FCC Nails Bubba The Love Sponge For $755,000 Obscenity Fine
 

OUCH!


FCC Targets Clear Channel with $755,000 Obscenity Fine

WASHINGTON · The government proposed a $755,000 fine against Clear Channel Communications on Tuesday for a sexually explicit radio show aired on four stations, the second-highest such fine ever proposed.

The Federal Communications Commission, whose chairman recently urged that penalties be increased for indecent programming, said the stations -- all in Florida -- aired various episodes of Bubba the Love Sponge a total of 26 times. The commission proposed fining Clear Channel the maximum $27,500 for each time the episode ran, or $715,000.

Clear Channel also was fined $40,000 because of record-keeping violations at the stations. The company has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal.

In response, Clear Channel called for an industry task force to develop clear indecency standards for radio, television, cable and satellite networks.

"We believe the time has come for every sector of the media to join together and develop consistent standards that are in tune with local community values," said Mark Mays, president of the company. "Our audiences deserve nothing less."

Clear Channel has 27 stations in its South Florida market. The company could not be reached to comment on whether any of these stations had aired the programs.

The FCC also announced that it wanted to fine KRON Channel 4 in San Francisco the maximum $27,500 for broadcasting indecent material on its morning news program.

During an interview with performers of the "Puppetry of the Penis," who wore capes but nothing else, one of the actors exposed himself. The FCC said the station should have expected that such a display could have occurred and should have taken steps to prevent it.

It would be just the second fine leveled against a television broadcast for indecency.

"I hope this step today represents the beginning of a commitment to consider each indecency complaint seriously, and to recognize that indecency on our airwaves is not limited to the radio," FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin said.

The largest fine ever for indecency was $1.7 million paid by Infinity Broadcasting in 1995. Also, the FCC last October proposed fining Infinity $357,000 for a radio segment on the Opie and Anthony show in which a couple was said to be having sex in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The head of Clear Channel Radio said his broadcasts are not meant to be indecent.

"We work hard every day to entertain, not offend our listeners," said John Hogan. "None of us defend or encourage indecent content -- it's simply not part of our corporate culture."

The latest fines came a day before a congressional hearing on obscenity prompted by the FCC enforcement bureau's decision not to fine rock star Bono for an expletive uttered on NBC during the Golden Globe Awards show last year.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell has asked the panel to overturn the decision. Legislation has been introduced in the House to prohibit broadcasters from airing eight specific words or phrases.

Republicans believe in smaller government and less regulation. :1orglaugh

wait... he "exposed" himself... ON a radio program. :eek7

He is a very crude DJ. He is always doing stunts and crap like that. Surprised it didn't happen sooner.

Wow, I haven't heard the name Bubba the Love Sponge in a long time. I remember when he was on the Power Pig in Tampa. When I was a teenager it was quite funny to hear him tell girls to rub their phone up against their titties then listen to him moan.

Yeah that was quite some time ago. I rememeber all his stunts and crap. He was always into something.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

He's the number one rated DJ for morning drive here in Tampa and has been for a couple of years.........must be really obscene or we are some really sick bastards.



www.illnet.com
www.streetracers.com

Clear Channel is right in this one. The FCC lets Bono get away with saying supposedly the worst 'obscene' word on national television "because it was used in context" and then tells radio stations that they can't air "dirty" shows... BS. It would be more in context on a radio show, since you have to do an entire presentation to draw the listener in (being that you have no video).
The FCC needs to get its shit straight and set clear rules rather than playing favorites or acting like gleeful little teens over a rock star.

Listen to Bubba everyday. The local authorities have been going after him since he has been on the Power Pig. The funny thing about Bubba is that he is a Republican. He always throws his support to the local and national races. With the FCC going after him he probably will not be able to get away with all the stuff that he has been doing. I hope Clear Channel stands their ground and keep him on the air.

I can't stand him... but then again I'm not a fan of talk radio and I'm pissed the only two decent radio stations in central florida have rednecks in the morring insted of music..

maybe they will can him and I'll be able to listen to music insted of rednecks.