The shocking truth about the FCC:

[JohnnyRingo]

Censorship by the tyranny of the few

<excerpt>
: With not much original reporting, I discovered that the latest big fine by the FCC against a TV network -- a record $1.2 million against Fox for its "sexually suggestive" Married by America -- was brought about by a mere three people who actually composed letters of complaint. Yes, just three people.

I filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Oct. 12 asking to see all of the 159 complaints the FCC cited in its complaint against Fox.

I just received the FCC's reply with a copy of all the complaints -- and a letter explaining that, well, there weren't 159 after all. William H. Davenport, chief of the FCC's Investigations and Hearings Divison, admits in his letter that because the complaints were sent to multiple individuals at the FCC, it turns out there actually were only 90 complaints. It gets better: The FCC confesses that they come from only 23 individuals.

<more>
http://www.buzzmachine.com/archives/2004_11_15.html#008481

If three or four of us complain to the FCC that Pat Robertson is offensive.... will they take action ?
Can we complain that Rush Limbaugh has stepped over "the line" ?

[UL_Approved]

1. Can anybody register complaints?

Is this open to anybody, or a select group of individuals who are on the inside of the deal? If so, we could start a massive campaign to censor some RW pundits and talking heads. This needs to get ahead.

[slor]

2. I have long guessed...

that the number of complaints in these cases were about as reliable a bush economist's predictions of a rosy economic future, but even I must admit my utter shock that the numbers were this low. Excellent work!

[No Mandate Here.]

3. Kick...

:kick:

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Great idea, except remember who's in charge of the FCC.

Michael Powell and the conservative majority on the panel pick and choose which complaints to "investigate", prosecute, and punish.

I somehow can't see the FCC going after "patriotic" "broadcasters" like Rush and his ilk, no matter what. Rush could be a convicted drug felon and the FCC would give him a free pass for being "rehabilitated" and "redeemed".

Wish I were wrong.