General Discussion

rsdsharp

(10,904 posts)

22. Reagan didn't deregulate radio. That was the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Thu May 1, 2025, 05:26 PM

May 1

Clinton signed it into law, and Al Gore said it would allow a big expansion of minority ownership of radio stations.

The Rule of Sevens (no one could own more than 7 AM, 7 FM and 7 TV stations nationwide) was changed to the Rule of Twelves in 1985 under Reagan. But the TelCom Act vastly expanded ownership rights, and virtually wiped out Mon & Pop stations. Reagan also had a hand (along with Scalia and Bork) in killing the Fairness Doctrine.

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orangecrush Tadpole Raisin pandr32 rictofen nuxvomica wyn borkins wyn borkins SamKnause Silent Type doubleplusgood Crunchy Frog eppur_se_muova

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Highlight:

This is a root cause of dumbing down of America ..... [View all] Mossfern May 1 OP

Rightwing propaganda (however delivered) and social media are a very nasty combinaiton LymphocyteLover May 1 #1

80% of truckers voted for TSF. moondust May 1 #2

New groupe. Laid off Truckers For Trump. multigraincracker May 1 #4

My brother wasn't one of them. He planned his route to be home to vote in person. mucholderthandirt May 2 #57

Same out west Jerry2144 May 1 #3

The same in South Florida. markodochartaigh May 1 #6

I don't speak the language Jerry2144 May 1 #8

In general the older Cubans many of whom prospered markodochartaigh May 1 #48

Try Canadian A.M. radio orangecrush May 1 #5

Reagan didn't deregulate radio. That was the Telecommunications Act of 1996. rsdsharp May 1 #22

Thanks orangecrush May 1 #27

If Democrats listened to radio, Air America would still be broadcasting. Silent Type May 1 #7

It is far from being that simple and that just reinforces RW talking points rurallib May 1 #17

Would love to hear an explanation. If they had the audience, they'd still be in business, even if Silent Type May 1 #31

spectrum is limited and pricey cadoman May 1 #50

Oh, I agree podcasts have easier access, and for those who listen it's similar to Air America, Silent Type May 1 #52

I am doing much of this from memory. rurallib May 2 #58

Yep. One of many media outlets that has a stanglehold on America by the right wing, progressoid May 1 #9

And mainly only hanging around other Dumb people IrishBubbaLiberal May 1 #10

Yes, Talk Radio, which is filled with conspiracy theories. surfered May 1 #11

Even in Blue areas AM radio is toxic MAGA. There's a reason why... 617Blue May 1 #12

I live in a VERY Blue area Mossfern May 1 #14

The same holds for Seattle. Multiple RW stations. maxsolomon May 1 #45

Air America CitizenZero May 1 #13

Most of the radio where I live on both am and fm mwmisses4289 May 1 #15

I Love Radio! I have public radio (which I volunteer for) on nonstop in my kitchen. littlemissmartypants May 1 #16

I hate to be the breaker of bad news for you, but the right own most of the media Mr. Sparkle May 1 #18

Most people don't listen to AM radio these days JI7 May 1 #19

82M Americans listen to AM radio every month SomedayKindaLove May 1 #44

The poll doesn't differentiate between local, national or talk radio Kaleva May 2 #55

That idea is very regional, and ignoring the impact on the Tumbulu May 1 #53

Wide spectrum Iamscrewed May 1 #20

Even back in the Obama years.... GreatShakes66 May 1 #21

I know! Mossfern May 1 #26

40 years has taken it's toll, and Limbaugh was awarded the Medal of Freedom from Drumpf. Huge brainwashing. n/t Evolve Dammit May 1 #23

Yup. There was an absolute abdication on that front. Because there was that one... JHB May 1 #24

Sure, that was the first barrier broken down. BlueTsunami2018 May 1 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author rainin May 1 #28

WBGO tonkatoy8888 May 1 #29

You bet! Mossfern May 1 #32

The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America by Charlotte Thomson Iserbyte judesedit May 1 #30

Damn! Mossfern May 1 #33

You can download it. I did. judesedit May 1 #46

That sounds really interesting! I've never heard of the author or the book! liberalla May 1 #35

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/225849.The_Deliberate_Dumbing_Down_of_America eppur_se_muova May 2 #59

My change of pace is...... LilElf70 May 1 #34

Life is easier when you're stupid. milestogo May 1 #36

I left my home in Milwaukee sab390 May 1 #37

We are dumb all over JoseBalow May 1 #38

AM950 in Minneapolis being a rare exception dflprincess May 1 #39

My adult children and their cousins don't pay any attention at all to radio or broadcast television. hunter May 1 #40

My Boomer friends complain that music suck these days. JohnnyRingo May 1 #41

We have 1260 AM Santa Fe progressive talk. It's good but doesn't have a strong signal. Clouds Passing May 1 #42

In my city we used to have a progressive AM radio station Green960 kimbutgar May 1 #43

Sorry, but nope. flvegan May 1 #47

Parents value sports competition over education...that is really the root cause... AntiFascist May 1 #49

Self-serving propagandists, all of them! Con men seeking money and power bucolic_frolic May 1 #51

reagan killed the fairness doctrine. pansypoo53219 May 2 #54

People will listen to or watch that which reinforces their worldview Kaleva May 2 #56