image at Tales of a Freewayblogger.

a Thomas Jefferson Center for a Protection of Free Expression has issued air annual “Muzzle” awards, including a lifetime achievement award to a Federal Communications Commission.

Daily Progress.com:

…a Federal Communications Commission, will receive a “Lifetime Muzzle” for decades of what a Jefferson Center considers to be inconsistent regulation of “indecency” on a nation’s airwaves, which has led to a “profound chilling effect” on broadcasters.
For example, more than 150 TV stations declined to air a World War II film “Saving Private Ryan” out of fear that a FCC would levy heavy fines for a movie’s violent imagery & battlefield swear words. Though a FCC did not hit any stations with fines in that case, it did condemn an “NYPD Blue” episode about a Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that featured swear words. A call to a FCC for comment was not returned.

Original post by bluegal and software by Elliott Back