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Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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August 02, 2003
FCC critics want to control content
Michael Powell wrote an op-ed piece for The New York Times defending his intended FCC plan [announced June 2, 2003] to liberalize ownership rules for media. The big bitch most critics have had has been specifically the proposed change to allow one company to own broadcast stations reaching up to 45 percent of the national market, an increase from the current cap of 35 percent.
The move has drawn sharp criticism and massive resistance from both parties in congress, as well as the opposition of many and diverse interest groups, including the NRA to NOW. Despite backing from President Bush, it appears that congress will absolutely block this loosening of restrictions.
The typical argument for opposing media de-regulation is that letting one company own more tv or radio stations will somehow stifle diversity of viewpoints. This argument seems less convincing by the day, however. From three tv networks we've gone to approximately two million cable channels, plus the internet giving us access to more viewpoints than you can shake a stick at. This dizzying increase in diversity only promises to accelerate.
Powell edged gingerly up to the real point, but he has to be diplomatic. Let me say it directly: all these groups and congressmen and other media types in opposition want to control content. Why else would the NRA give a rat's ass about media ownership?
Let's pick a critic to make an example of. Disingenuous conservative crapweasel Brent Bozell has a column Arrogant Michael Powell in which he as much as called Powell a "scoundrel" for suggesting that critics had some wish to control content.
Those are the words of a scoundrel. C-E-N-S-O-R-S-H-I-P. The inference is all over that statement, and one wonders why Powell didn't just come out and say it. But we know why he didn't say it. This Clintonian scare tactic has no basis in fact.
Then Bozell goes right to his argument against the move. "These networks have simply ignored the public's standards of decency." He goes on to complain specifically about the show Keen Eddie.
C-E-N-S-O-R-S-H-I-P. This is exactly what Bozell wants. This is the whole point of his opposition: He doesn't like the content, and wants to get his or his cronies hands on the levers of power so they can demand changes.
He, like others seeking power, justifies this on the basis that The Public owns the airwaves, so they [ie whatever person is arguing for his own rights to make someone else's tv or radio stations do their will] has a perfectly reasonable right to make demands. They might be demands for decency, racial diversity, whatever cause.
The public "owns" the airwaves? By what right? Because the federal government simply arbitrarily said so many long decades ago, so there. It's just bogus socialism.
I don't necessarily want to specifically endorse the FCC proposal. It's fairly complicated stuff, and I haven't studied it close enough to claim full understanding. I just know enough to be real skeptical of the critics and their agendas.
posted by Al at 8/02/2003 01:02:00 PM
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