A neighbor tells me that the FCC has recently ruled that broadcast radio
stations are now "legally" able to "say the F word" on the air, as long as
it isn't sexual. Yeah, I know, go figure.

But, when I did a quick search on the FCC website, I found nothing of it.
Anyone know of this...my thoughts are on what will happen in amateur radio
now. The broadcast arena has always been the barometer of what people are
allowed to say on the air, hasn't it?

Kim W5TIT

"Kim" wrote in message ...
A neighbor tells me that the FCC has recently ruled that broadcast radio
stations are now "legally" able to "say the F word" on the air, as long as
it isn't sexual. Yeah, I know, go figure.

I think it was in response to some rock star accepting an award and
saying it was "[expletive deleted]ing wonderful" or some such. FCC
said it wasn't a violation in that case. But if he'd said he was so
happy he wanted to [expletive deleted] the presenter, it would be a
violation.

Yeah, go figure.

But, when I did a quick search on the FCC website, I found nothing of it.

Of course not. They're not gonna advertise it because then everybody
would be saying it.

Anyone know of this...my thoughts are on what will happen in amateur radio
now.

Nothing, I hope.

The broadcast arena has always been the barometer of what people are
allowed to say on the air, hasn't it?

Nope. FCC has completely different rules for different services. The
fact that somebody gets away with something in the broadcast services
doesn't mean it's OK in the ARS.

FCC regulates all electronic communications, not just radio waves.
Cable TV as well as broadcast TV, for example. Yet there are things
the cable folks can show that the broadcat folks can't. The thinking
is that people sign up for cable only if they want it, and it's a
private system, not the public airways. Broadcast TV is public
property. So it's like the difference between what's allowed in a
strip club and what's allowed on the street.

Between broadcasting and amatuer radio is the question of scheduling
and predictability. All broadcasters publish advance schedules, with
content warnings. So you can know what you're likely to see and hear
*before* tuning in to Howard Stern or the Victoria's Secret Fashion
Special. Not the case in amateur radio.

73 de Jim, N2EY

But, when I did a quick search on the FCC website, I found nothing of
it.

Of course not. They're not gonna advertise it because then everybody
would be saying it.

Geee..... didn't Carlin cover this??? (i.e. George Carlin?)


Anyone know of this...my thoughts are on what will happen in amateur
radio
now.

Nothing, I hope.

The broadcast arena has always been the barometer of what people are
allowed to say on the air, hasn't it?

Nope. FCC has completely different rules for different services. The
fact that somebody gets away with something in the broadcast services
doesn't mean it's OK in the ARS.

Generally the terminology states soemething to the effect of "good amateur
practice." My ONLY PROBLEM with that is WHO gets to decide what the
benchmark is for good amateur practice...... If the FCC, who issues our
licenses are not going to do it, then who?


As for specific words??? Dunno, is there a list?? Who makes the list
then? Are other things other than the known "7 dirty words" included? If
someone is of say, for instance a different faith than you, do you get to
determine anything they say religiously is offensive and should be banned
speech? I am sure there are other examples one could come up with......



--
Ryan KC8PMX

"Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you
still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs."

Ryan, KC8PMX wrote:

Geee..... didn't Carlin cover this??? (i.e. George Carlin?)




As for specific words??? Dunno, is there a list?? Who makes the list
then? Are other things other than the known "7 dirty words" included? If
someone is of say, for instance a different faith than you, do you get to
determine anything they say religiously is offensive and should be banned
speech? I am sure there are other examples one could come up with......



Heard (possible urban legend) that the FCC in "case law" refers to
George Carlin's list
but doesn't actually list the words. George Carlin's recorded comedy
bit is a "published
work", like that of a book, and thus can be referred to in another
document. I'm no
lawyer, so the above could be BS.....

The George Carlin thing was meant more of a jab at humor rather than fact...



--
Ryan KC8PMX

"Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you
still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs."

"Robert Casey" wrote in message
...
Ryan, KC8PMX wrote:

Geee..... didn't Carlin cover this??? (i.e. George Carlin?)




As for specific words??? Dunno, is there a list?? Who makes the list
then? Are other things other than the known "7 dirty words" included? If
someone is of say, for instance a different faith than you, do you get to
determine anything they say religiously is offensive and should be banned
speech? I am sure there are other examples one could come up with......



Heard (possible urban legend) that the FCC in "case law" refers to
George Carlin's list
but doesn't actually list the words. George Carlin's recorded comedy
bit is a "published
work", like that of a book, and thus can be referred to in another
document. I'm no
lawyer, so the above could be BS.....

"Ryan, KC8PMX" wrote in message ...
But, when I did a quick search on the FCC website, I found nothing of
it.

Of course not. They're not gonna advertise it because then everybody
would be saying it.

Geee..... didn't Carlin cover this??? (i.e. George Carlin?)

