[IP] TV Stations Fined Over CBS Show Deemed to Be Indecent
Begin forwarded message:
From: Bob Frankston <Bob19-0501@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: March 16, 2006 8:31:25 PM EST
To: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: TV Stations Fined Over CBS Show Deemed to Be Indecent
Jeff Jarvis does a far better job at analyzing this than I can
(http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/03/16/there-goes-the-
neighborhood/). Why doesn’t the rest of the press do at least a
modicum of research to explain that 300,000 instead of just
reprinting a few press releases?
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/16/business/media/16fine.html?
_r=1&oref=slogin
By JULIE BOSMAN
Published: March 16, 2006
The Federal Communications Commission leveled a record $3.6 million
fine yesterday against 111 television stations that broadcast an
episode of "Without a Trace" in December 2004, with the agency saying
the CBS show suggested that its teenage characters were participating
in a sexual orgy.
* * *
The story did note “The orders are in response to more than 300,000
consumer complaints about programming that viewers found indecent,
profane or obscene. Many complaints are lodged in large numbers by
organized groups and not by independent viewers” but it didn’t
investigate further – do these 300,000 represent more than one point
source?
I wonder how many stories even noted that this is an Astroturf
campaign. E! Online quoted Martin as saying the number of complaints
were going up but then said that the complaints actually fell by 86%.
* * *
Another example of why it is so very dangerous to have Federal Speech
Commission – the existence of “telecommunications” lends legitimacy
conflating regulation technology with regulating morality. Conversely
the perceived need to regulate morality requires regulating
technology. It’s as if the FCC/FSC stays alive because of the self-
references. Another case where we should be doing garbage collection
rather than relying on naïve reference counts. The London times noted
the inconsistency with the US Constitution but no hint that the books
are being cooked.
Bob Frankston
http://www.frankston.com
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