Smut Spike All PTC's Doing (23,542 out of 23,547 complaints)

[Newsjock]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6283446.html?display=Breaking%20News&referral=SUPP

By John Eggerton
Broadcasting & Cable

As expected, it turns out the spike in FCC complaints in July was mostly attributable to Parent's Television Council. But just "how" mostly came as something of a surprise.

After a steep drop in indecency complaints at the FCC in second quarter 2005, the number bounced back in the third quarter.

For the three months ended Sept. 30, indecency/obscenity complaints quadrupled to 26,185 from 6,161 logged during the previous three months. Almost all of that spike came in July (23,547), with only 1,716 complaints in August and 922 in September.

According to PTC's Web site, the group filed a total of 23,542 complaints in July (10,775 against Fox and 12,767 against ABC).That would account for all but five of the FCC complaints for the month. Let'srepeat that. Out of 23,547 complaints in July, PTC claims 23,542.


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[TomInTib]

1. Man, those wackos are efficient. That is just sick.

Don't they have anything else to do?

Like raising those kids they are so worried about?

[ixion]

2. ya know, that's funny, because I'm offended by all evangelical shows

maybe I should start complaining about them. :evilgrin:

[KCDoug]

3. Yep

we should file complaints one every one of these Fundy Freak Festivals....

:evilgrin:

How does one file a complaint..can it be done online or is there a paper form to fill out...?

[northzax]

5. according to the FCC's website...

email complaints to [e-mail]

[Ian David]

29. Check out Preacher Watch...

Help the Secular Coalition PreacherWatch!
Write the FCC

THIS CAMPAIGN NO LONGER ACTIVE -- Thank you for your participation!

Why this campaign? TV preachers, or "televangelists," are getting a free ride from television providers. All day, every day they receive exclusive access to their own television channels. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) policy requires that these free access channels be granted to educational programmers. The Secular Coalition for America has filed an FCC complaint against the nation's largest satellite provider, DIRECTV, arguing that televangelists should not be taking up air time intended for distance learning and the arts. To help support our complaint, we are asking you to assist us by collecting data about the shows aired on religious broadcasting channels.

More:
http://www.secular.org/preacher.html



See:

FCC to Coalition: Complaint Denied
"Educational" channels for televangelists will continue

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has denied a May 2004 complaint filed by the Secular Coalition for America against satellite television provider DirecTV. The complaint alleged that DirecTV was improperly granting television channel capacity to televangelists, even though the channel capacity in question had been specifically reserved by law for "educational or informational" programming.

"This decision is disappointing," said Coalition President Herb Silverman. "It is further evidence that, in the eyes of the Bush Administration, the religious right can do no wrong."

Attorney David Niose, who filed the Coalition's complaint, pointed out that the FCC decision failed to directly address many of the allegations made in the Coalition's complaint. For example, the Coalition presented evidence that some religious programmers were conducting advertising on the subject channels, in direct violation of the FCC's rules, but the FCC ignored these facts in issuing its decision.

"On the facts and the law, this complaint was meritorious," Niose said. "The details of the Secular Coalition's allegations were largely ignored in the decision."

FCC rules require satellite providers to set aside four percent of available channel capacity for non-commercial "educational or informational" programming. In creating these rules years ago, the FCC predicted that the channels would be used for innovative programming such as long-distance learning, programming for the arts, health care programming and foreign language programming.

Instead, the complaint points out, the channels have been given away to televangelists who use them for preaching and fundraising.

Secular Coalition activists were urged in Sept. to write letters of support for the complaint to the FCC. Niose told the Coalition's board of directors that the FCC confirmed the receipt of mail from supporters.

The Coalition also conducted a PreacherWatch campaign to collect data online about televangelist programming. Information gathered in the PreacherWatch project may prove useful if further action is taken by the Coalition.

Silverman says the Secular Coalition is considering whether to appeal the decision.

More:
http://www.secular.org/fcc_denial.html

[rfranklin]

6. Yes, all that mumbo jumbo about dead men walking and some...

imaginary companion who cures cancer and brings down hurricanes on the land to punish people. They can't substantiate their claims and are guilty of fraud and false advertising.

[struggle4progress]

23. We oughta complain whenever a PTC hack appears on TV. eom

[northzax]

4. this should be simple to deal with

simply annouce that (and this is technically possible, I think) that only the first formal complaint submitted by email forms will not be considered. Also, I would avoid astroturfing by saying that you are doing word searches, if mulitple complaints, with identical wording, are recieved, then only the first will be considered. This second one is easy, my mail program (MacMail) can handle that.

sure, the first can be gotten around by having people actually email directly, instead of using forms, and the second by making people actually write their own words, instead of cutting and pasting. But both take a bit more effort, and make the complaints a little more serious. If people are willing to take the effort to put something into their own words, it means they care more about it than someone who cuts and pastes, or simply adds their email to an issue.

Why do I care? because out tax dollars are going to handle all this spam (and spam it is) which annoys me.

[SoCalDem]

24. But isn;t this the same govt, that can't even google or

communicate with each other.. I recall hearing testimony about how ANCIENT their computers are/were..

and do they even bother to check for astroturfs??

What should happen is for them to issue a challenge opportunity when there's a spike like that..

