The Fairness Doctrine would only apply to public broadcast spectrum. Right?
In other words, satellite radio, cable TV, and so forth would not be subject to it. Only AM, FM, UHF and VHF TV. Correct?
Not that I’m in favor of it (which I’m definitely not), nor do I think it’s “harmless” (I think it’s VERY harmful).
However... the blowback from a reinstituted fairness doctrine might just be the accelerated death of the broadcast media, and an explosive new subscriber rate to e.g. satellite radio.
That might be kinda cool.
That's what it should apply to, if everyone follows the rules. If someone rewrites the rules to cover other communications channels, then anything could happen.
Since The One's goal is to eliminate dissent, I expect he'd write something that covers any channel that could hurt The Party's dissemination of ideas and knowledge.
He'll likely go after talk radio, but consider too all the web sites where we can see real climate data as opposed to the stuff Gore spews.
The first effect will be as you predict, I think, with many radio stations folding when the money-making hosts are gone.
Well what about streaming media (voice and TV) delivered via wireless internet services on frequencies previously allocated to TV broadcasting?
It is my thinking (and it is only conjecture) that the internet will eventually moot the fairness doctrine, the FCC, advertising limits, censorship and all such other constraints on information sharing of just about any kind.
Much as movable type ended the Roman Catholic Church’s monopoly on Bible ownership, the internet will shatter today’s puny political shackles.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P8014/index2.html
The Information Age and the Printing Press: Looking Backward to See Ahead[1]
“However... the blowback from a reinstituted fairness doctrine might just be the accelerated death of the broadcast media, and an explosive new subscriber rate to e.g. satellite radio.”
I think you are correct. Conservative talk radio makes money. if they were prohibited from broadcasting Satellite media would flourish by picking up the conservative talk shows. I already listen to Hannity and a bunch of others on Sat and only tune to AM to hear Rush.
Who is likely to control the launch and control of the satellites?
Who controls the frequencies the satellites use to communicate with the ground?
“The Fairness Doctrine would only apply to public broadcast spectrum. Right?”
Wrong. There already are efforts to apply the fairness doctrine to the internet because it also is a thorn in the side of those that would like to silence dissent.
I don’t believe the fairness doctrine will be brought back...anytime soon. But I’ll be watching carefully...I take the 1st amendment very seriously.