“Can’t Talk Now”: FCC Hires Indecency Advisor

by on August 11, 2005

There’s been a lull in the indecency wars so far in Chairman Kevin Martin’s short tenure at the FCC–no fines have been assessed this year, compared to $7.9 million in fines in 2004. That may soon change. Mediaweek reports that the FCC has hired Penny Nance, an anti-pornography advocate and founder of the Kids First Coalition, to serve an an advisor on the issue. Nance will work from the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (an office that historically been focused on economics, and not involved in indecency issues.)

It’s too early to say what the appointment means. There’s some speculation that the Commission is preparing to act on a new set of indecency complaints.

When called by MediaWeek, Nance declined an interview, saying “I can’t talk now.” That leaves open the obvious question: “Who can talk now?” Stay tuned.

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James Gattuso / James Gattuso is a Senior Research Fellow in Regulatory Policy in the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. Gattuso also leads the Enterprise and Free Markets Initiative at Heritage, with responsiblity for a range of regulatory and market issues. Prior to joining Heritage, he served as Vice President for Policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and also as Vice President for Policy Development with Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE). From 1990 to 1993, he was Deputy Chief of the Office of Plans and Policy at the Federal Communications Commission. From May 1991 to June 1992, he was detailed from the FCC to the office of Vice President Dan Quayle, where he served as Associate Director of the President's Council on Competitiveness. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Dana, 8 year-old son, Peter (whom he relies upon to operate his VCR), and his four year-old daughter Lindsey (who does the DVD player.) He has no known hobbies, but is not nearly as boring as he seems.

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