"David Eduardo" wrote in message
m...

Is it a coincidence that the rise of domestic SW came after the decline
of
the radio networks?

I don't think so. I think the rise of stations that would run the Hal
Turner
show has more to do withthe repeal of the Fairness Doctrine which allowed
the kind of one-sided shows we hear today. Remember, an early SW
broadcaster, Rev. Norris of Red Lion, made history by his refusal to
follow
the doctrine. He also lost his licenses. The repeal of Fairness also
ushered
in today's talk radio, from Rush to Savage to Stern. None would work
without
the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine.

Yes! Now we're back where we started. The question of if the FCC language
which bans domestic SW content still applies.

I remember the Rev. John M. Norris, or at least his SW station quite well.
In fact, I have a WINB QSL dated Aug. 27, 1970 right here in front of me.

I think you've got something with the Fairness Doctirine connection. I
typed "norris fairness doctrine" into the Google search box, and this is the
first thing that came up:

http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-270.html#FOOTNOTE_40

This article is actually about internet censorship, but it parallels
internet censorship with some of the history of the government's efforts to
control broadcast speech and it's unintended consequences. One quote from
the article:

"That the FCC determined in 1981 and 1985 that content regulation was
counterproductive to achieving public interest goals would suggest that the
notion of effective content regulation has been thoroughly discredited. "

The Fairness Doctrine was finally eliminated in August, 1987.

As far as I can tell, the FCC pulled out of the political content regulation
business entirely. And the same line of thought would make the FCC domestic
SW content ban unenforcable. Good for the FCC! Good for Rev. Norris, too!

Frank Dresser