SUPREME COURT HEARS CASE ON “THE F-WORD”

The U.S. Supreme Court began hearings today over the use of curse words on the airwaves.

It’s the Court’s first major case involving broadcast indecency in 30 years.

George Carlin’s Supreme Court case led to the “Seven words you can’t say on television.”

Fox Broadcasting Co., along with ABC, CBS and NBC, are suing the Federal Communications Commission. Specifically, for FCC fines involving so-called “fleeting expletives,” one-time uses of the F-word or its close cousins.

The networks contend they shouldn’t be held responsible for profanities they have no control of that are uttered on live broadcasts.

The networks challenged a new FCC policy after the commission said broadcasts of entertainment awards shows in 2002 and 2003 were indecent because of profanity uttered by Bono, Cher and Nicole Richie.