For those who may not be familiar with the Federal Communications Commission, it is an independent U.S. agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable throughout the United States and other U.S. possessions.
This agency is turning into the “Incredible Hulk” (of Marvel Comics fame) of the United States. For those of you not familiar with one of my favorite superheroes, “The Hulk” is actually a mild-mannered scientist named Bruce Banner, who is accidentaly exposed to gamma radation and finds himself transformed in times of stress into the dark personification of his repressed rage and fury — the rampaging, green-skinned giant known as “The Hulk.”
As “The Hulk,” Banner is an enormously powerful man-like creature that wreaks havoc and destruction wherever he goes.
The Hulk is not a bad guy. He’s a misunderstood but out-of-control monster with the best of intentions because at his heart is the mind and soul of the good Bruce Banner.
But despite his intentions, The Hulk is still an uncontrollable, calamity-causing superpower that is quick to rampage and slow to think about and consider the consequences of his actions.
But it’s not all fiction. Something like this scenario is happening in real life, and it involves the FCC.
Last week, the FCC proposed fining radio conglomerate Clear Channel a whopping $775,000 for the sexually explicit and indecent language used by one of Clear Channel’s DJs, a Florida shock-jock known as Bubba the Love Sponge.
In response to the FCC’s proposed fine, Clear Channel fired Bubba the Love Sponge and announced it would suspend any radio personality accused of airing indecent programming.
After making this announcement, Clear Channel suspended the broadcasts of the Howard Stern show on six of its stations, citing sexually graphic content.
The sexually graphic content in question involves Stern’s conversation with Rick Solomon, the man involved with Paris Hilton in her now-famous homemade sex video.
Bending to the pressure and the threats of the FCC, Clear Channel issued the following statement: “We will not air Howard Stern on Clear Channel stations until we are assured that his show will conform to acceptable standards of responsible broadcasting.”
Although Stern’s show is still airing in many cities, the slippery slope created here by the FCC and Clear Channel Radio is unnerving to those who make a living through the idea of free speech.
Personally, I don’t care for Howard Stern or his show, and I am not defending him as a person. However, he should not be silenced because of the “indecency” of speech that occurred on his show.
Who’s next? Will the FCC decide later to silence other talk show hosts like Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh or Chris Matthews because of the provacitive nature of their speech? Will the FCC silence Fox News, CNN or other news organizations because of the critical nature of their speech?
Janet Jackson’s sex-capade at the Super Bowl was the dose of gamma radiation that transformed the FCC from a simple policing agency into a raging Hulk-like organization, and the suspension of Howard Stern from six Clear Channel radio stations is the fallout from the FCC’s uncontrollable rampage to protect “decency” at the expense of free speech.
I know the FCC — like the good-at-heart-Hulk — has the best of intentions, but its intentions are being overshadowed by its destruction of our Constitutional rights.
I’m all for responsibility in the media, but free speech shouldn’t be sacrificed for the sake of “decency.” Speech that operates outside the realm of decency is fine, as long as it is presented in the proper context.
Janet Jackson exposing herself unnecessarily to millions of unexpecting viewers at halftime of the Super Bowl is inappropriate because it’s out of context. People of all ages tune in to the Super Bowl to watch football, not some sexed up musical performance.
Likewise, people listen to Howard Stern or Bubba the Love Sponge because they expect those kinds of sexually-directed, outrageous antics from these programs.
If you don’t like Howard Stern, don’t listen to him — but don’t shut him up.