Common sense returns.Byline: The Register-Guard The Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. finally revived the c-word - context - as the most important test of whether broadcast of the f-word constitutes punishable inde- cency. With the FCC's unanimous rejection of complaints concerning ABC's Veterans Day broadcast of "Saving Private Ryan," a modicum of common sense has been restored to an FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. complaint review process that had been hijacked by hysteria over Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunc- tion. "Context remains vital to any consideration of whether profanity Irreverence towards sacred things; particularly, an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God. Vulgar, irreverent, or coarse language. The use of certain profane or obscene language on the radio or television is a federal offense, but in other situations, profanity or sexual content constitutes legally actionable indecency INDECENCY. An act against good behaviour and a just delicacy. 2 Serg. & R. 91. 2. The law, in general, will repress indecency as being contrary to good morals, but, when the public good requires it, the mere indecency of disclosures does not suffice to exclude ," FCC Chairman Michael Powell said in a statement released last week. "This film is a critically acclaimed artwork that tells a gritty story - one of bloody battles and supreme heroism. The horror of war and the enormous personal sacrifice it draws on cannot be painted in airy pastels." The Oscar-winning Steven Spielberg film carried a R rating when it debuted in movie theaters. It contains graphic violence, a couple of dozen f-bombs and numerous other instances of potentially offensive language incorporated in soldiers' dialogue as they battle German troops. Despite 10 high-profile content warnings delivered by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., throughout the 2004 television broadcast, 66 ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. affiliates covering almost one-third of the U.S. television market refused to air the film. Station managers said mixed messages from the FCC about what constituted indecency left them vulnerable to huge fines. They were right about the mixed messages. In its effort to appease the bluenoses who were outraged about Jackson's Super Bowl skin flash, the FCC reversed a previous ruling and warned NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. that U2 singer Bono's exuberant uttering of the f-word after receiving a Golden Globe award was now indecent and subject to fines. That decision threw out the all-important evaluation of context in determining whether language violates decency standards. The FCC's return to common-sense standards is welcome. It didn't come in time to save PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, from an embarrassing February lapse into self-censorship over a "Frontline" documentary that recorded the raw language of U.S. soldiers under fire in Iraq, but better late than never. |
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