Lost in the awe-inspiring mass of information thta was Election Day, was a Supreme Court case on the use of profanity in broadcasting. An in-depth report can be found thanks to the McClatchy Washington Bureau.
The case, known as FCC v. Fox Television Stations, is the highest-profile free speech case of the year. Fox claims that the FCC's policy change towards "the f-word" came without explanation and inhibits free speech.
The FCC meanwhile, defends its ability to levy fines upwards of $325,000 for even a fleeting f-bomb. The change came after Bono's acceptance speech during the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, where a celebratory f-word flew from his lips.
The conservative justices seem to be siding with the FCC, saying that the f-word is merely shock value. Others have trouble finding concrete reasons why the policy became more strict, and seem to be fine with the occasional swear word.
So, with regards to our class...
*Do hefty fines for unintentional profanity inhibit free speech?
*Should profanity on the airwaves be protected by free speech?
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