FCC Gets 56,000 Comments Against Easing 'Standards of Decency' in One Week
The Federal Communications Commission has received over 56,000 comments in opposition to their proposal to loosen their standards regarding graphic content on television and radio.
According to the American Family Association, the large number of comments given to the FCC took place over the span of only one week.
"It is apparent that Americans have an extremely high interest in what is allowed over the airwaves and what their children and grandchildren are watching and listening to on television and radio," the group said.
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AFA is one of many conservative and media content watchdog groups advocating for the maintaining of the FCC's "standards of decency" for language and sexual content.
Patrick Trueman, president and CEO of Morality in Media, told The Christian Post that while the large number of comments was "a very encouraging response" he was doubtful that the volume of responses would affect the FCC's direction.
"Given that the FCC has for years totally ignored the American public, as well as the will of Congress, on TV indecency, I am not optimistic. The FCC notice of the change indicates that it is already implementing the proposed policy," said Trueman.
"Our hope is in the Congress and we are working with both House and Senate Members to make sure that the FCC is prevented from changing its policy."
Earlier this month, the FCC announced that they would put to public comment a consideration to change their standards on decency regarding content of entertainment media. The window for comment will last 30 days.
According to its website, the FCC states that the reconsideration comes in response to the Supreme Court's decision in FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., 132 S.Ct. 2307 (2012).
In the 8-0 decision, the court ruled that the FCC had failed to give ABC and Fox "fair notice" in warning them that certain "fleeting" expletives or nudity were in violation of the FCC's decency standards.
In an earlier interview with The Christian Post, AFA Special Projects Director Randy Sharp explained what the FCC sought to change.
"The Federal Communications Commission is accepting public input in response to a proposal that would abandon current regulations prohibiting expletives (f-word and s-word) and nudity on public airwaves," said Sharp.
"Currently, broadcast decency laws prohibit obscene and indecent language in any form or frequency, especially during hours when children may be watching television or listening to the radio."
The FCC proposal is known as GN Docket No. 13-86. The Federal Communications Commission did not return comment to The Christian Post by press time.
