During his campaign Mr. Obama stated numerous times his desire to increase diversity of ownership of media. Minions on the FCC such as Commissioners Copps and Adelstein have also stated their desire to redistribute the media. The first step toward that goal has been announced. And, it threatens conservative talk in America.
Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps has set May 7th as the date for a meeting of the commission’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age. Copps has been stating loudly that he wants to increase diversity in media ownership and that it will be a priority of the FCC. National hearings on the topic were held in 2007 and the FCC commissioners turned up their criticism of large media companies like Clear Channel and others. This will get the ball rolling on diversity before new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is confirmed by the Senate and seated at the FCC. They are deadly serious.
What does this mean for conservatives? The diversity move to break up large ownership of radio has been the goal of all the leftist public interest organizations such as Free Press, the Center for American Progress, and others – most of them funded by George Soros, the Democratic Party godfather. It is their goal that by forcing more diversity ownership they will move conservative voices aside.
The FCC has tremendous power over terrestrial broadcasters. The agency can regulate without Congressional approval and when Genachowski is seated, it will have a 3-2 Democrat majority. Mr. Copps is one of those Democrats and with this move, he has declared regulatory war on conservative talk radio. The FCC will look for ways to force many radio operators to give up those licenses. They can levy heavy fines, taxes, and other regulatory means that can force current broadcast holders to throw in the towel – then reassign those licenses to minorities or women.
Don’t count on these groups to keep conservative voices on their talk stations. Free speech? Only on their terms. Keep your eye on these hearings. Big brother is at work. The free marketplace be damned. Redistribute the wealth…..that’s good according to Obama. Redistributing the media is part of that plan. But, it is more forced socialism in America. Why are we not surprised? Free speech be damned.
Brian Jennings is author of Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio. It will be in bookstores nationwide on May 5th. www.censorshipbook.com.