Who would have thought the whole Janet Jackson boob exposure fiasco would spark the flame for the Federal Communications Commissions new found drill sergeant-like attitude towards free speech of any sort on air?
When born into this country we like to call America, we are given certain “unalienable” rights, my favorite being freedom of speech or expression perfectly written in our country’s Constitution. Howard Stern, a man of an explicit radio talk show, has been slapped with a fine of $1,991,995 from the FCC. Why all of a sudden does Stern’s radio talk show offend people? According to Stern on his website, “This is not a surprise. This is a follow up to the McCarthy type ‘witch hunt’ of the administration and the activities of this group of presidential appointees in the FCC …”
If your grandmother does not agree with his lifestyle, tough, simply do not listen to his talk show and change the station. KLLY 95.3 will always welcome grandma with open arms and the sweet sound of Norah Jones.
Just recently, according to Daily News staff writer Leo Standora, Clear Channel is going to pay an estimated amount of $1.75 million in penalties to settle indecency complaints from his talk show. The humor of this situation will give your tummy a good ab workout for a well-spent three minutes, does the FCC have set guidelines for each radio station to follow? No.
Steve King, the operations manager for the six radio stations here in Bakersfield says that the FCC has yet to make a set of guidelines regarding indecency for any radio station to follow. Also, there is a special time span for certain “adult” programs to be aired on television or radio, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. is where you can catch more of the uncensored material.
For example, “Love Line” airs on 106.1 KRAB radio at 10 p.m. due to the fact that the show’s audience may call in with sexual questions. But, it is allowed because it is in between the uncensored time span.
It appears if some of us have forgotten we live in a free country. You know that old saying “…the land of the free,” well, it basically, in my opinion means just that – the free.