FCC Commissioner Michael Copps jumped into the Sinclair imbroglio yesterday, calling the broadcaster’s decision to air an anti-Kerry documentary an “abuse of the public trust,” and decrying the power of media conglomerates.
Casual observers of this teapot tempest may be forgiven for thinking of the FCC as a white knight here, defending robust debate of the issues. In truth, the FCC’s own pot is more than a little black. Case in point: thanks to the FCC, presidential debates were, in effect, banned before 1976. This is because the Commission interpreted the “equal time” rule so as to forbid TV coverage of debates that didn’t include all candidates. Given that there are typically dozens of nutcases running for president, that made meaningful debates impossible.
Congress legislation a temporary suspension of this rule in 1960, but continued in effect during the 1964. 1968, and 1972 campaigns, ensuring that Americans were deprived of seeing the candidates debate head-to-head during those years. Only in 1975 did the FCC change its views, allowing debates to be covered as “bona fide news events,” even if all candidates were not invited, as long as broadcasters were not sponsoring the debates. The next year, President Ford debates Jimmy Carter in the first presidential debate since 1960. Debates have been held in every election since. (In 1983, the FCC eliminated the no-broadcaster sponsorship rule.)
Just one of many ways in which the FCC has hindered–rather than fostered–public discussion of issues. Just something to think about as you sit down tonight to watch the final Bush-Kerry debate. Its a privilege that for 16 years Americans did not have, thanks to FCC regulation.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.
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