FCC upholds CBS fine for Jackson Breast Flash

FCC UPHOLDS CBS FINE FOR JACKSON BREAST FLASH
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The Federal Communications Commission upheld on Wednesday its decision to fine 20 CBS Corp. television stations a total of $550,000 for airing pop singer Janet Jackson's breast flash in 2004. "The commission affirms its finding that CBS' violation was willful and declines to reduce the forfeiture imposed upon CBS," the agency said in a statement. In a separate statement, FCC Commissioner explained why he dissented, in part, from the order: "While I agree with the ultimate outcome of today's Order on Reconsideration, I concur in part because the Commission again has not provided much-needed clarity and guidance to our decision-making process in indecency enforcement. In addition, I dissent in part because I continue to believe the Commission has erred in fining only CBS owned and operated stations, not all stations that broadcasted the indecent material." He added: "I also have grave concerns with the failure of this Order to provide clear guidance on the nature of the Commission's new fine imposition policy announced in the March 15th, 2006, Omnibus TV Order. Rather than stating what the new policy is not, as today's Order does, the Commission should state affirmatively the key features of our new 'more limited approach towards the imposition of forfeiture penalties.' After all, it is still unclear how the Commission determines the sufficiency of a viewer's complaint in light of this new enforcement policy."
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-05-31T203903Z_01_WBT005460_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-DECENCY-CBS.xml

* FCC press release:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-265722A1.doc

* FCC order:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-68A1.doc

* Statement by Commissioner Adelstein
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-68A2.doc

* FCC Reaffirms Its Indecency Fine for CBS
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114911044636367845.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace