Re: FCC (was: Re: clear channel buys amfm)

[Donna Halper <dlh@donnahalper.com>]

>Garrett wrote--
>I would say his LPFM proposal is quite an indication of how he feels on 
>the subject
>and quite a revolutionary move for a commissioner. From what I have 
>understood from
>FCC employees is that he is the driving force behind that proposal and the 
>reason
>it has been taken seriously. I myself don't agree with it but I think it 
>gives some
>indication on where he stands when it comes to consolidation.

Mr Kennard, with whom I have spoken several times, feels very ambivalent 
about LPFM-- he knows it is no magic answer, but he feels he must do 
something to return diversity and local programming to radio.  I don't 
think the LPFM proposal has a chance, however-- the NAB is determined to 
prevent it (that sound you hear is the late great John Shepard 3rd spinning 
in his grave-- he was one of the founders of the NAB, which in its 
formative years, stood up very strongly for the "little guy" and for the 
local and/or small market  programmer.  Now, it seems everything is about a 
small elite controlling massive amounts of stations, and the NAB doesn't do 
much advocating for the "little guy".  Further, various politicians (mostly 
Republicans-- sorry Dan B.) have told Mr Kennard that if he persists in 
advocating for a weakening of the Telecom Act of 1996, they will vote to 
disband the FCC.  This could all become a very interesting power struggle...