Don’t mention the war
The repercussions of the US indecency legislation that was signed into law last month are becoming increasingly Pythonesque. This law allows the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to impose fines of up to $325,000 per violation on any broadcaster that transmits any “indecent” material. Indecency is rather vaguely defined as “language or material that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities.”
As a result, no US broadcaster dared transmit the now infamous Bush/Blair conversation.
And now Ken Burns, the head of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is warning that the same legislation could prevent World War Two veterans from sharing their stories in an upcoming TV documentary series.
Karger said she had unsuccessfully tried to get advance clearance for the documentary from the five members of the Republican-controlled broadcast regulator. But the FCC’s policy is not to deliver an opinion before a broadcast.
Via MediaWatchWatch which observes that it seems a little strange that people who apparantly fought for freedom, do not have the freedom of speech to express their views in the way that they wish to.
Sunday 30 Jul 2006 | Paul | USA
It’s a shame that an eminent filmmaker such as Mr. Burns should have to fear that his work will be sanitized by the government. This is completely unnecessary given the fact that parents and individuals already have the TV ratings and content blocking devices that are necessary to make and enforce their own TV viewing decisions.
TV Watch has the answers - at www.televisionwatch.org.