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An FCC Fine for Lying
Politico ^ | Al Franken

Posted on 09/19/2025 5:37:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Edited on 09/19/2025 5:45:45 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

OK. This might be hard. You know how the FCC can fine someone on radio or TV for obscenity or for a wardrobe malfunction? This applies to the public airways—broadcast radio and TV. Here’s the idea: Extend this to cable and internet (that alone would require some heavy lifting), but instead of obscenity, the rule covers lying. Not opinion, of course. Actual lying.


(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: alfranken; chat; fcc; leftism; politico; politicopostedinnews
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How did the left trick some conservatives into supporting their ideas? This is by Al Franken? Why would anyone remotely conservative buy into his idea?
1 posted on 09/19/2025 5:37:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

He can go grope another unconscious woman...


2 posted on 09/19/2025 5:39:31 PM PDT by decal (They won't stop, so they'll have to be stopped)
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To: nickcarraway

Well, Kimmel lied so issue the fine Al.


3 posted on 09/19/2025 5:42:36 PM PDT by JerseyDvl (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: nickcarraway

When did Trump get a broadcasting license from the FCC?


4 posted on 09/19/2025 5:42:41 PM PDT by ConservaTexan (February 6, 1911/June 14, 1944)
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To: nickcarraway

Hmmm.
Al Franken trying to put the enemedia out of business.
Now I’ve seen it all...


5 posted on 09/19/2025 5:42:46 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Democrats should have been barred from elections since The Battle Of Athens.)
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To: JerseyDvl

Al Franken is not in charge. For which, I am thankful. At least conservatives where opposed to him then.


6 posted on 09/19/2025 5:43:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway; RandallFlagg

“William Roper: “So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!”

Sir Thomas More: “Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?”

William Roper: “Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!”

Sir Thomas More: “Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ‘round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!”
― Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts


7 posted on 09/19/2025 5:44:51 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

If the government can fine people for lying, they may start considering anything they do not like a “lie”.


8 posted on 09/19/2025 5:46:24 PM PDT by AndyTheBear (Certified smarter than average for my species)
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To: nickcarraway

Why you’ve something bad about our mRNA product....


9 posted on 09/19/2025 5:47:14 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Brian Griffin

Huh?


10 posted on 09/19/2025 5:47:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: AndyTheBear

They already consider that. How may truths have been called a lie, and the majority of judges will side with that?


11 posted on 09/19/2025 5:48:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

If Stuart Smalley is for it, I’m against it.


12 posted on 09/19/2025 5:49:25 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Je suis Charlie Kirk.)
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To: nickcarraway

The federal government owns the air above the trees and buildings. It doesn’t own the fiber optic cables.

I don’t think any one entity should have exclusive rights to a TV channel 24/7/365. Perhaps each day of seven should be auctioned off for a five-year period.


13 posted on 09/19/2025 5:52:41 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: nickcarraway

I’m not a fan of this at all. Because sometimes a lie is just an exaggeration. And sometimes it’s an innocent misstatement, based on faulty information. So who is to judge?

I draw the line at a call for violence. (And yeah, I know that can be subjective, too.)

If there’s no call for violence, let the consumer decide. If the program is trash, change the channel.

📺


14 posted on 09/19/2025 5:53:43 PM PDT by Leaning Right (It's morning in America. Again.)
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To: nickcarraway

Here’s the problem, Al.

You guys lie about lying.

We’ll have facts right in front of you, and you’ll just deny them.


15 posted on 09/19/2025 5:54:10 PM PDT by Lazamataz (I figure if Charlie Kirk can die for free speech, I can be mildly inconvenienced.)
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To: nickcarraway

Who is calling for regulation of private channels? The networks all have been gifted licenses worth billions but with that comes a responsibility to the public. I’ll note the FCC did not actually issue a fine but there is a longstanding rule against hoaxes

The Commission’s prohibition against the broadcast of hoaxes is set forth at Section 73.1217 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 73.1217.
This rule prohibits broadcast licensees or permittees from broadcasting false information concerning a crime or a catastrophe if:
the licensee knows this information is false;
it is foreseeable that broadcast of the information will cause substantial public harm; and
broadcast of the information does in fact directly cause substantial public harm.


16 posted on 09/19/2025 6:14:58 PM PDT by RightOnTheBorder
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To: nickcarraway

Cable doesn’t need an FCC license to broadcast. CBS, NBC & ABC do, which is why they’re subject to the strict rule against spreading disinformation which can result in huge fines or even the loss of their license. Al Franken is still a clueless idiot.


17 posted on 09/19/2025 6:15:08 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Trump 2024!)
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To: AndyTheBear

>> If the government can fine people for lying, they may start considering anything they do not like a “lie”.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD **NEVER** DO THAT!!!

oops, sorry! That is a lie. My bad!


18 posted on 09/19/2025 6:17:05 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: Leaning Right

I’m not a fan of this at all. Because sometimes a lie is just an exaggeration. And sometimes it’s an innocent misstatement, based on faulty information. So who is to judge?


A judge like a pastor is held to a higher standard because you know the law and administer it.

When I was caught up in the supportive animal crap as a landlord I was not allow to present my side. I signed to a felony and paid a fine of $8,000. I did not get justice as I did not even do the charge against me. I did get “mercery” as they lowered the fine from the initial $24,000.


19 posted on 09/19/2025 6:20:15 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
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To: Brian Griffin

ABC could relinquish its FCC license and become just another cable network. Then they could spread lies to their heart’s content. Until that happens, there are rules & requirements for broadcasting under the auspices of the FCC. However, since they have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to ensure an adequate return on their investment, I’m pretty sure they’ll keep the status quo.


20 posted on 09/19/2025 6:22:22 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Trump 2024!)
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