Essay: "The Insidious Threat of Censorship", Part 10

Essay: "The Insidious Threat of Censorship", Part 10 of Several

    The F.C.C. in the 21st Century:

       In the 20eth century the Federal Communications Commission would regulate communication on radio and television. For a long time as George Carlin called  "the seven words you can never say on television" (and radio) could only be heard on pay cable. As a result, to supposedly protect children from violence and sexuality, many movies and other programs had to be as they say "edited for television" with the possible exception of news or medical programs. In the 1970s the miniseries  "Roots" and  later  "Shaka Zulu" showed bare female breasts in a historical context.  Progress was starting to be made during the eighties and early nineties with "NYPD Blue" featuring both profanity and partial nudity at its 10 p.m. time slot. It seemed these ridiculous restrictions on language, violence, and maybe even nudity were

starting to be relaxed or even done away with. Unfortunately, with the appointment of George W. Bush by the Supreme Court in the 2000 election the country's politics shifted rightward. I'm not a big football fan, but when so-called  "Nipplegate" occurred live during the Superbowl the F.C.C. became a right-wing Gestapo against free expression over the airwaves. Within days after Janet Jackson's breast was unintentionally exposed on national television, for political expediency Congress demanded that for even slight infractions of profanity, sexuality, excessive violence or nudity on television or the radio there would be crippling fines of hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Before the notorious "Nipplegate" occurred any fines would only be in the thousands if anything. I can imagine what Andy Sipowitz (Dennis Franz), the profane police detective from "NYPD Blue" might say about those A-holes in Congress and the F.C.C.  Hopefully under Obama this heavyhanded censorship will be relaxed or abolished, but I heard that Congress wants the F.C.C. to have the power to censor pay cable and satellite television as well.  

  In addition to imposing censorship  on viewers, radio listeners and writers, Congress consolidated media control so there are fewer owners of radio and television stations. The fewer owners there are the more likely certain voices will not be heard. Corporate-controlled media has a conflict of interest to not present information which could hurt their own bottom line or benefit the general public.   

 By the way, I reached the milestone of my 200th post.

  [The original version of this essay first appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern   student newspaper in the early '90s and as part of my unpublished manuscript  "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays.]