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phoenix1002 · 04-21-2003, 09:20 PM

It seems that the general feeling around here is that there is too much government control, and that things would be better if the government backed off. Just to suggest an alternate view, I'd like to bring up the current radio situation.

Prior to the 1996 Telecommunications act, corporations were only allowed to own no more than 5 VHF radio stations. This was a government restriction set up to protect independent stations. After the 1996 Telecom act, however, this limitation was removed. The idea was that it would foster competition and variety. The results are obvious, and not what was expected. Just look at ClearChannel, Citadel, and Cumulus Media. The top two corporate owners now own over 1400 stations between them. ClearChannel has about 1200 of those stations. ClearChannel especially has a reputation for iron-fisted central control.

The '96 Telecom Act is here:
http://www.fcc.gov/reports/tcom1996.txt
check out Sec. 202: Broadcast Ownership

another place I got some of my facts: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/20/opinion/20THU4.html

Basically everything I stated above can be supported either by those websites or by the books I've got (sorry, can't give links to those

)

So, should we still deregulate things, or is some government control good? I'm not just talking about radio broadcasts, I'm just using that as an example, since I have facts about it.

04-21-2003, 09:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
phoenix1002 Psycho Location: lost	More or less government control? It seems that the general feeling around here is that there is too much government control, and that things would be better if the government backed off. Just to suggest an alternate view, I'd like to bring up the current radio situation. Prior to the 1996 Telecommunications act, corporations were only allowed to own no more than 5 VHF radio stations. This was a government restriction set up to protect independent stations. After the 1996 Telecom act, however, this limitation was removed. The idea was that it would foster competition and variety. The results are obvious, and not what was expected. Just look at ClearChannel, Citadel, and Cumulus Media. The top two corporate owners now own over 1400 stations between them. ClearChannel has about 1200 of those stations. ClearChannel especially has a reputation for iron-fisted central control. The '96 Telecom Act is here: http://www.fcc.gov/reports/tcom1996.txt check out Sec. 202: Broadcast Ownership another place I got some of my facts: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/20/opinion/20THU4.html Basically everything I stated above can be supported either by those websites or by the books I've got (sorry, can't give links to those ) So, should we still deregulate things, or is some government control good? I'm not just talking about radio broadcasts, I'm just using that as an example, since I have facts about it. __________________ I'd rather be climbing... I approach college much like a recovering alcoholic--one day at a time... Last edited by phoenix1002; 04-21-2003 at 09:33 PM..