US FCC upholds fine on CBS for Super Bowl snafu

[norml]

US FCC upholds fine on CBS for Super Bowl snafu
Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:31 PM ET


WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday upheld its proposed $550,000 fine against 20 CBS television stations for a stunt involving pop singer Janet Jackson briefly exposing her breast during the 2004 Super Bowl football game halftime show.

The FCC said it had rejected CBS' argument that the incident was not indecent and concluded that CBS "consciously and willfully failed to take actions to prevent the broadcast of the material, and that CBS is responsible for the halftime show."


snip


http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=2006-03-15T203134Z_01_WAT005074_RTRIDST_0_MEDIA-INDECENCY-URGENT.XML

[Horse with no Name]

1. And yet

Rush Limbaugh calls Ray Nagin a "nigger" and it is free speech.
I wrote the FCC myself and that was the response I got.
Personally, all in all, I would much rather see Janet Jackson's tit than to hear racial slurs.

[norml]

3. FCC RELEASES ORDERS RESOLVING NUMEROUS BROADCAST TELEVISION INDECENCY COMP

Here is the FCC's notice of the actions.


FCC RELEASES ORDERS RESOLVING NUMEROUS BROADCAST TELEVISION INDECENCY COMPLAINTS

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today released decisions resolving over 300,000 consumer complaints about the broadcast of indecent, profane, and/or obscene television programming. In these decisions, the Commission addresses complaints about nearly 50 television programs broadcast between February 2002 and March 2005. The decisions respond to the public’s growing concern about the content of television programming. At the same time, they provide further information for broadcasters about the kinds of material that are and are not prohibited under the FCC’s indecency and profanity standards.

In the decisions, the Commission takes enforcement action against the broadcast of a wide variety of television programming. The FCC upholds its earlier decision against CBS for the broadcast of indecent material during the February 1, 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. The Commission rejects CBS’ claim that the pulling off a portion of Janet Jackson’s bustier to reveal her breast is not indecent. The Commission also holds that CBS consciously and willfully failed to take actions to prevent the broadcast of the material, and that CBS is responsible for the halftime show.

The Commission also finds episodes of “Without a Trace” and “The Surreal Life 2,” which contained numerous graphic, sexual images, to be impermissible under the Commission’s indecency standard. The Omnibus Order also finds indecent the broadcast of a movie containing a graphic rape scene and a talk show featuring a female guest who appeared in an open front dress. Finally, the Commission finds indecent and profane several television programs containing offensive language. Where material is found actionable, the Commission sanctions all licensees whose stations are the subject of viewer complaints filed with the Commission.
Finally, the Commission denies complaints regarding numerous other television programs. Although the complained-of material may offend many people, the Commission concludes that the material in 28 television programs involved was not actionable.

snip

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6316388.html?display=Breaking+News

[bleedingheart]

2. The Power of the Breast - Perhaps since they are so evil...

we should have invaded Iraq with Breasts!

Hell firearms don't seem to illicit as much outrage as a set of tits.

[depakid]

4. Pathetic Americans

That's all I have to say on this one....

Actually, pathological might be more appropriate for the twisted way many Americans obsess on both sex and so called "morality." Commercialize it- and puritanize it.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Amen. (So to speak)

It's the influence of the fundy churches. Give them enough rope and they'll hang us all.

[villager]

7. "Pathological" is the word. Future historians -- if there are any --

--will use it to describe the American mindset in the latter days/collapse of the Empire...

[LifeDuringWartime]

6. doesn't the FCC have anything better to do??

like granting licences for low-power FM stations :sarcasm:

[norml]

36. CBS Fined for "Trace" of Indecency

CBS Fined for "Trace" of Indecency

by Natalie Finn
Mar 15, 2006, 4:55 PM PT


Broadcast networks need to tread lightly around the F-word.

As in FCC.





The Federal Communications Commission addressed more than 300,000 backlogged indecency complaints Wednesday, including a charge against the CBS missing-persons hit Without a Trace.

All four big-timers--ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC--fell prey to the hunt for indecent content, with CBS leading the pack, as the FCC proposed fining the network and affiliates an unprecedented $3.63 million for a December 2004 episode of Without a Trace that featured teenagers engaging in orgy-style sexual shenanigans.

Even Howard Stern at his worst incurred only $3.5 million in penalties for parent-company Viacom.

The question of whether FCC chairman Kevin Martin's first broadcast indecency rulings would weigh heavily against the networks (former chair Michael Powell, who imposed a record $7.9 million in fines in '04, stepped down in March 2005) has been answered.

Martin, formerly a lawyer for President George W. Bush's presidential campaign, has called for steeper penalties since he joined the FCC in 2001. Bush endorsed a bill after Janet Jackson's breast-heard-round-the-world incident at the 2004 Super Bowl that would have raised the maximum per-violation fine to $500,000 from the current $32,500, but the legislation petered out in Congress.


snip


http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,18578,00.html

[RamboLiberal]

8. FCC: CBS Facing $3.6M Fine for Indecency (Without a Trace Episode)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/03/15/entertainment/e142345S29.DTL

The government proposed a record fine of $3.6 million against dozens of CBS stations and affiliates Wednesday in a crackdown on what regulators called indecent television programming.

