This administration’s obsession with regulating decency is not only indicative of an annoying and creeping paternalism, but it is also damaging businesses:
he U.S. radio industry’s long-awaited recovery remains on track for 2004, but the specter of rising fines for on-air indecency could threaten the already fragile rebound.
If programs get boring and listeners turn off, advertisers might pull the plug on an industry hoping for 6 percent ad sales growth this year compared with a meager 1 percent in 2003, industry analysts said.
“Obviously, programing is on the air because it’s popular and profitable, and so far we’ve seen (operators) stand by talent and programing,” said Gordon Hodge, financial analyst with Thomas Weisel Partners.
“If regulation arose that stifled popular programing, then there would be economic repercussions. Long term, it could be problematic,” Hodge said.
Federal lawmakers have taken up broadcast decency with a vengeance in the wake of public outrage over Janet Jackson’s breast-baring Super Bowl performance, pushing legislation to raise the maximum fine for indecency to $500,000 per incident.
Back off.
StuckInOregon
Why is it when something that offends people on television they go after radio. Because not that many people care about Radio. Television is to big for the government and is afraid that the TV Execs will not cover some of the grandstanding. so they go after Radio because they can. That get the Radio Execs a reason to get out of contract with a Radio personality because they can deem them to offensive for the air. It is the governments way of doing nothing and saying that they are doing something.
Misanthropyst
They can’t ‘back off.’ Mission from God, orders from on high, holy imperative, etc. Won’t stop there, either. See Volokh for the next steps…