FCC Nominee Sidesteps TV Indecency Question
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 19, 2013) – Will Tom Wheeler enforce federal decency laws if confirmed as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission? That question remains unclear after his nomination hearing before the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation.
Morality in Media is urging all Senators to withhold approval of Wheeler until he commits to enforce current FCC decency regulations. Broadcast TV standards are a top concern of the American public, with more than 100,000 people submitting their comments to the FCC opposed to any changes in decency standards.
At the Wheeler confirmation hearing, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) asked, “Where would you take the broadcast decency policy?” Rather than answer the question directly, Wheeler suggested that, “it is possible to call upon our better angels with some leadership.”
“Leadership on TV decency is sorely needed,” said Trueman. “But, after a four year hiatus on decency enforcement at the FCC we can only hope that Wheeler’s better angels tell him to follow the will of the American public, and vigorously enforce the federal decency law, which he is free to do after the U. S. Supreme Court decision in FCC V. Fox of last June,”