It's always refreshing to hear an FCC commissioner advise his own agency to keep their noses out of the media's business. In this case it was FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell advising the commission that "journalism especially does not need the government's help." He also added that "My job at this juncture, I believe, is to try to keep Washington out of your way as much as possible while you figure out what works." McDowell, speaking at the Virginia Assoc. of Broadcasters' Summer Convention, added that "Today's mix of promise and uncertainty leads me to think of this time as the adolescence of digital media." Our new favorite commissioner didn't leave it at that. He also touched on ownership restrictions. "The FCC has known since at least the time of its 2002 ownership review that the Internet would have a profound effect on the media landscape, yet for various reasons the agency has been unable to fully adapt its regulations to the new realities." He now hopes "that this time we will get it right." ...
On the concern that consolidation would grow if existing ownership restrictions are relaxed or eliminated, McDowell doesn't buy it. "To the contrary, recent history has illustrated that modernizing FCC regulations may be meaningless because traditional media owners now prefer to spend their time and resources on new, unregulated outlets rather than acquire any more of the heavily regulated ones." He advised Virginia broadcasters in attendance that comments on the notice of inquiry just issued in the media-ownership rules review "may be your best shot for making the case that the current restrictions need substantial amendment - and to detail precisely what kind of changes we should make." ...
No doubt McDowell was working the room but if he believes just half of what he spoke of, radio and television has a friend on their side. The problem with the FCC not being in tune with today's broadcaster is the lack of stability in recent years. Each time a new commissioner or chairman joins the agency, it's back to square one. Taking it one step further, maybe it's time to disband the FCC, keep the chairman and make him the lone arbiter over more specific rules and regulations...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1894] How come no one works on Labor Day?: Labor Day is established as a holiday for federal employees on the first Monday of September...
2.1917] Debuted on this date: Raggedy Ann is born 90 years ago today. Happy Birthday R.A...1942] The Dumont TV Network signs on, on flagship station WABD (channel 5) in New York...
3.1949] Gee it's great to be back home again: The last U.S. combat troops are called home from Korea with just 500 'advisers' left...1950] North Korea forces capture Seoul, Korea (what did you expect?)...
4.1971] Slacker: Rick Wise of the Phillies not only pitches a no-hitter against the Reds, he hits 2 home runs...
5.1971] Supes on: The Supreme Court overturns the draft evasion charges against Muhammad Ali by unanimous (8-0) vote...
6.1975] 'Happy Trails': Rod Serling dies after open-heart surgery at 50 (6/28). I met Serling at LAX in the early 70s and he told me about selling his rights to "The Twilight Zone" for $1 million. He was taping "Night Gallery" and we got into a conversation about radio, his training grounds. Several months later there was a NG episode about a disc jockey (Mickey Rooney) who sells his soul to the devil. I always wondered if our talk may have inspired Serling to write that episode...
7.1978] Supes rule: The Supreme Court orders the medical school at the University of California at Davis to admit a white man who argued he had been a victim of reverse discrimination...
8.1997] A bite to the finish: Mike Tyson takes a bite out of Evander Holyfield's ear and is disqualified during their heavyweight championship rematch...
9.2000] Back to Cuba: Elian Gonzalez returns to his native Cuba with his father 7 months after he was cast adrift in the Florida Straits on a journey to Florida...
10.2004] Ties renewed: The U.S. resumes direct diplomatic ties with Libya after a 24-year break with Daffy Khadafy...
Music Memories:
•1964] #1 on this date: "I Get Around" - Beach Boys (this was their 1st #1 hit. Their next one will be "Good Vibrations" in 1966 and then "Kokomo" in 1998)...1977] "Gonna Fly Now (from the movie 'Rocky')" - Bill Conti...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Former "AI" contestant Kellie Pickler (24), Gil ("Ally McBeal") Bellows (43), Mary Stuart Masterson (44), John Cusack (44), NFL Hall of Famer John Elway (50), Kathy Bates (62), John Byner (72) and Mel Brooks (84)...
Timeline Countdown: 6 days until July 4th, 15 days until the MLB All-Star game & 27 days until NFL training camps begin to open...
