The Indecency of Indecency

Filed in archive Legal , Radio on June 20, 2007

In a blow for common sense and against the Bush Administration's pandering to the religious right, a US Court overturned the FCC's ban on 'fleeting expletives'.

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York ruled that the FCC had overstepped its authority granted through the Communications Act to regulate broadcast TV. The Act allows the FCC to fine violators but also prohibits it from censorship.

The ruling involved fines levied against Fox Broadcasting for live swearing in 2006. Ironically Fox is viewed as a strong supporter of the Bush White House and conservative causes.

Historically the FCC has ignored one-time live swearing. The FCC changed that policy in 2004 when the Bono of the group U2 accepted an award at the Golden Globe Awards in 2002 and said "This is really, really, fucking brilliant. Really, really great."