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["clanSkeen" <sgian AT planetc.com>]

Gene writes:

> Seems to me the issue is the use of the public airwaves, which under our 
> laws, belong to the citizens and may be used as prescribed by the Federal 
> Communications Commission. Whether use of profanity or use for religious 
> or political purposes, there are rules that control. Seems to me that is 
> how such issues as this Sinclair production should be resolved.

Right Gene but there is a misconception that the airwaves "belong to the 
citizens".  They do not in any meaningful sense,  The FCC only regulates the 
broadcast spectrum in order to prevent service from interfering with each 
other.  This is done by assessing whether issuing a license to operate on a 
certain frequency in a certain mode with a certain power (wattage) is in the 
public interest.  That test is very loose.  A radio or television station 
holds their license and at the time of renewal they must accept public 
comment which the FCC evaluates.  That is, if enough people are pissed off, 
they can block the renewal of a license IF someone else is applying for that 
same frequency for a similar purpose.

The FCC monitors the content of broadcast material for decency ONLY and that 
only in response to complaints.  It does not and cannot interfere with the 
content of broadcasts because the nature of it is religious or political. 
Here we have many radio stations and at least one television station that is 
completely round the clock fundamentalist Christian.   Once the broadcast 
company (or individual) secures an FCC license to broadcast, they are as 
completely free to broadcast whatever they like much as you are allowed to 
say anything you want on a street corner, protected by free speech, subject 
only to the test of decency and of course that you are not engaging in 
limiting someone else's freedom by force or fraud ... which would be 
criminal at any rate.

As far as Sinclair preempting its affiliates to broadcast their production, 
affiliates sign agreements to that effect long before the fact.  It's 
business as it has always been.

James