Special to the Director's Cut BlogBy Larry Neumeister, AP Writer
NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court has tossed out a Federal Communications Commission policy that can lead to broadcasters being fined for allowing even a single curse word on live television.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Tuesday found the policy to be unconstitutionally vague. It says the policy violates the First Amendment.
In 2004, the FCC adopted a policy that profanity referring to sex or excrement is always indecent.
The court says the policy "chills speech, because broadcasters have no way of knowing what the FCC will find offensive."
The policy was put in place after a January 2003 NBC broadcast of the Golden Globes awards show, in which U2 lead singer Bono used the F-word.
