Opinion

FCC must keep Clear Channel in check

by Paul Saleeba

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday proposed to Clear Channel Communications $755,000 for putting indecent material on the air. Normally I'm all for a blow to the media giant, but for indecency, and only $755,000? Clear Channel's reported net revenue for nine months ending Sept 30, 2003 was $6.64 billion. This reminds me of Al Capone's arrest and imprisonment for tax fraud -- the charges miss the larger picture.

Now what is interesting about this case is Clear Channel's call for the FCC to review the standards of decency in an industry-wide manner. Clear Channel has 30 days to appeal or pay the fine. An appeal might mean the FCC may drastically change its censorship of the radio.

For those unfamiliar with Clear Channel, just tune your radio to station, unless it is public radio like KUHF. Clear Channel either has a stake in it or owns it entirely. They also own billboards, a talent representation agency, theater venues and 24 television stations. Artists often complain Clear Channel owns so much of the market that they make it impossible for anything other than nationally recognized artists or hit makers to get coverage, while local artists struggle.

The Bush administration and Clear Channel have been very good to each other; Clear Channel benefits from the recent waves of deregulation of ownership, and has organized pro-war rallies around the nation to help push the war in Iraq.

Clear Channel's business practices have been very profitable too. But FCC rules state that while profit is all well and good the purpose for which Clear Channel is licensed must be used for the public good and to serve the local community, which is in direct odds with Clear Channel's practices.

Clear Channel provides play lists from which radio disc jockeys can select music. Of course, the selection consists almost entirely of either hits or songs likely to become hits, which are safe and proven as profitable. This ignores the local flavor and talent of the communities its stations are set up to serve and makes it difficult to impossible for local bands and artists to break into the top 100 to get airtime.

I applaud the FCC for even trying to fine Clear Channel and possibly open the door to less corporate control on the radio, but when will it bring them Clear Channel full compliance with the law?

Saleeba, an editorial writer for The Daily Cougar, can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu.