F#$%^& Appeals Court Says F$%^&* Swear To Your F%^&* Heart's Content

[mandy]

Fans of open-mic celebrity blunders rejoice!

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has just ruled that the Federal Communication Commission's recent shift in its standards for obscenities uttered during a broadcast violated administrative rulemaking requirements. After declaring the new standards null and void, the court vacated an FCC order that determined that Fox broke the rules and sent the matter back to the agency for further consideration.

This doesn't get the networks off the hook completely, however. The agency could still reformulate its reasoning for the change in indecency standards so as to bring the shift in line with the rules for rulemaking, and there is always the possibility of an appeal to the Supreme Court. The 2nd Circuit did express doubts, however, that the FCC could ever come up with a reasoned basis for the new rule that would not run afoul of the Constitution...

full article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/06/..._down_fcc/

[jezebel]

At least the administration has its priorities straight---ban the evil F word from celebrities lips while allowing tens of millions of citizens to be denied access to proper medical care because this country is one of the few developed nations that doesn't have a national healthcare system.

[mandy]

Update: the Senate passes the FCC's Indecency Bill and negates the Appeals Court's ruling.

US Senate Commerce Committee today passed a bill that would allow FCC to fine broadcasters for slip of the tongue expletives, negating a ruling by federal appeals court in New York that commission's policy on 'fleeting expletives' is arbitrary and capricious.

The Protecting Children from Indecent Programming Act introduced by Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) would effectively overturn the court decision on the Fox Television Stations v. FCC in which the court ruled: "We find the FCC's new policy sanctioning 'fleeting expletives' is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedures Act for failing to articulate a reasoned basis for its change in policy."

A mandate by Congress that a “fleeting expletive” can now be found indecent will create a vast chilling effect on broadcast speech...

full article: http://pressesc.com/01184929170_senate_indecency_bill

[BellisimaJ.]

Bloody vote mongering stupid idiots!!

At least the administration has its priorities straight---ban the evil F word from celebrities lips while allowing tens of millions of citizens to be denied access to proper medical care because this country is one of the few developed nations that doesn't have a national healthcare system. puke

Agree.