willingly surrender their Divine rights. History repeats as humans lapse into tyranny again.
fun stupidity since you people are the ones that run crying when someone says "poop" on TV and want the FCC to "clean" the media to your morals and such.
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