Move Over Big Oil, Big Radio Is Going Down
Talk radio will again become regulated by the F.C.C. if the Democratic Party win big in both the Congress and Presidential races this November 5th.
“the fairness standard is reinstituted, the result will not be easier access for controversial views. It will instead be self-censorship, as stations seek to avoid requirements that they broadcast specific opposing views.”
-Adam Thierer, Executive Memorandum #368, Why the Fairness Doctrine is Anything But Fair, October 29, 1993, Heritage Org.
Faulty Premise #1: The “scarce” amount of spectrum space requires oversight by federal regulators.
Reality: Although the spectrum is limited, the number of broadcasters in America has continuously increased.Faulty Premise #2: “Fairness” or “fair access” is best determined by FCC authorities.
Reality: FCC bureaucrats can neither determine what is “fair” nor enforce it.Faulty Premise #3: The fairness doctrine guarantees that more opinions will be aired.
Reality: Arbitrary enforcement of the fairness doctrine will diminish vigorous debate
The Democrats love to adjectivize their scape-coats with the “Big” label. Big is evil unless it is big government — big government they control. Talk radio has been basically anti-Democrats/anti-statist/anti-liberal. If we vote wrong this Fall, bailing out of the war shan’t even be an historical footnote. Next change will be to regulate Big Internet….
