Is the Federal Communication Commission a corrupt organization actually run by the mass media industry that the FCC is supposed to – by law – control?
A Series on Media Corruption
https://zenith.news/fcc-corruption-and-the-great-freeze-of-1948/
By Richard J. Quitliano
Editorialist & NewsHawk
ZENITH NEWS®
Is the Federal Communication Commission a corrupt organization actually run by the mass media industry that the FCC is supposed to – by law – control?
WASHINGTON, DC (@ZENINEWS) — Did you ever wonder how six companies could come to own over 95% of mass media? It all begins with the “Great Freeze” of 1948 and like most stories of this sort there are two stories, the official narrative pushed by the MSM and the back story — the prolific corruption that pervades the FCC is no exception, and it all began in 1948.
The Story
After WWII people wanted a diversion, one bigger than was being provided by radio, and the FCC was “besieged” with requests for television licenses. At least that’s how it was explained by the execs at the FCC. In reality there were about 700 license requests. The FCC cited “interference” as the biggest roadblock to granting these requests — not an interference of the political sort, but that the existing frequencies would interfere with one another. A six-month stay was granted to sort things out — six months that would turn into four years, the excuse being the Korean War.
“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) froze the granting of new television licenses, on September 30, 1948. This did not affect those broadcasters that had already been authorized. The goal was to stem the tide of would-be broadcaster rushing in for licensure.”
“The FCC, at the time, was swamped with hundreds of requests for licensing. It was creating a problem for allocation and causing interference issues. The FCC wanted time to study the issues and work towards a better overall solution.”
“The freeze, originally set to last just six months, was extended when the Korean War began. Plus, the issues the FCC was trying to resolve were complicated and many. It ended up taking four years to end the freeze.”
“Seven hundred applications were on hold during the freeze, as the FCC debated over five issues in question: a standard for color television, reserving space for educational TV, the reduction of interference between channels, the creation of a national channel allocation scheme, and the opening up of more spectrum space.” 1
The Back Story
This was the “official narrative.”
The truth is the existing television channels didn’t want the competition, it infringed on the monopoly that they were enjoying. You have to remember these were the days before network affiliates, each channel was autonomous. 700 or so new channels would cut in on the limited viewership. 1948 preceded the mass proliferation of TV sets in America’s living rooms that didn’t occur until the late 1950s and early 60s.
So, as is usually the case, palms were greased at the FCC and the proliferation of licenses was put on hold for four years. This was just the beginning of the corruption in what has turned out to one of the most corrupt agencies in the US government — quite a statement in view of how corruption has become the stock in trade in Washington DC.
The focal point in the FCC corruption centered around Westinghouse Broadcasting’s lock on the Pittsburgh area. They owned the nation’s first radio station (KDKA Pittsburgh) and didn’t want any competition in the fledgling television market. The DuMont Network, which has stations in New York and Washington DC wanted an affiliate particular to Pittsburgh. Ironically, or not, the FCC implemented the Big Freeze just after granting a license to DuMont — one that would postpone their broadcasting for over four years.
“In the FCC’s original allocations the city had been assigned four VHF channels (channels 3, 6, 8 and 10). The new owned and operated station would transmit on channel 3. In addition, the surrounding areas around Pittsburgh (known as the tri-state area where portions of three states converge) were allocated one channel each – Johnstown (ch.13), Altoona (ch.9), Erie (ch.12), Youngstown (Ohio) (ch.13), Wheeling (West Virginia) (ch.12). The local owners of the Johnstown station were authorized to use channel 13 and would go on the air only nine months after WDTV. There was nothing above channel 13. UHF did not yet exist.”
“Just before the Pittsburgh station went on the air, the FCC instituted a “Freeze” on all additional television channels in the VHF band (channels 2-13). Some were beginning to interfere with each other. And it became woefully clear the 500 plus channels would not be enough. The Freeze began on September 30, 1948, well after the approval of the Pittsburgh station’s license and the building of the physical plant was underway. In fact, less than two months after the Freeze went into effect the station was transmitting a test pattern. The Freeze was intended to last around six months but due to the combination of complex problems to solve and the Korean War, ended up being kept in effect for almost four years.” 2
This was undoubtedly due to the influence that Westinghouse had in Washington.