The Federal Communications Commission said a network program, "Without a Trace," that aired in December 2004 was indecent. It cited the graphic depiction of "teenage boys and girls participating in a sexual orgy."

The proposed fine was among decisions from the agency stemming from more than 300,000 complaints it received concerning nearly 50 TV shows broadcast between 2002 and 2005.

Rejecting an appeal by CBS, the FCC also upheld its previous $550,000 fine against 20 of the network's stations for the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl two years ago.

[MadMaddie]

9. We need to start filing complaints to the FCC

about the hate mongering the religious stations are spouting on our cable stations...

If the people don't want to watch "Without a Trace" a crime show then turn your damn tv off!!

[BrklynLiberal]

11. How about some decency complaints about some of the things Pat Robertson

and Jerry Falwell spout all the time!!!!

[depakid]

23. They're above the law

as are their rax exempt church's.

[sasha031]

15. I agree

we seriously need to start a campaign

[tridim]

19. We need to start filing complaints AGAINST the FCC

I don't want puritans deciding what I can watch on TV.

[Hobarticus]

21. It's on at 9 pm central....that's always been grown-up time, hasn't it?

So the issue can't be little ones seeing it. It's just wingnuts out looking for a cross to climb up on. "Oh, I'm so persecuted, just look at the smut on TV that I don't have to watch but have to in order to find offense!".

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Wow. With all that is happening in the world, I am sure that episode

of "Without a Trace" really made a big difference in the final outcome of the way the world is going to end. :puke:

[MadMaddie]

18. No more difference than a booby being exposed!!

:puke:

[Aviation Pro]

12. Howard Stern will have lots to say about this.....

...tomorrow. He is in a fight with Leslie Moonves.

[sasha031]

13. well Sumner Redstone said he votes for Viacom

which means he voted for Bush...hope he's happy

[niyad]

14. WHOSE daughter is now the asst to the FCC head? seems to me it's

pam willeford's--or am I running all these pukes together?

[VegasWolf]

16. For the religious wingnuts, the last good show was "Leave it to Beaver!"

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

[Onlooker]

24. Ah yes, that wholesome show

Where the main character, a child, was named Beaver Cleaver.

[kikiek]

26. Yea I used to have a button that said "Ward you were a bit

hard on the Beaver last night." When they revive it no doubt they'll change Beav's name.

[VegasWolf]

32. Haha! You said "Beaver!" What a bunch of retards this holier than thou

administration is.

[kikiek]

35. What's it gonna take to wake the country up as to who has taken over.

[tridim]

17. Teenage boys and girls never do that in the real world

Apparently art imitating life is now illegal.

[MadMaddie]

22. That's the thing...they honestly think their teenage children are not

engaging in exploration and physical relationships!!!
No sex education, no birth control, no std vaccines...,

Make Love Not War makes more sense to me now then it ever did!!!

[niyad]

20. well, the entire programming of the reichwingnuts offends ME--so I guess

I had better start filing those complaints. (I have enough email addresses to add to their burden)

[AX10]

25. The GOP can't stand the truth about anything.

This is just another attempt to censor.

[Wilber_Stool]

27. I wonder what the fine will be

for the oil spill in Alaska? Any guesses? More, less?

[Turbineguy]

28. "Sexual Orgy"?

Gadzooks! I may have to go back to watching network TV!

[951-Riverside]

29. OH NO! A NONE NUDE TEENAGE SEXUAL ORGY!!!!!

*puts both hands on keyboard* MY HANDS EYES HAVE BEEN SOILED!!!!

JESUS IS COMING!! JESUS IS COMING!! REPENT!!

:sarcasm:

...I wonder what its like to bang a religious nut?

[Danieljay]

30. Oh my God. did you see the images? they call THAT indecent?

Ridiculous. We are in big trouble people. This country is effed up.

[niallmac]

31. $3.6 Million dollars. Wow! That's almost the cost of an entire one minute

Super Bowl commercial. How will they dig themselves out this one?

[bluedog]

33. RW"ers say okay to promoting arrest of kids during Schaivo case

they thought it was great that young kids were booked and carted off to our jail house.because they crossed the line and tried to take water to a brain dead woman.........but that was hurray hur-rah with them.......didn't seem to bother them that kids were used..........lying down in streets at Hospice..pretending to be dying.........bunch of rat assholes!

[norml]

34. FCC: CBS facing $3.6M fine for indecency

FCC: CBS facing $3.6M fine for indecency

JENNIFER C. KERR
Associated Press


WASHINGTON - A government crackdown on indecent programming resulted in a proposed fine of $3.6 million against dozens of CBS stations and affiliates on Wednesday - a record penalty from the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC said an episode of the CBS crime drama "Without a Trace" that aired in December 2004 was indecent. It cited the graphic depiction of "teenage boys and girls participating in a sexual orgy."
CBS said it strongly disagrees with the FCC's finding.

