The waning loss of faith in the American political system can be explained away by episodes like this.
The alleged misdeed, if true, is bad enough. The way the incident has been handled looks worse. It appears to be a magnificent microcosm of how the old-boy network operates in the nation’s capital.
Unlicensed radio transmissions can interfere with public safety and other vital communications, endangering lives. That’s why there are stiff civil fines (up to $11,000 and forfeiture of equipment) and criminal penalties (up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment). Indeed, safety of life is at the very essence of the Federal Communications Commission’s charter.
Richard Lee, chief of the FCC’s Compliance and Information Bureau until recently, claims FCC Chairman Bill Kennard-after a telephone call from Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas)-overruled the FCC Dallas field office so that Texas Motorplex owner Billy Meyer could resume operation of an unlicensed TV station back in April.
The low-power TV transmitter, which the Dallas field office shut down on April 22 (prompting Meyer to contact Barton), went back on the air the next day-without a license-to broadcast drag races to the stadium and its parking lot in Ennis, Texas.
At that time, Meyer was lobbying mightily to build a $65 million drag racing strip in Grand Prairie, Texas. Voters on Nov. 4 shot down the proposed project.
In protest, Lee used a procedure that accommodates federal whistle blowers. The process is designed to root out waste, fraud and corruption in government.
Lee also went to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), who promptly called for a probe by the FCC’s inspector general. Kennard, who-like Barton-defends the FCC action as a common-sense move, ceded to McCain’s request.
House telecom subcommittee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) was given the same information from Lee. But Tauzin, normally a harsh Kennard critic, chose not to make a federal case about it. Tauzin spokesman Ken Johnson said his boss talked to Barton, who assured the Louisiana lawmaker everything was fine.
“We’re not sweeping this under the rug,” Johnson volunteered.
Both Southern Republicans are high-ranking members of the House Commerce Committee, which oversees the FCC. Not so long ago, Barton chaired the oversight and investigations subcommittee. Remember the Portals probe?
The FCC said Meyer subsequently applied for a license, which the agency granted in August. Lee said Kennard, not wanting a repeat problem, directed him to solicit an application from Meyer.
In other words, if you believe Lee, the FCC enabled and accommodated an alleged violator of federal regulations rather than taking action against him.
Already, a whisper campaign to discredit Lee appears to be taking shape. His motives are being questioned. Lee lost his position and was transferred to the FCC’s Office of Plans and Policy as part of a mini-reorganization that took effect last Monday.
