OT- FCC Fines Stern

[Suicane75]

hxxp://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040319/ap_en_ot/fcc_howard_stern_18

I know we've had discussions on this subject before, but in the light of the FCC finaly coming out and trying to put the final nail in Sterns coffin I figured i'd post the link. The funniest part of the story?

"Commissioners noted that they acted against Clear Channel on the complaint of a listener who did not have a transcript or tape, a departure from past practice. "Complaints should no longer be denied because of a lack of tape, transcript or significant excerpt," Commissioner Kevin Martin said."


Yes, that's right, you need to have no proof that something was said. Of course you can't really take the FCC to court anyway so whats it matter.

[sabotai]

Like Howard Stern really cares about the pennies they are fining him.

But the fining of Bono is total BS. They already ruled on that. NOW, they change their minds so they are going to fine him? Lat's like charging someone with a crime for doing something that just became illegal even though they did it a year ago.

[Suicane75]

Like Howard Stern really cares about the pennies they are fining him.

But the fining of Bono is total BS. They already ruled on that. NOW, they change their minds so they are going to fine him? Lat's like charging someone with a crime for doing something that just became illegal even though they did it a year ago.

Actually he does care, the point is that they can now fine a person without really ever providing a tape and or transcript of what was said. It's pretty much become a witch hunt with him because of the way he speaks out and attacks the commisioners of the FCC itself. I wouldn't be surprised if he was off the air by the end of year, and wether you like him or not it's a huge blow to free speech.

[mckerney]

...and so the FCC quickened the rise of XM radio, as people would rather pay a small monthly fee for variety than to listen to what the government wanted them to hear.

[fhasumi]

I can't see why Howard Stern should be allowed to talk about all the stuff he does, and have the incredibly explicit sexual content he does just because he's on radio.

You can't turn on a T.V. at early morning before-school hours and see/hear that stuff, why is it ok for it on the radio?

[sabotai]

Actually he does care, the point is that they can now fine a person without really ever providing a tape and or transcript of what was said. It's pretty much become a witch hunt with him because of the way he speaks out and attacks the commisioners of the FCC itself. I wouldn't be surprised if he was off the air by the end of year, and wether you like him or not it's a huge blow to free speech.

I know he minds getting fined, what I meant was that I doubt he really cares how much the fine is for.

And I doubt he'll be going anywhere. I'm sure he's been 'threatened' to be taken off the air many times and after a couple of decades, he's still here.

[Draft Dodger]

my favorite quote:

"The Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog group, said fines against Stern accounted for almost half of the $4 million in penalties proposed by the FCC since 1990"

[JonInMiddleGA]

But the fining of Bono is total BS. They already ruled on that. NOW, they change their minds so they are going to fine him? Lat's like charging someone with a crime for doing something that just became illegal even though they did it a year ago.
Actually, no fine was proposed for the Bono incident. The Commission overturned the previous decision & cited the comment as both indecent & profane, but opted not to issue a fine because the case essentially set precedent.

In other words, Bono only got a "don't do that ever again" warning, with no additional penalties attached.

[Axxon]

My thoughts on this general issue.

1. I don't have a problem with almost any programming. I don't like a lot of it but I am really hard to offend to the point of actively opposing any programming.

2. I think that there should be some sort of system to allow individual users to "self regulate" the content available to their household.

3. I don't think any household should be able to "regulate" the content of another household except in the case of enforcing non content related laws being broken. For example, snuff films are a no go as murder is illegal. Saying *(#$ in a film can't be regulated unless the community has an anti *(#$ law on the books and enforces it.

4. The most fundamental level, the "free" level needs to set a baseline for bland acceptable content because:

a) Fun stuff needs to cost money. Fun is a great motivator. It motivates you to attain it. This will tend to drive a healthy economy because to have fun, you need to make money and this drives the economy.

b) I feel that if fun costs money, then basic existence doesn't necessarily cost money. Let the luxuries support the necessities. If this would be accepted then survival would be a right for all people and since no one really wants to only survive, incentive to contribute would be there.

c) One shouldn't have to pay to censor, only to add. Keep the basic ( free ) programming plain. Spice is nice. Spice is worth money. People will pay. Marco Polo knew this, jeez. :)

I know that these thoughts are practically unworkable but they're my beliefs not my proposals to save the world.

[JPhillips]

I don't listen to Stern because he rarely makes me laugh, but of course this is a witchhunt. Just look at what was on Oprah the other day and she isn't going to be fined.

WINFREY: Yeah. So you say--let's talk about that secret language, Michelle.

Ms. BURFORD: Yes.

WINFREY: I didn't know any of this.

Ms. BURFORD: I have--yeah, I have--I've gotten a whole new vocabulary, let me tell you.

WINFREY: I did not know any of this. Does this--does this mean I am no longer hip?

REED: ...(Unintelligible).

Ms. BURFORD: Salad-tossing. I'm thinking cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes. OK? I am definitely not hip.

WINFREY: OK--so--OK, so what is a salad toss?

Ms. BURFORD: OK, a tossed salad is--get ready; hold on to your underwear for this one--oral anal sex. So oral sex to the anus is what tossed salad is. Hi, Mom. OK. A rainbow party is an oral sex party. It's a gathering where oral sex is performed. And a--rainbow comes from--all of the girls put on lipstick and each one puts her mouth around the penis of the gentleman or gentlemen who are there to receive favors and makes a mark in a different place on the penis, hence, the term rainbow. So...

[Poli]

I had the "opportunity" to hear Stern last month somehow. It was in the wee hours of the morning on some FM station near the St. Louis area.

I listened, mainly because my other stations weren't coming in, and I had never heard the all knowing Stern.

I thought Stern was way overrated. In my opinion, everyone catered to his every whim, and he appeared to be under the "WIIFM" application, or the "what's in it for me?". I couldn't wait to get closer to St. Louis so I could find another station.

[Draft Dodger]

rainbow party? that sounds like fun

[Ksyrup]

my favorite quote:

"The Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog group, said fines against Stern accounted for almost half of the $4 million in penalties proposed by the FCC since 1990"
He's the Mark Cuban of radio.

[Suicane75]

I don't listen to Stern because he rarely makes me laugh, but of course this is a witchhunt. Just look at what was on Oprah the other day and she isn't going to be fined.

WINFREY: Yeah. So you say--let's talk about that secret language, Michelle.

Ms. BURFORD: Yes.

WINFREY: I didn't know any of this.

Ms. BURFORD: I have--yeah, I have--I've gotten a whole new vocabulary, let me tell you.

WINFREY: I did not know any of this. Does this--does this mean I am no longer hip?

REED: ...(Unintelligible).

Ms. BURFORD: Salad-tossing. I'm thinking cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes. OK? I am definitely not hip.

WINFREY: OK--so--OK, so what is a salad toss?

Ms. BURFORD: OK, a tossed salad is--get ready; hold on to your underwear for this one--oral anal sex. So oral sex to the anus is what tossed salad is. Hi, Mom. OK. A rainbow party is an oral sex party. It's a gathering where oral sex is performed. And a--rainbow comes from--all of the girls put on lipstick and each one puts her mouth around the penis of the gentleman or gentlemen who are there to receive favors and makes a mark in a different place on the penis, hence, the term rainbow. So...


The funny thing is, Stern would never say those words, he'd find euphemisms for them. If he said that exact thing word for word he'd be fined about 2 Billion dollars.

[druez]

Stern is funny sometimes and he was A LOT funnier back in the day when he was still married to his wife. With that being said, there is no reason to take him off the air. Thats just silly.