When the President Uses a Profanity, What Can Broadcast News Do?
By David Oxenford on January 12, 2018
Posted in FCC Fines, Indecency, Programming Regulations
Yesterday, the President reportedly used the word “shithole” to describe certain countries whose immigrants were seemingly less favored than others. This predictably caused outrage in many quarters – and left the electronic media, especially broadcast TV in a quandary. Do they broadcast the purportedly used term, or do they use some euphemism so that “shit,”
Proposed $13,376,200 Fine Illustrates FCC Concern over Sponsorship Identification Issues
By David Oxenford on December 22, 2017 Posted in FCC Fines, Payola and Sponsorship Identification, Television
The FCC, apparently not in a holiday mood, yesterday released a Notice of Apparent Liability proposing a $13,376,200 fine against Sinclair Broadcast group for alleged violations of the sponsorship identification requirements of Section 317 of the Communications Act and Section 73.1212 of the FCC rules. The FCC alleges that program segments contained in news broadcasts
