President’s pick must not allow nudity and profanity on public airways
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2013) – President Obama is set to announce lobbyist Tom Wheeler as his choice to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Wheeler will have no more important job than protecting children and families by enforcing current decency standards. The Senate Commerce Committee must approve the President’s nominee, followed by approval of the full Senate.
“We demand that Members of the Senate Commerce Committee, which will hold confirmation hearings on the nominee, obtain Wheeler’s commitment to vigorously enforce the federal decency law before approving his nomination,” said Patrick A. Trueman, President of Morality in Media.
Trueman added, “Mr. Wheeler has a choice whether to side with the overwhelming majority of the public or to side with the broadcast networks on whether nudity and profanity will be allowed during hours when children are in the TV audience.”
Outgoing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has sided with the networks refusing to enforce decency standards, despite U. S. Supreme Court rulings that upheld the public’s right to decency in their homes. Under Genachowski, the FCC is now seeking to weaken decency enforcement under a policy that would allow nudity and profanity on broadcast TV during times when children are in the audience so long as such material is “isolated.” Morality in Media is leading a nationwide campaign to halt this change, urging the public to file comments opposing the policy at http://pornharms.com/fcc.