NAB Asks FCC For More Time To Comment On Indecency Rule Review

Wants Additional Time

The NAB has requested an extension of time for comments in the FCC indecency case for an additional month.  The present deadlines are MAY 20th for comments and JUNE 18th for replies, and the NAB has requested that the deadlines move to JUNE 19th and JULY 18th, respectively.

"(T)he Commission should allow adequate time for all interested parties to address fully all relevant issues and prepare thorough and thoughtful comments. NAB also needs sufficient time to consider the views of our varied membership and to gather additional information about the impacts of specific policies on radio and television stations and networks," the NAB wrote. "We observe that previous changes to the Commission’s indecency policies nearly a decade ago proved controversial and ultimately produced multiple legal challenges and appeals court decisions, as well as two Supreme Court decisions. Because changes in indecency policies pursuant to this Notice may prove similarly controversial -- and certainly raise significant First Amendment and other questions -- the comment period must be sufficient to provide all interested parties the time and opportunity to consider and present their views."

RADIO SURVIVOR notes in its review of comments received at the FCC thus far in the proceeding that the vast majority are "urging the FCC to punish radio and TV stations for any and all indecencies, real and imagined," including one that tells the Commission, "Dear Sir. Please do not drop current broadcast decency standards. I’m tired of looking at human body parts hanging out."  The PARENTS TELEVISION COUNCIL has been active in generating comments telling the Commission not  to change the indecency rules, and a group of Congresspersons has also sent a letter urging the Commission not to relax enforcement.

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