Media
Watchdog Files Legal Challenges with FCC to Pull Radio Licenses of WISN-AM and
WTMJ-AM; Study Shows Stations Gave
$1 Million in Free Airtime to Scott Walker Backers
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November 20, 2012
November 20, 2012
MILWAUKEE,
WI – A
national media watchdog announced today it has filed petitions with the Federal
Communications Commission – on behalf of citizens of the greater Milwaukee area – to deny
radio licenses to Clear Channel's WISN-AM and Journal Communications'
WTMJ-AM.
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These
legal challenges – unlike citizen petitions – can deny the stations' right to
hold licenses to broadcast to the greater community of Milwaukee, including Rep.
Paul Ryan's district.
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The FCC
must rule on the case by December 1. The
decision could have national implications for Talk Radio. The FCC legal
petitions can be found at: http://www.mediaactioncenter.net.
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The Media
Action Center (MAC) said radio and television station owners are licensed by the
FCC for the privilege of broadcasting to their local communities, much like
drivers are licensed by the state for the privilege of driving a car. Stations
must renew those licenses once every eight years, but the FCC must deny those
licenses should the station fail to "serve the public interest, convenience, and
necessity."
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MAC said
it conducted a comprehensive study in May/June of 2012 – during the Scott Walker
recall campaign – which clearly showed the two stations each gave supporters of
Gov. Walker and the GOP about 80 minutes of free airtime daily on their local
talk radio shows, while refusing any access to supporters of Mayor Tom Barrett
and Democrats whatsoever.
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In total,
the two stations subsidized the Walker campaign with an estimated $1 million
dollars in airtime. The study documents that WISN and WTMJ hosts and guests not
only exclusively promoted GOP candidates, but actively recruited volunteers for
GOP campaigns over the publicly-owned airwaves, while refusing to provide any
free airtime for the other side.
This, the
challenge asserts, amounts to private censorship, which violates the First
Amendment rights of those in the community who are denied access to the scarce
publicly owned airwaves during campaigns.
It further states the stations willfully have violated existing FCC rules
about comparable time, citing legal opinions from the Wisconsin Broadcasters'
Association.
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"Broadcast
stations have a unique duty to serve the entire public, especially during
campaigns," explains MAC director Sue Wilson. "When a radio station uses its
giant microphones to cheerlead for candidates of only one political party, no
matter which political party it may be, it violates the First Amendment rights
and public trust of the entire community.
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"The
behavior of WISN and WTMJ shows clear political intent, which violates FCC
rules, as well as a lack of character to hold a broadcasting license. The FCC
must not renew those licenses and should award them to new operators,"
Wilson
said.
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