A Moral Values Myth

Nearly all the complaints to the FCC over dirty pictures and words on TV come from a single group. FCC Commissioner Michael Powell dropped a bombshell on Congress in the wake of Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. He said complaints to the agency had skyrocketed:

• 2000: fewer than 350
• 2001: fewer than 350
• 2002: 14,000
• 2003: 240,000

Powell didn't know at the time that 99.8% of those complaints came from the activist group "Parents Television Council." This is a group that urges caution when watching "America's Funniest Home Videos."

This year, the FCC has recieved 1,068,767 complaints, 540,000 over the Superbowl halftime show. (Media Week)