Fairness Doctrine Floats Back to the Top

Originally Posted by slang

What if the shows were not broadcast through the airwaves? Then what? Any changes to the content of the shows by the Feds?

For the last few years nearly everyone that I know that listens to Rush or Glenn or whoever on radio have used the MP3s, not the airwaves.

Most corporate buildings ( That I've worked in anyway ) tend not to be places that recieve a consistent and strong signal through the airwaves. For a short period those listeners at work would listen to the streaming show through the computer. It didn't take long for that to cease via tightening the screws on the LAN.

Downloading the MP3s is a good way at listening to the shows nowdays and I've even seen employees scoot home to download or capture the shows on file and bring it back to work to distribute.

If the Feds clamp down on the airwaves it seems possible that there is a big loophole for what the Dems hope to accomplish just by using the electronic files generated of the show.

There will surely be some type of business snag here and there to get around but those big broadcasters have been preparing for this new doctrine for some time. The re-introduction of this is not some big surprise.

I'm not convinced that there will be all that big of changes that listeners think about this.

What would be the alternate method of silencing the shows after converting to MP3 only? Who knows. The only thing for sure is that yes, this is having an impact and the gov't knows it.

How they are going to stomp it, that's the only real question.

The issue for me is the public airwaves...because they are public, I think they should provide a greater public benefit than has been demonstrated by ownership consolidation.

I have no interest in regulating the internet for content or site ownership.

[slang]

Originally Posted by Redux

The issue for me is the public airwaves...because they are public.....I have no interest in regulating the internet for content or site ownership.

It seems quite reasonable that the only issue for you is the airwaves. There are many in the gov't that would like to see the content disappear. That's both Rs and Ds at different times.

We'll see if the content is an issue after this new doctrine passes.

My money is on...."it's the content". Especially after the lib radio falls flat again, even with the new regulations.

Originally Posted by slang

It seems quite reasonable that the only issue for you is the airwaves. There are many in the gov't that would like to see the content disappear. That's both Rs and Ds at different times.

We'll see if the content is an issue after this new doctrine passes.

My money is on...."it's the content". Especially after the lib radio falls flat again, even with the new regulations.

I dont think a new Fairness Doctrine has any chance of passage.

At best (or worst) we might see FCC regulations rolling back the number of stations that a company can own in a local market.