From today’s Washington Post comes news that the Feds have decided that they know whats best for Americans, yet again:
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin yesterday said allowing consumers to buy cable channels individually, rather than in packages, might not be more expensive and would help protect children from indecent and violent programs.
Martin’s comments were a warning to satellite and cable providers that if they fail to promote family-friendly viewing, Congress could consider imposing decency standards such as those that apply to over-the-air network broadcasts.
Well, I will give the FCC credit. At least they are being honest about what the true motivation for the a la carte proposals that have been floating around Washington recently actually is. It has nothing to do with empowering consumers and everything to do with catering to the religious right and their crusade against so-called indecency.
“For the last three years, I have . . . been urging the cable and satellite industry to give parents more of the tools they need. Thus far, there has been too little response,” Martin said at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing that included testimony by entertainment executives and anti-indecency groups.
“If cable and satellite operators continue to refuse to offer parents more tools such as family-friendly programming packages, basic indecency and profanity restrictions may be a viable alternative that should also be considered,” he said. He also said he would prefer voluntary action by the industry.
Whatever happened to the off button or the remote control ? If you don’t like what’s on television, turn it off or change the channel, don’t use the power of the state to control what everyone else watches.
More importantly, though, why is the Federal Government concerning itself with what is on cable and satellite television to begin with ? The FCC’s regulatory authority over broadcast television and radio has been justified based on the mythical idea that the airwaves are a “public resource” that must be regulated in the public interest. No such justification can be applied to either cable or satellite television, or radio, but yet the FCC appears on the verge of trying to extend its regulatory authority into these areas as well.
Linked with Don Surber and Basil’s Blog and Stuck On Stupid
