FCC Cracks Down on Broadcasts of Profanity(Again)

[LiviaOlivia]

March 18, 2004
US FCC Cracks Down on Broadcasts of Profanity
By REUTERS

Filed at 8:03 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. communications regulators on Thursday for the first time went directly after profanity on television and radio broadcasts as part of a campaign to crack down on the growing coarseness on the air. The Federal Communications Commission, using a part of federal law for the first time, said NBC television stations violated the law on profanity and indecency when they broadcast Irish rocker Bono of U2 shouting "f+++ing brilliant" during a 2003 television award show. "This sends a signal to the industry that the gratuitous use of such vulgar language on broadcast television will not be tolerated," said FCC Chairman Michael Powell said in a statement.

The decision overturns a controversial staff decision that ruled that the incident was not indecent because it was not in a sexual context. In the past, the agency has gone after profanity in the context of indecency limits. In a split decision, the agency decided against fining the stations. Some commission members had wanted to levy fines for the incident, stating that the current law was sufficient notice.

"This may not be a case where a revocation of license is in order," said FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, who has demanded the agency take a tougher stand on indecency. "But neither is it a case that warrants no penalty at all."

The agency also levied $27,500 fines against three radio stations for the antics of their radio personalities, including a Detroit station owned by Viacom Inc.'s Infinity Broadcasting unit which aired Howard Stern and others discussing explicit sexual techniques.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-media-indecency-fcc.html

[Badger1]

1. Powell and the FCC

can suck my cock. What do you think about that? He's just out back, in the barn.

[MSgt213]

18. Powells too busy on more importants ones that will get his man reelected

[saigon68]

19. That's "Baby Bowel" the Prude

He's like his father "Colon Bowel", the older grey haired, Lap Dog of the special corporate interests.

[metisnation]

2. Stern

Hey now..bubba booey..hey now..hey now! Karl Rove is pissing in his pants about the whole Stern thing...he has been blasting Bush for days now.

[jus_the_facts]

3. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT ON FREE TV AND RADIO......

.....I AM NO PRUDE EITHER....but there are children who're subjected to this and it's just WRONG for this to be allowed for all to hear on the airwaves....I DON'T EVEN HAVE CHILDREN...but this kind of thing is gettin' OUT OF HAND...and IN MY HUMBLE OPINION...our *society* is worse off when this is allowed to become MAINSTREAM!

I'm NOT against PORNOGRAPHY either but there's a time and place for it...and that's NOT on mainstream TV and RADIO...sorry IT'S JUST NOT!

LET THE FLAMES BEGIN!! :(

[metisnation]

4. throw your books in the fire

thats what the Nazis, in WWII, did when they didn't want free thought in their society. At that time books were the primary way people conveyed thoughts. you may not like stern and thats fine, as an American I disagree because you ALWAYS have the option of turning the dial or simply turning it off. I respect your care for your children, but we cannot let the fascist control what we say.

:dem:

:kick:

[jus_the_facts]

7. I said..I don't have any children...and for what it's worth...the MEDIA...

....has already been bought off to supress the DEMOCRATIC IDEOLOGY already......so the regulation of this type of thing...re: a curse and sex talk extavaganza should be enforced like it was in the past....dig?

[Not Me]

8. Two options:

The on/off switch, and the tuner knob.
There is no shortage of programming available.

Free, broadcast TV is quickly becoming irrelevant; already cable has higher prime time viewing. Why? Because it delivers what people want to see.

I don't like the Howard Stern show. (partly b'cuz I am gay and he panders to straight guys) but seriously, he's a little gross for me...so I listen to something else. But fortunately, THERE IS something else currently to listen to. It won't be that way long if the Christian Taliban has its way.

[jus_the_facts]

10. of course....it HAS to be ALL or Nothing...there's no such thing as.....

...in between anymore...and I don't watch much tv at all...I refuse to BUY t.v. and the radio has turned into COMPLETE crap too...and as I stated in my post above and all over my thread about this very thing in GD...the media has already been bought off to slander and make a joke of the democratic ideology all the way around....I still think that the airwaves should be regulated in the manner they used to be...and that doesn't entail the curse and sex talk extravaganza that the mediums have turned into as of late! x(

[boobooday]

14. Would you regulate violent content?

Or just sex?

