FCC refuses to reconsider fining Fox over Raunchy Reality Show

Fox Broadcasting Co. was sued by the Justice Department for the broadcast of a raunchy reality show in 2003 that included indecent scenes from bachelor and bachelorette parties. Fox was slapped with a fine of $91,000 for objectionable scenes in its ‘Married by America.’ The network requested for reconsideration into the fine but the petition was turned down by regulators on Friday.

The Federal Communications Commission said Fox’s petition was way too long and stretched 14 pages beyond the limit. The company did not ask permission to exceed those page limits "at least 10 days before the filing date," the agency added.

"For four years, News Corp. has failed to take responsibility for airing indecent programming during 'Married by America.' It's long past time for the company to accept responsibility and pay its fines," said FCC spokeswoman Mary Diamond.

Fox, a division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., earlier refused to pay the fines because the FCC's decision it said was "arbitrary and capricious, inconsistent with precedent and patently unconstitutional."

FCC’s latest decision was termed by Fox as ‘offensive.’

"Given that the petition was filed on behalf of seven companies -- each of whom had the right to file 25 pages -- we fail to see how filing 39 pages instead of the 175 allowable pages was grounds for dismissal," Scott Grogin, Fox's senior vice president of corporate communications said in an e-mailed statement. "It is particularly offensive for the commission to have used such specious grounds to dismiss a petition that raises such important constitutional issues," he added.

The fight between FCC and Fox got aggravated because of the agency's denial of the request made by Fox, which is one of several networks to challenge the enforcement over indecency in recent years.

Supreme Court said last month that it would take up a separate challenge by Fox and the other broadcast networks over the FCC's policy on imposing fines on broadcasters for airing ‘fleeting expletives’ or the unscripted use of vulgar language on air.

According to Fox spokesman Scott Grogin, the company is looking forward to present the fact and legally argue before an impartial and open court of law, in this case.