FCC chief wants crackdown on obscenity over the airwaves

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- FCC Commissioner Michael Powell said Wednesday he is calling for a dramatic increase in fines for broadcasters that allow the "F-word" and other obscenities on the air.

Powell said he wants the fines increased by a factor of 10 because Congress has not raised them in decades. Powell said the current maximum fine of $27,500 per incident was not enough to persuade broadcasters to watch their language.

"Some of these fines are peanuts," Powell told a National Press Club luncheon., according to a report from The Associated Press. "They're just a cost of doing business. That has to change."

His statements followed a controversial ruling from the FCC's enforcement bureau that the F-word uttered by rock singer Bono on television last year was not obscene.

more...........

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/01/14/fcc.obscenity/

[goforit]

1. FREEDOM OF SPEECH???????????

Hello Powell...............just resign!!!
And take your Dad with ya!!!!

[saigon68]

32. Mike Powell is a Lap Dog

He has never had too many original thoughts-- Except, I'm hungry--- I'm cold, I need sex ---- etc etc.

[Robb]

2. ...So you can splash Saddam's sons' corpses

all over the place, but if an aging superstar says "fuck", the republic is doomed. :eyes:

[PennyLane]

21. Exactly!

The visual image of dead guys can't compete with Bono saying "fuck".
The constant bombardment of our youth by violence in video games and
on primetime is nothing compared to having them hear dirty words.
Why is it a dirty word? Sex is not a dirty word. Screw isn't either.
The Moral Majority needs something to cling to. A reason to exist.
It's only dirty in the ear of the beholder. When I was a kid you
couldn't say "sucks" but everyone says it now. I recommend we all
say fuck as much as possible and when the novelty wears off it will
be an acceptable phrase in the English language. All in favor, say
"F*CK!" :hippie:

[xxqqqzme]

23. not that long ago 'pissed off '

was an un-utterable TV phrase - it's all over the place now!

edit: and BTW - F*ck U, dilettante assh*le.

Jon Stewart is in sooo much trouble cuz I can read lips!

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jazzgirl]

29. Do I hear a door slamming???

:nuke:

[rustydog]

31. The problem lies in variations on free speech

If a news show were to air footage of an Anti-Bush rally and a shot of a Buck Fush poster or a Fuck Bush poster was on the air, the news organization would be fined for airing the "obscenity".
which to me is Bush, not fuck.

This is a right-wing back-door attack on a fundamental freedom of speech issue. Don't you think rap music would be next on the list?
It is a dangerous precedent that must be controlled and governed by comunity standards, NOT legislated morality.

[0007]

3. Will late night comedy and movies be effected?

Gee whiz - dad gum it - for Pete sakes - aw horse feathers - Glad I got that off me chest!

I watched a little of this moronic idiot on c-span before I shut him down.

[salinen]

4. Powell is card 51

in my deck of bad guys.

[Disandra]

5. Fuck that.

:7

Seriously, kids learn how to curse properly on the playground, not from the television (much to their parent's annoyance). Don't like that there are dirty words on the television? CHANGE THE CHANNEL.

And, yeah, I agree that showing two dead bodies on primetime television, and gloating about it is a heck of a lot worse than the occasional "ass."

[Nay]

6. Crackdown on obscenity? Guess that means * has to stay off.

[Eric J in MN]

7. The lies of Michael Powell and his father Colin Powell are obscene.

Michael Powell declared on national television, "I'm against media consolidation," at the same time he was raising the station-ownership cap from 35% to 45% and allowing companies to own a town's newspaper and main tv station.

Colin Powell showed the UN pictures and audio which he said proved that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction.

A few critics pointed out that Colin Powell never said when or where that audio was made, but most in the media considered Colin Powell's presentation to be conclusive proof that Saddam had wmd.

[burrowowl]

16. Amen!

We need a crackdown on Powell Jr and his ilk. Coporate Whores, they are.

[54anickel]

8. There was a huge letter writing campaign by the fundies on this.

I actually sent an e-mail myself. Thought it was a good opportunity to cuss young Powell out. Cursed like a sailor, I did. Let him have it on the relaxed ownership changes as well.

I know this won't go over real well here on DU, but I am from the old times and I am prefer not to have obscenities during prime time on local TVs public airways. Flame me if you want.

I understand the freedom of speech deal, but I think we could show some consideration to others on the public airwaves as well. Guess maybe I feel this way because the limitations have been in place my entire TV watching life.

[CaptAhab]

46. But who decides what is obscene?

I also prefer not to have obscenities during prime time, but the problem is that it is the government that decides what 'obscenity' is. How long before the Republicans start using this to stifle political dissent? I consider the 1st amendment to be much more important than anybody's sensitive ears.

[NashVegas]

9. I Hate to Sound Paranoid

But I think this may have something to do with the O'Neill stuff, as in an attempt to tear at O'Neill's credibility to give the RW gabfesters more ammo.

I need to see if I can find some old (like late 2000/early 2001) R & R interviews where Powell on his thoughts about this stuff.

A few hundred protesters over this speech vs 750k letters about de-regulation. Tell me this ain't fucked up.

[demdave]

10. I am all for it. Historically, there has always been banned words.

It never stopped All in the Family from being edgy and humorous. I don't want to have to set with my children and try to "push mute" censor the TV. This is not a sli<[ery slope. We have had words we couldn't saw on the air forever. It is simply trying to raise the bar back up out of the muck. [br />
If you can't express an idea without the "F" word, get a vocabulary.

