TV Networks Oppose FCC Indecency Move

TV NETWORKS OPPOSE FCC INDECENCY MOVE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
NBC, Fox and CBS all weighed in on Friday in a court case concerning FCC indecency fines. Television stations have challenged the fines in court and the FCC has asked the courts for a second try at settling the cases. But the networks have written the court saying they oppose the FCC proposal. ABC filed a court motion backing the FCC's request to review four "fleeting profanity" indecency findings from its March omnibus order. ABC says it will back the FCC move so long as the court retains jurisdiction over the case and will expedite it once the FCC has made its decision on review. The FCC could do anything from decide to propose fines, to reverse one or all of the decisions, to simply strengthen its argument. NBC told the federal appeals court for the second circuit that the FCC is just trying to delay judicial review of its "supposed" indecency guidance. NBC points to the fact that the FCC has not ruled on two-year-old network petitions challenging and asking to stay enforcement of its decision in 2004 that "f-ing brilliant" from Bono on NBC's Golden Globes was indecent. Fox and its affiliates told the court not to let the FCC take another look at four profanity findings it issued last March. Two were for f-words and s-words on the Billboard Music Awards on Fox. Fox called it a "transparent attempt by the FCC to shield its new indecency enforcement regime from judaical review" and "prolong its unconstitutional suppression of broadcasters'protected speech." CBS is strongly opposed to letting the FCC take another look at four "fleeting profanity" rulings, including against CBS's morning news Early Show. CBS says the FCC has had plenty of time to get its act together on profanity and that the FCC's request to delay the court case is unnecessary.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6350383.html
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6350777.html?display=Breaking...
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6350660.html?display=Breaking...
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6350617.html?display=Breaking...

* CBS, Fox, NBC oppose delay to decency challenge
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=televisionNews&story...

** For perspective on the indecency debate from the creative community see: www.creativevoices.libsyn.com.