Posted on 02/27/2009 6:29:19 AM PST by MaestroLC
The Senate passed a Broadcaster Freedom Amendment to a D.C. voting rights bill on Thursday by a vote of 87-11. But Democrats countered with an amendment that seeks to promote “diversity” in media ownership.
The Broadcaster Freedom Amendment prevents the Federal Communications Commission from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, which would requires equal time for the expression of different political viewpoints on the public airwaves. Radio stations that run conservative talks shows, for example, would be required to allot equal time for liberal talk shows – or, more likely, stop airing the conservative shows altogether.
Critics of the Fairness Doctrine call it an assault on free speech. They say the government has no business deciding what constitutes fair political discourse.
On Thursday, Republican supporters of the Broadcaster Freedom Amendment said its passage “slammed the front door” on the Fairness Doctrine. But they admit their fight for free speech is not over.
The Senate on Thursday also passed an amendment by Sen. Dick Durban (D-Ill.) that seeks to achieve the same goals of the Fairness Doctrine through backdoor FCC regulations, Republican critics say.
Durbin’s amendment requires the FCC to “take actions to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership." Republicans view the “diversity” call as an attempt to muzzle successful syndicated radio programs. They say the Durbin amendment would hurt small, local radio stations that depend on popular syndicated programming for listeners and revenue.
The Durbin amendment passed 57-41; no Republican supported it.
“Senator Durbin’s amendment exposed Democrat intentions to impose radio censorship through the back door, using vague regulations dealing with media ownership,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). “Senator Durbin’s language was so broad, it could apply beyond radio to television, newspapers and the Internet. All eyes are now on the FCC. If they attempt to shut down free speech indirectly, we will fight to stop them,” DeMint added.
“It was reassuring to see the Senate stand up for free speech today,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). “However, I am troubled that as we killed the ‘Fairness Doctrine,’ Senator Durbin’s amendment brought to life a new threat to talk radio and other arenas of free speech. Senator DeMint and I, along with others, will continue to stand up to efforts to limit the expression of differing opinions and free speech on talk radio, TV, and the Internet,” said Thune.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) hailed the bipartisan vote in support of the Broadcaster Freedom Act. “Today is a tremendous victory for free speech and the First Amendment, and while I am sure liberals will continue to look for another way to attack conservative radio, I will be standing with my colleagues to ensure that doesn’t happen,” Inhofe said.
As CNSNews.com reported earlier, Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps says he doesn’t support the return of the Fairness Doctrine, but he does think government has a role in enforcing media “diversity.” That role includes re-examining licensing and other regulations for radio stations -- including AM stations dominated by talk radio -- to make them “more reflective” of public interests.
The fight over the Fairness Doctrine is "yesterday’s fight,” Copps told CNSNews.com earlier this month. But he also stressed the need to make radio broadcasts more “reflective” of the public interest.
Our liberty is under assault. This must not stand.
Viva la Revolucion....
Opens the door to regulation.
“Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech” is lost on them.
Good grief, I would think millions of listeners reflect the "public's interest".
No one want to listen to the garbage on the left. It's been proven.
Who will help me plant my wheat?” asked the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the cow.
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Not I,” said the goose.
“Then I will do it by myself,” She planted her crop, and the wheat grew and ripened.
“Who will help me reap my wheat?” asked the little red hen.
“Not I,” said the duck..
“Out of my classification,” said the pig.
“I’d lose my seniority,” said the cow.
“I’d lose my unemployment compensation,” said the goose.
“Then I will do it by myself,” said the little red hen, and so she did.
“Who will help me bake the bread?” asked the little red hen.
“That would be overtime for me,” said the cow.
“I’d lose my welfare benefits,” said the duck.
“I’m a dropout and never learned how,” said the pig.
“If I’m to be the only helper, that’s discrimination,” said the goose.
“Then I will do it by myself,” said the little red hen.
She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, “No, I shall eat all five loaves.”
“Excess profits!” cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi)
“Capitalist leech!” screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer)
“I demand equal rights!” yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy)
And they all painted ‘Unfair!’ picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.
Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, “You must not be so greedy.”
“But I earned the bread,” said the little red hen.
“Exactly,” said Barack the farmer. “That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle.”
And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, “I am grateful, for now I truly understand.”
But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the ‘party’ and got her bread free And all the Democrats smiled. ‘Fairness’ had been established.
Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared...so long as there was free bread that ‘the rich’ were paying for.
EPILOGUE
Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.
Hillary got $8 million for hers.
That’s $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years repeatedly testified, under oath, that t hey couldn’t remember anything.
IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT
Actually they did NOT live happily ever after.
They all died due to starvation.
Since the red hen was the only one baking anything and nobody would gather any food, they were all slaughtered by the farmer to feed himself.
The moral is if there are only party members riding on the cart and nobody to pull it, nobody goes anywhere.
In the New Orleans area, Rush and Sean Hannity are broadcast on an FM station.
Wow, I didn’t know that.
NO deserves some respect after what the had to put up with.
Their voices will also be heard.
marked.
The Founders knew it, wrote a Constitution to restrain them as much as possible, and emphasized vigilance.
We must never give up, either.
The battles must be fought over and over.
Wouldn't the ‘Backdoor Censorship’ through the FCC require that all broadcast be balanced like CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Foxnews, Newspapers, etc?
If so that might kill the deal right there.
SEC. 9. FCC AUTHORITIES.
(a) Clarification of General Powers.—Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section:
``SEC. 303B. CLARIFICATION OF GENERAL POWERS.
``(a) Certain Affirmative Actions Required.—The Commission shall take actions to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership and to ensure that broadcast station licenses are used in the public interest.
``(b) Construction.—Nothing in section 303A shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission regarding matters unrelated to a requirement that broadcasters present or ascertain opposing viewpoints on issues of public importance.’’.
(b) Severability.—Notwithstanding section 7(a), if any provision of section 2(a)(1), 2(b)(1), or 3 or any amendment made by those sections is declared or held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the amendment made by subsection (a) and the application of such amendment to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected by such holding.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
SEC. 10. FAIRNESS DOCTRINE PROHIBITED.
(a) Limitation on General Powers: Fairness Doctrine.—Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section:
``SEC. 303A. LIMITATION ON GENERAL POWERS: FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.
``Notwithstanding section 303 or any other provision of this Act or any other Act authorizing the Commission to prescribe rules, regulations, policies, doctrines, standards, guidelines, or other requirements, the Commission shall not have the authority to prescribe any rule, regulation, policy, doctrine, standard, guideline, or other requirement that has the purpose or effect of reinstating or repromulgating (in whole or in part)—
``(1) the requirement that broadcasters present or ascertain opposing viewpoints on issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the `Fairness Doctrine’, as repealed in In re Complaint of Syracuse Peace Council against Television Station WTVH, Syracuse New York, 2 FCC Rcd. 5043 (1987); or
``(2) any similar requirement that broadcasters meet programming quotas or guidelines for issues of public importance.’’.
(b) Severability.—Notwithstanding section 7(a), if any provision of section 2(a)(1), 2(b)(1), or 3 or any amendment made by those sections is declared or held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the amendment made by subsection (a) and the application of such amendment to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected by such holding.
scroll to near the bottom of page:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r111:9:./temp/~r111IeKJwl:e309814:
Conservative TV shows anyone? Instead of two and a half men we could have The Waltons.
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