Posted on 08/20/2002 7:14:31 AM PDT by NativeNewYorker
Washington, Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Viacom Inc.'s WNEW-FM radio station in New York should face fines or the loss of its license because it broadcast a couple having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral, a U.S. communications regulator said.
The Federal Communications Commission ``should consider the strongest enforcement action possible against this station,'' FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said in a statement. Copps, the lone Democrat of four commissioners, has urged broadcasters to curb sexual and violent programming.
WNEW's ``Opie and Anthony'' show aired and described a sex act in the Roman Catholic cathedral on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue during Thursday's Feast of the Assumption. The Catholic League, which describes itself as ``the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization,'' filed an FCC complaint. The show awards a prize to the couple that has sex in the riskiest place.
A lawyer for the two participants, who were arrested, didn't return phone calls seeking comment. WNEW General Manager Ken Stevens apologized ``to anyone who has been offended'' in a statement last week. He didn't return calls seeking comment.
Viacom spokesman Dana McClintock declined to comment further. New York-based Viacom owns Infinity Broadcasting, the second- biggest U.S. radio broadcaster behind Clear Channel Communications Inc.
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