The FCC asked a federal appellate court in New York to send back a case to the agency so it can reconsider whether decency standards were violated. The request involved episodes of CBS's “The Early Show,” “NYPD Blue” and the Billboard music award shows.
Hearst-owned station KMBC and affiliate stations with ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC sued the FCC after the agency's March decision finding that some material broadcast on the stations was indecent and profane, Reuters reported. The commission did not fine any of the stations in connection with the material.
In court documents filed with the court, the FCC acknowledged it “did not follow its ordinary practice” of first issuing a notice of possible indecency violations, then seeking a response from broadcasters before issuing a decision.
The FCC asked the court to send the case back to the agency for reconsideration and promised to issue a decision within 60 days. The agency also said in its filing that television affiliate stations supported its request.
At week's end, news reports said the FOX network and its affiliates were expected to oppose the FCC's request for a remand of rulings against two FOX broadcasts. Some affiliates for ABC, CBS and NBC were said to support the FCC's request.
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