The Old FCC Slams The New FCC…

Monday, August, 11, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

So much for the FCC Alumni Association of former commissioners.  The Old FCC consisting of former FCC chairmen Newton (”TV’s a vast wasteland”) Minnow, Mark Fowler and former commissioner James Quello have filed a brief with the Supreme Court asking the Supes to strip the FCC of its power to regulate indecency entirely, according to Broadcasting Cable.  They claim that the current FCC “is on a Victorian crusade” that hurts broadcasters, viewers and the Constitution…

While they didn’t cite any specific examples of the “Victorian crusade” they were specific in their charges saying “it is time for the Court to bring its views of the electronic media into alignment with contemporary technological and social reality.”  Former commissioner and acting chairman James Quello cited the predictions of a political scientist back in the early ’80s that called the Supreme Court’s 1978 Pacifica decision a legal time bomb that exploded into radical censorship…

While the major networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) will champion this brief, First Amendment attorney John Crigler takes a different view - “I think it is an incredible statement from FCC chairmen who have been some of the architects of the indecency policy and who are now saying that this is out of control.  The enhanced indecency standard was created under Mark Fowler and here he is saying, boy, this train is way off the tracks.”  Look for the current FCC to comment on the brief today…

10 Timeline Memories:  

1. 1909] …—…: The SOS distress signal  is used for the first time by the American ship, the Arapahoe, off Cape Hatteras (NC)…
2. 1934] The Rock: Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, receives federal prisoners for the 1st time. Get ready for the ‘Birdman‘, mates.  The last time we were in San Francisco we visited The Rock.  It’s a trip worth taking…
3. 1965] Watts explodes: 34 are killed and more than 1,000 injured during rioting in Watts…
4. 1972] “D-I-V-O-R-C-E”: Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley  file for divorce. They married in May of ‘67…
5. 1984] Not so funny to the Russians: Ronald Reagan jokes: “today we have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”…
6. 1992] Malled: The Mall of America, the biggest shopping mall in the country opens in Bloomington (MN)…
7. 1998] Greasing the palm: British Petroleum (a.k.a. ‘Bippy’) purchases Amoco for $49 billion in the biggest foreign takeover of a U.S. company…
8. 2000] Pat throws his hat: Pat Buchanan wins the Reform Party presidential nomination in a victory bitterly disputed by party founder Ross Perot’s supporters…
9. 2002] Chapter 11: U.S. Airways  files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection…
10. 2006] “Happy Trails”: Former talk/variety show host Mike Douglas  dies on his 81st birthday. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990 but was considered cancer-free when he dies from unknown causes…

Music Memories:

• 1956] Released on this date: 1956] “Don’t Be Cruel“ - Elvis Presley…1962] “Surfin’ Safari“ - Beach Boys…1962] “Green Onions“ - Booker T and MG’s…1968] “Hey Jude“ - Beatles. The first Beatles release on Apple… 1973] “Free Ride“ - Edgar Winter Group…
  1964] Number One on this date: “Everybody Loves Somebody“ - Dean Martin…1974] “The Night Chicago Died“ - Paper Lace…1981] “Endless Love“ - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie…
  1966] Farewell Tour: The Beatles begin their final tour of America in Chicago. At a press conference at O’Hare, John Lennon apologizes for his statements comparing the Beatles with Jesus Christ…
  1969] Meet the J5: Diana Ross invites 350 guests to the Daisy Club in Beverly Hills to unveil her new discovery: The Jackson Five…

Commentary:

We lost two very talented people over the weekend with the deaths of comedian Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes…

Mac, 50, was just reaching his prime in comedy when he passed away Saturday morning from complications relating to pneumonia and what can you say about Isaac Hayes?  He was an Oscar-winning soul singer who was one of the dominant black artists of the ’70s.  Hayes was also a disc jockey, musician, songwriter (”Soul Man”, “Hold On! I’m Comin”, “Shaft”), producer, did commercial and “South Park” voice-overs and acted.  Hayes collapsed and died at 65 on Sunday and was found next to his running treadmill…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“: Joe Rogan (41), Singer Joe Jackson (54), Hulk Hogan (55), Steve Wozniak (58), Eric Carmen (59), Kenny Gamble (65) and Arlene Dahl (80)…Timeline Countdown: 21 days until Labor Day and 24 days until the NFL opener (Washington @ NYG)…

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