Congress discusses indecency on TV, radio after FCC record fine

[Judi Lynn]

Congress discusses indecency on TV, radio after FCC record fine


By Jonathan D. Salant
ASSOCIATED PRESS
10:03 a.m. January 28, 2004

WASHINGTON – Federal broadcast regulators insisted to skeptical lawmakers Wednesday that they have aggressively enforced laws designed to keep indecent programming off radio and television.

David Solomon, chief of the Federal Communication Commission's enforcement bureau, said the agency has "taken indecency enforcement very seriously," including a proposed record fine of $755,000 against the nation's largest radio chain for airing a sexually explicit radio show.

But several members of the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee expressed dismay that Solomon's bureau declined to fine NBC for airing an expletive uttered by rock star Bono during the Golden Globe Awards show last year. The FCC is weighing whether to overrule its enforcement bureau in that case.

"This is the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back," said Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill. "The public has seen a decline in the indecency standards. The public is saying, 'Enough's enough'."
(snip/...)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20040128-1003-congress-indecency.html

[MadisonRush]

1. What about the SOTU?

I found that extremely offensive, and yet it was broadcast on all the major news stations. As a matter of fact, I find Dubya's voice to be offensive, so when are they getting him off the radio and TV?

[mistertrickster]

2. Bush throws the Christian fundies another bone and distracts media

at the same time. Typical.

[central scrutinizer]

3. what hypocrisy

There is no chance they will actually do anything since the network with the sleaziest, most indecent shows is Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox. A little quid pro quo - to reward them for parroting the administration's position on all "news" items, Fox will be allowed to keep running their soft-porn "reality" shows.