[Qcwa] TV = Radio = 75 meters = HBO

[Jeffrey D Angus]

W1EOF wrote:

>Wow. I just found out that it's perfectly OK to use the F-word on broadcast
>television, radio, and amateur radio too. It's been authorized by the FCC,
>as long as you are not referring to a sexual act.
>
>I'd suggest you do the following:
>
>1. Read the FCC decision in txt, html, doc, or pdf format.
>   http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2003/DA-03-3045A1.html
>
>2. Write to your congressman and tell him how you feel about the airwaves
>being treated in this manner.
>
This was in reference to Bono (From the band U2) uttering the F-word in the
middle of another word. The ruling was that it was NOT used in a sexual 
manner
and as such, the network wouldn't be fined for letting it slip.

It is and was NOT a carte blanche OK to use the word commonly on the air.

And as far as foul language on the amateur bands, you have a guy named Joe
Merdler (now an SK) to thank for that. He had been cited by the FCC for
using foul  language on 20 meters in the midst of a DX pile up, and made his
opinion QUITE clear. Then took the FCC to court and claimed it was his first
amendment rights to say such things. This was back in the 80s if I remember
correctly.

And as far as "foul language" is concerned, I'd much rather listen to a 
bunch of
profanity from a football coach addressing his (losing) team, than to 
have to be
subjected to howard Stern seeing how many times he can say sphincter in 
a row.

Jeff



-- 
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
 safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin
"A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
Tara Morice as Fran, from the movie "Strictly Ballroom"