FCC's Decency Policing Inadequate, Pro-Family Advocate Complains
by Mary Rettig
August 18, 2004
(AgapePress) - A spokesman for the American Family Association says the Federal Communications Commission is not doing enough to punish broadcasters who violate decency standards.AFA's Buddy Smith is concerned that the fines imposed by the FCC -- for a shock jock's offensive and off-color antics, for instance -- are not really deterring stations from broadcasting offensive programming. He points to the case of Eric "Mancow" Muller, who has netted dozens of formal complaints for his vulgar, sexually graphic jokes. By way of punitive action, the FCC recently settled for a $300,000 payment from Emmis Communications, which syndicates the "Mancow" show.
Smith considers the $300,000 fine against Emmis Communications to be little more than a slap on the wrist. The FCC needs to show it is serious by fining such offensive broadcasters millions of dollars, he says, "but that doesn't go far enough. The record should prove that a fine is not going to fix the problem."
The broadcast of obscene content is both illegal and indecent, Smith points out. He says a broadcaster should not be allowed simply to pay a nominal penalty for indecency and go on broadcasting, but instead, "the station's license should be taken away from them. They should lose that privilege over this."
The AFA spokesman notes that, in handling the Emmis Communications violation, the federal agency's actions may have actually prevented real justice from taking place. "What the FCC did in one little sweep," he explains, "is they fined these stations $300,000 and then cleared out the files, so that when the license comes up again for review, the files will be empty. The complaints will be gone."
The FCC is not doing its job, the pro-family advocate says, and the American people deserve better. However, he makes a notable exception in commending one commissioner, Michael Copps, for trying to speak out and do the right thing.
Smith says Copps consistently speaks up for broadcast decency on behalf of the American public. But, he adds, "I'm afraid his voice, too many times, is a very lonely one with this commission."
The American public needs to back Copps up, Smith says, by insisting that change take place. He says it is up to the people to demand that the FCC get serious about policing the air waves and upholding broadcast decency standards.
