Politics & Government

F-Bombs OK? FCC Asks If It Should Ease Swearing, Nudity Ban

'You care more about a few adults who want to see and hear these disgusting things over the innocence of children,' commented one St. Michael resident.

Should the Federal Communications Commission lighten up on enforcing its ban on swear words and nudity on broadcast media?

The agency has proposed doing just that—letting "fleeting" violations slide and enforcing its rules only for "egregious" offenses.

The FCC invited comments for 60 days on the enforcement change in an April 1, 2013 announcement (click on PDF thumnail).

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Christine Shealer of St. Michael submitted this comment to the FCC on April 8:

"Seriously? This world continues to amaze with the lack of morals and values. ... Will you sit in front of the television with your young grandchildren and allow them to partake the vulgarity and obscenity that may be allowed? I certainly won't and ask you to reject all proposed changes."

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Comments submitted to the FCC are public. You can see them by searching a comment database at the FCC website.

The Minnesota Family Council sent an email April 9 (click on PDF thumbnail) asking people to submit comments such as: "I oppose any changes to the current FCC indecency standards that would allow television and radio stations to broadcast expletives and nudity on the public airwaves, even if brief or 'fleeting.'”

Would you like the FCC to ease its enforcement of indecency rules on TV and radio broadcasters? Leave a comment below.

Click on the YouTube thumbnail (or visit YouTube.com) for an example of the "fleeting expletives" behind the U.S. Supreme Court case cited by the FCC. It's Cher at the 2002 Billboard Music Awards (6:00 mark—profanity warning).


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