FCC won't prevent airing of anti-Kerry film, chairman says

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press, 10/14/2004 13:46

WASHINGTON (AP) The Federal Communications Commission won't intervene to stop a broadcast company's plans to air a critical documentary about John Kerry's anti-Vietnam War activities on dozens of TV stations, the agency's chairman said Thursday.

''Don't look to us to block the airing of a program,'' Michael Powell told reporters. ''I don't know of any precedent in which the commission could do that.''

Eighteen senators, all Democrats, wrote to Powell this week and asked him to investigate Sinclair Broadcast Group's plan to run the program, ''Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal,'' two weeks before the Nov. 2 election.

Powell said there are no federal rules that would allow the agency to prevent the program. ''I think that would be an absolute disservice to the First Amendment and I think it would be unconstitutional if we attempted to do so,'' he said.

more: http://www.boston.com/dailynews/288/politics/FCC_won_t_prevent_airing_of_anP.shtml