FCC considering move to ban NFL Redskins team name

[alp227]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission is considering whether to punish broadcasters for using the moniker of the Washington NFL team, the Redskins, a word many consider a slur to Native Americans, the agency's chairman indicated on Tuesday.

The FCC, which enforces broadcast indecency violations, has received a petition from legal activist John Banzhaf III, asking that regulators strip local radio station WWXX-FM of its broadcasting license when it comes up for renewal for using the name "Redskins."

Banzhaf says the word is racist, derogatory, profane and hateful, making its use "akin to broadcasting obscenity."

"We'll be looking at that petition, we will be dealing with that issue on the merits and we'll be responding accordingly," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told reporters.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/30/us-usa-fcc-redskins-idUSKCN0HP2HM20140930

[monmouth3]

1. And while the FCC is cleaning house maybe they could look at Limbaugh and the indecency

he spews on a daily basis...

[GP6971]

4. Fat chance of that unfortunately. n/t

[GGJohn]

7. So you're in favor of stifling free speech?

Much as I detest that RW asshole Limpballs, he does have a right to free speech, same as anyone else.

[Oktober]

9. How would you codify that info law or legal standards?

[Dont call me Shirley]

2. That would be one more strike against Dan Snyder. More public shaming needed to change name.

[TygrBright]

3. Love the weasel-speak: "many consider a slur"...

Others, of course, just think it's a team of potatoes.



cynically,
Bright

[shenmue]

20. DUzy

[customerserviceguy]

5. I'm a bit surprised

that not even one network has yet announced a policy of only referring to "the Washington football team", and eschewing the word "Redskins" entirely.

Since it's easy to block out anything on a screen, one step further would be to blank out the word when it would normally appear in the frame (like a shot that shows the walls around the sidelines), that would make the point quite graphically.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

6. They should change it to the Washington Plaidskins.

[customerserviceguy]

10. That wouldn't offend the Scottish? n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

11. You have to weigh the good against the bad. I'd stick with plaid.

[rpannier]

31. My guess is there are contractual issues involved

They are likely required to treat every team the same in broadcasts
The name is still legal and the majority of the public, especially the football public, do not view it a racist
So whether I think they should change the name or shun the team for it (which I do) it's irrelevant to the networks and the NFL

[customerserviceguy]

35. That's an interesting guess

But what if someone put it to the test? Would the NFL screw with a broadcaster, or even a local news organization that decided to not use the term in its sports reporting? Would the NFL owners, who already have plenty of problems right now, want to buy another one?

[rpannier]

36. Hard to say

The network problem might come in terms of being in breach of contract
That's a lot of money if sued and they'd likely get barred from being able to show NFL games for a vary long time
The last time a network balked at the NFL was CBS in the late 80's-early 90's and the NFC contract went to Fox.
CBS took a bath and it helped build the Fox brand because the games lead into the Sunday night shows on the fledgling network

The NFL would likely fight it because they recognize the public has short term memories
After the Adrian Peterson indictment their ratings went up for the following week

[customerserviceguy]

38. If you had a local affiliate

who was not part and parcel of the network, but an independent entity, they might be able to refer to "Washington 21, and the Philadelphia Eagles 28" if that were the score of the game. I doubt that the NFL would come down on a local broadcaster for refusing to use the word "Redskins", as the PR would be horrible.

[Oktober]

8. Not that there is anything important going on with the FCC...

Maybe an issue that actually affects millions and millions of people every day?

[elleng]

30. Right.

Thanks.

[name not needed]

12. "Racist, derogatory, profane and hateful." None of which is illegal.

They don't have time for net neutrality, or to block the Comcast merger, but these small minded fascists have plenty of time to consider every half-assed attempt to restrict freedom of speech and expression. If they actually follow through with this vile, contemptible nonsense, I will never vote for another Democrat for as long as I live.

