Tag Archives: FCC

The Supreme Court today unanimously ruled in favor of broadcasters who say they are unfairly punished for “isolated moments” of obscenity and profanity that slip onto the airwaves. In an 8-0 vote, justices concluded the Federal Communications Commission cannot enforce its current policies against “fleeting” expletives and nudity on over-the-air programs, both live and scripted. The agency had levied hefty …

The FCC has leaned on North American cell carriers and forced them to agree to permanently disable any phone that has been reported stolen. The proposed system is already in use across Europe. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said in a statement late Monday that major cellphone carriers and the Federal Communications Commission have agreed to set up a database of …

A last-ditch GOP attempt to block the FCC’s coming rules on net neutrality has failed in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats narrowly defeated the measure by a vote of 52-46. Politico notes that the president had promised to veto the bill. It is unclear whether Senate Republicans intend to attempt a related resolution in the future. A similar measure by …

“For years, the FCC has granted churches and small faith-based organizations an exemption from closed captioning requirements, because the additional financial burden would cripple their ability to produce these programs. Now the FCC is rescinding all exemptions and allowing only 90 days for programmers to meet these costly requirements. [snip] The FCC’s iron fist suggests a darker motive. Why such …

In a joint move with the National Hispanic Coalition, GLAAD announced today that it is filing an FCC complaint against the Spanish-language show, Jose Luis sin Censura, which routinely features anti-LGBT hate speech and has encouraged audience members to attack gay guests on the program. In over twenty episodes that aired between June 18 and December 7, 2010, the program …

CNN is reporting today that the FCC has approved the merger between cable giant Comcast and NBC-Universal. CNET explains: The $37 billion merger between the companies has been a long time coming. The deal, which was first announced in 2009, provides Comcast with a 51 percent controlling stake in NBC Universal. General Electric will retain the remaining 49 percent. When …

“It seems to us that this panel of three judges walked into the courtroom with their minds already made up and with kind of a chip on their shoulder about the whole enforcement regime of the Federal Communications Commission and that they did not look at the facts of the case objectively. “The judges basically overturned the will of the …

Saying it could have a “chilling effect” on freedom of speech, today a federal appeals court struck down the FCC’s policies about language indecency. Interestingly, the ruling came not in a case involving Howard Stern or other radio shock jocks. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in New York arose from a case over …

In a decision that may have far-reaching impact on how you view streaming internet video, today a U.S. Appeals Court overturned the FCC’s ruling that internet providers must provide equal access to all information on their networks. The court’s ruling also could pose legal problems for the FCC as it seeks to enact the expansive National Broadband Policy it unveiled …

Here are three examples of complaints received by the FCC about Adam Lambert’s performance on the American Music Awards, as obtained by the Smoking Gun via the Freedom Of Information Act. Embiggen to read, or see the full forms on TSG. Many of the complaints went far beyond the performance itself and launched into full-on anti-gay hatred.

Never one to miss a publicity opportunity, premiere closet case Peter LaBarbera has announced that the anti-gay Liberty Counsel has filed the first FCC indecency complaint (PDF) over Adam Lambert’s performance on the American Music Awards. The Lambert performance featured, among other things, simulated oral sex, suggestive crotch grabbing, simulated digital penetration, sadomasochistic conduct, and homosexual open-mouth kissing. The Lambert …

GOP senators are lining up to oppose net neutrality, legislation from the FCC that would prevent internet service providers from favoring their own web applications over those of their competitors, including wireless providers. In other words, all customers should be able to access all available content at the same speed. Major telecom companies, who often operate both broadband and wireless …

The government is finally addressing the national crisis of shouting television pitchmen. Ever notice when the volume of a commercial is vastly louder than the dialogue in your favorite TV show? U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., hopes to do something about it. According to press reports, Eshoo is sponsoring a bill that would require the FCC to “preclude commercials from …

Predictably, fundies are filing an FCC complaint over Sunday’s “Peter Goes Gay” episode of Family Guy and are calling on the show’s sponsors to suspend advertising. (Feel free to stretch and yawn.) From the fundie-run Parents Television Council: Our organization is taking its concerns directly to every parent, every Fox affiliate and every advertiser — as well as to those …