[54anickel]

11. Thanks, nice to know I am not alone. n/t

[Piperay]

25. I agree...

I get really sick and tired of being inundated continually with the F word. I use it myself but I don't use it in public and subject others to it.

[BiggJawn]

12. Uh, Mikey? Did you get Karl and Dick's latest memo?

The one that went into detail on the need to keep the Murkan Sheeple stupified and staring at the Glass Tit, tearing themselves away only long enough to scurry to Walmart for more palm-oil-flavoured "goodies" and a newer, bigger tit to stare at in rapt adoration?

Did you read the part where Karl said that Jery Springer and the assholes on "The Island" must be allowed further license in order to keep the sheep's attention off of the doings of PNAC?

Didn't Dick have a talk with you about how bigger fines against Broadcasters meant smaller donations from the Conservative Corporations that own The Media?

Guess not....

[crazycat911]

13. Hi BJ

K9STR

73s

shhhh!

[BiggJawn]

27. Oh-Ho....

Well!

Di-dah-dit.

[bluedeminredstate]

14. Yeah, let's ban the word

and fine the perps! After all, we can see the actual ACT on any daytime soap - we don't need to hear it when we can see it with our own eyes.

Frankly, I'd rather hear Bono speak from the heart, swear words and all, than see phony, embarassing soft porn as I surf the channels during the afternoon. The ick factor is so much worse when two bad actors are shoving their tongues down each other's throats and humping like frisky lap dogs. Why not fine them?

:puke:

[Cocoa]

15. Our tax dollars at work

Powell is useless. A total nepotism case.

[demobandit]

17. I may be in the minority here...

but I agree with Powell on this. I shouldn't have to be worried that my kids with here the F-Bomb when were watching network television. I mean, I understand in the movies and HBO or Showtime, but I don't expect to hear it on an award show. Celebrities should show a little class and understand that we are trying to raise our kids.

[Cocoa]

19. you still will have to worry about it

this increases the fine, it doesn't prevent anyone from swearing.

Anyway, is our federal government really supposed to be in the business of making celebrities "show class?"

[CaptAhab]

47. Slippery slope

But the thing is, the government can decide that all political opposition is also 'obscene', and further erode the First Amendment. And besides, what are your kids doing watching television anyway? Shouldn't you be the one who's rearing them? Give them some books and teach them some culture, for goodness' sake!

[demobandit]

50. Ahh give me a break!!

My kid watching a show on television does not mean I am not raising them. You say I should give them a book to read? What is the difference between them reading a book and watching TV. Couldn't you make an argument that I am still not raising them by putting their nose in a book.

And sorry buddy, television is part of American culture. Were not in the middle ages or anything. And I may be liberal, but I'm not reading my kids Karl Marx.

[Rex]

18. Colon Bowel's son

A chip off the old rectum.

[saigon68]

33. "A chip off the old rectum."

LOL

[PartyPooper]

20. Maybe, just maybe, if Junior were to be ou$ted with his regime in 2004

then the "F' word wouldn't be used so much anymore. Eh?

:shrug:

[PennyLane]

22. Too Late Now........

.......the horse is already out of the barn!

[drscm]

24. What about the obscenity they call "news" - ala FAUX - which

I find much more offensive, if not dangerous.

It's much easier to attack the word "f-word" than deal with the real issue: truth and fairness in media.

[Khephra]

26. Heck, let's go back to the days when we'd stone people

for saying "forbidden words". G-D d-amn it!

[pfitz59]

30. I'm F***king *****amned pissed-off!

That ex-Army priss Powell wants to silence my salty breathren! Life is becoming blander each day under the f***ing Bush* administartion! How can you outlaw spice?

[kskiska]

34. Isn't this ironic?

They just pardoned Lenny Bruce.

[LeftHander]

35. Lets drop the F-bomb....

....and see what happens....


I dropped it today at 7:46 CST....

[Robb]

36. Mild comic relief

I said this in another thread, but it dropped like a stone, so I'm going to say it again.

If I owned the news, the headline for this would read
"Powell wants $275,000 Per Fuck"
:D

[BiggJawn]

37. He ain't worth it.

Now, on the other hand, Moi......:evilgrin:

[yellowcanine]

38. Did he say which words wouldn't be allowed?

Or is he saving that for later?

[progressivejazz]

39. This is anti-capitalistic!

What ever happened to the free market system? Isn't the idea that corporations offer us what they think will sell and the consumers make the choice? If there were no market for this stuff, it wouldn't be popular, would it? (Hell, man, that's so obvious it's a tautology.)

Powell is obviously an anti-American. Probably a communist.

[devilgrrl]

40. Can they also crack down on playing the same crappy music...

Over and over and over again? :puke: :boring: :grr: :puke:

[freethought]

41. F--k him!

[cosmik debris]

42. Cost of Doing Business???

Isn't that what the corporate giants say when they get caught by OSHA or EPA? Now that is what has to change!

[cosmik debris]

43. Bumper sticker

I have a bumper sticker on my car that says F_CK B_SH (U Got Left Out) You can make your own at home with a plain paper B&W printer and some wide clear packaging tape. Say it LOUD, say it Proud.

[GinaMaria]

44. wish Mikey Powell was as concerned with

the FAIRNESS doctrine as he is with the word fuck. Which is the real obscenity?

[amber dog democrat]

45. the real obscenity is

what is NOT censored. Garbage and lies. If you watch TV you are hosed down by garbage and lies.
Lowest Comon Denominator = stupidity or worse.

[banana republican]

48. Does this include O'really????

What he says is an obscenity. Let alone what Rush says....

[fshrink]

49. Va te faire foutre connard! (French version).