Yesterday, President Bush signed into law a bill that increases FCC indecency fines tenfold, from $32,500 to $325,000 per violation. The sponsors of the bill, as well as the members of the Parents Televison Council, pushed for the higher penalties so they can make more of an impact on the networks. "For some broadcasters, this amount is meaningless," said Bush at the signing ceremony. The law states that broadcast networks cannot air any obscene material and no indecent material from 6 to 10 PM. The problem is, the definition of "indecent" is still up in the air, and the mechanism for the FCC to intiate indeceny investigations is coming under fire for its inequites (as in: 4,000 PTC members with Internet access and a form letter can trigger an investigation). The push for higher fines was sparked, of course, by Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl.
Oh, Janet. What have you gotten us into here? All this hoo-ha over a misshapen, nipple-ring-clad breast. And, to be honest with you, considering what's happened since, that looky-loo you gave us so wasn't worth it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-16-2006 @ 12:11PM
Ryan said...
Can I call my network and complain about indecency whenever Bush interrupts my prime-time shows?
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6-16-2006 @ 12:58PM
Jeff said...
I'll never understand why there isn't a group as well organized as the PTC on the *other* side of the issue. 4,000 calls/emails to the FCC saying "I don't really care that JJs boob was shown for half a second" or "Teenage orgies are fine by me, 'cause I know how to change the channel if I want to" or "Why do only those who can afford HBO get to hear words like 'ass' or 'god' or even 'fuck'? uncencored", etc.
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6-16-2006 @ 5:52PM
Jesse said...
I find this kind of censorship quite ridiculous. If you don't like what you're watching, don't watch it. If you're concerned about what children are watching, it's YOUR responsibility to control what your children are watching on TV. It just never ceases to amaze me that people keep on complaining when there are technology provided to control what can be watched on TV (v-chips, password lock, etc) - USE it! Seems like that you folks can't be bothered to take responsibility and rather put it on the government. Frankly, people in Europe, even children, are much more grown-up about things like this on TV than you Conservative, stupid, immature Americans are.
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6-16-2006 @ 8:06PM
LC said...
"Frankly, people in Europe, even children, are much more grown-up about things like this on TV than you Conservative, stupid, immature Americans are."
Yes, we all see how "grown up" Europeans are during things like the World Cup.
BTW I think this law is bullshit, but it was bi partisan bullshit since the majority of Congress passed it and it was unanimously passed in the senate.
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