[davidpdx]

27. I agree with most of what you said

(except the part about not voting for D's if it passes). The push needs to be for the team itself to change their name, not to censor. I don't honestly think it will go anywhere. It would not only affect NFL broadcasts, but any broadcast in which football might be discussed. Two college broadcasters talking about Player X from Y School who was drafted last year by the Redskins and there you have it. I'll fight against it and keep supporting the idea that Washington needs to change their name.

[rpannier]

32. The way its phrased sounds more like canned response

The kind of answer they give when asked about any issue

Kind of like apologies
I wish to apologize to (insert name here) for having (insert offensive behavior). I will never (reinsert offensive behavior) again and hope that I am forgiven.

addendum: If you are a Republican... I have rededicated my life to Jesus and have been forgiven and hope you will forgive me too.

[olddad56]

39. I agree that none of this is illegal. Just just unethical...

The FCC shouldn't have to police the Washington football team. The NFL should.

The owners and the NFL should get that they are being offensive and insensitive to an entire race of people.

Interesting that the NFL has fined the 49ers QB $11,000 for using the n-word during a game, but the same NFL is okay with a team in the NFL using a racial slur for team name.

That is pretty hypocritical, I wonder if Roger Goodell would be okay with Washington changing their team name to the "wifebeaters".

Probably.

[BlueJazz]

13. I have problems with this whole name change thing but that's me.

I've never associated the Redskins word with something derogatory but it's most likely because of my birthplace.
(Australia).
Having said that, if the word offends the America Indians then why not let them decide.?

Maybe I just don't know enough about the subject to get emotional about it..??

[mac56]

15. I think you may not know enough about it.

A "red skin" was the phrase used for evidence of a bounty kill. A battle trophy. The commodification of Native skin.

There is no way this is an honorific.

[BlueJazz]

16. Well...that one bit of info puts an entirely new thought process upon me. I understand why now.

[Psephos]

21. The OED does not agree.

The averred history of the word seems mightily dependent on a person's politics. IMO history should be factual, not ideological.

Wiki actually has a pretty good article on the etymology. You should read it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redskin_%28slang%29

[mac56]

22. Oh my, I'd hate to question the OED's awareness of racial insensitivity.

What was I thinking anyway?!

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/opinion/rdkns-proof-indian-kill-146965

[Psephos]

23. you've demonstrated my point far better than I could n/t

[mac56]

24. Not to worry. I'm sure you'll be keeping your beloved team name.

[Psephos]

25. I could not care less about the team or the name.

But I do think that facts are useful things in a discussion.

[Oktober]

33. Wow, I think you summed up the whole conversation in about 2 posts..

[NCjack]

14. This has to be ploy to cut Snyder's taxes. Is there a difference in treating a

loss that he voluntarily takes as compared to a loss forced by the FCC? I can't believe that the FCC gives a crap if Snyder's football team is the "Redskins". But, they do look out for the interests of the 1%.

[onenote]

17. I think the name should be changed, but this petition is stupid

unless you want to open the door for license renewal challenges against any radio station that broadcasts rap songs that use the n word.

[alp227]

18. N word is edited from radio edits. Nt

[mac56]

19. You say that as if it were a bad thing.

[onenote]

26. I'm saying that if African American artists and minority owned stations play those songs unedited

they shouldn't be at risk of losing their licenses.

[alp227]

29. Not a realistic situation as most radio stations play songs with N-word edited.

The N-word goes out of radio edits just like the Seven Dirty Words. Chances are the stations that keep the N-word unbleeped are not playing mainstream rap - they're independent/noncommercial operations (think college radio) playing underground rap most likely. The radio station at my college campus has sometimes left the N word unedited from songs.

[onenote]

34. and they shouldn't face losing their license for doing so

[former9thward]

28. This is a publicity seeking petition.

The FCC will deny it because it is unconstitutional.

[RobinA]

37. "Unconstitutional"

seems to be less and less of a problem these days.

[olddad56]

40. A change is coming and this is just one more step towards that change.

Sooner or later, the team will change the name.

[Iamthetruth]

41. Wow

Really, this is what they do with their time? Bringing up two boys I have lost count on the number of times I have to turn the channel or turn the tv off completely and that would be network tv.