Justice Department Sues FOX

WASHINGTON, April 6: According to wire reports, the
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed suit against Fox Broadcasting
Company and Sinclair Broadcast Group to collect an unpaid indecency fine
stemming from a 2003 episode of Married
by America.

In 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
fined 169 owned-and-operated and affiliated FOX stations $7,000 each for
broadcasting “indecent material” during an episode of Married by America in April 2003. In February, the FCC issued a new ruling, fining just 13 stations in markets where viewers
complained. Last month, Fox Broadcasting said it was appealing its share of the
total $91,000 fine.

The DOJ suits filed
Friday to compel the broadcasting groups to pay the fines came as the FCC
rejected Fox’s appeal, noting that it exceeded the 25-page limit for responses.

According to wire
reports, eight stations out of the 13 have not yet paid the fine—five are owned
by Fox and three by Sinclair. Asked about the suit, Fox spokesman Scott Grogin
is quoted as saying: “We look forward to the opportunity to present the full
factual and legal arguments in the Married
by America case to an impartial and open court of law.”

—By Mansha Daswani