Cable and Satellite to be regulated, internet next? - GoFuckYourself.com

DeadFidel · 03-02-2005, 05:31 AM

We're fucked.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said on Tuesday he would push for applying broadcast decency standards to cable television and subscription satellite TV and radio.

"Cable is a much greater violator in the indecency area," the Alaska Republican told the National Association of Broadcasters, which represents most local television and radio affiliates. "I think we have the same power to deal with cable as over-the-air" broadcasters.

"There has to be some standard of decency," he said. But he also cautioned that "No one wants censorship."

Stevens told reporters afterward that he would push legislation to apply the standards to cable TV and satellite radio and television. It could become part of a pending bill to boost fines on broadcasters who violate indecency restrictions or of an effort to overhaul U.S. communications laws.

If Stevens is successful, it could pose new problems for raunchy radio host Howard Stern, who has said he was forced to leave broadcast radio for satellite radio to avoid decency limits -- and Federal Communications Commission fines.

So far the restrictions have not applied to subscription services offered by companies like cable TV operators Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc. or XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., which recently signed Stern.

Last year the Senate Commerce Committee narrowly defeated an amendment to a bill boosting fines for indecency that would have extended such limits to cable and satellite services.

Sen. George Allen, a Commerce Committee member and Virginia Republican, told reporters he would be "hesitant to expand it to those" services.

While lawmakers and some parents groups are anxious to wipe the airwaves clean of indecency after singer Janet Jackson bared her breast last year during the Super Bowl halftime show, President Bush has said parents are the first line of defense and can just "turn it off."

Federal regulations bar broadcast television and radio stations from airing obscene material and restrict indecent material, such as sexually explicit discussions or profanity, to late-night hours when children are less likely to be watching or listening.

Barefootsies · 03-02-2005, 05:51 AM

The internet can never be regulated. It's like the wild west. Plus spread across too many areas or hubs. This is not mainland China where they've restricted it from the get-go. So no matter what they tried in the states, it would either be defeated, or worked around period.

Realistically, if they stopped spamming e-mails for porn, and penis pills, they'd call it a success. As for the rest, subscription services (cable and satalite) have always had looser standards when it comes to the typical regulation. If you know anything about the FCC and laws applied, most of it if for the basic cable/network channels. Not what is referred to as "cable" or subscription (HBO, Comedy Central, Cinemax, etc.).

I highly doubt regardless of how many bills they bring to congress it will ever pass. The industry it's self has done a lot of things voluntary to stop it from the get go. Putting all those warning on before a show, when coming back from commercial breaks you see it again, more advertising on the V-chip, how to set your shit up so kids can't see blah blah.. (atleast with Charter, and stuff available in Michigan). You see the ads all the time telling you how to program your cable, or tv to prevent minors from this stuff.

As for satalite, it's another subscription service not available to the masses (yet). You know what's on there, and you have to pay for it. Hence, until it becomes a 'norm' I'd say it should not fall under regulation.

Now if these lazy fucking congressmen and women actually want to do something to get their names in the papers take on corporate communications.. Clear Channel, Viacom, and alike. These 4 or 5 (not sure of total, but it's a handful) companies that own just about everything on television and radio. Those who buy every radio station in a market, and then put the auto-trons (computer prerecorded shows) on, and when shit hits the fan with weather and stuff, there is no live dj. Or the fact we get all canned bullshit playlists dictated by some law of numbers back at corporate. The same companies who own all the music channels, and every couple of years turn another one into a game show.

But ofcourse that would mean actually taking a stand against corporate America, and we can't have that. Heh.

Herb Kornfield · 03-02-2005, 06:57 AM

Were all tired of being politically correct.......

The 1950's era of wholesome turned into the 1960's radical slant. History does repeat itself.

Most of the Washington folks just posture to keep their political careers afloat as long as possible. Its all smoke and mirror shit.

mardigras · 03-02-2005, 07:23 AM

I see in this article http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69620 that they have the support of Clear Channel in this legislation. No surprise there, smart business move if they could keep Howard Stern from becoming competition

The article also mentions children being the ultimate victims. Fuck parents who buy HBO and leave kids unattended with it.

mardigras · 03-02-2005, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

If you know anything about the FCC and laws applied, most of it if for the basic cable/network channels. Not what is referred to as "cable" or subscription (HBO, Comedy Central, Cinemax, etc.).

As for satalite, it's another subscription service not available to the masses (yet). You know what's on there, and you have to pay for it. Hence, until it becomes a 'norm' I'd say it should not fall under regulation.

