MyFDL readers will remember my talking last year about why we need to Occupy Radio. Walking into any radio station during normal business hours and demanding to see their public files is an empowering way to understand that WE the PEOPLE own the radio airwaves, and that radio stations must serve our needs in order to get a license to broadcast.
Still, while it’s educational and it’s shed light on how much money political ads are pouring into stations’ coffers, it has done nothing to alter the imbalance we find on Talk Radio all over the country. (Better than 90% of the nation can ONLY hear Right Wing Talk on their radio dials.)
But now, with the help of staff and volunteers at Media Action Center Wisconsin, we have launched an action which the FCC cannot ignore.
May 22, Media Action Center Wisconsin released results of the Scott Walker Recall Talk Radio Monitoring Project. We revealed that Clear Channel Radio’s WISN and Journal Communications’ Radio WTMJ are each giving supporters of Scott Walker and the GOP about $70,000 in free airtime every day over the air, and virtually nothing to the Democrats.
Tom Barrett supporters cried foul, and demanded comparable time from the stations, citing the little known FCC regulation, the quasi-equal opportunities doctrine, or “Zapple.” The stations failed to comply, so May 24th, I filed a formal complaint with the FCC on their behalf.
We are asking the FCC to immediately order the stations to comply with comparable time rules and give 80 minutes daily to Tom Barrett supporters throughout the remainder of the election.
The FCC has already responded, and are reviewing it now. They will try to answer this immediately, but acknowledge the case – and its implications for talk radio are “huge.”
That’s implications for Rush Limbaugh, for Glenn Beck, for Sean Hannity, for ALL talkers, not just those in Milwaukee. (This will impact the 2012 campaigns; look for a Constitutional showdown on this one, folks.)
But the FCC tends to sweep such things under the rug, and I need your help to prevent that from happening!
Right Wing Talk Radio needs to be put in its place; this is our very best shot. Please help us make it count.
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I hope this gets some results.
Recommended.
If these talk shows were mostly broadcast, the FCC would have more power. But for cable they do not have as much.
Signed and good for you re “Walking into any radio station during normal business hours and demanding to see their public files is an empowering way to understand that WE the PEOPLE own the radio airwaves, and that radio stations must serve our needs in order to get a license to broadcast.”
Just one of the actions mentioned in the FreePress’ Activist Tools.
The FCC has responded and is going to try and do something about it? Ok I am shocked.
ClearChannel is owned by Bain Capital Mitt founded and still has tons of cash in Bain. I thought a Presidential Candidate owning a major media outlet would lead to abuse of equal time laws.
Rush is on Clearchannel I wonder how this could effect him? I hope this gets front paged we need more insight from the commentors on this story.
http://www.mediaactioncenter.net/
I do believe that Rush, Beck etc get around this by claiming that they are not news but entertainment given the amount of lying the Right does on radio I don’t consider them news.
However they do report the news and talk about the news even if they do lie.
Sure sometimes they try and make bad jokes but news with jokes is still news.
I wonder how such a ruling would effect the Daily Show? Jon has GOPers on as guests though when was the last time Rush, Beck etc had an actual guest from the Left assuming they did not cut out their mike’s, talk over them etc?
I don’t know because I don’t listen to them.
If the Right takes this legal action serious I expect the Right to scream censorship and I expect a full Right Wing media blitz on the subject.
Sue, Thank you for the fight and showing us how. Recommended.
What i often wonder is, have we wealthy liberals willing to buy stations so the truth gets out?