People Talking

Newsworthy Developments

9 July 2009 – Obama’s FCC Gets to Work on “Behavioral Rules” for Broadcasters
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has reportedly circulated an internal draft Notification Of Inquiry (NOI) as a first step in the process for implementing new rules by the Commission governing broadcast ownership, licensing and content. read more

7 July 2009 – Final Republican FCC Slot to Avowed Localism Opponent, Meredith Attwell Baker
Though in the minority, Meredith Attwell Baker should oppose the Obama-majority FCC proposal to mandate local broadcast programming; based on previous statements. read more

7 May 2009 – FCC Convened “Diversity Committee” Raises Hackles
A diversity committee at the Federal Communications Commission is raising the hackles of conservative watchdogs who say its ideological makeup is hardly diverse.“The idea that we should have a diversity of ownership implies that we would have a diversity of people on the committee,” said radio host Roger Hedgecock, founder of UnFairAir and the Free Radio Coalition. “The committee is a totally one-dimensional group of activists,” said Hedgecock, who worries that the role of the committee will expand under President Obama, particularly when Democrats gain deeper control of the five-member commission that heads the agency. Leaders from groups like the National Urban League, the Asian American Justice Center and One World Economy sit on the committee, which lacks representatives from groups with a conservative political bent. read more

14 April 2009 – Jim Lehrer, PBS NewsHour anchor, Opposes “Fairness Doctrine”
“We’ve already proved we don’t need the Fairness Doctrine. I normally don’t express my opinion on things like this, but I don’t think there’s any necessity for it. My goodness, all the opinions are out there if you work at it. For the government to reinsert itself on that particular issue is not necessary at all. Whether the Democrats or the Republicans are for or against it is irrelevant to me. I come from a ‘let the voices be heard’ school of thought.”

8 April 2009 – New FCC Chief Wants More Ethnic & Gender Diversity in Station Ownership
“[Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps] also said Wednesday he intends to act boldly to help improve the diversity of broadcasters in the U.S. ... Mr. Copps announced Wednesday that he will appoint members to a new diversity advisory committee that will advise the FCC on how to expand media diversity. Signaling that he doesn't intend to back away from aggressive policies pushing media diversity, ...” read more

22 March 2009 – Religious Radio: First Amendment Rights At Risk
“Religious broadcasters are worried bringing back the fairness doctrine will take away their First Amendment rights. Christian radio stations do not want to run another program with a contrary viewpoint, that defeats the purpose of their ministry.” read more

27 February 2009 – Obama’s New Radio & TV Spectrum Taxes
“Buried in President Barack Obama’s budget blueprint for 2009 is a new-but-undefined spectrum-license user fee that would increase from $50 million in 2009 to $550 million four years later. ... A similar fee, proposed but not enacted in past federal budgets, wasn’t for wireless spectrum that companies have purchased in auctions from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, but on TV and radio spectrum that has been allocated to broadcasters, said a government source familiar with past FCC budgets.” read more

26 February 2009 – Rush Limbaugh on “Backdoor Fairness Doctrine”
“In a party-line 57-41 vote, the Senate approved a localism amendment by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), to promote diversity in media ownership and ensure broadcasters meet their obligations to operate in the public interest.” read more

25 February 2009 – Roger Hedgecock Chairs Newly-Formed Free Radio Coalition
“A group called the Free Radio Coalition has been formed to fight the possible reimposition of the so-called ‘Fairness Doctrine’ ... Chairing the coalition will be veteran broadcaster, Radio America talk-show host and former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock.” read more

13 February 2009 – Bill Clinton
“Well, you either ought to have the Fairness Doctrine or we ought to have more balance on the other side ...” read more

11 February 2009 – Threats of legislation
“[U.S. Senator Debbie] Stabenow became the latest politician to speak favorably of the Fairness Doctrine, leading many to the conclusion that she will ... try reinstating it.” read more

7 December 2008 – George Will
“Liberals are seeking intellectual protectionism in the form of regulations that suppress ideological rivals.” read more

24 July 2008 – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Do you personally support revival of the Fairness Doctrine? “Yes, without hesitation.” read more

27 July 2007 – Kevin Martin, FCC Commissioner (AP)
“Indeed, with the continued proliferation of additional sources of information and programming, including satellite broadcasting and the Internet, the need for the Fairness Doctrine has lessened even further.” read more

16 July 2007 – U.S. Senator John Thune (AP)
“Having the bureaucrats dictate the content of the airwaves isn't much different from what we are seeing in ... Iran and Russia where they are rolling back freedom of the press.” read more