First Bubba then Howard Stern, now Elliot in the morning
 

FCC Proposes Fining 'Elliot in Morning'
1 hour, 40 minutes ago

By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Regulators proposed a quarter-million-dollar indecency fine against Clear Channel Communications on Friday, a little more than a month after hitting the nation's largest radio chain with a record $755,000 penalty.



The Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) voted 4-1 to cite Clear Channel's "Elliot in the Morning" show for nine alleged violations "that involved graphic and explicit sexual material, and were designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners."


It was second large fine this year against the radio giant, which has recently promised to clean up its programming. Last month it fired the disc jockey known as "Bubba the Love Sponge," took the Howard Stern show off the six Clear Channel stations that broadcast it and outlined new standards that include immediate suspension of any on-air performer accused by the FCC (news - web sites) of airing indecent material.


In statements released with the announcement of the fine, three FCC commissioners applauded Clear Channel's efforts but said penalties still were warranted for the "Elliot" show.


The FCC is seeking the maximum $27,500 for each of the alleged violations, or $247,500 in all, from a March 13, 2003, broadcast that included a graphic discussion about pornographic film star Ron Jeremy. Portions of the conversation were rebroadcast eight times in promotional spots for the show, hosted by Elliot Segal.


FCC Commissioner Michael J. Capps voted against the fine because he didn't think it was severe enough. He said the FCC has received previous complaints about Clear Channel and Segal and should have considered revoking the licenses of the stations that broadcast the show.


"Such a `cost-of-doing-business fine' is never going to stop the media's slide to the bottom," he said. "The time has come for the commission to send a message that it is serious about enforcing the indecency laws of our country."


"Elliot in the Morning" is heard on Clear Channel stations WWDC in Washington; WRXL in Richmond, Va.; and WOSC in Bethany Beach, Del.


Clear Channel owns 1,200 stations nationwide. A spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the fine and whether Segal had been suspended as outlined under the company's new policy.


Public and political pressure on broadcasters to clean up their programming has been heightened in the aftermath of the Super Bowl halftime show during which singer Janet Jackson (news)'s right breast was bared instantaneously before a television audience of 90 million. On Thursday, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation that would boost the maximum indecency fine to $500,000 per incident. The Senate is considering a similar increase.


Federal law and FCC rules prohibit over-the-air radio and TV stations from airing offensive material that refers to sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children are most likely to tune in. There are no such restrictions for cable and satellite TV and satellite radio.


While the Supreme Court has defined obscenity ? and in a landmark case told broadcasters they couldn't air seven specific words ? it never has clearly defined indecency. That is left to the FCC and its investigators.


Last month, the FCC proposed a record $755,000 fine against Clear Channel for the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show in Florida. Clear Channel did not contest the fine.


In testimony before Congress, Clear Channel Radio's president, John Hogan, said he was ashamed of the show and supported higher indecency fines.

If they raise the fines to $500,000 per incident this little transgression would end up costing $4.5M. That's a nice chunk of pocket change.

Clear Channel must die!!(in Terminator voice)

add FCC to the shitlist to..:mad:

Moe good point.

I guess the feds have to pay for the war some how.

What's scarier is that several rap and rock stations are worried because they've been getting warnings too.

I heard a couple of DJs say on the air that they're worried about the lyrics in some songs. Even if they bleep out everything they still don't know what's offensive to whom.

I guess this will play out this summer before the elections when Bush wins by a landslide when Skynet decides he's the best candidate.

hmmm, unlike unsolicited email if someone doesn't like the message they can merely reach over and change the station, or hit the remote.

there's a reason howard stern has the most popular radio show in the USA.

people want to listen to him.

and they should be able to.

don't like the program? change the station.

easy.

I did several appearances on Bubba the LoveSponge!

One of my sluts ended an 18yo boys virginity LIVE on the air.
Another slut gave another 18yo boy his first BJ
LIVE Bukkake and more!

Is this why he got fired? You make the call!

I have also done a show on Playboy Radio Night Calls


Radio DJ's that want to push the envelope, hit me up!

Dirty D
[email protected]
ICQ 1326843

what's to stop howard stern from broadcasting from ontario, canada.

satellite radio is here you know.

Well, from what he's said, he could do that...but the difference is he'd be broadcasting to only thousands of listeners, instead of millions.

Elliot in Morning sucked. He was real fuckin annoying and his laugh drove me crazy, but this is scary. I mean, it is REAL scary where things are going. This is going to be a nasty year and if Bush wins, i guess i'll cya:helpme :helpme

sorry, it is too long for me now, i am going sleep

Things are going from bad to worse.

Who decides that Stern is offensive but Rush isn't?

America's government gets worse and worse when right wingers are in charge.

welcome to 1954 just how the bush administration wants it.

the whole fact of this crap sucks.........if somebody doesn't take action against this, we are going to start losing our civil liberties one by one........this is bs

If you're a freedom loving person, you should be encouraging as much of this self-righteous Republican zealotry as possible in the months leading up to the election.

I won't be happy until Tom DeLay is leading a burning of sex education & science texts at the base of the Washington Memorial.

lol.

instead of bitching about bush, why dont you put supporting Kerry banners up on your site.

I bet they go after Bob and Tom too. :(

That would suck ... if they start censoring every good shows out there that's gonna be fucking boring . They already censor everything politically ...

here's something I'm wondering about. Clearchannel has vowed to clean up its airwaves. so they are firing people changing peoples contracts to tone them down, dropping stern etc. with all of this ratings have to be going down so will their income. I wonder how long until they decide " fuck it, it's worth paying the fines to make more money."

also, it wasn't too long ago that the FCC ruled to relax the rules on companies owning mulitple radio stations in the same market. Now companies like clearchannel own tons of stations in each market. The FCC smacks them and they start changing everything. If the FCC gets it's way they will implement a 3 strikes policy so if they fine a peticular station 3 times they can yank that stations license. So if clearchannl owns 60% of the stations in a given market and they get the licenses pulled or slapped hard a couple of times then basically the FCC now controls 60% of all radio in that market.

kind of scary.

I fail to see how that's UNLIKE unsolicited e-mail...?