Media Reform Update: LPFM, Net Neutrality, Fox Noise
[Editor's note: FCC Hearing on the Future of the Open Internet today, December 21 starting at 9:00 am (cst). Watch the commissioners live, as they determine the future of the open Internet, and join in the conversation. While you're waiting, watch cyber law expert Marvin Ammori discuss net neutrality last night on Countdown]
by Dave Bradley
A few words about many things.
Much, much activity has gone on in Congress in the past two weeks and it looks like much more to come. Some short observations about some of this activity:
Hip-hip Hooray! The Local Community Radio Act passed the senate Saturday after being held up forever. I think many were caught by surprised that there was movement on this bill after nearly two years. As yet, I do not know what comes next. Here is a passage from a story on what this passage meant:
That should open the airwaves to more voices.
I had to laugh at the absurdity that Republicans cited concern about uncertainty in knowing the future as the major push behind keeping the Bush tax cuts for the uber-rich, but had little such concern when it comes to those injured doing heroic acts during 9/11. Nor do they have much concern about ratifying the START treaty. Without the START treaty there is huge, huge concern about loose nukes.
This leads me to the thought that the Republican Party represents essentially only the upper 2% and their corporations. They do not even make a pretense of representing anyone else. John Boehner let slip one day that he might vote for tax cuts only for the middle class. He was immediately taken in for re-education. Sort of reminded me of the old Soviet Union days.
Of course, the claim is that rich people will create jobs with their tax cuts. What is never asked is, what country will these jobs be in? Certainly not the US based on history. China, Vietnam and India are the more likely beneficiaries.
Today, Tuesday December 21 is a red letter day in the fight to keep the internet open and neutral. The FCC will be meeting today. A proposal on internet neutrality is first on the agenda. This is in answer to a court ruling last April that the FCC does not have regulatory jurisdiction over the internet.
Republicans want to essentially turn the internet into a version of cable TV. You know, you get FOX propaganda channel for free but you have to pay a premium to get real content. Service providers claim they will not base access on ideology. What a joke. If corporations control access it will be just like print, radio and television media.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has a proposal that many feel doesn't doesn’t go far enough in securing net neutrality. As usual, Commissioner Michael Copps will be fighting hard for open media whatever form the media is in.
Finally: This just in – watching Fox News makes you stupid. Out of touch with reality also, I would guess. One might also assume that the Fox News watcher is not the sharpest knife in the drawer to start with.
Happy holidays all. May the New Year bring us all some stability.
E-mail Dave here
Dave Bradley is a self-described
retired observer of American politics “trying to figure out how we got
so screwed up.” An
Iowa City native currently living in West Liberty, Dave and his wife
Carol have two grown children who “sadly had to leave the state to find
decent paying jobs.“
[Note from the editors: Check out previous BFIA posts on media; this is not a complete list]
Who owns your local radio station?
www.northpine.com/broadcast/ia/rmarkets.html
Radio Stations in Iowa
www.ontheradio.net
Iowa Broadcasters Association
http://www.iowabroadcasters.com/resource/ibadir10.pdf
The Public and Broadcasting: How to Get the Most Service from Your Local Station
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/public_and_broadcasting.html
The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/06/talk_radio.html
Study: Localism Key to Correcting Conservative Talk Radio Imbalance
http://www.blogforiowa.com/blog/_archives/2009/2/23/4101530.html
Is Conservative Talk Being Rammed Down Iowans' Throats?
http://www.blogforiowa.com/blog/_archives/2010/6/22/4559319.html
Pew Research on Health Care Reform Validates Need for Media Reform
http://www.blogforiowa.com/blog/_archives/2010/6/28/4564588.html
Powell Memo
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate_accountability/powell_memo_lewis.html
Grassley letter to Genachowski
http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=490012&keyword=&phrase=&contain=
Prometheus Radio Project
http://prometheusradio.org/
BFIA & Fallon Forum Take On Right Wing Talk Radio In Iowa
http://www.blogforiowa.com/blog/_archives/2010/7/15/4578177.html
Dave Bradley's writings on the history of the stolen media:
Iowa
in the Age of Consolidated Media
Getting
Our Message Out: Fighting Fire with FM (and Net Neutrality)
The
Great Surprise – The Telecommunications Act of 1996
The
Plane Facts About Media: What I Learned While in Flight
A
Brief History of Media Consolidation
Observations
on the Media in Iowa
Blog For Iowa 