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FlemingsGhost]

16. Your words:

"I'm NOT against PORNOGRAPHY either but there's a time and place for
it...and that's NOT on mainstream TV and RADIO...sorry IT'S JUST NOT!"

After unbaisedly defining just what you believe to be "pornography," inform me what mainstream TV and radio is offering such programming.

[jus_the_facts]

21. I meant that porn doesn't disgust me.....

...well I draw a line when it comes to fuckin' animals and S&M..but that's because that's just not my thang....so don't confuse what I said to just continue this arguement because I agree that TV and radio shouldn't be allowed to broadcast the type of things stated in the article and it SHOULD BE REGULATED as it was in the past.....I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN...IF WHAT WAS BEIN' SAID WAS RACIST OR HOMOPHOBIC....AND WHEN IT'S AGAINST YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS...re: RUSH...HANNITY...ECT....IT'S IT'S CONSIDERED UNACCEPTABLE....CORRECT?

[shanti]

26. WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING??

sorry, but i for one do NOT want to go back to the bad old days. cursing does not bother me, hell, i curse like a sailor myself (and notice that you do too). so why should it bother you that other do it?

[jus_the_facts]

44. because nobody seems to be listening...or thinking clearly either....

.....if you don't use some censorship....then all racist remarks...sexist remarks all become acceptable too...and we all know THAT isn't the way we want things to be...what has made this country as fucked up as it's become is because it's either all or nothing...no in between...and it's this type of mentality that is one of many reasons that drives people to want to listen to people like rush and all his vile ilk...the very ones who've taken over our country and want to turn it into a theocracy and control us all with their religion...that's all I'm tryin' to say...this all or nothing mentality is one reason our party suffering as it is...there's a much bigger picture of this situation that's bein' overlooked...this kind of thing is what makes people hate ALL that the DEMOCRATIC party stands for and makes them completely blind to what's bein' perpetrated against them....

......if it were up to ME I'd like to completely get rid of religion as that's what screws up peoples minds in the first place....the comparison of ourselves to PERFECTION...instead of the animals that we still are emotionaly is what will always be the cause of history repeating itself and us being removed entirely as a species on this planet eventually....because nobody EVER REALLY wants to take responsibility for anything...it's all a blame game...so excuse me for bein' a bit sensible and sensitive in regards to all this....I completely understand ALL the rage that makes us soooo opinionated...all the way around.

[Tiberius]

58. It is you who are not thinking clearly

Now you're trying to censor racism and sexism, and ban religion, all in the same post. Good luck with that!

[jus_the_facts]

60. there's a bigger picture to think about......

...if it's not ALL considered then all is REALLY lost...as it appears to me has already happened :think:

[PassingFair]

28. Here's my letter to H. Stern & Co.

Dear Mr. Stern:

I have never listened to your radio show for more than 10 minutes at a time, nor have I been able to stomach your repulsive television presense any longer than it takes to locate the remote control and push the channel button in any direction. If you were to show up at my side door, I would not open it unless you were actively being torn apart by wild dogs.

This being said, throughout the years, I have held the "power of the clicker" over you, and have always utilized it effectively. When certain gentlemen of my acquaintance shared their thoughts with me that you "just say what the rest of us are thinking all the time", I have cringed and feared for society.

The thought of censoring your views, however, or removing you from the cable and airwaves has NEVER occurred to me. It is obviously more than coincidence that you are being censored and harassed due to your newfound knowledge and outspoken criticism of the Bush administration, which, by the way, I would NEVER click away from.

Imagine my confusion and conSTERNation at now being in the position of defending your right to denigrate and debase women and chat-up various and sundry wackos about their personal lives.

By the way, I am curious as to how reading one book by Al Franken could turn your whole political worldview around. Is it just the personal damage inflicted upon you by Powell and the Bushreich? Did it need to affect you PERSONALLY before you decided to educate yourself and expose these near totalitarian oil and energy thugs for what they are?

