IRVINE, CA—Recent manipulations by conservative groups have demonstrated with unique clarity that the FCC’s power stands in opposition to freedom of speech, said Dr. Robert Garmong, a senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute.

“The FCC establishes federal censorship over the airwaves, via its standards of ‘decency,’” argues Dr. Garmong. “Those judged to violate standards of ‘decency’ can be slapped with multi-million-dollar fines, and potentially even lose their broadcasting licenses.” The FCC has responded that it does not impose its own standards, but merely responds to complaints from the “public.”

But the to-be-expected result is that any and every pressure group will clamor for the title of “the public”—so that it can ram its views down the throats of the rest of us. News that 99.8 percent of recent complaints to the FCC comes from a single conservative activist group, the Parents Television Council, should come as no surprise.

“Free speech means the right to say what one believes, to any audience that is willing to hear it. It is not the right to say only that which is popular with the government, with any particular interest group, or with the majority of the public. But as long as there is a federal agency with the ultimate power over what is on the broadcast media, free speech is at the mercy of the most vociferous political groups. This means, in practice, that the FCC stands in stark opposition to Americans’ first amendment right to free speech.

“Freedom of speech may be a reality in this country only when we abolish the FCC, with its dictatorial power over the media.”

Dr. Robert Garmong, a senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute, is available for interviews on this topic.

Contact: larryb@aynrand.org or 800-365-6552 ext. 213.