Posted on 08/12/2008 5:05:18 PM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
Theres a huge concern among conservative talk radio hosts that reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine would all-but destroy the industry due to equal time constraints. But speech limits might not stop at radio. They could even be extended to include the Internet and government dictating content policy.
FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell raised that as a possibility after talking with bloggers at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. McDowell spoke about a recent FCC vote to bar Comcast from engaging in certain Internet practices expanding the federal agencys oversight of Internet networks.
The commissioner, a 2006 President Bush appointee, told the Business & Media Institute the Fairness Doctrine could be intertwined with the net neutrality battle. The result might end with the government regulating content on the Web, he warned. McDowell, who was against reprimanding Comcast, said the net neutrality effort could win the support of a few isolated conservatives who may not fully realize the long-term effects of government regulation.
I think the fear is that somehow large corporations will censor their content, their points of view, right, McDowell said. I think the bigger concern for them should be if you have government dictating content policy, which by the way would have a big First Amendment problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessandmedia.org ...
Just words . . . .
The Fairness doctrine would kill am radio and TV opinion shows.
Bull.
The basis of the fairness doctrine was first and foremost that odd notion of “the people’s airwaves.”
The “people” don’t have ownership of phone lines, satellites, and cables. Those are independently owned and operated.
If even there is any attemps, look for the USA to have another revolution and that one not so peaceful.
The most important words in human history next to the Bible (IMO).
Thanks for the ping.
btt
I hope you realize that was extreme sarcasm, directed at a favored line from our current leading demagogue.
If you did realize, never mind, carry on.
If you didn’t, now you know.
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.