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SmartVoter22

(639 posts)
12. Congress must expand FCC regulation of cable 'news' op-eds
Mon Jan 11, 2021, 10:01 AM
Jan 2021

We have let the First Amendment get raped by this one 'loophole' long enough.

What FoxNews has done over the last four years, has to have violated any number of FCC broadcast regulations, that are currently on the books. We can regulate cable news' abuse of what they call facts and what is scripted fiction.

Everyone must understand that cable is; a paid subscription entertainment service only. It is not under any 'press' regulations that apply to actual, tangible, validated news (real validated news being; printed newspapers/magazines or over-the-air free broadcast TV).
Congress can re-define the FCC classification that and significantly reduce the treasonish, insurrectionish, opinion-esque crap the right winger think is actual factual news. Cable needs an oversight, as it is the main cause of misinformation being spread. Most of what is seen, is simple opinions, but we are not told that fact. A nice little warning label might be the FCC's best option.

The new 117th Congress can require any media, including paid cable, to post a 'personal opinion' notice on any program that would never be in legitimate printed and validated news sources. Adding a requirement to paid subscription services; cable tv, Sirius radio, social media would all be required to have a large notice while an opinion is being broadcast. Not unlike a cigarette cancer warning on a package.

Once America keeps seeing, "THIS IS A PERSONAL OPINION" banner on almost 90% of all those broadcasts, they will start asking....OK what is not an opinion? What is an actual fact? Currently, FoxNews can say anything like a sitcom character would in a fictional episode.
FoxNews is doing something, we can easily make so difficult, so 'bad for business' that they stop this insidious practice of deception.

Congress could also simply require anything that uses the word 'news' to follow the print rules under the FCC. The word 'fire' is regulated in theaters...

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