Genachowski made the statement in response to a question from Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas. 

Generally, the Senate hearing was a lovefest and accolades were also handed out to Robert McDowell, a Republican who has been re-nominated for another term on the commission.  McDowell has stated unequivocally that he does not favor regulations such as mandated programming advisory boards considered under localism regulations that the FCC issued for proposed rule-making in January 2008.  Let’s hope that report finds itself shredded and trashed forever.

The radio industry led this fight and now has Mr. Genachowski on record as stating, “I strongly believe in the First Amendment and don’t think the FCC should be involved in censorship based on political speech and opinion.” As a longtime talk radio programmer, I would liked to have heard Mr. Genachowski also say he does not favor FCC mandates to set up “community advisory boards” for radio stations.  The FCC stated that such boards would further localism interests in its January 2008 report.  We presume that since Genachowski stated he does not favor localism mandates that would censor political speech, he would also not favor local advisory boards. It’s utter nonsense that in the United States an agency would suggest broadcast stations must have “community advisory boards.” We have our advisors – you the listener.  If you don’t like what you hear, our ratings reflect that.  And, that is the only valid form of censorship in America. 

Be vigilant for free speech and let’s make sure Julius Genachowski is true to his word.  And, watch out for the new wave of political correctness that has swept the world and is now taking stronger hold in America – legislation against hate speech.  Who decides what is hateful?  The National Hispanic Media Coalition has asked the FCC to investigate alleged hate speech by John and Ken of KFI, Los Angeles, Lou Dobbs of CNN, and Michael Savage of the Talk Radio Network.  Beware of further assaults on broadcast speech rights. 

Brian Jennings is author of Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio.

In 2008, Arbitron, which measures radio audiences nationwide, began rolling out its latest measurement technology called the “Portable People Meter,” or PPM.  It’s a pager-device that automatically registers what someone is listening to at any moment.  It’s the measurement of real time listening as opposed to the “old” system that required a listener to recall and write down once a week the stations they could remember they heard.  Most radio executives feel this system is the future for radio audience measurement.  When the New York ratings came out last fall, it showed conservative talk radio was even stronger than previously noted under the old audience measurement system and that minority radio stations were not as popular.  Well, you know the rest of the story.

The Obama administration, along with the City of New York, and other minority interests cried foul.  Then, the FCC stepped in and announced it would investigate the new Arbitron system.  After all, it cannot allow conservative talk radio to improve its already strong position on American airwaves! 

Several things are playing out that conservatives need to be aware of.  First, the Fairness Doctrine appears dead on arrival.  Democrats finally figured out re-imposition would be unconstitutional.  So, they are going through the backdoor to “clarify the public interest obligations” of broadcasters as stated by Obama and the Democrats in their 2008 party platform.  The FCC on May 7th began hearings to “diversify” media ownership in America.  The only way to do that is to take a broadcast license away from a current owner and give it to a minority.  Democrats can’t understand that such a “redistribution of wealth” is a form of censorship of another point of view.  And, of the 31 members of the advisory committee appointed by the FCC, it was hard to find one that represents conservative interests.  There is no one to represent Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, or Lars Larson in these on-going hearings.  Secondly, the FCC will reduce the broadcast license renewal term from eight to three years.  Big brother at work looking over the shoulder of media.  But, back to the Arbitron measurement issue.

Seattle has always been a strong talk market for radio.  But, in the first month of the new PPM methodology, talk radio tanked.  Any correlation to the FCC/Obama concerns that PPM does not represent minority interests?  Time will tell, but the Seattle ratings don’t reflect the trends for talk radio nationwide under the new audience measurement system.  Newstalk leader, KIRO switched to an FM frequency which always creates some confusion in early ratings.  Hopefully, subsequent Seattle PPM ratings will reflect the strength of talk radio in America.  Expect the Democrat controlled FCC to meddle where it should not because as acting FCC Commissioner Michael Copps told CNSNews.com earlier this year, “If markets cannot produce what society really cares about, like a media that reflects the true diversity and spirit of our country, then government has a legitimate role to play.” 

Such a totalitarian statement leaves no question that liberals want to re-define talk radio in America.  It eliminates the ability of the free market to choose what it wants to hear by forcing the intent of regulated balance of the Fairness Doctrine.  We must be aware of what is happening under our noses because the tactic of the new administration is to get it done before we can raise the red flags. 

Brian Jennings is a 40-year talk radio programming executive and author of Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio.

The other major development is news about new FCC appointments coming soon. According to Radio & Records, the new appointments are imminent.  It appears Obama will nominate Mignon Clyburn from South Carolina as one of his Democrat appointments along with Julius Genachowski as Chairman.  Ms. Clyburn has a newspaper background, so hopefully she will have some sympathies for conservative talk radio, but I doubt it.  She also has a strong public service background and has been vetted by Obama. Newspapers have always held a low opinion of conservative talk radio.  Watch for the hammer to come down. 

Part of the Democratic plan is to establish “programming advisory boards” for stations.  These nazi-like boards would serve one purpose – promote fear among broadcast license holders and threaten them if they don’t adhere to their programming wishes.  Tyranny.  Here’s what my friend and colleague Roger Hedgecock had to say when he talked to WND:  “Talk about a chilling effect on free speech, this will be an Arctic blast of restraint on opinion based on the threat to take the license away.”

Hedgecock also told WND:  “I think the FCC is on the cusp of enacting regulations that would fundamentally alter the traditional American assumption that we have the right to share and debate political opinions,” he said. “I believe the strategy is to make the current state of compliant journalism that prevails in the mainstream media the norm as well on the Internet and in talk radio,” he said. 

There is no journalism in America.  Wednesday night’s compliant news gathering at the White House was a joke.  Obama controls the media and it’s a massive dupe of the American public.  As Rush Limbaugh said this morning, “I never thought I would say I long for the days of Sam Donaldson.”

Hedgecock who holds forth at KOGO in San Diego and in national syndication, also says, “I think in the next 90 days we will see the imposition of the local advisory boards. They will immediately become complaint departments staffed by the left on all local and nationally syndicated talk programs,” Hedgecock warned.

If you value conservative talk in America, it’s time to speak up.  A number of my conservative talk colleagues have come together to form UnFairAir.org.  This site is a rallying cry for the protection of free speech on the radio.  Please check it out.  If you value conservative talk, now is the time to pay attention.

Brian Jenning’s book Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio will be in bookstores next Tuesday, May 5th.  This book is the collective voice of talk radio hosts and managers speaking out against speech regulation on the nation’s airwaves as well as the many attempts to muzzle conservative talk in America.