Announce which organization is complaining with "brazillions" of "complaints, and toss 99% out..

and if they can track them back to an organized effort, bar that organization from complaining again for 12 months.. They might want to keep their powder dry until something else came along

[MsMagnificent]

7. Only FIVE 'Other'

which leads me to believe that in a 'normal', even 'slow' month as quoted (922 in September) the VAST majority of complaints most probably were from this one group.

Wasn't it because of the 'sheer number/volume' and 'pressure on the courts' that they've stolen every right from prisoners in Guantanamo?

Well then, what is THIS?!

Parsing out this data, BTW, shows a jump from legitimate complaints:
The September data, legitimate complaints (estimated, which make 100%) to the added frivolous complaints kiting it up to 18,440%!!
The July data, legitimate complaints (100%, again) to the added frivolous complaints shooting-the-moon up to 470,940%!!!
I wonder what the comparative percentage of load is on the Guantanamo complaints?

I say take away the rights of every PTC member!
That'll larn 'em to make voluminous frivolous lawsuits which belabor our courts and government offices!

edit: checking maths! LOL

[leesa]

8. Too bad they can't fine them like calling 9-11 when you don't need them

They are wasting government resources.

[JNelson6563]

9. Single issue, single minded folks

are expert at swarm action.

Julie

[CottonBear]

10. They could just turn off the TV but that would derail their project

to impose their views on everyone else. :grr:

[Orrex]

11. Doesn't that at some point count as abuse-of-services or something?

I mean, when my neighbor's dog is barking, I don't get together with 23,541 of my neighbors to call 911 on him.

Granted, the level of emergency isn't equal in my example and this idiotic FCC issue, but come on!

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. You're right, your example isn't equal to the FCC issue.

Yours has more merit. You can shut off your own TV, but you can't shut off your neighbor's dog and must resort to outside agencies for relief.

[AlCzervik]

12. i have an 11 year old i watch tv with, i change the channel if there is

something on i think she doesn't need to see, it's that simple.

[zanne]

13. I'm tired of paying for four religious broadcast channels...

on my TV. It's not even mainstream; they're all fundie preachers shouting and yelling all day. Why should I have to pay for that as a non-religious person? THAT offends me.

[anotherdrew]

19. you don't have to. cancel your cable.

Let them know why too. They should have that stuff locked out unless requested, it's basically theological porn.

watch shows on dvd from the library or netflix.

Just a sugestion...

[sinkingfeeling]

14. I've filled out FCC complaint forms several times against Rush and

Robertson, etc. I have never received anything other than an email that they had the form. When do they take action? Or do they only act if it's a bare breast on TV?

[PATRICK]

15. seems a general flailing out

is taking place on the now much publicly despised RW Christian cult coalition. Every issue every loudmouth is incinerating the scene with the very stuff that people hate most. That's fine. They are re-exerting their clout to bash the dogs of media and politics back in line, a little reminder. That too may backfire.

Put it all together and except for certain things specifically helping Bush and the falling on their sword of the Lord to distract and defend the turning tide, it is likely the whole gang blowing up on every issue to drown out the fear and despair in their truth besieged flock and their timid cynical political champions. None will be hurt worse by this than Santorum but it is also totally out of control as they grasp to retain dominance.

That is not to say there are no specific targets: to get their kind of judge and "win" the pro-Life crusade, to control the media, to own candidates bank account and soul, to buck up their their flocks as the f*** the folks, to lay a foundation for the NEXT Bush war against a Muslim country(and Venezuela where "persecution" became an issue- or was it espionage?). Spiritual threats on TV are incredibly part of regular network jobs which it seems can never ever be threatened. Robertson and Falwell have better job security than O'Reilly. FOX will regret ever giving them jobs like France regretted hosting Ayatollah Khomeini.

Take it all together and there is nothing about morality, Chritian or otherwise, but power and exertion of force, rabble rousing in total insincerity for insane or fake moral demands.

[centristo]

16. is the FCC really that stupid?

it makes me so mad when our government is that stupid.

[Caoimhe]

17. Maybe they should fund the agency

Since they seem to be the only ones pimping it. Sickening!

[MojoXN]

18. Good idea!

Why should my tax dollars, (though at present I'm not working) go to read through 23,000+ identical fundie complaints about the same relatively harmless thing?

MojoXN

[Yavin4]

20. In Defense of the Parent's Television Council

They do good work. They neatly compile the most graphic video clips of the worst shows into one neat place.

[struggle4progress]

22. They filed over 700 complaints every single day in July? eom

[JohnnyCougar]

25. Hopefully, there's a spike this weekend, too.

Except from the left-wing blogosphere...about Bill O'Reilly.

I hope you all filed one!

[oxbow]

26. Wait, I thought fundies like Fox

It's surprising that more of them don't make the connection: FOX NEWS DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR "CHRISTIAN NATION!" FOX TALKS OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THEIR MOUTHS, JUST T0 MAKE A BUCK OFF YOUR GULLIBLE ASSES!

[superconnected]

27. It is kind of nice watching them attack fox.

And they aren't going to cope a clue. It's a deep coma they are in.

[Ian David]

28. What about when we complained about Pat Robertson?

Were those complaints not within that timeframe or not taken seriously and just tossed-aside?