Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FCC Commissioner: Return of Fairness Doctrine Could Control Web Content
Business & Media Institute ^ | 8/12/2008 | Jeff Poor

Posted on 08/12/2008 5:05:18 PM PDT by Las Vegas Dave

There’s 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 agency’s 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 ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; democrats; elections; fairnessdoctrine; fcc; firstamendment; freespeech; govwatch; internet; lp; netneutrality; nobama08; pelosi; robertmcdowell; talkradia; talkradio
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 last
To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

41 posted on 08/13/2008 5:29:09 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dhs12345

Just words . . . .


42 posted on 08/13/2008 5:47:14 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Obama: Carter's only chance to avoid going down in history as the worst U.S. president ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Dave

The Fairness doctrine would kill am radio and TV opinion shows.


43 posted on 08/13/2008 6:27:36 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Dave

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.


44 posted on 08/13/2008 7:03:18 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain -- Those denying the War was Necessary Do NOT Support the Troops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FFranco

If even there is any attemps, look for the USA to have another revolution and that one not so peaceful.


45 posted on 08/13/2008 11:25:40 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^==^..^=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

The most important words in human history next to the Bible (IMO).


46 posted on 08/13/2008 5:18:14 PM PDT by dhs12345
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Dave

Thanks for the ping.


47 posted on 08/13/2008 5:23:52 PM PDT by GOPJ (If Hillary steals the nomination, blacks will sit home. The GOP can take it all. Go for it Hillary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Dave

btt


48 posted on 08/13/2008 7:58:33 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dhs12345

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.


49 posted on 08/13/2008 8:12:10 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Obama: Carter's only chance to avoid going down in history as the worst U.S. president ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson