Politics & Government

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

Libertyville residents have begun to weigh in.

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 thumbnail).

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Libertyville residents are among those who have submitted comments.

"Perceptions of 'normal' and acceptable behavior are learned. The learning can take place by watching TV as well as role models in the home and outside the home. I continue to oppose any changes to the current FCC indecency standards. The FCC must continue to vigorously oppose ALL indecent content, even if brief or fleeting. Moral values are set by example. Action of people and cartoons on the TV screen influence a person's behavior both current and future," commented Katharine Slocum.

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"Please do not change your policy on f-word, the s-word and to allow programs to show frontal female nudity on TV," commented William Diehl.

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.'"

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).

Would you like the FCC to ease its enforcement of indecency rules on TV and radio broadcasters? Share your thoughts in the comments below.


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