Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard a case concerning the use of indecent speech on live television within time-frames when children are likely to be watching TV, the legal action having been filed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against broadcasters.

Originally, the FCC only prohibited indecent speech if the use of foul language on TV occurred more than once, but in 2004, their regulations altered, the decision having been triggered by Bono, Cher and Nicole Richie having used profanities during awards programs in the previous two years.

Nevertheless, last year, a New York federal appeals court overturned the FCC’s decision, which prompted the Commission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Broadcast networks such as Fox Televisions and NBC have stated that the ban on „fleeting expletives” had violated their rights to free-speech and had also hindered the airing of live entertainment and sports shows.

The case marks the first major legal action with regards to indecent speech on TV or radio in thirty years, following a 1978 court ruling that lent support to the FCC’s decision to fine a radio station for having broadcast comedian George Carlin's „Seven Dirty Words” skit during the afternoon.

In 2004, the Commission announced that any broadcaster who did not comply with the „fleeting expletives” ban could receive fines of over $325,000, even if the inappropriate words had been used inadvertently during airing time.

Moreover, FCC officials deemed any use of the F-word as having a sexual connotation, while other words are considered rife with excretory images.