Supreme Court Rescinds Fines Against Fox and ABC

The Court ruled 8-0 against the FCC’s policy regulating curse words and nudity on broadcast television. The fines and sanctions, totaling nearly $1.24 million, against ABC and Fox will not be imposed and the networks will be free to adjust their policies to avoid future conflict with the FCC. Writing for the majority, Justice Kennedy stated:

“… Fox and ABC ‘lacked notice at the time of their broadcasts that the material they were broadcasting could be found actionably indecent under then-existing policies. Given this disposition, it is unnecessary for the court to address the constitutionality of the current indecency policy…’”