July 12, 2004

FCC

Just had an IM argument with a friend re: FCC & fines and blah, blah, blah.

Yawn - such a non-story to me.

Then he went off on how Big Brother is watching and you can't say anything about the government

* don't say anything too bad about the government
* just agree with everything they do
* it may be considered a terrorist act
My responses
* nobody is getting fined for complaining about the government
* nobody is being arrested or censored
* the only time it becomes an issue is if there is a threat
* I see Michael Moore is having a big problem getting his message out
* everyone has a right to say what they want about the government, I have a right not to buy it. I have a right not to care about their opinion.
* You have a right to speak; I have a right to react, talk back, ignore.
and finally:
* you can say whatever s*** you want about the government and I am so sick of listening to people spend all their time spouting off - freely - about how they can't spout off
I could care less what Stern does. To me his biggest crime is that his isn't funny. But if the FCC is receiving complaints, it is actually their job to respond. Does it really bother people that someone can't say f*** on the radio? Do we really need to protect the right of a shock jock to talk about aberrant sexual practice during drive time? Is there anyone out there with a brain who thinks this is what the framers meant with the First Amendment, or are we willing to concede that they were hoping to protect the rights of the citizenry to speak out against the government?

If Clear Channel wants to drop Stern from some markets, that is their right.
If Viacom wants to add him to some markets, that is their right.
Time will tell which course was the best business decision.
I personally hope Stern makes good on his threat to jump to satelite radio - then he can see how loyal his fans really are.

BTW: the *** are for my audience. I know who reads this and I prefer not to offend certain people. For that reason, any profanity in comments gets *** if you have an interesting point, or deleted if you don't.

Posted by Vox at July 12, 2004 02:49 PM | politics
Comments

A F***CKIN MEN SISTER!

Posted by: rachel at July 12, 2004 03:22 PM

Now that's funny

Thanks, Rachel

Posted by: Vox at July 12, 2004 03:40 PM

I've had a similar debate. I'm also a licensed broadcast engineer and a former talkshow co-host, I know a bit about the subject.

The FCC has long had standards of content. The theory is that if a station is allowed the extremely valuable franchise of the exclusive right to a radio frequency, they have to serve the community in return.

It used to be easy. Bad words, turn off transmitter. I've done it.

Then the FCC sort of slacked off. People took advantage of that to push the envelope of filth as far as they could. Stern made millions off of that.

Finally, a Democrat member of the FCC moved to act against Stern, and the Clinton appointed Powell agreed. Fines were issued. Stern responded by trying to take his listener base and swing them against Bush, with some considerable success.

Its disgusting.

I have heard that he also sued the gentleman who file the complaints. That's known as a SLAP lawsuit - one where a rich guy drives an ordinary guy into financial destruction with a harrassing lawsuit.

Howard Stern is one great American, right!

And yet my friends who are Stern fans are livid about this FCC "persecution" and also blame it on Bush, as if Bush controlled the FCC (he doesn't - it's an independent commission).

By the way, if there is a station broadcasting disgusting stuff, any citizen may go through their records in the 90 (?) days before license renewal, and may also file motions against the renewal. If there's a station that runs really awful stuff, there is action that can be taken.

Posted by: John Moore (Useful Fools) at July 12, 2004 11:11 PM

I just think it's a little ridiculous to have complained about the guy. With Stern you know what you're in for. I stopped listening because of all the Bush bashing. And I really feel he'll sway a lot of people this election.

Posted by: wickld at July 13, 2004 11:27 AM

I don't think he is going to "sway a lot of people" - he is preaching to the converted. I don't imagine there are a lot of Bush voters, or undecideds for that matter, who are listening to him.

I'm just sayin'

Posted by: Vox at July 13, 2004 11:40 AM