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| Is Obama's New FCC Transition Head Talk Radio's 'Executioner'? |
| 2008-11-08 |
| Brian Maloney at Radio Equalizer warns that Barack Obama is signaling his designs on conservative talk radio with the rumored appointment of former FCC Commissioner Henry Rivera as the head of his FCC transition team: Henry Rivera, a longtime radical leftist, lawyer and former FCC commissioner, is expected to lead the push to dismantle commercial talk radio that is favored by a number of Democratic Party senators. Rivera will play a pivotal role in preventing critics from having a public voice during Obama's tenure in office. Rivera, who resigned from the FCC nearly a quarter-century ago during the Reagan years, believes in a doctrine of "communications policy as a civil rights issue". His exit during the Reagan Administration paved the way for the Fairness Doctrine's repeal when the late president appointed Patricia Diaz Dennis in 1986 to fill out the rest of Rivera's term. Had this not occurred, talk radio as we know it today would not exist. That gives Rivera's new task a great deal of personal urgency: it's a late-career, second chance opportunity to shut down opposition voices that have been allowed to flourish since his depature from the commission. In particular, Rivera is known for his push for more minority broadcasting ownership, but this issue has largely been rendered obsolete as former commercial broadcasting empires teeter on the brink of bankruptcy. Rivera's first opportunity to eliminate commercial talk radio will occur in June 2009, as the term of Republican Robert McDowell expires and he can be replaced with a pro-Fairness Doctrine Democrat. That will give the commission a three-vote Democratic majority, though the final two seats must remain in Republican hands. If they can strong-arm one of the three Republicans into leaving early, this can be implemented even sooner. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #14 Dicks Sporting Goods had a sale on ammo this week. I went in to replenish. The guy behind the counter said everyone was stocking up. Either people are buying for hunting or in anticipation of increased regulation. They were out of 9 mm luger pistol rounds which are not generally used for hunting. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-11-08 20:53 |
| #13 Internet streaming and Sat radio make the FCC nearly obsolete, so how ya gonna shut down our comms now, Barry O? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-11-08 20:28 |
| #12 Buy ammo. |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2008-11-08 20:26 |
| #11 The Fairness Doctrine is anything but fair. Fairness means controlling what message gets aired; in other words muzzling any opposition and stifling dissent. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-11-08 16:06 |
| #10 Colmes has a face meant for radio |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-11-08 13:51 |
| #9 Watch for the "Hannity & Colmes" radio program. |
| Posted by: WilliamMarcyTweed 2008-11-08 13:26 |
| #8 The Gulag Doctrine: OK, let it apply it to the liberal messages that MSNBC, CNN, sitcoms and comedy shows spew forth. |
| Posted by: Hammerhead 2008-11-08 11:16 |
| #7 Start showing NASCAR on PBS, or better yet the audio of Citizen Soldiers on NPR. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-11-08 10:52 |
| #6 The only thing thight might save talk radio is that it is a big money maker for the mega-corporations that own most of the radio stations. Take away talk and re-program with something else? OK, but all the 'something elses' are aready available, so all you would do is lose one ad market and re-distribute the rest, for a big net loss. 'Appropriate' donations from Clear Channel etc. to the right people might trump 'Fairness' Doctrine. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2008-11-08 10:18 |
| #5 Rivera is married to Dr. Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, who is associate administrator of the Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. She is one of the officials running the $1.5 billion digital TV converter box coupon program. Grandpa, what was a .... R A D I O ? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-11-08 07:50 |
| #4 They will over reach. There will be a reaction. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-11-08 06:54 |
| #3 Nothing scares a the left more than independent thought. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2008-11-08 04:51 |
| #2 Fairness "doctrine" is the Wrong answer. Leave it alone. |
| Posted by: newc 2008-11-08 02:53 |
| #1 Won't pass a court muster even under a liberal court. |
| Posted by: badanov 2008-11-08 00:48 |