"Kim" wrote in message ...
A neighbor tells me that the FCC has recently ruled that broadcast radio
stations are now "legally" able to "say the F word" on the air, as long as
it isn't sexual. Yeah, I know, go figure.

I think it was in response to some rock star accepting an award and
saying it was "[expletive deleted]ing wonderful" or some such. FCC
said it wasn't a violation in that case. But if he'd said he was so
happy he wanted to [expletive deleted] the presenter, it would be a
violation.

Yeah, go figure.

But, when I did a quick search on the FCC website, I found nothing of it.

Of course not. They're not gonna advertise it because then everybody
would be saying it.

Anyone know of this...my thoughts are on what will happen in amateur radio
now.

Nothing, I hope.

The broadcast arena has always been the barometer of what people are
allowed to say on the air, hasn't it?

Nope. FCC has completely different rules for different services. The
fact that somebody gets away with something in the broadcast services
doesn't mean it's OK in the ARS.

FCC regulates all electronic communications, not just radio waves.
Cable TV as well as broadcast TV, for example. Yet there are things
the cable folks can show that the broadcat folks can't. The thinking
is that people sign up for cable only if they want it, and it's a
private system, not the public airways. Broadcast TV is public
property. So it's like the difference between what's allowed in a
strip club and what's allowed on the street.

Between broadcasting and amatuer radio is the question of scheduling
and predictability. All broadcasters publish advance schedules, with
content warnings. So you can know what you're likely to see and hear
*before* tuning in to Howard Stern or the Victoria's Secret Fashion
Special. Not the case in amateur radio.

73 de Jim, N2EY