7:59 am in Freedom, Politics by admin
The Federal Communications Commission has announced the roster of a new advisory committee on “diversity” in communications, a move many critics have warned would mark the beginning of government regulation of talk radio and a reinstallation of the “Fairness Doctrine” by another name.
As WND reported, a think tank headed by John Podesta, co-chairman of Obama’s transition team, mapped out a strategy in 2007 for clamping down on conservative talk radio by requiring stations to be operated by female and minority owners, which the report showed were statistically more likely to carry liberal political talk shows.
31 horsemen of talk radio’s apocalypse?
Tags: fairness doctrine, federal communications commission, government regulation, talk radio
2:11 pm in Ethics, Politics by admin
By Kim Dixon
WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) – A group of congressional Democrats blasted the chief U.S. communications regulator for his opaque and unpredictable management on Tuesday citing a report they hope will spark reform of the Federal Communications Commission.
The investigation into the FCC and chairman Kevin Martin’s leadership came partly in response to complaints about the agency from the public and from communications industry professionals, according to the lawmakers.
The report by House Energy and Commerce Committee majority staff cites several instances where Martin “manipulated, withheld or suppressed data, reports and information,” particularly in his attempts for tougher cable regulation, an issue Martin has pursued with vigor.
“Martin’s legacy is he left us a blueprint of how not to run an agency,” said Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democrat who heads the panel’s investigative subcommittee.
Tags: cable regulation, commerce committee, communications industry, congressional democrats, fcc, fcc chief, federal communications commission, house democrats, investigative subcommittee, kevin martin, lawmakers
