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phredgreen · 12-01-2003, 08:07 AM

because i'm not willing to read the whole fucking thing (i can't read legal-ese), here's a link to the fcc's broadcast indecency statute:

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Enforceme...1/fcc01090.pdf

and a quick note from a representative of the fcc:

Quote:

Last month, I sent an e-mail to FCC Chairman Powell and other FCC officials, asking if it is the agency’s job to step in when cable networks broadcast offensive material. I cited Comedy Central’s unedited broadcast of the movie, “South Park: Bigger, Longer, Deeper,” which had been televised without editing language such as what we commonly call the “f word” and other offensive phrases. I also pointed out that many cable networks now permit the airing of blasphemous phrases such as “Jesus Christ” that are offensive to millions of believers.

Several days later, I received a reply from Sharon Jenkins at the FCC’s Information Access and Privacy Office. Ms. Jenkins attempted to explain the FCC’s role in enforcing broadcast standards; but, in effect, she essentially said the broadcast of odious programming was largely out of the agency’s control.

She wrote, “In light of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the FCC’s authority to regulate the content of television programs is extremely limited. In fact, federal law specifically states that the FCC shall not engage in censorship.”

Does this mean that the cable networks are free to televise hardcore pornography?

Apparently not. In fact, the FCC is authorized to censor pornographic content.

Ms. Jenkins explained, “Generally, the FCC’s authority over programming content is limited to programming that is sexually explicit or obscene. Further, the U.S. Supreme Court has determined that the FCC cannot control the content of programming if a lesser remedy, such as requiring that the program be shown after a certain time, is sufficient.”