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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThanks to Wisconsin's Scott Walker for Helping to Put Talk Radio on Trial at the - PLS SIGN PETITION
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9320From Sue Wilson of the Brad Blog
There is a little known regulation at the FCC called the Zapple Doctrine, which is an offshoot of the Fairness Doctrine and of Section 315(a) of the Communications Act, which says that, in the 60 days prior to an election, if a broadcaster offers free airtime to one major party candidate, it must offer free airtime to the other major party candidate. Zapple expands this definition to include supporters of candidates.
...
So we found five monitors and had them count how many minutes each program was specifically supporting Scott Walker or bashing his Democratic opponent Tom Barrett, or supporting the GOP and bashing Democrats, and vice versa, how many minutes they were supporting Democrats in the race.
We discovered that each Right Wing Talk radio station in Milwaukee is giving about 80 minutes every day to the GOP side. Out of fifteen hours of programming, that doesn't sound like much, but it would cost between $34,000 and $68,000 for supporters of Tom Barrett and the Democrats to buy that time. That's $34,000 -68,000 - every single day.
...
But the FCC needs to hear from people all over the country who want this narrow rule, that in the 60 days prior to an election, stations must provide comparable airtime to BOTH major political parties, to survive. Please sign the Media Action Center's petition to help this once in a lifetime effort to change the Talk Radio dynamic for once - and for ALL.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)KKKlear Channel would be f*cked ...
This would impact EVERY radio talker - from Rush Limbaugh to Thom Hartmann. (Of course, as more than 90% of radio talk is right wing, it would impact them more. That is why they are already slamming me.
rurallib
(62,465 posts)2pooped2pop
(5,420 posts)SueWilson
(12 posts)Not cable. When you write a check to Comcast (or whichever) you make a business deal to bring privately produced programming into your home.
Local Radio and TV, however, use the scarce frequencies that broadcast into each community. We the people own those frequencies, and we have made a private public partnership with broadcasters to use them. Their deal with us: to serve the public interest.
So we the people have immense power in broadcasting, we just need to use it.
Marshall Keith
(5 posts)All of the cable originate from the same airwaves as they all originate from satellite delivery to the cable provider. There are far less cable stations then there are terrestrial. But then facts always evaded your kind. Terrestrial radio is also private though not paid directly by the recipient but by the advertisers. Of course if the advertiser does not see a return on their investment they quit supporting the station.
SueWilson
(12 posts)This rule applies to broadcast (local TV and radio) only. For a full explanation of our rights as owners of the publicly owned airwaves, please go to my recent post at http://www.suewilsonreports.com/2012/05/standing-up-in-wisconsin-and-beyond-for.html
And PLEASE go to the activist website and sign our petition:
http://www.MediaActionCenter.net
We need thousands of signatures to get the FCC's attention - let them now that We the People are watching them on this one!
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Marshall Keith
(5 posts)The same FCC rules apply to cable. You still can't get it through your head that only candidates qualify for equal time PERIOD. And then only equal to the time that an opponent was on that was not part of a newscast. The Zapple doctrine applies to time purchased on a station. No Candidate no equal time' get it?
http://peoplesrepubmadison.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/zapple-doctrine/
Marshall Keith
(5 posts)The same FCC rules apply to cable. You still can't get it through your head that only candidates qualify for equal time PERIOD. And then only equal to the time that an opponent was on that was not part of a newscast. The Zapple doctrine applies to time purchased on a station. No Candidate no equal time' get it?
http://peoplesrepubmadison.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/zapple-doctrine/
SueWilson
(12 posts)No how many times you say it. Let me clarify briefly, as you obviously did not take time to read the complaint.
Section 315(a) of the Communications Act says if one CANDIDATE is provided time by a broadcaster, the opposing major party CANDIDATE must be provided equal time if he so requests it.
The Zapple Doctrine is a 1970 rule named after Nicholas Zapple, who was called the "sixth commissioner" in those days. It expands the rule from "candidates" to "SUPPORTERS of candidates."
Just the facts. And no matter how many times you repeat your meme, these are the facts.
Don't believe me? Look up the original source:
In re Request by Nicholas Zapple, Communications Counsel, Committee on Commerce for Interpretive Ruling Concerning Section 315 Fairness Doctrine, 23 F.C.C. 2d 707 (1970).
Marshall Keith
(5 posts)As you have pointed out it is an extension of the Fairness doctrine that has been declared unconstitutional, PERIOD. The bottom line is the Candidates are the only one who qualify for equal time and then only equal to the time that the opponent was on the air. They do not qualify for equal time that the talk show host spend editorializing. So what makes you thing that you have more rights then the actual candidates?
crazyjoe
(1,191 posts)there are right wing radio shows and left wing radio shows, this is unenforceable. Who are the thousands and thousands of people who are going to listen to every talk show in the country and count the number of minutes spent in support of one side or the other?
Ridiculous.
SueWilson
(12 posts)Better than 90% of ALL radio talk is Right Wing. The airwaves belong to ALL of us, and the R/W corporations do not have the right to use their microphones on OUR airwaves to promote just one political party.
Remember, this applies ONLY to the 60 days prior to elections. Enforceable? You bet it is.
crazyjoe
(1,191 posts)you up for money. Hmm, why do they need money for an internet petition? buisness trip?
how much did you donate?
SueWilson
(12 posts)I used the free I-Petition service for our petition. When I signed it, I did not get a request for donations, although you may have. Those donations would not go to Media Action Center or our cause.
But as monitors and lawyers all cost money, I do encourage you to help us out by clicking the donate button on the Media Action Center website. How much have I donated? Thousands of dollars and years of time. That's how much how democracy means to me. You?
Marshall Keith
(5 posts)Yup and that's due to ratings. You don't get the ratings you don't stay on the air. Of course in order to have ratings you have to have listeners. Could it be that the real facts are that no one wants to listen to you??? So you want the government to force them to listen to you??
KharmaTrain
(31,706 posts)I've been involved with radio for way longer than I care to admit (since the 70s) and have never heard of this. Doesn't matter anywho as talk programming is not considered "political" but as "entertainment" (why Rushbo called himself an "entertainer" thus even in the days of the "fairness doctrine" talk shows and news programs were exempt from "equal" time. It's a logistical nightmare...and who keeps score? Good luck with your petition...the FCC's busy not doing anything, but your heart is in the right place...
deaniac21
(6,747 posts)jumps all over this!