Ah well, whatever the reason, WELCOME TO THE BRIGHT SIDE! In a perfect world, you would now have something better to talk about than salacious, pornographic nonsense. I hope you get the chance to advocate for basic human rights, and against this intrusive, menacing, criminal political administration and the fundamentalists, corporatists and ignoramuses who back it.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd say "Thank you, Howard Stern, for all that you do"! But, here goes, "Thank you, Howard, don't let a single voice be squashed by these people!"

Sincerely,

[Citizen Daryl]

48. Hypocrisy = Not Fookin' Brilliant

"...well I draw a line when it comes to fuckin' animals and S&M.."

Ah, so it's okay for you to use such language flippantly - in a discussion about how you dislike profanity?

If you want to be a hypocrite, join the GOP. They're full of them.

</soapbox>

[jus_the_facts]

56. I'm not bein' PAID on a RADIO or TV program either....

....hae you EVER wondered why so many people HAVE joined up with the GOP and given LIBERAL a BAD name....this kind of thing is the VERY reason for MANY!!! :think:

[sidpleasant]

51. Free speech isn't just for speech you like

>>IF WHAT WAS BEIN' SAID WAS RACIST OR HOMOPHOBIC....AND WHEN IT'S AGAINST YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS...re: RUSH...HANNITY...ECT....IT'S IT'S CONSIDERED UNACCEPTABLE....CORRECT?<<

Not at all. If you believe in freedom of expression you have to support freedom of expression even for those with opinions you despise. The ACLU's greatest moment was when it supported the right of Nazis to march in Skokie.

[jus_the_facts]

57. the ACLU is dispised by the very people who dispise the librul media.

....and it's called the LIBERAL media mainly because of this very topic....everybody tries to spin it to mean politics but it's what's been allowed on television and now radio that causes the confusion in people who don't think for themselves and gives rush is audience.

[saigon68]

64. Adios

[orthogonal]

20. A technological solution is at hand!

I'm NOT against PORNOGRAPHY either but there's a time and place for it...and that's NOT on mainstream TV and RADIO...sorry IT'S JUST NOT!

You must have one of those old radios.

The newer ones have special technology that prevents the reception of language the listener doesn't want to hear.

It's called an "off" button.

The nice thing about this "off" button is that each listener's radio has a separate "off" button, so that you can use yours without any legislation being required, while at the same time, your use of your "off" button does preclude me from continuing to listen if what offends you doesn't offend me.

If you can't find a radio with an "off" button, or can't afford one, or can't figure out how to the "off" button you already have, please feel free to ask for further assistance!

[metisnation]

23. welcome to DU

:toast:

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Democat]

30. Pro-censorship and proud?

:(

[jus_the_facts]

43. funny how it's ONLY censorship when it's convienent to most here.....

....racial remarks aren't allowed...sexist remarks...homophobic remarks....that's what will be allowed with all the *LOGIC* voiced in this thread...ever stop and THINK about the ramifications LITERALLY......how PROUD and comforting IS THAT...it's this type of FREE FOR ALL MENTALITY THAT'S GOTTEN ALL OUR VIEWS CONDEMED AND THE THEOCRATS ALL GIDDY AND PUT INTO POWER IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! :shrug:


and honestly if it were left up to ME...the FIRST thing I'd like to see chucked is ALL RELIGION...AS THAT'S WHAT FUCKS UP PEOPLES HEADS...and leads to most of the chaos in the world....how's THAT for wantin' something CENSORED! :eyes:

[He loved Big Brother]

45. Well, there's a difference between HATE-SPEECH

and yelling "fucking brilliant!" when you are happy, overwhelmed, and expressing joy at winning an award for a piece of art you created. So what if Bono used a slang adjective. It's not harmful or hate-speech.

If you can't understand the difference, then yes, maybe you should just hit the "off" button on all appliances.

[jus_the_facts]

46. just because you personally don't hate that kind of speech.....

...doesn't mean a whole shit load of other people DO think it is hate speech...like the ones who've taken over our country and want to make you live by ALL their religious standards...it's this very kind of logic that's been expressed in this thread that makes these very same people hate ALL DEMOCRATS...think about it!!

