McCain Urges FCC 'Proactivity' On Indecency Issues

NEW YORK (The Hollywood Reporter)--Republican Sen. John McCain urged the Federal Communications Commission to be "far more proactive" in addressing indecency issues and warned against media industry consolidation at a recent press event.

McCain spoke last Monday in New York at the Museum of Television & Radio on issues facing the media industry.

McCain, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said, "It's very dangerous for Congress to make judgments on morality."

The FCC--not Congress--should enforce laws and regulations already set in place, he stressed. "The FCC, a very large bureaucracy with some very large salaries, should perhaps be doing more," McCain said.

McCain also said community standards must be put in place in order to avoid distasteful events such as the recent Janet Jackson stunt at the SuperBowl in the future. While such standards are difficult to implement, McCain underscored that it is the FCC, and not Congress, that has to be "far more proactive" in establishing guidelines.

CONSOLIDATION SCARE

McCain also warned that if the United States isn't vigilant, continued industry consolidation could lead to a situation like in Italy, where the government owns 95% of the media, or Russia, where the press is forced to praise political leaders.

"I'm not saying this will happen in the U.S., but we should be concerned on the future of consolidation," said McCain.