Posted on 10/12/2004 12:43:39 PM PDT by rface
FCC
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Powell:
We write to express our concern over a recent LA Times article (attached) regarding the planned preemption of regular station programming by the Sinclair Broadcast Group in favor of an anti-Kerry attack ad expected to last approximately 90 minutes, and to ask that you look into this matter to determine whether it represents a proper use of public airwaves or if, instead, it would violate fairness rules now in place.
The attached article alleges that Sinclair Broadcasting has ordered its stations, including affiliates of Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, WB and UPN, to preempt their regular programming and replace it with material prepared for political use, shortly prior to the November 2 election. To allow a broadcasting company to air such a blatantly partisan attack in lieu of regular programming, and to classify that attack as "news programming" as has been suggested, would violate the spirit, and we think the text, of current law and regulation.
Additionally, while there is some indication that Senator Kerry may be invited to a panel discussion following the airing of this "program" in order to satisfy fairness regulations, it seems clear to us that any such invitation would be merely a transparent attempt to circumvent the fine print of the law and proceed with this partisan plan. Equal time rules exist for a purpose - to prevent the airing of one-sided political content without equal response time given to the opposing view or candidate. In this case, it is impossible to imagine how the equal time rules would be satisfied if this plan is allowed to go forward.
We urge you to investigate this matter immediately, and would appreciate a response as to whether you will, in fact, investigate these allegations."
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA),
Patrick Leahy (D-VT),
Edward Kennedy (D-MA),
Byron Dorgan (D-ND),
Jack Reed (D-RI),
Bill Nelson (D-NE),
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI),
Carl Levin (D-MI),
Ron Wyden (D-OR),
Bob Graham (D-FL),
Dick Durbin (D-IL),
Tim Johnson (D-SD),
Harry Reid (D-NV),
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR),
Ernest Hollings (D-SC)
and Patty Murray (D-WA).
I am sure they asked the same of 9-11, riiight?
man are they RUNNING scared!!!.....
it wasnt too long ago that they all sent a letter to the FCC about FOX NEWS and wanted them to be investigated HAHAHHAHAHAHA
poor widdle fellers!
Bill Nelson of FL or Ben Nelson of NE?
Big difference.
Where did all of their tolerance go?
I think they should be "probed".
*Chill Wind Blowing* ping
Can you say "prior restraint?" I knew you could.
I am shocked that neither of the People's Democratic State of Maryland's two Dim Senators (Sarbanes and Mikulski) signed on to this. Mikulski is up for reelection, so she may be concerned about being targeted herself, but ol' Paul Sarbanes is a Senator-for-life.
Murray is running for re-election.
Her opponent should make sure and bring up the fact that she is accusing Sinclair of committing an act that has yet to happen.
They're scared. Remember the release and hype of Mickey Mouse Moore's movie who also wants the movie played evening before election. Turnabout is fair play. Release the film Sinclair. You're doing the nation a big favor by playing the Swifties film.
what happens if Sinclair runs the movie anyway? What would happen to them?
You can bet your arse that the 'rats in Hollywood are working ovetrtime on a Kerry hagiography that would make Joseph Stalin blush.
Where is the ACLU? After all the crying wolf on the Left, we finally have an ACTUAL case of attempted censorship and all I hear are crickets.
This is freakin' unbelievable....have they no eyes that they cannot see?
Some snot-nosed Kerry aid warned Sinclair to wish Kerry didn't get elected. I missed his name but Rush was talking about it today.
Lurch and Robin the Wonder Boy didn't sign it, of course. They were absent that day (again)...
TRUTH HURTS
Every Frickin Freeper on the planet would support them and their sponsors along with all their friends and family.
Just a hunch...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.