FCC fines ABC for 5 year old showing of NYPD Blue butt cheeks

[strredwolf]

Better late than never... er... maybe not.  Five years?  Three since the show poped off the air?!?

What is the FCC thinking of?

Comments

Re: As an Amtrak employee I have to set the record straight.

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

It's no problem. I'm always fascinated by long-range rail travel (thus, the MADCAT is featured on Canmeph 2 -- hey, maybe they're reach on one line to Pennsylvania. :D )

I'll also give you another datapoint, Kaz, being an employee from the MD state's transit administration. This is all public info over the span of one decade, I must disclaim.

Currently MARC (Maryland Area Rail Car) service (owned by MTA, operated by CSX or Amtrak) is near or at capacity for Baltimore-to-DC service. Add onto that more load due to BRAC (Base Realighment anad Closing) dumping more people into Ft. Meade, and we have problems.

The Camden line runs from Camden Yards to Union Station, DC; it's near capacity for the line, and always has to compete with freight traffic between DC and Baltimore. It's operated by CSX and the rail lines are CSX owned. Add the fact that it runs very near the Howard Street Tunnel, and remember the fire that was there many years ago that disrupted traffic everywhere, and you have problems!

The Penn line, which is Perryville-to-DC-via-Penn Station, runs on Amtrak lines and are operated by Amtrak. Occasonally you'll see an Amtrak conductor along-side a MARC conductor. Delays on Amtrak equal delays on MARC between DC and Perryville. This line is AT capacity. 100% full, maxed out on trains and constanatly trying to get the double-deckers to accomidate 'em all. Add BRAC to the mix and you'll know why Gov. O'Malley and Transit secretary Paul Weiderfield called for expansion of MARC service.

Now combine all of that with the WMATA B30 bus (BWI to Greenbelt Metro), proposed studies of extending WMATA's Green line Metrorail service to BWI, and the constant lack of funding the state gives for transit (hint: WMATA supposedly federally funded; MD's MTA isn't)...

...and you'll get to see the point on how unprofitable it is.

I will tell you, rest assuredly, that Maryland isn't prepared to take up service if Amtrak shuts down today.