June 1, 2009
Personal note:
We all have been concerned about the impact that television and radio have
upon our children and families.
There are some new appointments about to be made to the FCC - Federal Communications
Commission.
I urge you to take a moment, read the short summation of the concern below,
and contact Senator Mitch McConnell [R-KY].
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FCC appointments critical to preserving decency on the radio, TV
Please contact Senator Mitch McConnell!
Appointments to the five-member Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are
very important to all of us who want to keep prime-time TV and radio safe
for our families.
Congress has charged the FCC with the responsibility of enforcing broadcast
decency law, which requires that public airwaves be kept free of content inappropriate
for children between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
Under former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, the FCC took an unprecedented stand
for families by vigorously enforcing existing broadcast decency laws. A very
recent Supreme Court decision confirmed the FCC's authority to penalize even
"fleeting" instances of inappropriate language during prime-time
viewing hours.
Regulation of decency may soon cease to be a priority for the FCC - if the
three existing vacancies are filled by persons who do not share our concern
for keeping the public airwaves family-friendly.
Already, President Obama has announced Julius Genachowski as his pick for
Chairman of the FCC. We know very little about his position on broadcast decency,
but have no reason to believe that he was chosen for his family-friendly views.
Thanks to the presence of staunchly pro-decency, pro-family Commissioner
Michael Copps, who is a Democrat, pro-family forces could still maintain a
majority on the FCC if the two Republican vacancies are filled with persons
who have a commitment to enforcing decency law.
The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" reports that Senate
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is poised to appoint to the two Republican
vacancies current FCC Commissioner Rob McDowell, who has a dismal record on
decency issues, and former Commerce Department official Meredith Attwell Baker,
who has no track record on decency issues.
Please click here to contact Senator McConnell
http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm
and ask that he make an unwavering commitment to upholding broadcast decency
law his highest priority in appointing persons to the FCC Republican vacancies.
It is reported that Senator McConnell could announce those appointments as
early as today or tomorrow. Please take the time to contact him today.
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American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph: 231-924-4050
www.americandecency.org
