Sad Sad day for free speech

[Alex]

I don't have a problem with the FCC putting certain limits on what can be said or done on publicly owned airwaves, my problem is that enforcement is inconsistent and the rules are frequently inane and contradictory.

I'm not particularly clear on why Sirius and the other one are exempt from FCC regulation. Yes, you have to pay to listen and special equipment is needed but they must still be broadcasting over segments of EM band licensed from the government (unlike cable, which circumvents the physically limited publicly-owned medium completely).

Could a traditional radio station avoid FCC sanction if they encrypted their signal and distributed decrypting equipment?

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Could a traditional radio station avoid FCC sanction if they encrypted their signal and distributed decrypting equipment?

Isn't that what the kids call a webcast?

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Comment's about Stern's childishness are relevant to the conversation in that I don't particularly respect him as a spokesman for free speech. Any valid points he has are undermined by the pointlessly offensive drivel he produces. He makes a poor spokesman in the battle agains the real censorship problems because he's easy to pass off.

After thinking a bit more about it, I agree. He isn't the best spokesperson for free speech. He is very easy to pass off because he is rude, can be crude and does go as far as he can. I still think it beyond sucks that he left the public airwaves but I suspect he would have left for the money Sirius offered him regardless of the FCC.

Originally Posted by GD

I'm much more concerned about the record fine handed to Fox for implied sex before 10PM, all based on a totoal of 4 unique complaints. 700 Million people in this country, and 4 people complaining was enough to trigger a penalty from the FCC. 4 complaints hardly defines a "community standard". Those are the battles that need to be fought, not Stern who blatantly corsses well beyond the line.

Grr. I don't recall hearing about that. Whatever happened to if you don't like it turn it off? Or should we just go back to the days when married TV couples sleep in seperate beds.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Gn2Dlnd

Isn't that what the kids call a webcast?

Actually it is what radio already is (everybody just uses the same encryption protocol and relies on the same third-party decryption devices).

That's why I'm not clear on how beaming it from a satellite gets around the rules that beaming it from a tall tower subjects you to.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think they're going with the subscription thing...must be 18 or older to subscribe, after all.

[Name]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I don't have a problem with the FCC putting certain limits on what can be said or done on publicly owned airwaves, my problem is that enforcement is inconsistent and the rules are frequently inane and contradictory.

I'm not particularly clear on why Sirius and the other one are exempt from FCC regulation. Yes, you have to pay to listen and special equipment is needed but they must still be broadcasting over segments of EM band licensed from the government (unlike cable, which circumvents the physically limited publicly-owned medium completely).

Could a traditional radio station avoid FCC sanction if they encrypted their signal and distributed decrypting equipment?

Its actually very similar to cable, as there is a lot of bandwidth within that on frequency that they shoot down, they can put a lot of channels on one frequency, so there is a lot less of a perceived scarcity of frequency band... snot much different then satellite TV, only they can probably fit a lot more channels on satellite radio then they can on satellite TV....

[AllyOops!]

One of my Christmas gifts was the full Sirius package- the car kit and boombox with the DVR type of thingie so I can rewind for some more Howard joy.

So yes, this Stern-lovin, low-brow filthy pig is as happy as a clam. A raunchy clam.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by AllyOfTheDolls

One of my Christmas gifts was the full Sirius package- the car kit and boombox with the DVR type of thingie so I can rewind for some more Howard joy.

So yes, this Stern-lovin, low-brow filthy pig is as happy as a clam. A raunchy clam.

Road trip in Allybells car! SHOTGUN!