Реферат: Why Dirty Words Are Dirty Essay Research

that

represents Stern, Infinity Broadcasting, a warning. This warning brought

publicity to Infinity Broadcasting. Ratings soared and revenue was high.

Stern became such a center of attention that Infinity decided to keep The

Howard Stern Show running just as it was. Mr. Wildmon’s organization still

pr

essed on for “morality in America” and caused Howard Stern and Infinity

Broadcasting to receive more fines than anyone in the history of radio, 1.7

million dollars worth. After years of protest and behind the scenes

disputes

Infinity Broadcasting paid the 1.7 million dollars in fines to the FCC on

September 3, 1995. The FCC’s authority was boldly challenged by Howard

Stern and the fines sent a clear message to other broadcasters that the FCC

would not tolerate indecent material over the airwaves. Even though Stern’s

material was considered indecent by the FCC, they could not stop it. The

FCC can only regulate it. Howard Stern’s message might be indecent

,however,

it is still protected by the first amendment.

The outcome of the FCC v. Pacifica Foundation gave the FCC “the power to

regulate radio broadcasts that are indecent but not obscene.”(Gunther,

1991)

We could look at this power given to the FCC as an infringement of our

first

amendment rights. Should Americans let the government regulate what we here

or say on our public airways? Or should we place “the responsibility and

the

right to weed worthless and offensive communications from the public

airways

in a public free to choose those communications worthy of its attention