Senator wants cable, satellite TV subject to indecency rules
Key GOP senator says he would push for such legislation
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Back to being a libertarian for a while.
Rant mode on.
This article (among others) discusses the topic of at least one Senator that wants to impose decency rules on all TV, not just broadcast, but all. Headline is linked.
Senator wants cable, satellite TV subject to indecency rules
Key GOP senator says he would push for such legislation
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON --Indecency guidelines that over-the-air broadcasters must follow should be extended to cover cable and satellite broadcasters, congressional Republicans who are influential on telecommunications issues said yesterday.
Most viewers do not differentiate between traditional TV and cable, so they do not know when they might be exposed to objectionable programming, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the head of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, told the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington.
"In this country, there has to be some standards of decency," said Stevens, who said he would push for such legislation. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association, a trade group, said that people choose to pay for channels and, as part of their subscription, are able to block programming they do not want seen in their homes. Because of that, the group said, any legislation would face an uphill battle in court.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the head of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, supported the idea of indecency guidelines for cable and satellite and said he would consult with Stevens on possible legislation.
"It's not fair to subject over-the-air broadcasters to one set of rules and subject cable and satellite to no rules," Barton told reporters after a separate appearance before the broadcasters group.
Last month, the House overwhelmingly passed a bill to raise the maximum indecency fine from $32,500 to $500,000. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate but has not had a hearing.
Federal law bars nonsatellite radio stations and noncable television channels from broadcasting certain references to sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children are most likely be tuning in.
The Federal Communications Commission has no power to regulate cable and satellite stations, which are available to about 85 percent of the about 108 million U.S. households with televisions.
So, Senator Stevens (and a few others) now want to regulate my "boob" tube even more. Deadwood on HBO - out with the C--- Sucker exclamations. Sopranos on HBO, too violent, must be tamed back. Sex and the City, too much sex, can't have that. Skin-a-max after hours, uh no. Showtime with it's cheap soft core porn in the late hours, nope.
Except... hmmm, I actually PAY for these services. I pay for a subscription to HBO because I want to see Deadwood. Because I like the Sopranos. Because my wife enjoyed watching Sex and the City (and hey, those girls were nice and easy on the eyes, even as Samantha used language that would be considered crude, and was seen in positions that were very compromising).
Where does this crap end?!
Should I have to be concerned that immature individuals are seeing Dennis Franz's butt on NYPD Blue during the 9pm hour in the Central Time zone? Maybe. Should I be offended at seeing Janet Jackson being exposed during the half-time at the Super Bowl? (Actually yes, but more because it was during a crappy musical number with a no-talent bum, but that's a different issue). Probably so, since it isn't something that I should have to expect during a family hour broadcast.
But, I should not have to be concerned that the Government wants to involve itself in TV programs that I'm paying to watch and have the ability to turn off at any time. I can use V-chip type technology to automatically filter. I can use my parental skills to actually monitor what my kids watch and keep them from watching Taxi-cab confessions or Shock Video on HBO. I can keep them from watching NYPD Blue. I can make sure they are not watching Coupling.
I don't need, and don't want, the government to involve itself in being the arbiters of good taste and decency. At least not in most cases. I want them to allocate frequencies perhaps. I want them to help regulate prices, perhaps. But I want them to stay the hell out of my life in most cases, and let me make mature, responsible decisions on my own.
After all, I'm older than 17 years, 364 days. I'm mature. Even the Supremes have decided that.
Rant mode on.
This article (among others) discusses the topic of at least one Senator that wants to impose decency rules on all TV, not just broadcast, but all. Headline is linked.
Senator wants cable, satellite TV subject to indecency rules
Key GOP senator says he would push for such legislation
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON --Indecency guidelines that over-the-air broadcasters must follow should be extended to cover cable and satellite broadcasters, congressional Republicans who are influential on telecommunications issues said yesterday.
Most viewers do not differentiate between traditional TV and cable, so they do not know when they might be exposed to objectionable programming, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the head of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, told the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington.
"In this country, there has to be some standards of decency," said Stevens, who said he would push for such legislation. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association, a trade group, said that people choose to pay for channels and, as part of their subscription, are able to block programming they do not want seen in their homes. Because of that, the group said, any legislation would face an uphill battle in court.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the head of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, supported the idea of indecency guidelines for cable and satellite and said he would consult with Stevens on possible legislation.
"It's not fair to subject over-the-air broadcasters to one set of rules and subject cable and satellite to no rules," Barton told reporters after a separate appearance before the broadcasters group.
Last month, the House overwhelmingly passed a bill to raise the maximum indecency fine from $32,500 to $500,000. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate but has not had a hearing.
Federal law bars nonsatellite radio stations and noncable television channels from broadcasting certain references to sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children are most likely be tuning in.
The Federal Communications Commission has no power to regulate cable and satellite stations, which are available to about 85 percent of the about 108 million U.S. households with televisions.
So, Senator Stevens (and a few others) now want to regulate my "boob" tube even more. Deadwood on HBO - out with the C--- Sucker exclamations. Sopranos on HBO, too violent, must be tamed back. Sex and the City, too much sex, can't have that. Skin-a-max after hours, uh no. Showtime with it's cheap soft core porn in the late hours, nope.
Except... hmmm, I actually PAY for these services. I pay for a subscription to HBO because I want to see Deadwood. Because I like the Sopranos. Because my wife enjoyed watching Sex and the City (and hey, those girls were nice and easy on the eyes, even as Samantha used language that would be considered crude, and was seen in positions that were very compromising).
Where does this crap end?!
Should I have to be concerned that immature individuals are seeing Dennis Franz's butt on NYPD Blue during the 9pm hour in the Central Time zone? Maybe. Should I be offended at seeing Janet Jackson being exposed during the half-time at the Super Bowl? (Actually yes, but more because it was during a crappy musical number with a no-talent bum, but that's a different issue). Probably so, since it isn't something that I should have to expect during a family hour broadcast.
But, I should not have to be concerned that the Government wants to involve itself in TV programs that I'm paying to watch and have the ability to turn off at any time. I can use V-chip type technology to automatically filter. I can use my parental skills to actually monitor what my kids watch and keep them from watching Taxi-cab confessions or Shock Video on HBO. I can keep them from watching NYPD Blue. I can make sure they are not watching Coupling.
I don't need, and don't want, the government to involve itself in being the arbiters of good taste and decency. At least not in most cases. I want them to allocate frequencies perhaps. I want them to help regulate prices, perhaps. But I want them to stay the hell out of my life in most cases, and let me make mature, responsible decisions on my own.
After all, I'm older than 17 years, 364 days. I'm mature. Even the Supremes have decided that.
