"Fairness Doctrine," is back. Kucinich: Congress To Take On FCC

[Desertdog]

"We know the media has become the servant of a very narrow corporate agenda"

He is talking about the conservative talk radio, not the Left Wing talk of ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, MSNBC and CNN.


Kucinich: Congress To Take On FCC
http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=333927

Over the weekend, the National Conference for Media Reform was held in Memphis, TN, with a number of notable speakers on hand for the event. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) made an surprise appearance at the convention to announce that he would be heading up a new House subcommittee which will focus on issues surrounding the Federal Communications Commission.

The Presidential candidate said that the committee would be holding "hearings to push media reform right at the center of Washington. The Domestic Policy Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee was to be officially announced this week in Washington, D.C., but Kucinich opted to make the news public early.

In addition to media ownership, the committee is expected to focus its attention on issues such as net neutrality and major telecommunications mergers. Also in consideration is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present controversial topics in a fair and honest manner. It was enforced until it was eliminated in 1987.

Kucinich said in his speech that "We know the media has become the servant of a very narrow corporate agenda" and added "we are now in a position to move a progressive agenda to where it is visible."

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps was also on hand at the conference and took broadcasters to task for their current content, speaking of "too little news, too much baloney passed off as news. Too little quality entertainment, too many people eating bugs on reality TV. Too little local and regional music, too much brain-numbing national play-lists." Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein also spoke at the event.
 

[cosine]

Kucinich said in his speech that "We know the media has become the servant of a very narrow corporate agenda"

What's the problem? The media's a private entity, let them broadcast whatever they like. Keep the gooberment out of it!

[Bigjake]

I appologize for this fool even being from my state

may a painful and public death decend upon him, just as soon as those higher on the list get theirs, (kerry,pelosi,boxer,kennedy, call yer respective offices')

[Bigjake]

also, wanted to add;   I'm equally embarassed by the likes of voinivich and the former senator dewine.  good ridance, RINO bastard.

[mountainclmbr]

Bill of Rights enforcement would put these Marxists under the jail.

[charby]

Conservative news radio why? because it makes money

Liberal news on TV why? because it makes money

Unless they are broadcasting indecency violations or violating campaign fairness they isn't anything that can be done legally.


If they want to do anything they will have to vote out the 1996 Telecommunications Act first.

-Charby

[Waitone]

Why is anyone surprised?  For me the only surprise is that it took some ding-a-ling this long to start the process.

[The Rabbi]

But notice how it is always couched in terms of "fairness", "neutrality" and the like.  Who could be opposed to fairness?
Of course his idea of "fairness" is whatever the gov't says it is.  I prefer the laissez faire approach: let them broadcast whatever they want.  If people don't like it, they can turn it off.
It bugs me when people want to protest this or that on TV.  You don't like it?  Turn it off.  Change the station.  Watch something else.  Read a book instead.  If enough people did that then the stations would change what they do.

[Perd Hapley]

Also in consideration is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present controversial topics in a fair and honest manner.

Such blind faith in MiniTru bureaucrats is cute, but I thought it just required broadcasters to provide equal time. 

[roo_ster]

"Progressives" can not abide the thought that someone, somewhere, is getting a different point of view.

[Desertdog]

Unless they are broadcasting indecency violations or violating campaign fairness they isn't anything that can be done legally.

Not according to the Dems.

Also in consideration is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present controversial topics in a fair and honest manner.

In other word; 3 hours of Rush would require 3 hours of Allen Colmes like broadcast.  So, for the broadcasters to stay out of trouble it would be easier to get rid of both Rush, who is making them money, and get rid of Allen.

Back to 24 hours of music and news.

[BakerMikeRomeo]

Back to 24 hours of music and news.

Man, when was the last time you listened to a music station on the radio?

~GnSx

[brimic]

Does this mean that NPR and PBS (both supported by taxpayers I might add) would be required to put on some actual conservative viewpoints for 'fairness?'

[Strings]

brimic, what are you smokin'? Actual fairness ain't the goal: "we are now in a position to move a progressive agenda to where it is visible."


 Never heard "progressive" and "conservative" used interchangably...

[Desertdog]

Does this mean that NPR and PBS (both supported by taxpayers I might add) would be required to put on some actual conservative viewpoints for 'fairness?'

You know the same rules don't apply to the "Progressives."

[gunsmith]

Does this mean those crappy sappy elevator music stations
will have to give equal time to Metallica and Black Sabbath?

Mike Savage has said he would sue under the fairness doctrine to
respond to ABC,NBC,CNN etc

[Desertdog]

Mike Savage has said he would sue under the fairness doctrine to
respond to ABC,NBC,CNN etc

Can you imagine Rush up against Chris Matthews or Imus? 

[griz]

As the Rabbi said:

Of course his idea of "fairness" is whatever the gov't says it is.

You can't pass a law that says everything will be "fair" because we can't even agree on what fair would be.  Does the comedy channel have to create a half hour conservative comedy show to air after John Stewart?  Will it be fair if it isn't as funny?  The answer of course depends on your point of view, which the government should not try to control.

Listen to what you want and turn off the rest.  The market is self correcting if the government doesn't fix it.  And I meant the word fix both ways.

[Desertdog]

It was defeated in the Senate.  So far, So good.
The problem is the fact that it can come back in the conference committee.

[gunsmith]

it is so sickening to hear their lame arguments, to these "fairness" mongers
CNN, MSNBC and CBS ABC are fair!

Yup the same folks who report that a kel tec sub 2000 is a sub machine gun
and two milsurp rifles and 500 rounds is an arsenal.

To them, Democrats who do not call for impeachment and a defeat in Iraq
are hardline neocons.

[mountainclmbr]

Fairness, Peace and Justice have been excuses used by leftist governments to kill about 150 million of their own citizens in the last century. Note that Kucinich is co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, who openly associate with Socialist Party USA and will probably want flags at half mast for a year when Castro dies.