The Decency Enforcement Act of 2004 and Howard Stern

[Eric J in MN]

For people unfamiliar with "The Howard Stern Show," he doesn't use expletives on the air. He does interview strippers, and near the end of each show, gives his opinion on news stories. There is no law saying it's illegal to interview strippers on the air, but because "indecency" is vaguely defined as "patently offensive sexual or excretory references" the FCC could act as if there is. The FCC could use the stripper-interviews as a pretext to drive Howard Stern off the air, when their real concern is his criticism of Bush during the news segment.
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The rest of this column is at the "Moveleft Media" website:
http://www.moveleft.com

[Gung_Fu]

1. Ahhhh! If people are actually offended by that...

then they just shouldn't listen. It's not hard.

[Eric J in MN]

5. In my column, I say that giving people warning is the answer.

In my column, I say that giving people warning is the answer.

I don't agree with heavy fines against supposed "indecency."

Just let shows for adults, say "This show is for adults" as they go to commercial-break," and then let them say whatever they want.

[rumguy]

2. they are wetting their shorts over Stern's attacks on Bush

they will try and shut him up...we can't let that happen...

[Eric J in MN]

7. one thing we can do is call our Senators on Monday morning.

The House has passed the new indency bill, but the Senate hasn't.

If the Senate rejects the bill, it will send a signal to the FCC.

[7th_Sephiroth]

3. perhaps DU should become a political force

raise money for a good lawyer for stern perhaps, help fight the FCC

[Eric J in MN]

4. Viacom has enough lawyers of its own (nt)

nt

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. but

will they back stern or cave under the pressure of the FCC (they can shut viacom down if they opposed the fcc)

[Eric J in MN]

8. Mel Karmazin, the current CEO of Viacom, has been loyal to Stern for

Mel Karmazin, the current CEO of Viacom, has been loyal to Stern for many years.

I hope that continues.

[7th_Sephiroth]

9. me too

at some point the fcc must be forced to stop wipeing thier fundy asses with the constitution

[Eric J in MN]

10. right now, the pro-censorship forces have the momentum, but

Right now, the pro-censorship forces have the momentum, but if people's favorite performers are taken off the air, the tide will turn. Then millions of people will be demanding a better way of addressing indecency, which treats adults as such.

[7th_Sephiroth]

11. yes but i fear that by then

the goverment will have done thinks (like concentration camps) to keep things down

[Eric J in MN]

13. I'm hoping that John Kerry will win and take the country the other way nt

nt

[Deja Q]

12. Won't this very act kill off FOX programming?

:party:

Expect Rupert Murdoch to try to get this 'decency enforcement' fascism killed because it spits in the face of "free speech". Which is ironic, because he wants free use of speech to make money. "Free" has nothing to do with it...

[Eric J in MN]

14. Murdoch might assume that his shows won't be fined because

Murdoch might assume that his shows won't be fined because he's the owner of Fox News, and so this bill won't affect him.

[tobius]

19. come on, the company getting fined is clear channel,

$755,000 just for "the love sponge guy".

[Eric J in MN]

21. Good point. If we call out Senators on Monday, and the corporate leaders

Good point. If we call out Senators on Monday, and the corporate leaders lobby against the "Decency Enforcement Act," maybe we can still stop it from becoming law.

[maggrwaggr]

15. The term "Decency Enforcement" is so frighteningly Orwellian

I mean, you can't make shit like that up. Of you could, but it would be overwritten.

[Eric J in MN]

16. The definition of indecency is vague. Instead of doing

The definition of indecency is vague. Instead of doing the difficult work of trying to spell out to broadcasters what they can't say, Congress took the easier approach of harsh fines.

Indecency is defined as "patently offensive sexual or excretory references," but what is offensive to one person may not be offensive to another person.

The FCC doesn't need to prove its case in court to punish a company. It can just say, we're not approving licenses because you haven't paid our huge fine, after we didn't like something you said.

[neebob]

17. It's called the Decency Enforcement Act?

Good grief. As little as I would miss the constant stream of sexual jokes and innuendo, as much as I wish the TV and radio people would restrain themselves, it scares the crap out of me that such a law is being developed under this administration, in the climate of fear and stupidity they have created.

Look what finally got the ball rolling - one little titty boob, partially covered, for like half a second, compared to all the outrageous and embarrassing things that were being shown and said in the years leading up to it. Like all of a sudden one day it was a problem.

I realize the religious right had been screaming about it for a while, and I don't question their motives, but I do question those of the government. Never mind the obscenely rich media moguls suddenly pretending to be concerned. Considering what "started" it, I believe it's all just a big excuse to control the airwaves. How easy it will be to slip in language that prevents people from criticizing the Fraudministration. And how does it all relate to the Patriot Act? And who's going to vote against it, knowing that the majority of their constituents would rather not hear dirty jokes and swearing and are not interested enough to find out what else is in the bill? Gosh, you know, there just aren't that many jobs where you get to sit around in meetings all day, with that kind of compensation and prestige.

I don't want to find out.

[Eric J in MN]

18. The bill to increase fines passed the House by 391 to 22.

The bill to increase fines passed the House by 391 to 22.

Now Congresspersons can say, "I care so much about decency that blah, blah, blah."

Never mind free speech. Never mind abuse-of-power by the FCC to silent dissent, which the bill encourages.

[neebob]

20. Wow, nuther big surprise

Two of them, actually. Perhaps I can tear myself away from listening to Joe Lieberman babbling about security and grinding his failed-campaign axe on Wolf Blitzer to locate and review the language of the Decency Enforcement Act.

[Eric J in MN]

22. For the text of the version the House passed, go here

For the text of the version the House passed, go here.

(you may need to add ":" to the end of the address)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.RES.554:


And please call your Senators' offices against passing the "Dececncy Enforcement Act of 2004" or otherwise increasing FCC fines.

[Eric J in MN]

23. kick

kick