Momentum Gaining in Opposition to Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act!

Are we making progress? Twice as many congressmen voted "no" when this year's version of the "Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act" came up for a vote on Wednesday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Yes, this time around, two legislators voted against the bill that would increase the fines for a single randy comment to half a million dollars. Last year, only one representativie dared vote against the measure. But hats off to Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) for standing up for free speech. Their courageous vote will no doubt be used against them when they come up for reelection.

At this rate of added enlightenment, the House Commerce Committee will come to its senses around... 2027. Is my inner smut-peddler starting to show through? Bear in mind that we're not talking about fines for the seven dirty words anymore. Those days are long gone. I'd give anything to have a list of offensive words, phrases or topics that  we as broadcasters aren't allowed to utter. No, the FCC is acting like a highway authority that keeps issuing larger and larger speeding tickets, but refuses to post the speed limit. For a few years now (dating back well before Janet Jackson's pasty was exposed for 19/32nds of a second), any euphemism, or even scrambled, indecipherable words which happen to tingle the hineys of at least three out of five FCC commisioners could result in larger and larger fines and threats of lost broadcast licenses. 

To the left, you can see how I am using my hands these days while doing my radio show. Finally our show Seven Second Delay is appropriately titled. Thanks to the FCC's sword of Damocles hanging over our head, we've installed a fancy new delay unit which delays our broadcasts by 14 seconds, allowing us two seven second dumps before we have to break out the automatic weapons on the offending source material.

And how about that Paul McCartney? All his lyrics about nymphomaniac transvestites and dope peddlers notwithstanding, (realaudio archive of Laibach's version of "Get Back") the FCC still received it's first ever complaints about a broadcast being offensive due to it's sheer, mind-numbing dullness.

Comments

[Joe Alt]

The government should stay out of everything. Last week the only station in Chicago [88.3 FM]that transmitted the program Democracy Now vanished from the air waves. Now there is nothing but static. 88.3 was like wfmu, only perhaps slightly more political. They also aired a lot of Pacifica programs. The local NPR station [91.5] refuses to air Amy Goodman, I assume because she is too controversial. The FCC appears to be using their power to censor the air waves of all alternative thoughts.

[Kathryn]

The Hylas Press book "Sorry Everybody," a collection of photos and commentary taken from the popular post-election website where ordinary 'muricans and others apologize to the world for the hideous W debacle, was held up in customs long past the Coronation Day pub date of 1/20/05. Coincidence, you say? Ha ha ha ha ha -- please to not be making me laugh.

[pampelonne]

I want to take you to a say bar
a say bar say bar say bar
talk about your speakeasies
let's start a non-voilent, civil disagreement
at the say bar
a non-voilent, civil dispute
between the would be puritans
and those of otherwise ill repute
between the pursed lips of the paranoid
and the word weary, prohibited void
Make no mistake, dem's fighting [CENSORED]!

[listener_paul]

I've written a letter to my congressman. You should too.

[jeddeth]

so this is a bit off topic, sorry, but i have to know. Last week fmu played a song by the PANDATARDS and I have been trying to find out anything at all about them. They don't seem to exist anywhere on the internet. Do you have any idea who this band is or where I can find out more about them?

Much appreciated, thanks.

[Jeff T]

Hey, nice hands Ken. Do you moisturize?

[Ed Word]

Jeff, how can you congratulate Kens hands with out congratulating jeddeth's post? Someones chooseing favorites and that is just not nice.