Something to do about non-coverage of Ron Paul

I know many of us were curious of any laws that FNC has violated and if there was any actions that the FCC could take to resolve these issues and concerns. I did contact the FCC via email in a professional and nice manner and asked my unanswered questions in a polite, mannerful way and they replied in a very timely manner I hope this helps you better understand, I particularly liked their last line mentioning of many complaints over the years with FNC and their slogan “Fair and Balanced” Here is their response to my questions…

There is no violation of the law in a network excluding one or more candidates from a televised candidate debate. It might demonstrate basic unfairness about candidate coverage, but there is no rule violation. Although the FCC licenses broadcast stations, we have virtually no control over the content of what is broadcast. That’s because the First Amendment guarantees broadcasters free speech to air pretty much whatever they want (short of obscenity or indecency). Further, the Communications Act, which established the FCC back in 1934, has a provision that specifically prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcast content. As a result, the FCC cannot tell stations and networks what to air or what not to air. They can include or exclude whomever they want from debates. The question then becomes whether those excluded are entitled to equal time. The equal time law generally requires stations giving air time to one candidate to give air time to opponents, as well. However, Congress has carved out several exceptions to that rule, including candidate appearances on newscasts, most interview programs, and in debates. Consequently, a station or network could have some candidates on in those formats but not all of their opponents. So if a station chooses not to cover - or even mention - one candidate on its news, it is entitled to do so. Similarly, it can exclude whatever candidates it wants from candidate debates. The equal time rule is largely aimed at paid political advertising, such that if one candidate purchases time on the air, his opponent is entitled to buy an equal amount of time.

Additionally, we have gotten many complaints over the years about Fox calling their news “fair and balanced,” but the FCC is without authority to tell a station or network how to typify or advertise its programming.

Sincerely,
Mark Berlin
Policy Division (political office)
Media Bureau

I don't think they're under the thumb of Murdoch and the others in NY and DC. For example, Ron Paul said that many Fox affiliates called trying to find out why he was excluded from the forum. I think they're just copying what they see.

If we do this, nicely, it may well produce results. Keep in mind that news people are hounded all the time by people wanting free publicity. Sometimes you get better results if you're running ads on their show or in their newspaper.

IMissLiberty