Viacom contests FCC’s Stern fine

Viacom Inc.’s radio unit is contesting a $27,500 fine imposed by the Federal Communications Commission for a 2001 Howard Stern show, saying the penalty is part of a federal campaign to undermine constitutional free-speech rights.

“The commission has abruptly and systematically altered almost every aspect of indecency enforcement in ways that dramatically undermine the lawfulness” of the agency’s penalties, Viacom’s Infinity Broadcasting Corp., the second-largest U.S. radio network, said in a filing with the FCC.

In March, the FCC said it would fine Infinity for a 2001 show that described “sexual and excretory” activities at an hour when children may have been listening. In its petition, Infinity said the sexual descriptions on Stern’s show were unintelligible to kids.

From Bloomberg News