[BC] We do it because we can, not because it is right

[Bill Croghan]

Bernie,
	They can refuse to release names until the next of kin are
notified, seal the records of juveniles, maintain certain records secure to
save embarrassment etc.  If the release of a recording made of my voice on a
911 tape brought extreme distress to me or my family, you can bet your boots
I'd have a lawsuit going in a flash.  It seems to me that many states have
wiretap rules about notifying people when their recorded voice is to be put
on the air or released to others.  I wonder how this would apply to FCC part
73.11206

Courtesy Harold H.

Sec.  73.1206   Broadcast of telephone conversations.

   Before recording a telephone conversation for broadcast, or broadcasting
such a conversation simultaneously with its occurrence, a licensee shall
inform any party to the call of the licensee's intention to broadcast the
conversation, except where such party is aware, or may be presumed to be
aware from the circumstances of the conversation, that it is being or likely
will be broadcast. Such awareness is presumed to exist only when the other
party to the call is associated with the station (such as employee or
part-time reporter), or where the other party originates the call and it is
obvious that it is in connection with a program in which the station
customarily broadcasts telephone conversations.

   [ 35 FR 7733 , May 20, 1970]
 
	I'm a former newsman, but would not consider putting something like
that on the air just for thrills.  If it had a legitimate part of the news
story, maybe, but just for ratings, no way.
Bill



> -----Original Message-----
> From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:broadcast-
> bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Bernie Courtney
> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 11:42 AM
> To: Broadcasters' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [BC] We do it because we can, not because it is right
> 
> are you kidding me?  911 tapes are released from departments in the
> NY/NJ
> area all the time, nothing sacred about them.  And frankly, as long as
> my
> tax money is paying for the phone lines they are coming in on, the
> salary
> for the call taker, and the logger they are being recorded on, I think I
> have a right to hear them.
> 
> b
> 
> On 7/26/06, Bill Croghan <loteng at lvradio.com> wrote:
> >
> >         What self respecting law enforcement agency would release the
> 911
> > Calls?  Certainly these should be shielded from even freedom of
> > information
> > requests, at least long enough that they were no longer of news value.
> > Bill
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Do you have a BDR? http://www.oldradio.com/bdr.htm