emmarkllib
2007-04-11, 08:07
When license holders, such as broadcast radio and television stations, or amateur radio operators who allow unlicensed personnel to operate on their stations, unknowingly allow FCC-dictated "indecent" content to be transmitted, they are held liable for such content's broadcast, even though the license-holder or their staff did not originate the content. There is a certain amount of leeway given in some circumstances, but generally fines are simply leveed from the license holder.
Understandably on a forum like Totse, there's a certain amount of disagreement with policies such as the FCC's indecency statutes. That being said, would it be proper in certain cases for legally binding contracts to define responsibility in case of indecency statute violation?
This sort of contract wouldn't be used just anywhere, of course. It would be ridiculous for amateur operators running a phone tap, for example, to require all users to sign a contract before dialing in. In those cases, a verbal agreement is normally sufficient.
However, in the case of larger broadcasters, a written contract might be more appropriate. Has anyone seen or read anywhere of such a contract being used?
Understandably on a forum like Totse, there's a certain amount of disagreement with policies such as the FCC's indecency statutes. That being said, would it be proper in certain cases for legally binding contracts to define responsibility in case of indecency statute violation?
This sort of contract wouldn't be used just anywhere, of course. It would be ridiculous for amateur operators running a phone tap, for example, to require all users to sign a contract before dialing in. In those cases, a verbal agreement is normally sufficient.
However, in the case of larger broadcasters, a written contract might be more appropriate. Has anyone seen or read anywhere of such a contract being used?