Former FCC officials claim calling team 'Redskins' on airwaves is illegal

Former Federal Communications Commission officials are arguing that it is illegal to say the name of Washington, DC's professional football team on broadcast television and radio.

They argue that the name "Redskins" is offensive to American Indians and violates federal rules banning indecent material on public airwaves. Liberal public interest activists and former FCC officials, including former Chairman Reed Hundt, sent a letter to Redskins owner Dan Snyder urging him to change the team's name. The officials noted that broadcasters are granted the right to use federal airwaves in exchange for a promise to promote the public interest. "It is inappropriate for broadcasters to use racial epithets as part of normal, everyday reporting. Thankfully, one does not hear the 'n' word on nightly newscasts," they wrote.