Incoming FCC Chairman: No Censorship

There was good news coming out of the Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday. Julius Genachowski, President Obama’s choice to head the Federal Communications Committee made a strong statement that he does not favor censorship of the broadcast airwaves. It is the most definitive and concise statement heard from the Chairman-to-be and from the Obama administration. We welcome it. Let’s hope the far-left backs off its call for a return of Fairness Doctrine-like regulations aimed at conservative talk radio. I doubt they will, but at least Genachowski is on record as opposed to the Fairness Doctrine and controversial localism mandates that would censor free speech determined by the marketplace.

Genachowski made the statement in response to a question from Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.

Generally, the Senate hearing was a lovefest and accolades were also handed out to Robert McDowell, a Republican who has been re-nominated for another term on the commission. McDowell has stated unequivocally that he does not favor regulations such as mandated programming advisory boards considered under localism regulations that the FCC issued for proposed rule-making in January 2008. Let’s hope that report finds itself shredded and trashed forever.

The radio industry led this fight and now has Mr. Genachowski on record as stating, “I strongly believe in the First Amendment and don’t think the FCC should be involved in censorship based on political speech and opinion.” As a longtime talk radio programmer, I would liked to have heard Mr. Genachowski also say he does not favor FCC mandates to set up “community advisory boards” for radio stations. The FCC stated that such boards would further localism interests in its January 2008 report. We presume that since Genachowski stated he does not favor localism mandates that would censor political speech, he would also not favor local advisory boards. It’s utter nonsense that in the United States an agency would suggest broadcast stations must have “community advisory boards.” We have our advisors – you the listener. If you don’t like what you hear, our ratings reflect that. And, that is the only valid form of censorship in America.

Be vigilant for free speech and let’s make sure Julius Genachowski is true to his word. And, watch out for the new wave of political correctness that has swept the world and is now taking stronger hold in America – legislation against hate speech. Who decides what is hateful? The National Hispanic Media Coalition has asked the FCC to investigate alleged hate speech by John and Ken of KFI, Los Angeles, Lou Dobbs of CNN, and Michael Savage of the Talk Radio Network. Beware of further assaults on broadcast speech rights.

Brian Jennings is author of Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio.