August 12, 2003
The Our Democracy, Our Airwaves Act:
Senators John McCain [R-Ariz.], Russell Feingold [D-Wisc.] and Richard Durbin [D-Ill.] will soon introduce a bill that would require television and radio stations to provide voters with more and better information about candidates and issues at election time.
The American people own the airwaves. But current law gives broadcasters free and exclusive rights to use our airwaves. In return they're supposed to serve the public interest. Instead, they’re profiteering on our democracy. This legislation will help to reduce the demand for money in politics and help voters get more and better information about candidates and issues.
The bill requires television and radio stations to air at least two hours per week of candidate issue discussion in the period before elections. It also enables qualifying candidates to air a limited number of free radio and television ads without having to raise huge amounts of money from wealthy contributors and special interests. And it close loopholes in a 30 year old law that is supposed to prevent stations from gouging candidates on advertising rates.
During the 2002 election campaign, local television stations took in more than $1 billion from advertisements placed by candidates, political parties and issue groups. These same stations provided minimal coverage of the campaign issues. Basically, current law allows the broadcast industry to auction off the right to "free speech" to the highest bidder before elections. As a result, only wealthy people or those with access to special interest money can afford to run for office.
What makes this problem even more disturbing is that the law allows broadcasters to auction off access to something they don't even own: the public airwaves! In return for a pledge to serve the "public interest," broadcasters are given free and exclusive use of the airwaves. But instead of serving the interests of the public, they are profiteering on the democratic process. The airwaves belong to the American people, not the broadcast industry. They should be used to invigorate and sustain our democracy.
In 2002, television stations took in more than $1 billion from the sale of political ads. They’re auctioning off the right to "free speech" before elections to the highest bidder! The result is that only wealthy people or those with access to special interest money can afford to run for office.
It's time Congress acted to strengthen our democracy by passing legislation that requires broadcasters to play a more constructive role in our elections. You can be sure that the broadcast industry will dispatch an army of high-priced Washington lobbyists to pressure Senators to preserve the windfall profits they make from democracy. The Our Democracy, Our Airwaves Coalition is mobilizing grassroots support for this bill now. Your Senators need to hear from you!
The above is a compilation of information from the voice4change legislative actions center. Go there to send an email to your legislator.
Comments now powered by HaloScan. Click here to read this entry's comments (if any), or to post one of your own.
Old Comments (0)