FCC Chairman Powell wants to increase broadcast censorship [fs]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14369-2004Jan13.html

FCC Chairman Seeks Reversal on Profanity

By Frank Ahrens
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 14, 2004; Page E01

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell asked his four 
fellow commissioners yesterday to overturn a heavily criticized agency 
ruling that found a profanity uttered on network television by 
rock-and-roller Bono was not indecent.

If passed by the five-member FCC commission, Powell's proposal would outlaw 
Bono's profanity in almost all instances, singling it out as the one word 
that would nearly guarantee an FCC fine if uttered between 6 a.m. and 10 
p.m. on radio and broadcast television. Exceptions would include if the 
profanity is used in a political situation; the FCC's indecency rules 
include no mandates that might chill political speech.

...
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