Posted on 04/04/2013 4:13:16 PM PDT by Morgana
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 4, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The FCC is seeking comments from the public as they consider relaxing their obscenity standards for broadcast television and radio. If adopted the new, lower standards would allow brief “non-sexual” nudity and isolated expletives even during prime time, when most families are typically watching with their children.
Currently, broadcasters face heavy fines for violations of the indecency policy, which bans strong curse words and most nudity. But as media culture grows coarser, the backlog of reported offenses has grown unmanageable for the FCC, leading Chairman Julius Genachowski to order the Enforcement Bureau to reduce the backlog by focusing only on “egregious cases” and dismissing as many of the others as they can.
Since September 2012, the Bureau has reduced its case load by 70 percent, according to a memo released Monday by the FCC. More than a million indecency complaints have been dismissed, many of them because the statute of limitations had expired or they were considered “too stale to pursue.”
Now, the Commission is seeking public comment on whether or not they should permanently relax the indecency standard to include only the most egregious offenses.
Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association, is urging those concerned about the impact of the proposed policy on children to take advantage of the public comment period and tell the FCC not to relax the rules.
“American society is moving further and further away from the Biblical standards of morals and decency set by God, to the point that we have to worry about what our children view in the supermarket checkout, in their school textbooks, and now even in their own homes on television and radio,” said Wildmon. “We’re urging the FCC to uphold high decency standards in entertainment in order to protect America’s children and families.”
Specifically, the FCC is asking citizens to weigh in on how much cursing is too much, and whether nudity should be treated differently than swearing. Citizens are also invited to offer their thoughts on anything else having to do with the indecency standards.
The filing period lasts only through the end of the month.
Comments may be submitted to the FCC online by using the Electronic Filing System and referencing Proceeding No. 13-86, or by referencing GN Docket No. 13-86 through mail at:
Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554
For additional instructions and ways to contact the FCC, read their press release here.
“Currently, broadcasters face heavy fines for violations of the indecency policy, which bans strong curse words and most nudity.”
The heavy fines on broadcasters are on overreach of federal governmental power and relaxation of such restrictions on private industry would be a positive step.
Let’s hope it doesn’t lead to a Helen Thomas wardrobe malfunction. That would be like broadcasting Medusa’s image over the airwaves. Come to think of it, even with just her face it’s like that.
I’m not a frequent TV watcher, but when I am in the room and my wife is watching something, such as History Channel “reality” shows, I would rather hear the blue language than the constant bleeps furnished by the “cleanup techs”.
Besides broadcasters, are there any other industries that you want the Federal Government to place stronger restrictions and regulations?
And this is what happens when the leadership of the country has no moral compass! What is the rational, that broadcast T.V. can’t compete with cable unless they get smuttier? Maybe ABC,NBC, CBS et al should try coming up with real entertainment instead of the carp they air. When my Grandson comes over and he tunes in a show on Disney I am appalled at the garbage they direct at children and they are supposed to be family programming!
Ya...I’ve noticed over the last 20 years....everyone on TV is so over dressed.....
“most families are typically watching with their children.”
OMG.
No wonder the country is so screwed up.
I am not contributing to any decline of morality, I am simply advocating for a private industry to set its own standards and let the market decide what it wishes to consume on broadcast TV and radio without the nanny state dictating regulations.
And we need to allow gay marriage. We have too many government rules. Maybe we can finally have gay sex on TV.
Ever watch ABC Family? It is anything but.
So you’re okay with anything goes on TV? Porn okay?
“FCC considers allowing...more profanity on TV”
No sh!t?
The fastest rising show on TV is Duck Dynasty on A&E. It outdrew American Idol last week.
What does is very conspicuously NOT have? Near Nudity or Nudity, No cursing or even having to bleep out words.
What does is feature? Stable marriages, family, God-fearing people.
And Hollywood is totally lost as to why it is popular.
“Well I am NOT for more profanity and nudity on TV especially over the airwaves, and especially on regular channels.”
Regulation of industry by the Federal Government always leads down a negative path and we should support further government regulation of broadcasters or any other industry.
Moreover, we should permit the broadcasters, their advertisers and their viewership to decide what gets aired.
If the the networks find they can make more money by broadcasting curse words, then they should be permitted to do so with out Federal Government regulation.
And as viewers, we can always turn the TV or radio off if we do not like what is broadcast.
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