FCC to Libtalk fans: Don't look to us...

A concerned fan of Air America which lost its Boston stations in Dec. wrote to the FCC saying that it just isn't fair that no liberal radio (but: what about NPR?) exists in a very liberal town. The FCC replied that they have nothing to do with programming (other than that concerning obscene material). In other words, just because Air America flopped in liberal Boston, don't come crying to us.

I'm very upset that the only progressive talk radio station in the Boston area was abruptly dumped a few days before Christmas and changed to a Spanish language format. Boston's Progressive Talk, at AM 1200 (WKOX) and simulcast AM 1430 (WXKS), was the ONLY progressive talk station in this very liberal area (and the only one worth listening to). Public interest is NOT being served when 90% of radio talk shows are conservative in an area that must be at least 70% liberal!

Prior to the format change, Boston's Progressive Talk aired hosts such as Al Franken, Randi Rhodes and Robert Kennedy Jr. from Air America and Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz from the Jones Radio Network. These shows had many Democrats and progressives on as guests and provided them a megaphone while the supposedly `liberal' corporate media kept on repeating the Republican talking point that the " Dems just don't have any ideas". If the Democratic Party wants to be treated fairly by the media it is VERY much in its interest to support the building of a left-wing (for want of a better term) media infrastructure in order to show up the lies and distortions currently monopolizing the radio and TV by Rush Limbaugh (and his clones) and Fox News.

Boston's Progressive Talk was aired by Clear Channel which apparently did not want the format to succeed because they did not do the basic business moves one would expect anyone to do in order to make a venture succeed. They did not promote the station, did not have a locally hosted show, did not vigorously pursue local advertisers and did not improve the weak signal strength. Interestingly, after the format change they announced they were increasing signal strength from 10,000 to 50,000 watts. It may or may not be relevant that Clear Channel has been purchased (or merged with) Bain Capitol, Mitt Romney's old company. Also, it seems like CC is dumping many progressive stations, regardless of how they are doing in some cases.

The stifling of progressive voices in the media should be investigated. Too few mega-media companies own too much of what we see, hear and read. This is not good for democracy, not good for local coverage and not good for America. Millions of Americans have no voice and we're getting sick of it. Please do what you can to help. Thank you.

------------------- The FCC reply: Thank you for contacting the Federal Communications Commission.

The Communications Act of 1934 that established the Federal Communications Commission PROHIBITS the Commission from censoring broadcast matter and taking action that would interfere with free speech in broadcasting, a freedom also guaranteed in our Constitution's First Amendment.

Individual radio and television station licensees are responsible for selecting all broadcast matter and for determining how their stations can best serve their communities. Licensees are responsible for choosing the entertainment programming and the programs concerning the local issues, news, public affairs, religion, sports events, and other subjects to be aired by the station. They also decide how their programs, including call in shows, will be conducted and whether or not to edit or reschedule material for broadcasting. To this end the Commission does not substitute its judgment for that of the broadcaster in this process, and it does not act as an advisor to stations on artistic standards, grammar or quality of content.

We recommend that listeners and viewers make their concerns known to the management personnel of the broadcast station(s) whenever they believe a station's programming merits it. Such comments help to keep broadcasters informed about audience opinion and can influence programming.

However, Congress has given the Federal Communications Commission the responsibility for administratively enforcing the prohibition to broadcast obscene and/or indecent programming which is set forth at Title 18 United States Code, Section 1464 (18 U.S.C. § 1464).

For additional information on the Commission's role in broadcasting, please visit this web site: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/public_and_broadcasting.html.

>>Too few mega-media companies own too much of what we see, hear and read.

How about left leaning companies like CBS, NBC, ABC, NY Times, et al? But those are GOOD...

Also brings up the fact that CC is associated with a company Mitt Romney USED TO be affiliated with. USED to.

Also the power increase that had been mentioned had been in the works for a long long time (so much for that conspiracy theory). Also, WKOX and WXKS were being considered, rumor had
it, for conservative talk shows like Rush, Drudge, and Beck
via Clear Channel's syndication arm, Premiere Radio...so libs it could have been worse :)

I love it. After CC gave them a chance, they still see them as a monster. Libs cannot jettison their worldview.

BTW, the NYT owns a classical radio station in NY. What's stopping them from creating a talk station in Boston?

For that matter, what's stopping Pacifica?

did not vigorously pursue local advertisers

I guess manufacturers of rolling papers and abortion clinics don't have the advertising budget to support that format.

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.

Boston is amazing--95 per cent of pols are Dems, the likes
of Kerry and Kennedy keep getting re-elected, etc., yet liberal talk FAILED while conservatives on stations like
WRKO and WTKK do pretty well. It's true that WKOX and WXKS
didn't have the best signals, and supposedly didn't get
promoted properly (but the libs fail to remember the various
puff pieces in the Globe and even the Herald about how
great AAR is)...and certainly didn't hire any daily local hosts.

But when the station tanked in the ratings period after
period nobody saw the end coming. Nobody knew that it
would become "la neuva Rumba" (something that might actually make money). None of the libs got together to try and
ensure the station would stay libtalk; all the moonbats in the area, and nobody stepped forward to do a talk show
(even at low/no pay) to confront local issues. Nobody cared.

Now that the free market has shown AAR the door in Boston,
they go running to the FCC demanding it be brought back.
Oh that conservative media bias, eh, libs! :)

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