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Ruling: Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV
The Seven Words The U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 to uphold the FCC’s action against a New York radio station for the 1973 broadcast of a George Carling comedy routine called “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.” The Court rules the routine was "indecent.” -
Cher Drops the "F-Bomb"
Singer-actress Cher uses the phrase “F--- ‘em” during a broadcast of the Billboard Music Awards on the Fox TV network. No FCC action. -
Bono Gets F---ing Excited
U2’s lead singer, Bono, says “This is really, really, f---ing brilliant" while accepting an award at the Golden Globes ceremony on NBC. -
FCC Rejects Parents Group Claim That Bono Was Obscence
The FCC rejects complaints from the Parents Television Council, which found Bono’s use of the word "F---ing" to be indecent. But FCC officials say the word -- in the context used by Bnono -- "did not describe sexual or excretory organs or activities." -
Nicole Richie Talks Sh--
While making a presentation at the Billboard Music Awards, again on Fox, reality TV star Nicole Richie says: "Have you ever tried to get cow s--- out of a Prada purse? It's not so f---ing simple." No FCC action. -
Janet Jackson Has a "Wardrobe Malfunction" at the Super Bowl
Janet Jackson’s right breast slips out while she is performing with Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl halftime. CBS is hit with a $550,000 FCC fine. -
FCC Issues "Golden Globe Statement"
Golden Globe Statement Reverses its earlier rejection of a fine in the Bono-Golden Globes incident and issues a ruling now known as the “Golden Globe Statement.” It says ALL "bad words" are indecent, regardless of context. -
Fox Fights FCC Fine
The Fox Television network -- joined by ABC, CBS and NBC -- challenges the constitutionality of the “Golden Globe Statement.” Oral arguments are heard by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The FCC fined Fox $91,000 for the Cher-Richie incidents, but the network refuses to pay. -
Federal Appeals Court Rejects "Golden Globe Statement"
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals rules the FCC’s policy on “fleeting expletives” is arbitrary (random), capricious (changed suddenly) and without foundation. Also throws out Fox fine. -
U.S. Supreme Court Supports "Golden Globe Statement"
Acting on an appeal from the FCC, the U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 in favor of the FCC’s “Golden Globe Statement” on isolated outbursts of profanity on television and/or radio. -
Appellate Court Strikes Down "Golden Globe Statement," Again
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals votes unanimously to again strike down the “Golden Globe Statement” for violating free speech. -
Appellate Court Throws Out Fine for Naked Rear-end
Acting on a FCC appeal, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals throws out a $1.2 million fine against ABC for showing a woman’s naked rear-end for less than seven seconds in February 2003 on the police drama “NYPD Blue.” -
Appeals Court Still Says Super Bowl Fine is Wrong
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals upholds its earlier ruling that the FCC acted improperly in fining CBS over the brief glimpse of Janet Jackson’s right breast during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. I -
U.S. Supreme Court Takes a Second Look at FCC Policies
The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments for a second time challenging the Second Circuit Court of Appeals continued rejection of the FCC’s “Golden Globe Statement” on “fleeting expletives.” -
FCC Seeks Supreme Court Review of Super Bowl Fine
The FCC asks the U.S. Supreme Court to review the appeals court decision overturning the $550,000 fine imposed on CBS after Janet Jackson's notorious "wardrobe malfunction" during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. -
Supreme Court Throws Out Fines for "Fleeting Expletives"
Supreme Court votes unanimously to throw out fines against broadcast companies the FCC said violated its policy regulating curse words and nudity on television airwaves. Says the FCC did not give “fair notice” before taking action. Justices decline to issue a broad ruling on the policy's constitutionality. -
Supreme Court Refuses to Re-instate Super Bowl Fines
The Supreme Court refused to hear the FCC’s request to reinstate a $550,000 fine against CBS for the Janet Jackson Super Bowl halftime show incident. The decision ends the long, legal wrangling over a flash of nudity in front of 90 million television viewers during the Patriots’ 2004 Super Bowl win over the Panthers. -
Feds Drop Fine Against Fox
The U.S. Department of Justice dismisses a lawsuit against Fox Broadcasting and four Fox-owned TV stations over a 2003 episode of the show "Married By America" featuring strippers.
No reason was given. -
FCC Seeks Public Recommendations on Indecency Policy
The Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice inviting public comment on whether it should focus on pursuing only the "most egregious" cases in which indecency rules are broken, or focus on isolated cases of nudity and expletives uttered on radio and TV shows. FCC Seeks Public Comment -
Indecency Comment Period Extended to July 18
More than 101,525 comments had been filed as of June 19. Due to the heavy demand, the deadline was extended to July 18. Strong Public Reaction to Decency Proposals
