FCC Commissioners “Ducking” Tough Questions
Two Federal Communications Commissioners are attempting to duck tough questions about the radical, anti-Democratic positions taken by key staffers at the agency.
At the first of two public stops in Charleston, S.C., Federal Communications Commissioners Michael J. Copps and Mignon Clyburn refused to take questions about the FCC’s controversial “Diversity Czar” Mark Lloyd, who along with FCC spokeswoman Jen Howard has been affiliated with a radical socialist organization known as “Free Press.”
“This forum is about broadband adoption and nothing else,” Clyburn said. “If you have any other issues, questions or concerns you can go to the FCC website and voice them there.”
So much for President Barack Obama’s commitment to open government, huh?
In spite of its name, “Free Press” supports the government regulation of traditional and new media – including talk radio and websites like this one. Its members – included Lloyd – have frequently voiced their support for Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez and his repression of free speech.
“Free Press” leaders have previously stated that their objective is the “brick-by-brick” removal of capitalism and the creation of a socialist state in America.
Not surprisingly, its head honcho is a taxpayer-funded professor from … wait for it … the University of Illinois system.
Obviously, those are positions that the FCC Commissioners don’t want to have to address – particularly Clyburn, who has a newspaper background.
Stay tuned, though, we’ve got one of our intrepid reporters on the ground in Charleston pressing for answers …
UPDATE: FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn just granted an interview to FITS’ correspondent Ashley Hester. We’ll have the details in Wednesday’s editions …
Comments
By shaggy on October 6th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
the hearing in Charleston today was a total f’ing joke.
By MissLiberty on October 6th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
The open hearing in Charleston was anything but open. Ms. Clyburn answered only three handpicked questions during the first half of the meeting. She never asked the questioners to stand so we had no idea who asked the softball questions or if they were just from her staff. In the second half, she took more questions, including one which asked how many SC residents actually had no broadband access soley because of a lack of availability in their area. Ms. Clyburn did not know the answer and passed it along to the gentleman from Home Telecom. He answered thoroughly and explained that 98% of the people in SC have access to broadband (due to availablity in their area) and only 2% do not. So for 2% of the people, we need a tax payer subsidized national broadband plan? Ms. Clyburn and Mr. Copps both looked as though they wished the question hadn’t been answered as honestly as it was.
By Earl Capps on October 6th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Just goes to show that even the best controlled affairs don’t always go as planned.
By southernmapart on October 6th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
This is a poor article on an issue of substance: whether the legislature should lease the state’s ETV broadband to private companies.
Not a single fact is offered up. The upchuck that the ““Free Press” leaders have previously stated that their objective is the “brick-by-brick” removal of capitalism…” is not documented with a source.
This piece of propaganda should have been published with the Friday Nite Frights.
By Art Vandelay on October 6th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
There are several new, fake non-profit advocacy groups that evolved out of MoveOn.org and Organizing for America. I’m sure there are others, but here are some. The ironically named FreePress.net is the main organization:
http://www.freepress.net/ http://www.freepress.org/ http://www.savetheinternet.com/ http://www.newpublicmedia.org/ http://www.savethenews.org/ http://www.stopbigmedia.com/
Their intent is to:
1) Propagate Obama’s agenda for controlling all media.
2) Crush dissenting viewpoints.
3) Push for anti-Democratic policies that place restrictions on media outlets (i.e. bloggers, talk radio, cable news stations).
4) Operate under the guise of “creating more diversity” in the media and opening up opportunities for women and minorities.
In short, their intent is censorship. Or at least censoring conservative viewpoints. Sleep well!
By Martha Washington on October 9th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Everyone is missing the point. The goal is to get all the mom and pop telephone/cable/internet companies out and big brother in. The rural communities mostly have access to dial up and cable and are working them just fine. For years the govt has been buying up stock in the phone banks and making their move to take over. Once they do, there will be no privacy. the rural folks have some ability to stay out of the grid for now. But if they dont get up and fight for their local rights, small companies and privacy, broadband will be everywhere and in everybody’s business. When they narrow the band to reduce our access to information, it will be acrss the board to everyone.