[BC] Newton Minnow

[Phil Alexander]

On 25 Dec 2005 at 9:07, Barry Mishkind wrote:

> At 07:21 AM 12/25/05, seaberg1 at juno.com wrote
> >VAST WASTELAND as quoted by former FCC commissioner
> >like some 30 years ago seems to still be appropriate today.
> 
>          ... Newton Minnow actually wrote
>          a letter to one of the news magazines
>          a couple of years ago, and noted that
>          broadcasters have consistently failed
>          to do any meaningful public service
>          at election time - the US being one
>          of only three nations that allowed
>          paid political ads....... 

IMHO it was Minnow who began the decline and fall of 
engineering at the FCC by diverting attention and resources 
to programming and other issues not historically considered 
there.

Minnow also continued the caving to politico demanding 
softening of allocation regulations that began in the late 
'40's and plagues us today. ISTR that the NPRM that gave 
us "mileage standards" for FM started under Minnow's regime.

Minnow probably changed broadcasting more with unintended 
consequences of his actions that with the "Vast Wasteland"
speech and his initiatives for TV where the "syndication
hour" and "kiddie programming" regulations are the main
result today.


Phil Alexander, CSRE, AMD
Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology 
(a Div. of Advanced Parts Corporation) 
Ph. (317) 335-2065   FAX (317) 335-9037





-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.7/214 - Release Date: 12/23/05