One reader responded with comments on big v. little (2/3/05 RBR #24)
I read with great interest your article concerning Red Wolf Broadcasting and Citadel, whereby Citadel allegedly threatened to "squash you (Red Wolf) like a bug." If the big boys can't buy you, they'll try to squash you, is far too common. This happens frequently in very small markets with three or four stations, where the "big guy" in the small pond attempts to squash you. This problem isn't isolated to rated markets.
The "gamesmanship" is to "use" friends, relatives of employees, etc. to file bogus complaints with the FCC, thereby causing time consuming reply comments, attorney fees and frustration. Or to even file anonymous comments, as was done to me recently. The FCC often does nothing, citing it as a "state matter" to be pursued locally. The problem with that is, you have to PROVE damages, which quite often, is very difficult to accurately ascertain! In Red Wolf's case, their ratings actually went up, while Citadel's plummeted. Try making a claim with that, regardless of Citadel's possible threats.
Because of the FCC's lack of action in such matters, and the difficultly in prosecuting and proving damages; these flagrant filings continue, and I believe, in record numbers. I'm all for freedom of speech, or should I say freedom to tell the truth. But there should be no freedom for lying, or intentionally falsifying comments and using people as "fronts." There seems to be very little penalty in committing perjury, i.e. Mark
Furman and Bill Clinton. So why not continue? It would seem the FCC, which always cries "wasting valuable commission time and resources", could save much of their time, by making it CLEAR that it will pursue, fine, penalize and yes, perhaps even yank station licenses, if anyone is found intentionally lying, using fronts, or committing perjury. That would dramatically slow the bogus filings. Until they do so, these filings will continue. It often benefits those filing and they are rarely pursued.
The Commission NEEDS to come down on the false accusers as hard as they do the licensees, when they are found in violation of the rules. I am led to believe the FCC is making an asserted effort, but until I see them produce results on my situations, I will remain a skeptic.
Dale A. Ganske, Pres.
L. Topaz Enterprises, Inc.
Are you reading this from a forwarded email?
