The Golden Zapple-Progressives Hope Obscure Doctrine Can Rein in Pro-Scott Walker Talk Radio

Sue Wilson, the organizer of an effort to have the Federal Communications Commission force Milwaukee Conservative talk radio hosts give as much time to pro-Barrett messaging as they do to pro-Walker messaging, has invited me to write about the effort. I am happy to do so.

Why me?  Well I’m guessing it’s because on the issue of conservative talk radio, Sue and I are something of dueling documentarians.  In 2009, Sue produced a documentary called Broadcast Blues (available for purchase for just $14.95). I haven’t seen it ($14.95?!?) but according to Sue’s description, it’s about how “Rush Limbaugh incites violence, and Hate Radio rules. Media Policy is killing people in this country. Literally. And it is killing our democracy, too.”  In 2012 I produced a documentary called Liberty or Lies (available absolutely free) (Wait…so the Progressive is charging $14.95 and the Conservative is giving it away?  Go figure.) It’s about how Milwaukee Conservative talk radio, and Conservative talk radio in general, is a public service and an essential  exercise in and advocate of American liberty. So we disagree.

As for Sue’s effort, she and her group, Media Action Center, have discovered something called the Zapple Doctrine (Section 315 a of the 1934-issued Communications Act, for those of you keeping score) and are citing it as legal cause for the FCC to demand equal time for candidates on Milwaukee Conservative talk radio shows.  A good bit of legal work here on Sue’s part; for indeed, according to the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association’s 2008 white paper “Political Broadcasting”, the Zapple Doctrine—an undead remnant of the recently euthanized “Fairness Doctrine”—declares: “If the first side received free airtime… the Zapple Doctrine requires that the other side also receive free airtime.”

Thus Sue has filed a formal complaint with the FCC demanding urgent action in the days before Wisconsin’s June 5 recall election to correct “the imbalance we are seeing on the publicly owned airwaves in Milwaukee.”

As a conservative, a long-time fan of Milwaukee conservative talk radio and a Scott Walker supporter, I fully endorse Sue’s effort for the following reasons:

1. It might just distract the FCC from its campaign to ruin the Internet
2. It might remind the absent-minded commission that in cleaning up the reeking mess that was the Fairness Doctrine, they
   missed a spot. “Clean up in aisle 315(a).”
3. The more time and money Lefties spend on lost causes like this the better.
4. It forced at least five Milwaukee Lefties to listen to an ungodly amount of local Conservative talk radio in order to catalogue evil-doing.  Maybe they learned something? (i.e.  It’s Working!)
5. It once again showcases the asininity of the “scarcity of frequencies” argument the Left digs up whenever seeking federal regulation of Conservative talk radio or FOX News.  Is not this entire $20 million recall an elaborate media spectacle brought to you by WI DEMS/WEAC/AFSCME Productions?  Who’s not hearing them?
6. It’s a reminder that, prior to Rush Limbaugh turning them into a gold mine in 1988, no one gave a rat’s @ss about the
   “public airwaves” on AM radio.  The medium was near death.  Now they are the precious property of the people?
7. Ditto for Milwaukee.  Belling and Sykes have been waxing Conservative for over two decades.  Now that their efforts—and those of Wagner, Weber and McKenna— have reached critical mass and are turning the tide here in Wisconsin, we’re suddenly concerned about the “special rights” of radio listeners?
8. It forces one to ponder yet again, “Why is there no Liberal/Progressive talk radio to speak of?”  (Hint: There is, it’s just that no one listens to it.)
9. It gives us the opportunity to point out that the most successful Progressive talk radio shows –Ed Schultz, Thom Hartman—are heard via the Jones Media Network, which is owned by Dial Global – a massive media Corporation, i.e. the evil corporate media.
10. It demands that we ask: who is in the bestposition to determine what is in “the public interest” of the people of Wisconsin?  The people of Wisconsin (many of whom—judging by the ratings—really like Conservative talk radio just the way it is) or a California-based Progressive media activist like Sue Wilson?
11. And most importantly, it gives me the opportunity to further promote my documentary, Liberty or Lies? (available
    ABSOLUTELY FREE) at www.libertyorlies.com!

• See the trailer, here.
• See the special “made-for-TV” version, here.
• See parts 1-4 of the more in-depth six-part series, here.
• In particular, in response to Sue’s effort above, I recommend part three Hate, Regulation and the Public Interest?)

So thanks Sue.  By raising this issue, you’ve done a great deal to help highlight the distinction between consistent, Constitutional, common sense Conservatism and the hair-brained, self-righteous, melodrama of Progressivism.