Conservative Groups Urge Senate to Block Wheeler Over Broadcast Indecency

Tom Wheeler, President Obama's nominee for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, may be feeling the heat of the position even before he's confirmed. Led by Morality in Media, a group of more than 70 conservative organizations are urging Senators to block Wheeler's confirmation "unless he agrees to lead a vigorous effort to enforce the federal decency law."

Other groups in the coalition include the Parents Television Council and the Media Research Center. Wheeler's position on broadcast indecency is unclear. During his Senate commerce nomination hearing, he was very careful to avoid one of the third rails of the FCC. He acknowledged there is a problem but stopped short of taking a firm position. Wheeler's answer just didn't cut it for the organizations that signed the Senate letter. "The FCC is the guardian of decency on broadcast TV and radio. The next FCC chair needs to show leadership on the issue and enforce the law, which he is free to do after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in FCC v. Fox of last June," the groups wrote in the July 9 letter.