Pushback sought against talk radio censorship

The chief of a coalition set up to fight attacks on America's First Amendment rights has issued a warning that Tuesday will be a pivotal point in the history of free speech, as the Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for Julius Genachowski.

President Barack Obama's longtime pal is his pick to be chief of the Federal Communications Commission, but is causing nightmares among the U.S. talk radio industry members because of his views

Syndicated talk radio host Roger Hedgecock of San Diego, who was picked by members of the American Radio Free Speech Foundation to be the chief of its Don't Touch My Dial campaign, said censorship, racial quotas for radio stations, and other new demands from the government are inevitable if Genachowski is confirmed.

The foundation was set up by Brad O'Leary, author of the new book, "Shut Up, America! The End of Free Speech," and Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of WND, following Obama's election and his choice of administrators started including those who favor the concept of the now-outdated "Fairness Doctrine," through which the government regulated speech on radio.

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Hedgecock warned that Tuesday will be "monumental" for the "future of the First Amendment."

"If you value your First Amendment rights, America's free airwaves, uninhibited talk radio, and a free Internet – and most importantly, if you OPPOSE CENSORSHIP in all its forms – then you must act now by calling [members of the Senate] and tell them to VOTE NO for Julius Genachowski as FCC chairman," Hedgecock said.

Genachowski clerked for Supreme Court Justice David Souter and was chief counsel to FCC chairman Reed Hundt during the Clinton administration. He also founded a "green" bank.

It's time to put up or shut up, America. Literally. Get the book that shows how to fight the assault on your freedom of speech!

Hedgecock said there are several reasons he's worried:

1. "Genachowski will CENSOR talk radio hosts."
   
   "Genachowski's top priority will be to establish strict 'localism' requirements on broadcasters," Hedgecock said. "Part of this plan is for the FCC to establish local community advisory boards (better named 'commissar committees') in towns and cities across the United States. These boards would be packed with left-leaning activists and ACORN-type groups, and they would monitor the airwaves and report back to the FCC as to whether or not radio stations and broadcasts were serving the local public interest. Any radio station or broadcast that doesn't fit the bill could be subject to fines, or even having their broadcast license revoked.
   
   "This, of course, isn't about serving the local community – this is about empowering left-wing activist to shut down conservative talk radio."
   
   
2. "Genachowski will CENSOR and REGULATE Internet speech."
   
   "Genachowski is an unabashed proponent of so-called 'Net neutrality' regulations. These regulations would give the FCC the power to tell Internet operators what online communications they must provide. In essence, this massive expansion of FCC power would amount to a 'Fairness Doctrine' for the Internet. It would trample the First Amendment rights of private companies and make the FCC 'Editor in Chief' when it comes to online communications," he said.
   
   
3. "Genachowski will force RACIAL QUOTAS on broadcast companies."
   
   "One of the reasons President Obama picked Genachowski to head the FCC is to complete the president's mission to bring 'diversity' to the broadcast industry. On May 7 of this year, Obama's interim FCC Chairman Michael Copps went so far as to say that the current racial and gender makeup of broadcast corporations was responsible for minorities being 'stereotyped and caricatured' in today’s society," Hedgecock said.
   
   "That same day, Diversity Committee Chairman (and Fairness Doctrine supporter) Henry Rivera stated that the FCC would 'move into a race-based rulemaking procedure' should his committee determine that there are not enough women or minorities in high-level positions within broadcast corporations. Just what is a 'race-based rulemaking procedure?' … If Rivera and Genachowski think there aren't enough minorities occupying top-level positions in broadcast companies – they'll force those companies to hire and fire until they get the right 'racial and gender mix.'"

According to Hedgecock's warning, the senators who are on the committee include:

• Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) (Chairman): (202) 224-6472
  
• Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) (Ranking Member): (202) 224-5922
  
• Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine): (202) 224-5344
  
• Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.): (202) 224-6244
  
• Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.): (202) 224-6121
  
• Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.): (202) 224-2321
  
• Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.): (202) 224- 6253
  
• Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA): (202) 224-3643
  
• Sen. David Vitter (R-La.): (202) 224-4623
  
• Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.): (202) 224-6521
  
• Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.): (202) 224-3041
  
• Sen. Mike Johannas (R-Neb.): (202) 224-4224
  
• Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii): (202) 224-3934
  
• Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.): (202) 224-2742
  
• Sen. Bryon L. Dorgan (D-N.D.): (202) 224-2551
  
• Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.): (202) 224-3553
  
• Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.): (202) 224-6551
  
• Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.): (202) 224-3441
  
• Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.): (202) 224-3224
  
• Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ariz.): (202) 224-2353
  
• Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.): (202) 224-6154
  
• Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.): (202) 224-3244
  
• Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.): (202) 224-6621
  
• Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.): (202) 224-2023
  
• Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska): (202) 224-3004

"America is at a crucial crossroads," Hedgecock said. "Our First Amendment rights are under attack on every front – from the Fairness Doctrine, to Net neutrality, to diversity and localism mandates for radio broadcasters. Our actions on these critical issues over the coming months will seal our fate for a long, long time to come."

Other members of the Don't Touch My Dial coalition include: Lars Larson, Rusty Humphries, Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, Steve Gill, Joyce Kaufman and Steve Malzberg.

The so-called "Fairness Doctrine" at issue now in the U.S. was established in 1949 by the FCC to require broadcasters to provide "fair" programming, essentially demanding the broadcast of opposing views.

But the Supreme Court in 1969 ruled that while the policy did not violate a broadcaster's First Amendment rights, if the doctrine ever began to restrain free speech, its constitutionality should be reviewed. In 1974, the court said the doctrine "dampens the vigor and limits the variety of public debate."

Ten years later, the court found the rationale that opposing viewpoints should be required was flawed, and in 1987 the plan was abolished.

Also of concern to the talk radio hosts and producers was a recent decision by Clear Channel, the nation's largest owner of radio stations, to mandate the creation of local advisory boards at all of its properties. The move was seen as pre-emptive as the industry anticipates an FCC stacked with Obama appointees will soon require stations to answer to panels of community activists.

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