The program "featured an important and socially relevant storyline warning parents to exercise greater supervision of their teenage children. The program was not unduly graphic or explicit," the network said in a statement.

The network can appeal the decision to the FCC. The company has 30 days to ask for reconsideration and provide an explanation as to why the network should not be held liable.

The proposed fine was among decisions from the agency stemming from more than 300,000 complaints it received concerning nearly 50 TV shows broadcast between 2002 and 2005.

Rejecting an appeal by CBS, the FCC also upheld its previous $550,000 fine against 20 of the network's stations for the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl two years ago.


snip


http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/14107359.htm

[leesa]

37. OMFG...A TIT!!!

[maddezmom]

38. kick

[DaveColorado]

39. FCC wants record fine for CBS group

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/03/16/fcc_wants_record_fine_for_cbs_group/

FCC wants record fine for CBS group
Agency cites 'orgy' in 2004 episode of 'Without a Trace'

By Associated Press | March 16, 2006

WASHINGTON -- A government crackdown on indecent programming resulted in a proposed fine of $3.6 million against dozens of CBS stations and affiliates yesterday -- a record penalty from the Federal Communications Commission.
Article Tools

The FCC cited an episode of the CBS drama ''Without a Trace" in December 2004 that graphically depicted ''teenage boys and girls participating in a sexual orgy."

CBS said it strongly disagrees with the FCC's finding.

The program ''featured an important and socially relevant storyline warning parents to exercise greater supervision of their teenage children. The program was not unduly graphic or explicit," a network statement said.

-more

[Wickerman]

40. I don't get it

I thought FCC had censors that reviewed everything before it aired?

[Ian David]

41. Nobody ever made the owners of The Sago Mine pay fines that large

Fines for "obscenity" are larger than fines for negligent release of radioactive material.

[sutz12]

42. Figures....

let's crack down on the sex that might embarass some fundie parent that might have to answer a difficutlt question from their 'innocent' children.

They ought to be fining them for their continued support for a corrupt administration. Maybe lying should be a worse offense than showing a little skin.

[NanceGreggs]

43. Why doesn't the FCC crack down on the networks ...

... that carry the Idiot-in-Chief's speeches? Talk about INDECENT PROGRAMMING ...

[Mythsaje]

44. Remember, folks...

Republicans are for SMALLER government.

Except when they're not.

[napi21]

45. Have any of you actually seen that episode?

I didn't and although my husband watches it all the time, I wasn't even sure what to call it to ask him if he had seen that one.

Somehow, sex orgy sounds like a stretch to me. Does anybody know what they actually showed?

[shenmue]

46. So this is legalized robbery...

We'll take your money. So there.

Meanwhile, an illegal war? Oh, that's okay.

:sarcasm:

:grr:

[DaveColorado]

48. Love the hypocrisy of the right

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/15/AR2006031502798.html?nav=rss_nation/special

Scalia decried his own court's recent overturning of a state anti-sodomy law, joking that he personally believes "sexual orgies eliminate tension and ought to be encouraged," but said a panel of judges is not inherently qualified to determine the morality of such behavior.

[auagroach]

47. Bush's Dick or is it Dick's Bush?

Hey F.C.C.! How 'bout that for indecency? As Lenny Bruce said and if he didn't he should have, "Indecency is the ear of the beholder." Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick, Dick's Bush, Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick. Bush Dick's Bush, Bush's Dick. Censor that you fuckwads!

[norml]

49. US FCC nominee McDowell gets nod from Senate panel

US FCC nominee McDowell gets nod from Senate panel
Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:29 PM ET


WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday endorsed telecommunications lawyer Robert McDowell's nomination to fill a Republican seat on the five-member Federal Communications Commission.

If confirmed by the full Senate, McDowell would give FCC Chairman Kevin Martin a working 3-2 Republican majority for the first time in about a year and enable him to launch a review that could lead to easing media ownership restrictions.

McDowell, 42, has been a lawyer for Comptel, a trade association that represents telephone and Internet companies that compete against bigger carriers like AT&T Inc. (T.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Verizon Communications. (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

His current employer, Comptel, opposed the two recent telecommunications deals that were approved by the FCC, the one that formed AT&T and the other in which Verizon bought MCI Inc.

The agency will soon have to consider AT&T's proposed $65.3 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp. (BLS.N: Quote, Profile, Research). However, McDowell pledged during his confirmation hearing last week he would start the FCC job with a clean slate.

He also said he had not appeared before the FCC in several years and he would work with the FCC's general counsel on any issues from which he would have to recuse himself.


snip


http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=mergersNews&storyID=2006-03-16T212937Z_01_N16271377_RTRIDST_0_CONGRESS-FCC.XML


Previous archived thread on this nomination.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2085178