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FCC Tries to Hush Rush
National Review ^ | June 11, 2008 | Jim Boulet Jr.

Posted on 06/11/2008 3:00:17 PM PDT by gpapa

Thanks to a little-noticed item in the Federal Register, the Federal Communications Commission may soon be handed the power to drive Rush Limbaugh off the air.

There are liberals obsessed with “balancing” Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Hugh Hewitt, Mark Levin, and the rest of conservative talk radio, even though plenty of other outlets — the Washington Post, the New York Times, USA Today, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and National Public Radio — constantly flog the liberal agenda.

The “Hush Rush” crowd’s dream has been to revive the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” which once required any radio station airing a conservative program to provide equal time for the liberal view. The doctrine’s advocates have tried using the democratic process, but to no avail whatsoever: In 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected the latest effort 309 to 115.

Yet regulations proposed on January 28 by the Federal Communications Commission would effectively reinstate the Fairness Doctrine via something called “localism.” This is legislation by stealth — most of the Fairness Doctrine’s opponents might not know about it until it’s too late. All opportunity for public comment on FCC’s proposal ceases on June 11, 2008.

(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ac; censorship; fairnessdoctrine; fcc; firstamendment; limbaugh; rush; talkradio
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1 posted on 06/11/2008 3:00:17 PM PDT by gpapa
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To: gpapa

buh-bye free speech!


2 posted on 06/11/2008 3:04:20 PM PDT by Jerry Attrick (<B>)
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To: gpapa

the Washington Post, the New York Times, USA Today, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and National Public Radio — constantly flog the liberal agenda.

as listed....how come no fairness doctrine for these b. HUSSEIN outlets???


3 posted on 06/11/2008 3:04:25 PM PDT by nyyankeefan
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To: gpapa

Interesting.. that’s today!


4 posted on 06/11/2008 3:05:07 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: alexsmithers; BellStar; BikerJoe; b4its2late; blackdiamondracer; Brad's Gramma; BradtotheBone; ...

Ping to the infidels


5 posted on 06/11/2008 3:05:23 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: gpapa

The fairness doctrine is unconstitutional. “Public airwaves” doesn’t mean “government controlled”. Regulated to a certain degree perhaps, but only if decency laws are being broken.


6 posted on 06/11/2008 3:06:14 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: gpapa
After seven years of George Bush, this is the FCC we get.
7 posted on 06/11/2008 3:07:25 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: gpapa

Rush and the rest of our voices will simply go to satellite radio where the ‘ever-fair’ feds can’t touch them.


8 posted on 06/11/2008 3:07:31 PM PDT by ArchAngel1983 (Arch Angel- on guard)
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To: gpapa
The FCC’s regulations are so far along that the Bush administration’s proposed rule-making moratorium will not stop them.

Congress could pass a resolution of disapproval. Or, President Bush might ask the FCC to find other things to occupy its time.

The first thing we do is hold a human rights hearing on Big Bird. Then we roast him. Then we go after the rest of the Muppet's. Then we round up up the NPR mouthpieces and deport them to Cuba. Then we turn our attention to the big three broadcasters and exile them to the Mideast to learn about life in an area they feel is misunderstood. And we go on from there.

9 posted on 06/11/2008 3:10:49 PM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts
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To: gpapa

WHERE DO WE SEND COMMENTS?

If the goal is “culturally diverse” programming -— what better method of obtaining what the various segments of the culture wants than an open and free market?

Radio stations owners are in the business to make money, and respond to the market by supplying what their listeners (customers!) want -— or lose ratings, and thus money.

A comparable example is a supermarket -— they sell what their customers want -— or go out of business. A great divisity of products is the result -— from many cultures -— tailor to the local market.

Ample radio stations exist, and ample cjoices exist for listeners.

If a true need exists for a given type of programing, it will be filled by someone who wants to reach those customers.


10 posted on 06/11/2008 3:11:32 PM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (McCain is the best candidate of the Democrat party.)
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To: hinckley buzzard
After seven years of George Bush, this is the FCC we get.

