Post by bossradio93 on Jan 28, 2004 14:15:06 GMT -5
FCC Proposes Fining Clear Channel
JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press, 1.27
WASHINGTON - The government proposed a $755,000 fine against Clear Channel Communications on Tuesday for a sexually explicit radio show aired on four stations.
The Federal Communications Commission said the stations aired various episodes of "Bubba the Love Sponge" a total of 26 times. The commission proposed fining Clear Channel the maximum $27,500 for each time the episode ran, or $715,000.
Clear Channel also was fined $40,000 because of record-keeping violations at the stations.
It would be the second-largest fine ever by the FCC for indecency violations.
The company has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal.
The FCC also announced Tuesday that it wanted to fine KRON Channel 4 in San Francisco the maximum $27,500 for broadcasting indecent material on its morning news program.
During an interview with performers of the "Puppetry of the penis," who wore capes but nothing else, one of the actors exposed himself. The FCC said the station should have expected that such a display could have occurred and should have taken steps to prevent it.
It would be just the second fine leveled against a television broadcast for indecency.
"I hope this step today represents the beginning of a commitment to consider each indecency complaint seriously, and to recognize that indecency on our airwaves is not limited to the radio," FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin said.
The largest fine ever for indecency was $1.7 million paid by Infinity Broadcasting in 1995. Also, the FCC last October proposed fining Infinity $357,000 for a radio segment on the "Opie and Anthony" show in which a couple was said to be having sex in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Los Angeles Radio People-Jan. 27, 2004
JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press, 1.27
WASHINGTON - The government proposed a $755,000 fine against Clear Channel Communications on Tuesday for a sexually explicit radio show aired on four stations.
The Federal Communications Commission said the stations aired various episodes of "Bubba the Love Sponge" a total of 26 times. The commission proposed fining Clear Channel the maximum $27,500 for each time the episode ran, or $715,000.
Clear Channel also was fined $40,000 because of record-keeping violations at the stations.
It would be the second-largest fine ever by the FCC for indecency violations.
The company has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal.
The FCC also announced Tuesday that it wanted to fine KRON Channel 4 in San Francisco the maximum $27,500 for broadcasting indecent material on its morning news program.
During an interview with performers of the "Puppetry of the penis," who wore capes but nothing else, one of the actors exposed himself. The FCC said the station should have expected that such a display could have occurred and should have taken steps to prevent it.
It would be just the second fine leveled against a television broadcast for indecency.
"I hope this step today represents the beginning of a commitment to consider each indecency complaint seriously, and to recognize that indecency on our airwaves is not limited to the radio," FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin said.
The largest fine ever for indecency was $1.7 million paid by Infinity Broadcasting in 1995. Also, the FCC last October proposed fining Infinity $357,000 for a radio segment on the "Opie and Anthony" show in which a couple was said to be having sex in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Los Angeles Radio People-Jan. 27, 2004