Re: [microsound] [OT] FCC Insanity

[Jason Thomas <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There are two points to be made. The first of which I
don not believe I have made clear enough, which is the
extent to which the FCC Chairman (who happens to the
the son of Colin Powell) will not state ANY
guidelines, even if asked beforehand for comment on a
potential broadcast.  They wish, rather, to use their
power as a political tool. For example, on Veterans
day, ABC decided to air the film Saving Private Ryan,
which they had done in 2001 and 2002.  Twenty ABC
affiliates, however, decided not to show the film due
to concern the FCC may levy a fine after the recent
Super Bowl fallout.  The real problem is that the
stations approached the FCC to ask if what their
position on showing the film would be. The response?
Nothing. The FCC refused to say if it would or would
not consider the content of Saving Private Ryan
"indecent."  Why is it so unreasonable to expect that
the FCC say what it thinks one way or the other? Why
does there need to be a lurking fear of arbitrary
enforcement?  If the FCC is really concerned with
protecting us from indecent content, wouldn't they
jump at the offer to do it BEFORE something is aired
rather than giving a fine later?

The reason is because often censorship has nothing to
do with the content at all, but rather the individual
responsible for distributing the content.  Stern, for
example, who openly supported Kerry, is unlikely to
receive the same treatment as another creater of
similar content.  The FCC increases it's power because
and potential for abusing it because it is impossible
to defend oneself against a subjective opinion.  If I
say "statement x" and it is determined indecent, I
have no way to defend myself since one can not
factually disprove a subjective opinion.  This is a
weapon for political use, a McCartney style witch hunt
with zero accountability on the part of the accuser. 
Your recommendation that I make a "logical assesment"
based on previous examples is not possible because the
FCC is not basing it's judgemnt on logic, but
subjective opinion. 
 
BTW, Regarding the Private Ryan issue, Speilberg's
contract with ABC forbids editing, thus the "all or
nothing" decision to broadcast... 




=====
Jason Thomas 
346 N. Vermont Ave. # 615
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 661-8093
http://www.jason-thomas.org
mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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