Who'd have thought a nipple would ause so much drama?
(Actually, anyone who knows your typical guy)
Quote of note:
Stern, whose topics frequently include sex, has responded on his show with harsh attacks on the Bush administration, warning that he might soon be forced out of his job by FCC investigations and urging his listeners to vote against those who support censorship.More recently, he has claimed that the FCC has delayed moving against him because it fears that he could turn tens of thousands of often conservative voters away from President Bush.
A spokeswoman for the FCC's enforcement bureau declined to comment on whether the agency is investigating Stern's show. Stern's agent, Don Buchwald, also refused to comment.
Congress Acts to Curb Offensive Programs
Senate Panel Proposes Stiff Fines, Delaying Media Consolidation
By Jonathan Krim
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 10, 2004; Page E01
A Senate panel yesterday paved the way for a broad crackdown on radio and television programming deemed offensive, including stiff fines for entertainers who break indecency rules and limiting violence that can be seen by children.
With the House scheduled to vote Thursday on its version of an indecency bill, Congress is moving swiftly in the wake of public outcry over a Super Bowl halftime show in which performer Janet Jackson's breast was bared by singer Justin Timberlake. President Bush has indicated he supports the House legislation, which would allow fines of up to $500,000 per incident that could be levied by the Federal Communications Commission against violators of its indecency rules.
But the Senate Commerce Committee sharply raised the stakes for the entertainment industry, which has pledged to police itself and has been careful not to openly oppose tougher FCC regulation.
The Senate bill would temporarily roll back controversial rules passed by Congress late last year that allow some media organizations to get larger. By a 13-10 vote yesterday, the panel passed an amendment sponsored by Sens. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) that would put the rules on hold for a year until the General Accounting Office can study the relationship between indecent programming and media consolidation.
"These issues are inevitably related," said Dorgan, who last year led an effort in the Senate to roll back the new media ownership rules. But Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who sponsored the overall bill, said the amendment would be "a deal killer" that threatens passage of any indecency legislation.
If the provision survives a full Senate vote and then negotiations with the House, it would pose a challenge for FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, who supported even greater easing of media concentration rules, while also beating the drum for tougher indecency enforcement.
