"Bob Haberkost" wrote in message
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"Frank Dresser" wrote in message
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"Bob Haberkost" wrote in message
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"Frank Dresser" wrote in message
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"Fuller Wrath" wrote in message
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"Frank Dresser" wrote in message
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: "Fuller Wrath" wrote in message
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Here in Chicago, we just had an AM xband station go on the air a year
ago.
Other frequencies sound open. One street gang related pirate station
was
operating on an open FM frequency here. We also have a couple of
reletively
new low power UHF stations.

"Sound" open and being open are two different things. I've had this
didact before,
but the gist of it is that the channels that "sound" open are only to
allow that
channel to be allocated in other areas, which in the Class C area that
Chicago is in
may be far, far away. Putting an allocation on this "open" channel would
result in
interference to these far-flung operations, thus reducing their coverage
area to less
than what they're allocated to serve. Same goes for the pirate. If you
look at a
frequency search map, using the specified minimum distances to each
conflicting
allocation, you'll find that there is some apparent "white" areas as a
result of the
overlaps (or actually, the effort to make sure they don't overlap).

Yeah, but isn't that largely a matter of definition and policy? As I
understand, the FCC used to try to keep a 30 kHz spacing between stations in
the same market, now they'll go for 20 kHz. In my opinion, there are
already too damn many stations on the air, using my personal standard of
maximum allowable interference. But if the FCC doesn't much care about more
interference, they could pack more stations in.



Should the fairness doctrine apply in markets in which there are open
frequencies and channels?

No, because a licensee should do their part to represent all divergent
views.

I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying the fairnss doctrine should
not
apply in those markets?

I am not. Open channels (assuming that there are any, which certainly
isn't the case
in Chicago) mean that there are only a few possible voices that might
offer
diversity. But there's still a finite limit to how many voices there will
be. This
is different from printed matter or public oratory, where there is no
self-limiting
property in the exersize of one's free speech rights. With broadcasting,
the
existence of one station prevents the free speech rights of those other
"potential"
operations on the same channel, thus depriving these "others" of their
free speech
rights. Since the "others" don't have the opportunity, then neither
should the
operator of the facility which abridges the "others" of theirs.

Even if a broadcaster refuses to broadcast an opposing view on his station
or stations, he is only restricting one outlet for the opposing speech. So
what? The Soviet Union had an entirely controlled media. Every paper,
every broadcaster was owned by one monopoly. Yet some version of the truth
got around. Printed material from typewriters and photocopiers were handed
around. Phone calls were made. The Soviet media lies increased cynicism,
not indoctrination. Control of one station or one broadcast network would
be even less persuasive, especially if other outlets for opposing viewpoints
are available.



Satellite spectrum is, by definition, not broadcast spectrum....it's
just
a band that some operators choose to operate un-encrypted.
And subscription satellite is another animal altogether, like cable.

Right. And viewers/listeners don't really make the distinction between
cable and satellite and broadcasting anymore. If 90% of a person's TV
channels are uneffected by the fairness doctrine, does the fairness
doctrine
have any effect on the viewer?

Doesn't matter. People pay for subscription services. They get what they
pay for,
and if they don't like what they're hearing, they can cancel.
Broadcasting is
different. You can get conventional radio using devices which are readily
available,
require no real skills to install or use, and cost at least an order of
magnitude
less to acquire. For those who have satellite receivers, after having
made the
effort, if they think it's the same, then it is for them. But that
doesn't make it
so.

If people don't like what they hear on a broadcast, getting rid if it is
even easier than canceling. They just tune out.

I'm not sure I catch the reason why the fairness doctrine is necessary with
broadcast stations but not necessary with pay services. I don't think it
has to be a jurisdictional thing, as some Congressmen have proposed
extending decency standards to pay services and the internet.


Anyway, I can't think of any reason a satellite direct broadcast service
must be a subscription service. If satellite technology gets cheap enough,
the networks might well launch their own, advertiser supported satellites.
It's also easy enough to imagine the satellite receivers would be easily
affordable.

With cable systems, there's no practical distinction between cable channels
and broadcast channels.



If the fairness doctrine is really a good idea, shouldn't it effect
every
station a consumer gets?

As above. Broadcasting is different. The spectrum occupied is granted,
in trust, by
the people of the United States. Broadcasters should be held accountable
for serving
all those people. Whether they like it or not.

They do serve people, by entertaining them. That's what broadcasting is
good at. Broadcasting is a poor educational media. People who want to
actually learn something read about it. Or converse with someone
knowledgeable. Or, best yet, do it. I suppose broadcasting could be
whipped into a decent educational media with VCRs and tape recorders so
people could go back and forth until they actually understand what's being
discussed, but they hardly ever do. Broadcast information goes into the air
for an ephemeral moment, and then it's gone. Guys like Limbaugh and Hannity
are successful, not because they are informative, but because they're
entertaining.

I suppose there are a few doofuses who think they are getting some sort of
political education from the broadcast loudmouths who are putting on a show
within the limitations of broadcast media.



Just why is the fairness doctrine a good idea?

Because we've seen what happens when it's not in place.

The biggest difference I've noticed is there is less boring programming on
Sunday mornings.



Covering the country is not the same as getting gross impressions.
It's hard to say exactly how many people listen. But, as far as the
rate
goes, it used to be alot higher back about 20 years ago when stations
such
as WRNO and WINB were selling time. Since then, there must have been at
least fifteen SW brokered transmitters going on the air. It's a buyers
market now.

Well, then, that's not exactly what I'd call a good investment, is it?
Tell you
what....pay me $500 to spread to the world what you have to say. I
promise I'll tell
at least 15 people a day about your message for a month. But I won't tell
you how
many people I'll tell, and those that I'll tell may have no means by which
to acquire
the service or goods you're selling, at that. Deal?


It seems to work well for Brother Stair and Doctor Scott!

Frank Dresser