The FCC is out of Control

First Congress raises fines for indecency, now the FCC wants to go after networks for live sports coverage?:

In its continuing crackdown on on-air profanity, the FCC has requested numerous tapes from broadcasters that might include vulgar remarks from unruly spectators, coaches and athletes at live sporting events, industry sources said.

Tapes requested by the commission include live broadcasts of football games and NASCAR races where the participants or the crowds let loose with an expletive. While commission officials refused to talk about its requests, one broadcast company executive said the commission had asked for 30 tapes of live sports and news programs.

I am stunned by the commissions overreach in this issue. The fact of the matter is that sports broadcasters have no control over what athletes say, and certainly have no control about what paying spectators say. Does the FCC really want to go as far as to shackle Freedom of Speech at live athletic contests?

The FCC is out of control, and unfortunately it looks like Congress has no desire to reign them in.