Those Pesky Nuclear Meltdowns and FCC Fines

[queeg]

DiZNoG writes on slashdot:

"With Congress debating new higher fines for broadcast indecency in the wake of last year's 'wardrobe malfunction' and Howard Stern's antics, Rolling Stone has published an interesting perspective on things. Rolling Stone did a review of fines levied by other federal regulatory bodies, and has found the new indecency fines disproportionately large compared to other fines. According to the article, if the bill passes then 'for the price of Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' during the Super Bowl, you could cause the wrongful death of an elderly patient in a nursing home and still have enough money left to create dangerous mishaps at two nuclear reactors.' The article further states the largest fine the Nuclear Regulatory Commission levied last year was $60,000, this new bill would allow broadcast indecency fines up to $500,000. Glad I keep my broadcast cursing to a minimum, now if I could only get a handle on those pesky dangerous nuclear mishaps."

[benburch]

1. When I worked writing nuclear safety software for a major utility

I saw things that would make you feel sick.

They would cover up problems with the plant's safety hardware for fear of drawing a fine from the NRC. As it would require admitting the problem to fix the problem, we couldn't even document what was wrong... Eventually, we would fix the problems behind the companies back. Of course, this meant entirely without NRC review, which isn't great either.

[queeg]

2. where's Rickover when he is needed

Once upon a time Nuke power was safe. Then the money grubbers wanted in.