Re: [dvd-discuss] ClearChannel Plays It Safe

[Jeme A Brelin <jeme(at)brelin.net>]

On Tue, 18 Sep 2001, Bryan Taylor wrote:
> Radio stations and companies who own them exercise their free speech
> rights when the choose what will be played. There is no "public stake"
> in controlling what a private company communicates. There are no
> "public airwaves" in the AM or FM band, but this is the fault of the
> FCC, not the radio companies. The real crime with radio is the FCC
> restrictions on AM/FM stations that effectively eliminate small scale
> competition.

With power comes responsibility.

I agree that the FCC (or, more rightly, the Telecommunications Act) gave
these private corporations the power, but they are not carrying the
responsibility.

When someone has power over what plays and what does not across the board
(rather than on one station in a market with lots of stations run with
diverse interests), then that someone is capable of censorship in their
personal choices.

Censorship: It's not just for governments anymore.
J.
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     Jeme A Brelin
    jeme@brelin.net
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