We wonder what would've happened if Janet Jackson had shown more than just her pierced breast on national TV? This thing just keeps growing legs. After almost 6 years, the third Circuit court of appeals is re-hearing the $550,000 indecency fine against CBS-owned stations at the urging of the FCC. The FCC has been dragging this thing out for whatever reason and is showing no signs of letting it go. What is behind the obsession even with a new administration in power?
CBS told the court that to allow the FCC to drag the case out any further with its proposed investigation would further chill speech. "The First Amendment costs to CBS and all broadcasters inherent in dragging out this proceeding - as the FCC here requests - far exceed just the legal fees and time consumed by the prolonged prosecution of the case," said the company. "Regulatory agencies put pressure on regulated firms in numerous ways, some more subtle than others, and subjecting programming decisions to repeated government second-guessing is one of the least subtle of all."
