New FCC Chair Upset by More Than Just a Tit

The White House has asked FCC commissioner Kevin Martin to take the reins from resigning chairman Michael Powell. In terms of the government cracking down on perceived indecency by broadcasters, that'll mean more of the same, just worse. Salon's assessment is that, as a commissioner,

"Martin has been to the right of Powell. Although the FCC ended up fining CBS' parent Viacom $550,000 for airing the fleeting moment, Martin wanted to go further and have the commission investigate the entire gyrating halftime program, which he felt was too crude. Additionally, last month while speaking at a telecommunications summit, Martin embraced the notion that cable television and satellite radio, which will soon play home to Howard Stern, should be policed the same way over-the-air radio and television broadcasts are."

I caught flak from a couple of readers two days ago when I called U.S. highschool students airheads for believing the government should censor the media. "For crying out loud, these are thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds," wrote one. "Give 'em some time and cut 'em some slack. They'll eventually acquire a modicum of common sense and a bit of historical perspective."

Maybe. Or they might grow up to be the next Kevin Martin, who, at the ripe old age of 38, still doesn't appear to have studied the Bill of Rights all that closely.

Comments

[Steve M]

Hey now, you are being unfair. Obviously, we need someone to protect us from the onslaught of filth plaguing our airwaves. Otherwise we might have to, you know, change the channel or talk to our kids.

[William]

I suppose its possible, I'm no constitutional scholar, but am I don't see how the FCC has the authority to fine over "objectionable content" in light of Cohen v. California. If the FCC has authority over boradcasters because the airwaces are "public," wouldn't the same rules apply to broadcast that apply to all public discourse? I mean, is there really any difference between turning your head at a courthouse and turning the dial on your TV?

[C.S.Strowbridge]

This guy is a huge improvement... no, seriously.

First of all he's really uptight and that will alienate moderates, who will hopefully vote Democrat next time.

Secondly, he want more regulation in the telecommunication industry, and that includes restricting mergers. Mergers are more detrimental to free speach in the long run and harder to reverse.