Drudge: House and Senate Fight for Witnesses for Broadcast Decency Hearing

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash7.htm

House and Senate Committees are competing for witnesses for next week's simultaneous hearings Feb. 11 on broadcast content. The House Telecom Subcommittee, which will hold its 2nd hearing of the year on indecency, appears close to getting witnesses who relate more directly to the Janet Jackson flap. House sources told us the Subcommittee was close to getting Viacom Pres. Mel Karmazin and NFL Comr. Paul Tagliabue. All 5 FCC commissioners are expected to testify at both hearings, Communications Daily reports on Friday.

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While both hearings focus on broadcast content, they appear to be taking somewhat different angles. The House Telecom Subcommittee will focus primarily on legislation (HR- 3717) by Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) that would raise the maximum FCC fines for indecency violations. It's the Subcommittee's 2nd hearing this session on broadcast indecency; the first was Jan. 28 (CD Jan 29 p4). This hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m., Rm. 2123, Rayburn Bldg.

Viacom, owner of CBS and MTV, should bear a heavier burden than its 200-plus affiliates as a result of allegations CBS aired indecent content during the Super Bowl half-time show, several attorneys said.

FCC Chmn. Powell, who's spearheading investigation of the broadcast, could consider Viacom a repeat offender, suggested attorney Frank Jazzo. Jazzo referred to the case against Viacom-owned Infinity Bcstg. for broadcasting an Opie & Anthony show where the hosts conducted a contest encouraging listeners to have sex in unusual places. WKRK- FM, also Viacom-owned, was fined for airing a 20-min. show discussing explicit sexual acts.

[Sliverofhope]

1. This just proves that American democracy is more ill than

I even imagined. It's not that we're all just apathetic and incapable of outrage. It's that we're not reacting with outrage to the right things.

[Kinkistyle]

2. ARG A BOOB!

OH THE HORROR! THE HORROR!

[Wonk]

4. In 1995 CBS aired two of them on "Chicago Hope"...

2/4/04
By PHIL KLOER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In 1995, a young woman on a CBS television show pulled back her gown and exposed both of her breasts, completely. The show was "Chicago Hope," a medical drama, and the actress was playing a patient recovering from post-cancer breast reconstruction surgery. Even though it aired in prime time, CBS received not a peep of protest.

For a Super Bowl halftime show that revealed a lot less, CBS is now facing a federal government inquiry and continuing public outcry.

(snip)

While Powell, who was appointed by President Bush to head the FCC, was condemning Sunday's broadcast, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean shrugged it off. "Considering what's on television these days, I think the FCC is being pretty silly about investigating this," Dean told reporters on the campaign trail.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0204a/04jackson.html

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Wow..so some investigations actually CAN get off the ground fast

with a Republican house, senate and white house! Amazing!

[stevedeshazer]

6. Isn't that the truth?

Stolen election
9-11 investigation
Reagan, Bush I, Bush II papers suppressed
Cheney energy meetings
Powell lies to UN and world
No WMD
CIA agent outed
Anthrax killer

And so much more. Stonewalled. All stonewalled.

Boob on TV? National outrage. :-(

[JasonDeter]

5. TV is turning into soft porn. Its time to reign it in.

but all the republican outrage is getting kind of old.

[loudnclear]

7. The rest of the world is shaking its collective head at us once again.

Can you believe that someone would actually spend money to file suit against Janet on behalf of "all Americans." Don't include me in this suit. Can I file suit for being included?

That Congress would spend the time and money on this when so many really grave issues are facing this nation is amazing and frightening. It's alright to send young men and women off to fight an immoral, unnecessary, and illegal war that kills thousands of innocent men, women, and children...this is not obsecene but one bare bood is.

Shame, shame on America!