A Freeper's Observation. The Abject Stupidity of the Senate Commerce Commitee

E.G.C.

[E.G.C.]

Recently, the Federal Communiciations Commision adapted new rules which raised the ownership limits of T.V. stations while keeping the ownership limits of radio limits intact.

The new rules also set FCC markets according to Arbitron rules and grandfathered stations which were acquired before the new rules took effect.

Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Commitee did what in my opinion was the most stupid, idiotic and foolish thing. They voted out a bill which singled out Clear Channel and would force the divesture of some it's radio stations.

THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON THE COMPANY, THIS IS AN ATTACK ON POPULARITY!!!!!!!!

There are apparently, some things (consewrvative)that Clear Channel syndicates that are popular that some people in Congress (John McCain and his cabal) Don't like and what they are seeking to do is break up this company and give it to others.

ARE YOU LISTENING OUT THERE, ARIZONA FREEPERS? JOHN MCCAIN, YOUR SO CALLED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE SENATE THINKS YOU'RE TOO STUPID TO MAKE DECSIONS ABOUT WHICH RADIO STATION TO LISTEN TO!!!!!!!

The qote about popularity comes BTW from Micahel Powell FCC Comissioner as qouted by Rush LImbaugh. This brings to mind the Fairness Doctrine. It wasn't about fairness as some would like us to think. It's about making sure those you didn't want to hear never got a radio show.

There are apparently some charletains in Congress who think they know better then the radio owners how to program a radio station. The truth of the matter is these people are so stupid they don't even know how to fix an icebox.

It appears that politics had taken precendence over the public interest in Congress and if this measure were to ever become law, it would do far more harm than good.

Now, I realize some people don't neccesarily agree with everything that these broadcasters have done but the fact is that since acquiring new stations, here in the market where we live for example we have seen more local programming and more severe weather coverage than ever before. The affiliation with the CBS T.V. affiliate here in our area has brought us life saving weather information. Something that never happened under the old ownership.

These idiots in Congress do not know the broadcast business like they think they do. Goverment does not know what's best. The people do. It's time for goverment to get out of the way and let the people make their own decisions about which radio or T.V. station they want to tune to.

And as for you folks in Arizona, I hope you will remember this nonsense when you go to the polls in 2004. John McCain is proving to be a rather shabby representative in the Senate for your state. Thank goodness we here in Oklahoma do not have any of his kind representing us in Washington.

[SAMWolf]

Overbearing government Bump

[E.G.C.]

Bumping for moare replies.

[SAMWolf]

Sometimes I think our government really hates the free market.

[Gabrielle Reilly]

Ping.

[HairOfTheDog]

You seem a little tense.

[E.G.C.]

(LOL):-D Well, I hope I'm not sounding too tense in a negative sort of way. But, this issue does need to be addressed because there are seom people in postitions of power who just simply do not like the choices that people like myself are making with regards to radio programming and these epople are desiring to legilate these things out of existence.

That's the reason for being so concerned about this issue.

I don't neccesairly agree with everything Clear Channel does. They recently took a good Adult Contemporary station in Wichita Falls, Texas and changed it to a hard rock station which I'm not too fond of.

But the fact still remains that they synidicate talk programs which have become so popular like Rush Limbaugh, Michael reagan and others. People want to hear conservative talk shows. They do not want to ehar Bill Clinton types on the radio but apparently those are the choices some in Congress want to limit us to and in fact forcefeed on us.

That's why I've been making the case here and sounding the alarm bells about this because this kind of legilation is very dangerous and could very well do more harm than good.

Clearly, politics is being placed above the public interest here and that's really bad business.

Thanks everyone for responding to this thread.

[Katukov]

Hi, everybody, I'm new to the forum.

If we grant that the government has the power to regulate the airwaves through the FCC, then the Congress has the power to overrule the FCC. The real question ought to be is there a better way to apportion the use of the radio broadcast spectrum (which is limited in bandwidth and can not accommodate an unlimited number of radio stations).

Any ideas?

As to McCain, he is Arizona's problem. I used to like him OK when I lived there

[E.G.C.]

Thanks, Katukov for the input.

[E.G.C.]

Welcome to Free Republic