Radio Regulation in States

ilmmad

I was wondering who regulates the radio in states; more specifically, in PA. If I wanted to fine or tax an FM station for certain behavior, who would regulate this?

DHS Odium

Isn't it the FCC? They seem to be the ones always fining radio and TV stations.

RUNN1NGMAN

The FCC. They police broadcast stations for decency. But you can't fine a radio station or tax them. You could sue them if you believed they owed you something for some reason, or they damaged you somehow.

Thanatos

Yup, the FCC.

ilmmad

I'm drafting a mock bill for a mock-government sort of thing. I would like to fine radio stations for holiday music played outside of a preordained broadcasting window and use the money to donate to children's charities that give aid and presents to needy and underprivileged youth during holidays.

Since the law is state law, isn't it true I can't bring the FCC into this?

Thanatos

ilmmad wrote: »

I'm drafting a mock bill for a mock-government sort of thing. I would like to fine radio stations for holiday music played outside of a preordained broadcasting window and use the money to donate to children's charities that give aid and presents to needy and underprivileged youth during holidays.

Since the law is state law, isn't it true I can't bring the FCC into this?

I don't know if it matters, but your bill would be unconstitutional. And no, you wouldn't need to bring the FCC into it, you'd need whatever local body would be used for such a thing, probably your state department of commerce.

ilmmad

Yeah I'm aware. To be honest it's not that much of a problem in Youth and Government unless someone decides to call it out which only happens on occasion. I've gotten the proposal past my adviser without a problem, but if I'm told it won't fly I'm poised to fall back on a secondary bill regulating light pollution.

Thanks for the suggestion for the department of commerce though.

Thanatos

ilmmad wrote: »

Yeah I'm aware. To be honest it's not that much of a problem in Youth and Government unless someone decides to call it out which only happens on occasion. I've gotten the proposal past my adviser without a problem, but if I'm told it won't fly I'm poised to fall back on a secondary bill regulating light pollution.

Thanks for the suggestion for the department of commerce though.

If you want something similar that would be Constitutional, you could slide a labor regulation in prohibiting holiday music being played in excess of X amount at any work site, and/or prohibiting the same song being repeated more than once in X hours at a work site.

ilmmad

That's very helpful, I hadn't thought of it like that. Thank you.

corcorigan

Playing holiday music outside of Christmas time is indecent anyway (or as indecent as 3 seconds of a nipple on tv is at any rate).

You're just protecting the children.

ilmmad

So wait I could make it Constitutional by limiting hours? Doesn't that limit the rights of the business owner?

theclam

ilmmad wrote: »

So wait I could make it Constitutional by limiting hours? Doesn't that limit the rights of the business owner?

Business owners are required to provide a work environment that isn't too unsafe or unhealthy. You can't stop them from broadcasting music you don't like because it's a 1st Amendment issue.

Sentry

... am I the only one that wants to post something from Pump Up the Volume on here?

Back on topic: your regulations regarding Christmas music would likely be OSHA related, due to how much excess Christmas music makes people want to kill themselves.