[Carni]

31. "Children"

Are either at home (or should be at school) when Stern is on...
Sorry, this isn't a flame, but I don't agree and I DO have a kid of an age where I would not want them hearing Stern's antics.
Parent's need to pay attention to what their kids are doing and listening to - it's not government's responsibility IMO Furthermore... do you think kids don't hear as bad (if not worse) at school amongst their peers as what Stern is broadcasting?

[jus_the_facts]

39. wonder WHERE they get it then....

.....EXUUUUUUUUSE ME FOR HAVIN' A DIFFERING OPINION THAN EVERYONE ELSE.....if everyone who's flamin' me would stop and THINK for a SECOND of the ramifications of allowing anything at all to be said in the media then that would make all sexist remarks...racial remarks...and homophobic remarks which is deemed UNACCEPTABLE...to be said as well....this type of logic that has been a catalyist in destroying the DEMOCRATIC PARTY...it's this very type of sick LOGIC that GIVES RUSH HIS AUDIENCE....why nobody EVER sees the bigger picture amazes me!:grr:

[Carni]

52. If I wanted the PC police on my ass...

I would vote for bush...
Whining pissing and moaning and being overly PC is what has kicked the parties ass over the last few years.
Why the hell do you think most of bush's "supporters" are under 35?
And BTW why are you yelling?
If you don't like the content turn the dial.

[jus_the_facts]

61. thanks so much for makin' my point for me.....

...it's called the LIBERAL MEDIA mostly now because of the content that's bein' allowed on mainstream tv and radio....not because of politics. :think:

[Sandpiper]

33. The Cheeeeldren!!! We have to protect the Cheeeldren!!!

Who hear far more profanity in the home and at school than they ever will on the radio.

It's ok if Dad says fuck, but if Howard Stern says it, a fine is in order.

You know what I say to protecting the ears of the poor little cheeeldren.

FUCK IT!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don't like it, change the FUCKING station.

[jus_the_facts]

40. THANKS....

....I FUCKIN' don't even LISTEN TO HIM already...and furthermore I guess it's just fine that rush and his ilk can start callin' people n***gers and f***gots too..will THAT be fine and DANDY???????? :eyes:

[Carni]

53. Stern didn't call anybody a N*****

A caller made the reference and they cut him off.
The only person I have heard calling people N*****s on Stern's show was Snoop Dog, maybe we should fine him too and get his ass off the air?

[jus_the_facts]

59. missing the entire point altogether AGAIN......

....does it ever occur to anyone why one of the reasons the right coined the term LIBERAL MEDIA....it's not all about politics...it's the MORAL issues that make most of them say it...I don't agree with their theocratic mentality...but that's exactly why so many people dispise ALL Democratic ideas..the logic expressed in this thread is a major reason this country is so polorized and gives people like RUSH his audience....the christian right is a poliltical force now and why this country will stay divided and will continue to erode what really needs to be done...and why so many people refuse to take part in the political process at all. :think:

[Sandpiper]

55. You're welcome

And my response to you again is, if you don't like what's being said, change the FUCKING station.

What part of freedom of speech don't you understand?

[jus_the_facts]

62. what part of LIBERAL MEDIA are you not comprehending?

.....it's this part of freedom of speech that has allowed the christian right such a foothold in politics as it is....THE RIGHT allows us to hang ourselves every single time this type of thing is allowed to be mainstream.:think:

[Occulus]

34. I was thinking about this very thing before I read your post

I was going to rant on and on about how you're no more important than anyone else just because you have kids, and I was going to rail about how I'm getting pretty sick of people who do have kids expecting sacrifice from others because of it, but instead I'll say only this:

The thing has an "off" button, and you have outlets in your bedroom. Use both.

[jus_the_facts]

41. never listen to that crap anyway....

....soooo the OFF button isn't necessary! :eyes:

[Room101]

38. Come over my house and burn my subversive books

And yes I’m a parent, but I don’t allow my child to inject the electronic drug known as TV into his brain. If you don’t like something change the fucking channel. I’m so mad I can spit, is that ok with you master. The term Free country soon will be a nostalgic phrase if people like you get their way.

