Radio News: No fines expected for reporting presidential bad language

Jan 15, 2018 10:50 pm
Variety reports that the Federal Communications Commission has received at least "a handful" of complaints about bad language on network newscasts. CNN and NBC anchors were quoting the president of the United States, who reportedly called many African countries an expletive in a White House meeting last week. The FCC does not regulate speech on cable networks, so CNN has nothing to worry about, and over-the-air broadcasters may air profanity during "safe harbor" between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. NBC, though, did quote the president during its evening newscasts, so, technically, it could get in trouble with a fine up to $383,038 per incident. “Factors in determining how FCC rules apply include the specific nature of the content, the time of day it was broadcast, and the context in which the broadcast took place,” the FCC says on its website. So, while there may be a rule against such language over the air, the enforcement is arbitrary. Generally, the FCC does not fine stations when a station reports a newsworthy expletive, which would seem to be the case this time.
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