TV Stations Fined Over CBS Show Deemed to Be Indecent

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Frankston <Bob19-0501 () bobf frankston com>
Date: March 16, 2006 8:31:25 PM EST
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: TV Stations Fined Over CBS Show Deemed to Be Indecent

Jeff Jarvis does a far better job at analyzing this than I can  
(http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/16/there-goes-the- 
neighborhood/). Why doesn’t the rest of the press do at least a  
modicum of research to explain that 300,000 instead of just  
reprinting a few press releases?



http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/16/business/media/16fine.html? 
_r=1&oref=slogin

By JULIE BOSMAN

Published: March 16, 2006

The Federal Communications Commission leveled a record $3.6 million  
fine yesterday against 111 television stations that broadcast an  
episode of "Without a Trace" in December 2004, with the agency saying  
the CBS show suggested that its teenage characters were participating  
in a sexual orgy.



* * *

The story did note “The orders are in response to more than 300,000  
consumer complaints about programming that viewers found indecent,  
profane or obscene. Many complaints are lodged in large numbers by  
organized groups and not by independent viewers” but it didn’t  
investigate further – do these 300,000 represent more than one point  
source?

I wonder how many stories even noted that this is an Astroturf  
campaign. E! Online quoted Martin as saying the number of complaints  
were going up but then said that the complaints actually fell by 86%.

* * *

Another example of why it is so very dangerous to have Federal Speech  
Commission – the existence of “telecommunications” lends legitimacy  
conflating regulation technology with regulating morality. Conversely  
the perceived need to regulate morality requires regulating  
technology. It’s as if the FCC/FSC stays alive because of the self- 
references. Another case where we should be doing garbage collection  
rather than relying on naïve reference counts. The London times noted  
the inconsistency with the US Constitution but no hint that the books  
are being cooked.



Bob Frankston

http://www.frankston.com





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