not web related specifically, but certainly pertinent
in how US interests will play out. (toomey rocks as
well)
This article can be found on the web at
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i 030113&s=toomey
Empire of the Air
by JENNY TOOMEY
[from the January 13, 2003 issue]
For too long, musicians have had too little voice in
the manufacture, distribution and promotion of their
music and too little means to extract fair support and
compensation for their work. The Future of Music
Coalition was formed in June 2000 as a not-for-profit
think tank to tackle this problem, advocating new
business models, technologies and policies that would
advance the cause of both musicians and citizens. Much
of the work the FMC has done in the past two years has
focused on documenting the structures of imbalance and
inequity that impede the development of an American
musicians' middle class, and translating
legislative-speak into language that musicians and
citizens can understand. Our most challenging work,
however, and the project of which we are most proud,
is our analysis of the effects of radio deregulation
on musicians and citizens since the passage of the
1996 Telecommunications Act.
Radio is a public resource managed on citizens' behalf
by the federal government. This was established in
1934 through the passage of the Communications Act,
which created a regulatory body, the Federal
Communications Commission, and laid the ground rules
for the regulation of radio. The act also determined
that the spectrum would be managed according to a
"trusteeship" model. Broadcasters received fixed-term,
renewable licenses that gave them exclusive use of a
slice of the spectrum for free. In exchange, they were
required to serve the "public interest, convenience
and necessity." Though they laid their trust in the
mechanics of the marketplace, legislators did not turn
the entire spectrum over to commercial broadcasters.
The 1934 act included some key provisions that were
designed to foster localism and encourage diversity in
programming.
Although changes were made to limits on ownership and
FCC regulatory control in years hence, the
Communications Act of 1934 remained essentially intact
until it was thoroughly overhauled in 1996 with the
passage of the Telecommunications Act. But even before
President Clinton signed the act into law in February
1996, numerous predictions were made regarding its
effect on the radio industry:
FCC regulations
-
Type: discussion
Comments
Bloody right!
Time to take back what is ours…..
marc
"Given that knowledge, we hope artists will join with
other activists and work to restore radio as a public
resource for all people".
> not web related specifically, but certainly pertinent
> in how US interests will play out. (toomey rocks as
> well)
> This article can be found on the web at
> http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i 030113&s=toomey
> Empire of the Air
>
> by JENNY TOOMEY
>
> [from the January 13, 2003 issue]
>
> For too long, musicians have had too little voice in
> the manufacture, distribution and promotion of their
> music and too little means to extract fair support and
> compensation for their work. The Future of Music
> Coalition was formed in June 2000 as a not-for-profit
> think tank to tackle this problem, advocating new
> business models, technologies and policies that would
> advance the cause of both musicians and citizens. Much
> of the work the FMC has done in the past two years has
> focused on documenting the structures of imbalance and
> inequity that impede the development of an American
> musicians' middle class, and translating
> legislative-speak into language that musicians and
> citizens can understand. Our most challenging work,
> however, and the project of which we are most proud,
> is our analysis of the effects of radio deregulation
> on musicians and citizens since the passage of the
> 1996 Telecommunications Act.
>
> Radio is a public resource managed on citizens' behalf
> by the federal government. This was established in
> 1934 through the passage of the Communications Act,
> which created a regulatory body, the Federal
> Communications Commission, and laid the ground rules
> for the regulation of radio. The act also determined
> that the spectrum would be managed according to a
> "trusteeship" model. Broadcasters received fixed-term,
> renewable licenses that gave them exclusive use of a
> slice of the spectrum for free. In exchange, they were
> required to serve the "public interest, convenience
> and necessity." Though they laid their trust in the
> mechanics of the marketplace, legislators did not turn
> the entire spectrum over to commercial broadcasters.
> The 1934 act included some key provisions that were
> designed to foster localism and encourage diversity in
> programming.
>
> Although changes were made to limits on ownership and
> FCC regulatory control in years hence, the
> Communications Act of 1934 remained essentially intact
> until it was thoroughly overhauled in 1996 with the
> passage of the Telecommunications Act. But even before
> President Clinton signed the act into law in February
> 1996, numerous predictions were made regarding its
> effect on the radio industry:
>
>