Supreme Court Throws Out FCC Indecency Case

The Supreme Court also argued that the FCC was inconsistent in its penalization of broadcasters, saying that its policies should be revised.
Supreme Court Throws Out FCC Indecency Case
6/21/2012
Updated:
6/21/2012

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which issued fines to broadcasters for violating decency standards.



The FCC fined Fox and ABC, saying they allowed celebrities to swear on awards shows, and that they allowed a glimpse of partial nudity during the show “NYPD Blue.”

In a ruling handed down on Thursday, the Supreme Court said the FCC “failed to give Fox or ABC fair notice prior to the broadcasts in question that fleeting expletives and momentary nudity could be found actionably indecent.”

The Supreme Court also argued that the FCC was inconsistent in its penalization of broadcasters, saying that its policies should be revised.

FCC chief Julius Genachowski said his office will review the high court’s ruling.

“Consistent with vital First Amendment principles, the FCC will carry out Congress’s directive to protect young TV viewers,” he said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press.

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