How dare you blaspheme!!

11 posted on 06/11/2008 3:12:22 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: gpapa

This is very bad news. Even IF Bush can put a stop to this, I’m sure Obama or McCain wouldn’t. We all know how McCain feels about free speech, and I’m sure he would just love to stick it to conservative talk radio for being a big part of making the public aware of him amnesty legislation. With Obama, it would be a given that he would want to shut down conservative talk radio.

The end is in sight, and it was a fun ride while it lasted....


12 posted on 06/11/2008 3:12:42 PM PDT by KoRn (CTHULHU '08 - I won't settle for a lesser evil any longer!)
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To: ArchAngel1983

“Rush and the rest of our voices will simply go to satellite radio where the ‘ever-fair’ feds can’t touch them”

...satellite radio isn’t nearly as accessible. Only 1 in 10 people have access to it. The numbers are improving and having Rush go satellite would be a HUGE boost to XM or whoever signed him up, but right now, it’s very unimpressive.


13 posted on 06/11/2008 3:12:50 PM PDT by albie
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To: gpapa
If the Democrats continue to control Congress and take the Presidency, the Fairness Doctrine will go into effect so fast it will make your head spin.
14 posted on 06/11/2008 3:12:57 PM PDT by Uncle Hal
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To: hinckley buzzard
After seven years of George Bush, this is the FCC we get.

Yup. Sadly, this is the FCC we've got. I might add that all but the last year and a half of Dubya's 7 year term was dominated by Republican majorities, too. How's that for ironic?

I don't know about you, but I feel used.

15 posted on 06/11/2008 3:14:15 PM PDT by Publius Maximus (It was a nice Republic... while it lasted.)
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To: ArchAngel1983
"Rush and the rest of our voices will simply go to satellite radio where the ‘ever-fair’ feds can’t touch them."

That is not going to happen.

Pay Radio may find a niche, but the vast majority of Americans are not about to pony up real $$$ in order to listen to common sense.

The Democrats will find themselves in dire straights if they attempt to navigate that sort of radio control.

The Genie is already out of the bottle!

16 posted on 06/11/2008 3:14:31 PM PDT by Radix (Think it is bad now? Wait until you have to press "2" for English!)
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To: ArchAngel1983

>>Rush and the rest of our voices will simply go to satellite radio where the ‘ever-fair’ feds can’t touch them.<<

Yet.


17 posted on 06/11/2008 3:15:53 PM PDT by KingSnorky
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To: ArchAngel1983
Rush and the rest of our voices will simply go to satellite radio where the ‘ever-fair’ feds can’t touch them.

Wishful thinking.

The FCC is in the pocket of terrestrial radio and is holding up the Sirius/XM merger.

In fact, the FCC may require the merged satellite radio to submit to FCC regulations as part of allowing the merger.

18 posted on 06/11/2008 3:19:26 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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To: hinckley buzzard

“After seven years of George Bush, this is the FCC we get.”

No true. Dems are refusing to approve four of the remaining seats on the FCC (There are only 3 of 4 on the panel)


19 posted on 06/11/2008 3:19:31 PM PDT by Las Vegas Ron (Election '08, the year McCain defined the word "dilemma")
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To: albie
"satellite radio isn’t nearly as accessible. Only 1 in 10 people have access to it. The numbers are improving and having Rush go satellite would be a HUGE boost to XM or whoever signed him up, but right now, it’s very unimpressive."

A free trial of Sirius came with our new Explorer. I never had an interest in it, and didn't even tune in for a week after buying the vehicle. One day I tried it out, and have been listening ever since. Now I couldn't imagine life without it. lol Since having satellite radio I haven't even listened to a CD, and have only tuned into 'traditional' radio to listen to conservative talk. If the conservative hosts were forced onto satellite, Sirius and XM would have a boom in listeners they never could have imagined.

20 posted on 06/11/2008 3:19:56 PM PDT by KoRn (CTHULHU '08 - I won't settle for a lesser evil any longer!)
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