US Senate committee passes FCC indecency bill

[S0S]

"US Senate committee passes FCC indecency bill (http://pressesc.com/01184929170_senate_indecency_bill)


The Protecting Children from Indecent Programming Act introduced by Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) would effectively overturn the court decision on the Fox Television Stations v. FCC in which the court ruled: "We find the FCC's new policy sanctioning 'fleeting expletives' is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedures Act for failing to articulate a reasoned basis for its change in policy.""

[babybagadonuts]

huh?

[Midkiff]

Fuck the FCC and fuck the Senate.

[cupcakelove]

The bill made it out of committee, it hasn't made it to the full Senate. We don't have to freak out just yet.

[envirogator]

I think what is most disturbing about this bill, although just out of committee, is that a democrat led committee is clearly pandering to the religious right. I doubt that the bill has legs to make it through the senate, let alone the house, the fact that it even made it out of committee is some-what scary.

[Furtherman]

Does this mean I can't say "poop" ?

[BeltOfScotch]

huh?

To explain.

The FCC had held some broadcasters liable for expletives uttered out of nowhere on air, stuff like Bono randomly saying fuck (or something like that) on an awards show a couple of years back. An appellate court threw out the fines saying the broadcasters couldn't be held liable for "fleeting expletives" because it essentially acted to chill speech.

This law, which is only coming out of a Senate committee and would still have to be scheduled and voted upon by the full Senate, would overturn that court's ruling and give the FCC the right to impose fines for those situations. Congress is about to go on vacation for August and when they come back the Iraq war discussions will be in full swing, so I would doubt this gets a lot of play anytime soon.

[envirogator]

Does this mean I can't say "poop"

That'll be $5K, please

[HBox]

I think what is most disturbing about this bill, although just out of committee, is that a democrat led committee is clearly pandering to the religious right. I doubt that the bill has legs to make it through the senate, let alone the house, the fact that it even made it out of committee is some-what scary.

This isn't a left/right issue and this isn't pandering to the religious right. It's pandering to parents generally. This is politicians of all types scoring easy, meaningless points with parents.

[envirogator]

This isn't a left/right issue and this isn't pandering to the religious right.

I disagree. The original FCC complaint at issue was a result of complaints by a family rights group that has deep religious ties. They monitor tv broadcasts and lodge complaints

[HBox]

I disagree. The original FCC complaint at issue was a result of complaints by a family rights group that has deep religious ties. They monitor tv broadcasts and lodge complaints

That's only because those groups monitor everything they possibly can. The appeal of these kinds of fines goes beyond those groups however.

[cougarjake13]

fuck these parents

just police your kids your fucking selves ya lazy bastards

[Snacks]

This isn't a left/right issue and this isn't pandering to the religious right. It's pandering to parents generally. This is politicians of all types scoring easy, meaningless points with parents.

that is exactly what it is. Most people dont mind if they hear a curse word by accident or in general but when it comes to children this country goes ape shit. "OMG We must protect the children at all cost"