Funny, this article specifically mentions HBO, Comedy Central, Cinemax, and both subscription satellite radio services...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2005Mar1.html

03-02-2005, 05:31 AM	#1
DeadFidel Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: This was my wife circa 2002 Posts: 6,760	Cable and Satellite to be regulated, internet next? We're fucked. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said on Tuesday he would push for applying broadcast decency standards to cable television and subscription satellite TV and radio. "Cable is a much greater violator in the indecency area," the Alaska Republican told the National Association of Broadcasters, which represents most local television and radio affiliates. "I think we have the same power to deal with cable as over-the-air" broadcasters. "There has to be some standard of decency," he said. But he also cautioned that "No one wants censorship." Stevens told reporters afterward that he would push legislation to apply the standards to cable TV and satellite radio and television. It could become part of a pending bill to boost fines on broadcasters who violate indecency restrictions or of an effort to overhaul U.S. communications laws. If Stevens is successful, it could pose new problems for raunchy radio host Howard Stern, who has said he was forced to leave broadcast radio for satellite radio to avoid decency limits -- and Federal Communications Commission fines. So far the restrictions have not applied to subscription services offered by companies like cable TV operators Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc. or XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., which recently signed Stern. Last year the Senate Commerce Committee narrowly defeated an amendment to a bill boosting fines for indecency that would have extended such limits to cable and satellite services. Sen. George Allen, a Commerce Committee member and Virginia Republican, told reporters he would be "hesitant to expand it to those" services. While lawmakers and some parents groups are anxious to wipe the airwaves clean of indecency after singer Janet Jackson bared her breast last year during the Super Bowl halftime show, President Bush has said parents are the first line of defense and can just "turn it off." Federal regulations bar broadcast television and radio stations from airing obscene material and restrict indecent material, such as sexually explicit discussions or profanity, to late-night hours when children are less likely to be watching or listening.

03-02-2005, 05:51 AM	#2
Barefootsies Choice is an Illusion Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Land of Obama Posts: 42,635	The internet can never be regulated. It's like the wild west. Plus spread across too many areas or hubs. This is not mainland China where they've restricted it from the get-go. So no matter what they tried in the states, it would either be defeated, or worked around period. Realistically, if they stopped spamming e-mails for porn, and penis pills, they'd call it a success. As for the rest, subscription services (cable and satalite) have always had looser standards when it comes to the typical regulation. If you know anything about the FCC and laws applied, most of it if for the basic cable/network channels. Not what is referred to as "cable" or subscription (HBO, Comedy Central, Cinemax, etc.). I highly doubt regardless of how many bills they bring to congress it will ever pass. The industry it's self has done a lot of things voluntary to stop it from the get go. Putting all those warning on before a show, when coming back from commercial breaks you see it again, more advertising on the V-chip, how to set your shit up so kids can't see blah blah.. (atleast with Charter, and stuff available in Michigan). You see the ads all the time telling you how to program your cable, or tv to prevent minors from this stuff. As for satalite, it's another subscription service not available to the masses (yet). You know what's on there, and you have to pay for it. Hence, until it becomes a 'norm' I'd say it should not fall under regulation. Now if these lazy fucking congressmen and women actually want to do something to get their names in the papers take on corporate communications.. Clear Channel, Viacom, and alike. These 4 or 5 (not sure of total, but it's a handful) companies that own just about everything on television and radio. Those who buy every radio station in a market, and then put the auto-trons (computer prerecorded shows) on, and when shit hits the fan with weather and stuff, there is no live dj. Or the fact we get all canned bullshit playlists dictated by some law of numbers back at corporate. The same companies who own all the music channels, and every couple of years turn another one into a game show. But ofcourse that would mean actually taking a stand against corporate America, and we can't have that. Heh.

03-02-2005, 06:57 AM	#3
Herb Kornfield Is on the 1 Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Philly Burbs Posts: 4,996	Were all tired of being politically correct....... The 1950's era of wholesome turned into the 1960's radical slant. History does repeat itself. Most of the Washington folks just posture to keep their political careers afloat as long as possible. Its all smoke and mirror shit.

03-02-2005, 07:23 AM	#4
mardigras Bon temps! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: down yonder Posts: 14,194	I see in this article http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69620 that they have the support of Clear Channel in this legislation. No surprise there, smart business move if they could keep Howard Stern from becoming competition The article also mentions children being the ultimate victims. Fuck parents who buy HBO and leave kids unattended with it.