So I finally get an email from the FCC ..

[madeline_con]

in reply to my comlplaint that Rush Limbaugh should be tarred and featherd, well at least censured over his attempts to incite riots in Denver during the Democratic Convention this summer.

You are receiving this email in response to your inquiry to the FCC.

Dear Consumer,

The FCC cannot interfere with a broadcaster's selection and
presentation of material for the news and/or its commentary.

The Communications Act and First Amendment to the Constitution prohibit
any action by the FCC that would interfere with free speech in
broadcasting.

The Communications Act prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcast
material, except when that material is obscene.

I think he's obscene. Besides, inciting a riot goes under the same verbotten column as the proverbial yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, doesn't it?

[mike_c]

1. Janet Jackson's nipple is "obscene"-- Limbaugh's vile spew is OK....

What a messed up country.

[AuntPatsy]

2. I couldn't agree more. Priorities have become somewhat skewered..

[babylonsister]

3. No kidding. Boobs on a woman bad, a boob for a r/w hate spewer, A-OK. nt

[KharmaTrain]

4. There Are Other Ways To Make Rushbo's Life Difficult

Since he didn't show his titties (ugh) and didn't say one of those words George Carlin did, the FCC won't involve itself in what it calls "content". And, of course, Rushbo knows this...it was in the plan from the gitgo...but he's not the only one who isn't held responsible...almost all of hate radio is loaded with offensive voices.

You have to go after the station rather than the show. They are the ones responsible to the FCC. You can try to challenge their license...but that's both very time consuming and extremely expensive. The rules have been jobbed that it's all but impossible to get a station's license revoked.

Instead the quickest way to hurt a show like Rushbo and the station is to target LOCAL advertisers. Go to the business or give them a call...politely...and if you're a past customer that's a nice thing to mention...then express your displeasure. Then get 100 of your closest friends to do it. If the calls don't work, then there's always a friendly visit with pickets outside the front door. Oh...and don't forget to invite a newspaper reporter and camera person...they love to make radio stations look bad.

Or...a real pain for the station is send a letter of complaint...then a month later, visit the station and demand (and yes, you demand) to see the station's public inspection file. Your letter should be added to that file (of course you've backed yourself up by sending the complaint letter certified)...and if they stonewall you or prevent you from seeing the file, they're in deep doo doo with the FCC...a MAJOR violation...and then if you're letter isn't there, then you've got them in even deeper shit.

The game here is to bleed them at the local level...the FCC is a waste of time and space right now.

Cheers...

[madeline_con]

5. Wow! Thanks for the valuable info.

I'll save this in my files. :hi:

[KharmaTrain]

8. Good Luck And Let Me Know If You Follow Through

Cheers...

:hi:

[ben_meyers]

6. Radio time is based on ratings

I can tell you from experience that for every local "spot" heard on Limbaugh's show there are many more waiting to get on. Even so called "progressive" businesses have to maximize their advertising dollars and have been known to sponsor his show.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Been There, Done That

Middays are the hardest daypart to sell...Rushbo's success was that he was cheap programing to put on in place of a local talent. Some stations are able to sell the show, but I hear more stations than not these days that throw what they call ROS or run of schedule spots in there...in some cases, the advertiser doesn't even know his/her ad is on during the show. I also know nothing gets a station's attention more than a call from a pissed off advertiser...it weights 100 times more than a listener. Maybe the station can replace the lost advertising...and so be it. But the poster is looking for ways to express a protest...going to the FCC is a total waste of time.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. That letter is bullshit.

The FCC is also supposed to review networks licenses, too.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCC#Regulatory_powers">Wikip*dia

The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 as the successor to the Federal Radio Commission and is charged with regulating all non-Federal Government use of the radio spectrum (including radio and television broadcasting), and all interstate telecommunications (wire, satellite and cable) as well as all international communications that originate or terminate in the United States. (...) Additionally, broadcast licenses are supposed to be renewed if the station meets the "public interest, convenience, or necessity." The Federal Communications Commission rarely checks except for some obvious and outstanding reason; burden of proof would be on the complainant.

So, apparently, the person who wrote/sent the letter doesn't know what they're talking about (maybe Liberty University doesn't have a media law school) or the GOP has changed the FCC's job.

[notfullofit]

10. Hey,

we should all be thankful or else KO would be silenced on his Bush and Billo rants.