Pres. Could Seize Radio, Internet, under New Exec. Order

http://www.progressive.org/pres_could_seize_radio_internet_new_exec_order.html

President Obama continues to plan for emergencies in a way that aggrandizes the power of the Executive Branch. Back in March, in a creepy executive order, entitled “National Defense Resources Preparedness,” Obama authorized the President and cabinet officials to take over crucial aspects of the national economy—not only during emergencies but also in peacetime. Then, just 10 days ago, on July 6, Obama issued another executive order, entitled, “Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions.”

The order says this is pursuant to section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S. C. 6066), which states, in part:



Obama’s executive order authorizes the heads of Homeland Security and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to make recommendations to the President on how he might enforce that 1934 law. It also empowers the head of Homeland Security to make sure, “in conditions of crisis or emergency,” that the executive branch maintains “priority communications requirements through the use of commercial, government, and privately owned communications resources.”

Does this mean the President can grab hold of the radio dial and the Internet?

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