Expletives, an open mic, and the FCC

[RobVallejo]

So I'm listening to an archived file of the dispatch of a certain wildfire burning in the northern part of our state, and it gets me to thinking. What are the consequences, if any, of cursing on a frequency licensed to a fire agency?

Specifically, does the FCC care about such things and do they take a hard nosed approach, with fines, etc? Or do they understand that public safety dispatching is a stressful job and that anyone might inadvertently key the mic during a frank discussion punctuated with F-bombs?

Perhaps there isn't a restriction on using expletives on public safety frequencies. I wouldn't know.

[antfreq]

Originally Posted by RobVallejo

So I'm listening to an archived file of the dispatch of a certain wildfire burning in the northern part of our state, and it gets me to thinking. What are the consequences, if any, of cursing on a frequency licensed to a fire agency?

Specifically, does the FCC care about such things and do they take a hard nosed approach, with fines, etc? Or do they understand that public safety dispatching is a stressful job and that anyone might inadvertently key the mic during a frank discussion punctuated with F-bombs?

Perhaps there isn't a restriction on using expletives on public safety frequencies. I wouldn't know.

Happens all the time in the public safety world - I have yet to hear an intentional swear - I've heard them mostly on accidental open mics or when something's going down.. " Oh #@$#$ he just crashed, start code3 fire/ems".

I think the FCC has better things to do like chase after pirate stations or intentional airwave hackers who spew crap, slander and chaos.

[RobVallejo]

I hope the FCC has better things to do, but you never know. Stupid policies are enforced everyday. Thanks for the reply, Antfreq.

[avtarsingh]

i dont know of any consequences fcc standards and practices are usually tailored for broadcasting

they are not for the general viewing or listening public

i dont think a public safety freq would qualify as a broadcast channel

i would think they can do whatever they want

i would assume their only limit is placed upon by them whomever makes their radio policies

chiefs etc


my opinion.. anybody who does police or fire or any public safety work should be able to say whatever the
.._. .._ -.-. -.- they want


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