Government appeals court’s ruling against Federal Communications Commission indecency rule

Government appeals ruling on FCC indecency rule

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are appealing a recent court decision that struck down a 2004 government policy that says broadcasters can be fined for allowing even a single curse word to be uttered on live television.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York threw out the Federal Communications Commission policy last month, saying it was unconstitutionally vague.

In a filing on Thursday, the FCC and the Justice Department asked the court to reconsider that decision, warning that the ruling appears to undermine the FCC’s entire approach to regulating indecency on the airwaves. The agencies want the three-judge panel or the full court to reconsider the decision.