US Broadcasters against FCC profanity ruling

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US broadcasters this week mounted their first concerted counter attack against an indecency crackdown, warning federal regulators that harsher policies were already threatening free speech across broadcast television and radio.

A coalition of over 20 broadcasters, artists' groups and media organisations filed a petition on Monday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider a profanity ruling that was triggered by a breast-baring stunt by singer Janet Jackson during the February Super Bowl telecast.

The petition, signed by broadcast network owners Viacom and Fox Entertainment as well as the Screen Actors' Guild and other groups, charges the FCC has expanded its authority beyond constitutional limits and that broadcasters are being forced into self-censorship.