Indecency Regulations on the Internet
Indecency Regulations on the Internet
Following the rising immorality and indecency over the internet, a lot of questions arise on what bodies deemed with responsibility of overseeing communication, are doing to that effect. Bodies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States are one the bodies whose responsibilities cover a wide range of the communication sector from radio and television broadcasting to the internet. Gaining its power and authority from the Congress, and seconded by the federal law, the FCC reviews whatever is being aired and decides on its validity in order to be broadcasted. Opinion from the viewers and listeners is among some of the considerations that are taken into account when deciding on the indecency, profanity and obscene nature of a program. On matters concerning the internet, a lot of confrontations come up, as a result, on the content of the internet.
The FCC does not have any regulations pertaining to the internet and the content found therein. On the contrary, it has rules which ensure that nothing and not any anything possessing whatever power/authority interferes with innovation over the internet. On the other hand, the FCC is vigilant on the content of the programs being aired over cable and public television. While the content in the internet is no concern of the FCC, every inch of the content in the cable and public television is under the eagle’s eye of the FCC. Stations that violate the regulations set by the FCC are prone to revocation of their licenses, imposition of monetary forfeiture and warnings from the Federal Communications Commission.
Now since the FCC has regulations for the cable and public television, there are great expectations that the internet should have similar if not close, such regulations. This is, however, not the case because the FCC plays a different task in controlling the internet. It ensures that use of broadband is equal for both heavy users and light users. In addition, it ensures that the broadband providers make the traffic over the internet is flexible and that heavy users “don’t overcrowd out others”. The FCC does not set regulations of the content because the federal laws do not cover matters concerning the internet’s content. Its authority/power does not allow this procedure.
The possibilities of ever setting/ having regulations set over the indecency of the internet are currently underway. Measures are being taken to block access to indecent stuff by inappropriate receivers of the information and content of the internet. Inappropriate users such as under-aged persons especially children and students are the most interested in indecent content accessed through the internet. Efforts are being directed to restrict access to such information/content as pornography and sexually related information. By the time the set up of these restrictions is complete, only authorized internet users will be able to access content and information.
There has been great improvement in the entertainment industry. One such remarkable improvement is the complete streaming of entertainment over the internet. In terms of entertainment, it is clear that not the entire content is decent. It is alarming that indecent information that cannot be aired over cable and public television will find its way to the targeted people. This must be stopped and prevented at all costs. The FCC will not have any control if a told the entertainment industry will succeed in its complete streaming of content. The control (if any) that the FCC will have over the entertainment in the internet will be very small and almost negligible. All efforts must be directed to scrutinize the entertainment content and information before it gets into the internet.
Reference
Pacapac, K. (2011). Should the Internet face the same indecency standards as broadcasters. http://www.wongkeenhing.com/2008/05/07/should-the-internet-face-the-same-indecency-standards-as-broadcasters/
Federal Communications Commission. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/obscenity-indecency-and-profanity
Federal Communicatons Commission. http://www.fcc.gov/openinternet
Monserud, A. (2013). Streaming Media Shakes Up Entertainment Industry. The Pioneer. World press. http://whitmanpioneer.com/opinion/2013/09/26/streaming-media-shakes-up-entertainment/
Young, K. S. (2011). Internet addiction: A handbook and guide to evaluation and treatment. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Goodale, J. C., & Frieden, R. (2008). All about cable and broadband. New York: Law Journal Press.
Kipp, S. (2004). Broadband entertainment: Digital audio, video and gaming in your home. Westminster, Colo: Broadband Entertainment.
