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View Full Version : FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Considering Banning Using the Word "Redskins"



Stiletto
10-02-2014, 09:54 PM
File this one under "Is this guy for fucking real?!" :doofus:

From Forbes:

FCC To Consider Petition To Ban Use of "Redskins" On Airwaves (http://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2014/10/02/fcc-to-consider-petition-to-ban-use-of-redskins-nickname-on-airwaves/)

Excerpts:


The petition has been filed by George Washington University (http://www.forbes.com/colleges/george-washington-university/) law professor John Banzhaf III, who isn’t just some slouch off the street. Banzhaf was a key player in getting cigarette ads off radio and television. He also pushed for making school buses safer.

“Despite whatever the origins of the word ‘R*skins’ may be, or the original intent of the owner who first gave the team its name, the evidence is now overwhelming that the current meaning is an offensive demeaning racial swear word, not only to many Indians, but also others,” Banzhaf states in his petition filed in early September.


When approached on the petition FCC chair Tom Wheeler said, “We’ll be looking at that petition, we will be dealing with that issue on the merits and we’ll be responding accordingly.”

“There are a lot of names and descriptions that were used over time that are inappropriate today,” Wheeler added. “And I think the name that is attributed to the Washington football club is one of those.”

From Politico:

Redskins name ban an FCC Hail Mary (http://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/redskins-name-ban-an-fcc-reach-111529.html)

Excerpts:


Currently, material is indecent if it "in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities or organs in a patently offensive manner as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium.
Wheeler did say Tuesday that the agency “will be dealing with that issue on the merits, and we will be responding to” a petition filed by a George Washington University professor that asks the commission to pull the license for WWXX-FM for repeatedly using the word. Daniel Snyder owns both the radio station and the Washington football team.

The GW professor, John Banzhaf, contends the FCC can take action against a broadcaster that airs the word because it is “akin to broadcasting obscenity” or that “it constitutes profanity.”


While obscene speech has no constitutional protection, indecent speech does. The FCC can fine broadcasters or pull their licenses for airing indecent sppech, but ony if it is aired before 10 p.m. or after 6 a.m. Broadcasting faces more regulation than cable channels or newspapers because TV and radio stations originally received their airwaves for free under the condition that they use them in the public interest.

The Politico article acknowledges that it's an uphill battle and it's questionable at best as to whether "Redskins" falls under this definition, but Tom Wheeler, the tool who refuses to use the term, is a huge proponent of this.

Frankly, I think the whole thing is bullshit and yet another overreach by the PC Gestapo. I'm goddamned sick and tired of their pissing on the First Amendment and regulating every other word that comes out of peoples' mouths.

To fuck with them.

SassyLady
10-02-2014, 10:55 PM
Stupid, progressive liberals wanting to create a group think culture where they are in charge of what we can say. I'm getting pretty fed up with all of it.