Comments on: Abolish the FCC? You're crazy

Readers respond to Declan McCullagh's argument that the agency has become irrelevant.

The FCC has too much power.

I agree that the FCC has way too much power. I don't know that it should be totally abolished as it could serve some useful purpose, but it wouldn't need to be totally revamped. I think that it is a waste of tax payers dollars however for the FCC to determine what I should and shouldn't listen to or watch. This is not what the FCC was set up to do.

[edge770]

How about an ICANN approach?

Perhaps an international body similar to ICANN can divy up frequencies for use. I am a technologist and involved in Emergency Management and know full well the absolute mess going on in radio frequency allocation. The Nextel frequency swap is a caper in and of itself. And don't get me started on the hunger by cell phone providers and television broadcasting companies for 3/4G and HDTV. Somehow there has to be a way of using the frequencies more effectively. As for "censoring" content, there's v-chips, 500 channels and the off switch. The entire broadcast industry (music, movies and tv/radio) need more of a kick in the pants with quality, not use of bad words.

FCC

With the hubbub regarding the FCC and its crack-down on "indecency" over the airwaves many writers, including those from your service, also refer to organizations such as the "Moral Majority." Almost suggesting a vast right wing conspiracy! Why has everyone in the media et. al. forgotten about the PMRC of the eighties. Led by--Democrat liberals??? What's the difference? Isn't there more of a similarity between the PMRC and the current FCC crack-down??? Ask Tipper (PMRC)Gore!!!!!!

[CBTaters]

About the FCC

Dear Mr McMullagh,
I am a ham operator my self and have been for many years. We have spectrum that is reserved for our purpose. Me follow the guide lines of Part 97 for the rules and regulations of the FCC.
updated in January od 2004. Each and every Amateur has to follow these rules and 98% do so.
He glad go on call on emergency nature free od charge with our own equipment etc. So to abolishing the FCC woulf give free reign to use and freq. you desire with out refard to whom its assigned.
Larry M Lord

[dmm]

Applause for the FCC

No offense, but many criticisms being leveled about the FCC and censorship are idiotic. Consider:
1) How is a V-chip supposed to help when a woman bares her breast during the Superbowl? How is a parent supposed to know that something like that would happen? Without censorship, you can't tell people, "Just change the channel" because there is no way to know what might come on all of a sudden. Censorship gives MORE freedom, not less, because otherwise our choices are limited to either a) taking chances with polluting our minds with filth that comes up randomly with no warning, or b) not watching any TV at all.
2) There are no V-chips in radios. At least not that I've ever heard of. So if you want to listen to porn, you have the freedom to a) buy a porn tape or CD, or b) get some sort of satellite radio with a porn channel. But don't take away my right to listen to the radio and to let my kids listen to the radio without being exposed to garbage. That is taking away my freedom.
3) Since I've mentioned V-chips twice, let me say this: the one in my TV doesn't work. It has a nice setup screen that pretends like it will work, but in fact it doesn't block anything. Probably the signal standard has changed. So, again, should I have to run out and buy a brand new TV just to block the garbage that some people want to see? What about MY freedom? If they want porn, there are lots of places to get it. Does it have to be ALSO over the public airwaves and the common cable channels? Are they really interested in freedom, or is there some baser agenda at work here?

I applaud the recent decisions of the FCC with regard to Jackson and Stern. Those people knew the rules and broke them. They knew that there are legal outlets for their kind of garbage, and they chose instead to illegally pollute the public airwaves. In penalizing them, the FCC was protecting my freedom. Way to go!

[Raife]

'We' all know, ...He's Right

I most HEARTILY AGREE with 'Der Kommerad's comments. "Freedom" clearly means: being 'protected' by the least permissive standards available.

True "Freedom" means: "freedom" FROM 'disquieting-views'.

True "Freedom" means: "freedom" FROM 'personally' being offended by the beliefs and/or actions of others.

True "Freedom" means: allowing others to deal with 'reality', for us, ...and being completely sheltered from anything that the most 'conservative' elements in our society might find 'objectionable'.

And, most of all TRUE "FREEDOM" means: "freedom" FROM the need to worry, or think, about the possibility that those 'in power' might not be the brightest, or the best, judge of what 'we' want to think, ...or experience.

That's why our "Founding-Fathers" created an ALL-POWERFUL TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT, which is run by the MINORITY. And, which was specifically-designed to ERADICATE PERSONAL-RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, and CHOICES. They knew that this was the only way to PROTECT the ALL-IMPORTANT 'STATUS-QUO' and thereby create a 'Utopian Society' which would, "...Last A Thousand Years".

But, someday, all RIGHT-THINKING PEOPLE will eventually have the pleasure of seeing "...A FINAL SOLUTION", to those that question authority, or demand the 'RIGHT' to 'CHOOSE FOR THEMSELVES'.

Unless, of course, ...Freedom Truly Prevails. And, the FCC stops trying to undermine BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL-RIGHTS, by 'illegally exercising authority' that is completely outside their purview, and, also ceases their BLATANT-POLICIES of catering to the wishes of 'Big-Money Media-Interests', ...to the direct detriment of the American-People.