“Westinghouse Electric Corporation was headquartered in Pittsburgh. They were already sponsoring national shows that were getting noticed. “Westinghouse Studio One” on CBS television was contributing to the Golden Age of Television with live dramas like “The Laughmaker” and “Twelve Angry Men.” While WDTV cleared Studio One in Pittsburgh, the company grew impatient to have control of a VHF channel in their home market.” 3
As corrupt as the Big Freeze was, it pales in comparison to Bill Clinton’s 1996 Telecommunications Act.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996
The Story
The “official narrative” surrounding the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is that it would revolutionize the communications industry by breaking up long-held monopolies and create an environment that would enhance the free flow of information by allowing the creation of new carriers and cable services. According to their own propaganda:
“The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has the potential to change the way we work, live, and learn. It will affect telephone service — local and long-distance, cable programming and other video services, broadcast services and services provided to schools. The Federal Communications Commission has a tremendous role to play in creating fair rules for this new era of competition. At this Internet site, we will provide information about the FCC’s role in implementing this new law, how you can get involved, and how these changes might impact you. This page will include information listing the proceedings the FCC will complete to open up local phone markets, increase competition in long-distance and other steps.” 4
As recent history confirms, this never happened. What the act did, in reality, is create a multi-headed hydra, all heads pushing the same narrative that the Mockingbird media created years before.
The Back Story
The fact is little has changed since 1996 when Clinton’s act was implemented. Instead of having one monopolistic entity controlling the flow of information there are now six pushing the same ubiquitous narrative. The breakup of the monopoly was illusory as far as reality is concerned. The telephone giant may have been broken up, but the act allowed for the consolidation of other media.
“News Corp, Disney, Viacom, Time Warner, CBS, and Comcast own 90% of the TV stations, radio stations, movies, magazines and newspapers that 277 million Americans rely on for news and entertainment. The consolidation of news and entertainment media companies gained attention in early 2015 when an infographic that depicts six media corporations’ chain of ownership went viral on social media.” 5
Given that this is under the purview of the FCC it makes them complicit in the illegal consolidation. The important factor is that the narrative presented by all six of these media entities is virtually identical. This is just part of a history of narrative control that goes back almost 40 years.
“Media consolidation has been on a fast march over the last 30 years. In 1983, 50 companies owned 90% of American media. Over that time, Congress and the FCC have largely deregulated the media industry. The number of television stations that one company can own jumped from seven to 12 in 1985. The FCC also stopped enforcing the Fairness Doctrine, it dropped requirements for a minimum amount of non-entertainment programming, and it lifted limits on the amount of advertising that could be broadcast in one hour. Those changes made it easier and more profitable for corporations to own more media properties.”
“Then, in 1996, President Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act, which led to the rapid consolidation of the radio industry because it lifted a 40-station ownership cap. A 2004 appeals court decision also struck down even more media ownership rules.” 6
The simple fact is that the FCC is controlled by the entities that it is tasked to control.
“The Federal Communications Commission sits at the heart of a bipartisan Washington web of institutional corruption that has for many years championed corporate interests, typically at public expense. Echoing industry, the FCC has ignored the growing evidence that wireless technologies pose serious health risks.”
“Industry controls the FCC through a soup-to-nuts stranglehold that extends from its well-placed campaign spending in Congress through its control of the FCC‘s Congressional oversight committees to its persistent agency lobbying. ‘If you‘re on a committee that regulates industry you‘ll be a major target for industry,’ said Twaun Samuel, chief of staff for Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Samuel several years ago helped write a bill aimed at slowing the revolving door. But with Congress getting its marching orders from industry, the bill never gained any traction.” 7
Since 1948 the FCC has been nothing more than a cesspool of corruption, a patsy for the industry it’s supposed to control. Obama’s “net neutrality act” is just another example of this corruption and given the amount of money that the MSM contributes to elected officials it doesn’t look like anybody is in any hurry to change things.