After moving abroad, my wife and I found we were no longer able to listen to Christian radio stations, good commentary or radio talk shows. Japan doesn’t have many radio stations, and, of course, none of them have full-time English programs. If there are any English programs, they are about music and never about issues. Radio talk shows do not exist for English speakers!

So for a while, we only listened to English broadcast on TV or when we visited America. Eventually, the Internet came along and streaming media became available and we were once again able to listen to radio talk shows, Christian music and so on, live and taped.

Radio is a great way to reach out to people, teach and learn. The Internet has expanded that and radio has become an even greater tool since its beginning. Many people have created their own stations where they transmit to people all around the world via the Internet. For years, we have been able to listen to wonderful content.

Lately, licensing rules in America have restricted people from hearing commentary, news, information and yes, even the Gospel over the Internet. Is America becoming as restrictive as China? Time will tell.

Radio stations, Christian churches and organizations are having to restrict their content to people living inside the United States only. People abroad are being blocked from listening, even Americans living abroad.

One of my favorite radio stations is KFI AM 640. When I visit America, it is the first radio station I turn on when I get into my rental car. Their broadcasts are encouraging and helpful in keeping Americans at home in America and abroad reliably informed on the latest events, news, and issues from an unbiased viewpoint. When their broadcasts became availble over the Internet, I began listening on my home computer here in Japan. Occasionally, I would even email the host and get an email back. It was great hearing talks on American matters coming from people with perspectives other than that of the mainstream liberal media that we get abroad. But because of government restrictions and regulations, people living abroad can no longer enjoy the conservative encouragement and information they share on their talk shows. We are being bombarded by liberal dribble!

I am not sure what caused KFI and other companies to restrict their Internet content continental Americans only, but I find it hard to believe it is being done, especially from America, the country I am citizen to and call home where freedom rings.

For years, America has been at the forefront of technology and information. Why? Because people in America have had the freedom to grow, learn and share information and technology without regulations and/or restrictions. However, because of recent changes, this may soon stop. Americans may find themselve lagging behind in technology, information and news because of their own cutthroat restrictions.

Many politicians, big businesses and special interest groups are pushing to regulate and restrict the sharing of information because they want to control the flow of it. Instead allowing the populace to control the balance of what should be sent over the airwaves based on demand, the government and special interest groups want to make it so unpopular content is broadcast at an equal rate. Tell me, what is the difference between America and China when information is being regulated by the government? Where is true freedom when big business, special interest groups and politicians are dictating what should be shared or not in the media?

If restrictions on information and technology continue as they are in America, foreigners and Americans abroad won’t be the only ones being restricted from listening to radio news, commentary and information. We will be listening to state-owned radio stations broadcasting content deemed allowable by the government, big business and special interest groups. Everyone else will be listening to underground radio like Christians in China sharing about Jesus Christ.