RSSUsing PayPal
PUBLIC CALL TO MICHAEL POWELL: TEAR DOWN THIS WALL
Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Thursday, Nov 11 2004, 9:16PM
CLOSE 
SOCIAL WEBSITES
http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2004/11/public_call_to/&title=PUBLIC CALL TO MICHAEL POWELL: TEAR DOWN THIS WALL&topic=political_opinion" target="_blank">Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Facebook
Newsvine
Stumble UponEMAIL THIS ARTICLE
MICHAEL POWELL'S FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION is becoming an engine of censorship; a destroyer of a dynamic, innovation-rich IT ecosystem; a supporter of new telecommunications monopolies; and an advocate of civil society-stifling media concentration.
Saving Private Ryan has just been pulled from airing on ABC affiliates. The president of one such affiliate, Raymond Cole, in Des Moines, Iowa stated:
Would the FCC conclude that the movie has sufficient social, artistic, literary, historical or other kinds of value that would protect us from breaking the law? With the current FCC, we just don't know.
The key issue in this case is ambiguity. Because of the erratic behavior and fines the FCC has imposed on entertainers such as Howard Stern, while essentially turning a blind eye to what Sinclair Broadcasting had intended to do with an anti-Kerry infomercial, very few broadcasters know what they can show and not.
Uncertainty is not good in broadcasting. Power can easily get abused when subjectivity becomes too much a part of a regulatory order. Michael Powell is creating a climate of fear in broadcasting and is doing the same in nearly all of the areas the FCC currently regulates.
Michael Powell needs to be retired, President Bush. America needs to be dynamic, innovative, concerned with public morality of course (nod to Senator Lieberman), but not at the expense of what is most important in our culture.
If Saving Private Ryan cannot air on television without fear of retribution while dozens of groteque Fox and other cable shows can air (and yes, I know about the single fine against a Fox show recently), then there is something rotten and wrong at the FCC.
-- Steve Clemons
« Previous Article - REQUIEM FOR IRIS CHANG» Next Article - ELECTIONS, VOTING MACHINES, WRITE-INS AND THE SCANDAL OF APATHY
I can't understand the broadcasters either. This movie was shown in previous years. Why are they afraid of the FCC now? If the FCC did not care in previous years doesn't that set a precedent for now. I doubt the FCC will say anything if it makes them look weak.
The main complaint seems to be dropping 20 F-bombs near the 8 o'clock hour...and even though it did air in 2001 and 2002, that was before the Wardrobe Malfunction.
Steve, I don't find this ambiguous at all. Ironic perhaps. Having just watched Saving Private Ryan, it is interesting to note that it is tyranny and oppression that the soldiers knew they were fighting against on our behalf.
I think particularly the first 20 minutes of the movie reminds us all of the sheer horror of war and frankly, this visual reminder hits too close to home right now for anyone to be comfortable with it and represents exactly why it is in the public interest that it should be shown.
In the final moving scene the older Private Ryan asks his wife to tell him that he was a good man and worthy of the sacrifice made on his behalf by his fellow soldiers.
Yes, there is something rotten and wrong at the FCC and it does not honor our Veterans to threaten the freedoms and rights they fought and died for us to have.
Michael Powell does dishonor to the name of his father. That's for sure. His biggest damage has been that he is undoing the 1996 Telecommunications Act designed to promote innovation and competition in the telecommunications and information technology sectors. He is giving everything away to Verizon's Ivan Seidenberg to destroy AT&T and other firms. Let's watch which Baby Bells boards of directors Powell gets invited on to when his term finally expires.
Good post Steve, as usual.
Reader Comments (4) - post a comment