Yep, 1970's. George and Buddy got rich off of being nasty.

In article , "Ryan, KC8PMX"
writes:

Geee..... didn't Carlin cover this??? (i.e. George Carlin?)

His "seven words" bit is where the list originated. No such list existed in the
FCC rules.

Anyone know of this...my thoughts are on what will happen in amateur
radio now.

Nothing, I hope.

The broadcast arena has always been the barometer of what people are
allowed to say on the air, hasn't it?

Nope. FCC has completely different rules for different services. The
fact that somebody gets away with something in the broadcast services
doesn't mean it's OK in the ARS.

Generally the terminology states soemething to the effect of "good amateur
practice." My ONLY PROBLEM with that is WHO gets to decide what the
benchmark is for good amateur practice...... If the FCC, who issues our
licenses are not going to do it, then who?

Here's one guide:

http://members.aol.com/berrymanp/alyrics/fword.html


As for specific words??? Dunno, is there a list?? Who makes the list
then? Are other things other than the known "7 dirty words" included? If
someone is of say, for instance a different faith than you, do you get to
determine anything they say religiously is offensive and should be banned
speech? I am sure there are other examples one could come up with......

Common sense and good taste used to be the guide. But I guess such concepts are
old-fashioned nowadays, from what some folks tell me when I oppose the use of
such language on the air and in newsgropups.....

73 de Jim, N2EY

On 15 Nov 2003 20:16:48 GMT, N2EY wrote:

The broadcast arena has always been the barometer of what people are
allowed to say on the air, hasn't it?

Nope. FCC has completely different rules for different services. The
fact that somebody gets away with something in the broadcast services
doesn't mean it's OK in the ARS.

Quite a while back, there was a case against an amateur operator in
Los Angeles, and the ALJ ruled that the standards of broadcast
indecency articulated in the _Pacifica_ case (the "Seven Dirty Words"
case) also applied to the ARS because ARS transmissions are readily
available to the general public (i.e. are not protected by privacy
or secrecy statutes).

Generally the terminology states soemething to the effect of "good amateur
practice." My ONLY PROBLEM with that is WHO gets to decide what the
benchmark is for good amateur practice...... If the FCC, who issues our
licenses are not going to do it, then who?

Amen, brother.

As for specific words??? Dunno, is there a list??

No.

Who makes the list then?

George Carlin, at last count.

Common sense and good taste used to be the guide. But I guess such
concepts are old-fashioned nowadays, from what some folks tell me when
I oppose the use of such language on the air and in newsgropups.....

Agreed.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

Phil Kane wrote:




Quite a while back, there was a case against an amateur operator in
Los Angeles, and the ALJ ruled that the standards of broadcast
indecency articulated in the _Pacifica_ case (the "Seven Dirty Words"
case) also applied to the ARS because ARS transmissions are readily
available to the general public (i.e. are not protected by privacy
or secrecy statutes).

Well, today I heard the f word and the s word on an FM broadcast station
WLIR at about 12:50PM.
In a song. And it's not a RAP station. Oddly enough civilization did
not end at 1PM.....




Who makes the list then?



George Carlin, at last count.


Is it an urban legend, or is there a reference to George Carlin's
published work
that contains that list in FCC "case law" or in an FCC rule? That way,
the FCC
doesn't have to mention directly the bad words, but just refers to a
reference?

In article , "Phil Kane"
writes:

On 15 Nov 2003 20:16:48 GMT, N2EY wrote:

The broadcast arena has always been the barometer of what people are
allowed to say on the air, hasn't it?

Nope. FCC has completely different rules for different services. The
fact that somebody gets away with something in the broadcast services
doesn't mean it's OK in the ARS.

Quite a while back, there was a case against an amateur operator in
Los Angeles, and the ALJ ruled that the standards of broadcast
indecency articulated in the _Pacifica_ case (the "Seven Dirty Words"
case) also applied to the ARS because ARS transmissions are readily
available to the general public (i.e. are not protected by privacy
or secrecy statutes).

Sure - but as I read that, (insert standard "layman, not a lawyer" disclaimer
here) that means the ARS cannot go beyond what the BC services can do. IOW the
ARS "lower bound of decency" cannot be lower than that of the BC services.

Generally the terminology states soemething to the effect of "good amateur
practice." My ONLY PROBLEM with that is WHO gets to decide what the
benchmark is for good amateur practice...... If the FCC, who issues our
licenses are not going to do it, then who?

Amen, brother.

Yea, verily.

As for specific words??? Dunno, is there a list??

No.

Who makes the list then?

George Carlin, at last count.

More like nobody. How did we all get to hear that routine?

Common sense and good taste used to be the guide. But I guess such
concepts are old-fashioned nowadays, from what some folks tell me when
I oppose the use of such language on the air and in newsgropups.....

Agreed.

73 de Jim, N2EY