Blogcritics: Comments on Michael Powell of the FCC

Comment by Eric Olsen

Fri, 30 May 2003 18:46:28 EDT

Excellent job, P

Comment by Phillip Winn

Fri, 30 May 2003 16:59:56 EDT

Thanks, Steve! I had filed a very brief comment quite a while ago, but I did file this piece sans opening paragraph just now, too. I'll try to make time to listen to the full interview this weekend, I just caught about three or four minutes of it this morning. Michael Powell sounds like someone who honestly believes he is doing the right thing, but is sincerely mistaken. The worst kind. :(

Comment by Steve Rhodes

Fri, 30 May 2003 16:01:35 EDT

You should file that as a comment with the FCC. They are taking comments through 5 pm ET today and even after that this link will also send it to your Reps. (next stop for this is congress - I'm not sure legislation overturning the rules will pass the house and Bush might veto anything). You can listen to the full Powell interview.

Comment by Phillip Winn

Fri, 30 May 2003 13:17:24 EDT

Of course, a more ardent libertarian might argue that the FCC shouldn't have monopoly powers to begin with, and then there would be no problems, but I see a couple of problems with that. One is that there is then no restraint at all on the power of those with money. They buy the most powerful transmitters and transmit over the top of everybody else. The other is that we didn't used to have an FCC, and the American people asked President Hoover for one to be created to counter the chaos that ruled radio at the time. I should read Peter Huber's book to see if he addresses those issues.