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Background
Knowingly broadcasting false information
concerning a crime or a catastrophe could violate the rules of
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
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Specifics of the FCC’s Rules
The FCC’s rules prohibit holders of
broadcast licenses from broadcasting false information
concerning a crime or a catastrophe if:
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the licensee knows the information
is false;
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the licensee knows beforehand that
broadcasting the information will cause substantial
“public harm.” The public harm: (1) must begin
immediately and cause direct and actual damage to
property or the health or safety of the general public;
or (2) divert law enforcement or public health and
safety authorities from their duties.
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Disclaimers
If a broadcast licensee uses a
disclaimer that clearly characterizes the program as fiction, and
the disclaimer is presented in a way that is reasonable under the
circumstances, the program will be presumed not to pose
foreseeable public harm.
Filing a Complaint with the FCC
If you think these rules have been violated,
you can file a complaint with the FCC. You can file your
complaint using the on-line complaint Form 2000E found on the
FCC Web site at
www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html. You can also file your
complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by e-mailing
fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC
(1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries & Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.
What to Include in Your Complaint
The best way to provide all the information
the FCC needs to process your complaint is to complete fully the
on-line complaint Form 2000E. If you do not use the on-line
complaint Form 2000E, your complaint, at a minimum, should
indicate:
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your name, address, email address, and
phone number where you can be reached;
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name and phone number of the company
that you are complaining about and location (city and state)
if the company is a cable or satellite operator;
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station call sign (KDIU-FM or WZUE TV),
radio station frequency (1020 or 88.5) or TV channel (13),
and station location (city and state);
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network, program name, and date and
time of program if you are complaining about a particular
program; and
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any additional details of
your complaint, including time, date, and nature of the
conduct or activity you are complaining about and
identifying information for any companies, organizations, or
individuals involved.
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For More Information
For information about other
telecommunications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau Web site at
www.fcc.gov/cgb, or contact the FCC’s Consumer
Center using the information provided for filing a
complaint.
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Federal Communications Commission