[jus_the_facts]

42. HUH......

... IT'S THIS VERY MENTALITY THAT WILL MAKE THE THEOCRATS INTENTIONS REALILY...WHY IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND....THE MORE THIS TYPE OF THING IS ALLOWED THE WORSE OFF WE MAKE OURSELVES AS A WHOLE...and our party is what's suffered the MOST because of the ALL OR NOTHING MENTALITY....THERE'VE BEEN REGULATIONS ON THE MEDIA SINCE IT'S INCEPTION REGARDING THIS....ONLY NOW IS THERE OUTRAGE ABOUT IT BECAUSE....NOW....IT'S OUR POLITICS BEIN' ATTACKED AND SILENCED!

Guess it'LL be all well and good if the KKK and HOMOPHOBES get their own stations and spew their vile bile as well....as THAT's considered FREE THOUGHT AND SPEECH TOO...using the LOGIC expressed in this thread!!!! :eyes:

[Champion Jack]

54. Is your on/off switch broken?

[jus_the_facts]

63. NO

....please re-read this entire thread and all the other posts and points I've already tried to explain. :think:

[MasonJar]

5. Boy. am I glad that there is so little going on in the world. Now

the awful dirty jokes will no longer bother us on tv. The pres is really going after those athletes on steriods. The Congress is busy trying to pass a pro-Iraq statement. Gosh, it is a good thing everything is so hunky-dorry.

[FlemingsGhost]

6. Kowed journalists & skewed "info-tainment" is profane!

When does the FCC start levying fines for traitorous complicity?

[metisnation]

12. I understand you want to protect your children

lock your radio up and join the SS.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[metisnation]

24. Ok

hey now..this is an entertainment show not a religious spin show. Plain and simple if you don't like it turn it off.

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

36. As soon as Kerry is sworn in. (nt)

nt

[BiggJawn]

47. That's coming...Coming REAL soon...

And they will bring back "Sedition" acts.

Mikey Powell uses this issue as a smoke screen to take our minds off what else the FCC is doing, namely selling the right to use huge blocks of the electro-magnetic spectrum to the highest bidder...

[boobooday]

13. You have the power!

The power switch, that is.

You have the power to turn it off. I did.

The cable channels already self-censor -- they are not required to steer "indecent" material to late nights, but most of them do anyway.

The alternative is to let people like Michael Powell and Antonin Scalia decide what is of value in the realms of art, literature, politics and culture.

I shudder at the thought.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Khephra]

17. Philip K. Dick

The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words.

[PassingFair]

27. Whoops, Khep...you're outta here....

not allowed to say "Dick". You should know better...

:spank:

[Jack Rabbit]

22. Did somebody say FCC on the air?

Just wondering.

[Yavin4]

29. Here's The Real Point

The FCC is using "indecency" as a means to censor entertainment. What in the world is "indecent" speech? I'm sure that millions of Americans would find "Friends" and "Will and Grace" indecent. That's what's so frightening. You may not like Stern or Imus or anyone else, but you have the option to turn the dial. Stern has been doing this kind of radio for over 25 years.

Once you allow a government agency to regulate what you can see and hear on an "indecency" standard, then you're opening the door wide open to government censorship.

As for children, if you don't have the time to watch what your kids are seeing in the media, then maybe you shouldn't have kids in the first place.

[SideshowScott]

32. The FCC letting the cooperations buy more stations is more offensive to me

Powell letting News Corp and Clear channel starve and buy more business is more offensive to me than anything Stern can say on the radio.
You guys ever notice that Fox seems immune from the FCC witch hunt?

[Sandpiper]

35. How much longer till we revive

The Alien and Sedition Acts?

[Art_from_Ark]

50. They're probably buried in Patriot I or Patriot II somewhere

[rustydog]

37. Jumpin Jesus, the FCC will have to shut down Fox Broadcasting!

What do they air that isn't profane and insulting.
Of course, Clear Channel will still run their "wet pussy" song on the radio, that is comedy, not vulgarity.

[dbt]

49. Where has the FCC been for the last 20+ years?

Why has "business as usual" suddenly become suspect? The FCC hasn't given Shit One about "decency" for the last couple of decades and now it's trying to protect the public airwaves?? (These would be the same airwaves that it has ignored since Reagan.)

Something is highly disingenuous here...

:argh:
dbt