Does the FCC's failure to fine Limbaugh represent regulatory capture?

[KharmaTrain]

24. The FCC Doesn't Regulate Content...

It's prime purpose is to be the traffic cop of the finite broadcast spectrum. Courts have ruled against FCC's attempts to use content as a criteria to issue licenses...and a good thing. While obscenity has been "defined" into 7 dirty words no station has ever lost its license and most fines have been beaten on court appeals...thus the FCC's record in such manners was poor to start with.

When you get the government in the role of determining what's worthy content or not then who determines? If its a rushpublican in charge and they find Randi Rhodes offensive, should she be barred for her political beliefs or if there's a "national emergency" should the government have the power to censor all content that they feel is a "national threat" or "offensive".

It was the marketplace that allowed rushbo to flourish, along with deregulation....and that's what will take him down. The boycott of his advertisers is a first good step and even this cynic is seeing some progress. Push for reregulation of the broadcast spectrum to break up the large corporate hold and bring in more local ownership which leads to a diversity of voices. Expecting the FCC to do something is wasting your time...they're one of the most politicized and inept government agencies...