The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined Clear Channel $495,000 for broadcasting an episode of Howard Stern's radio show that discussed the anal sex life of one of the show's cast members and Sphincterine, a product that is pitched as an anal hygiene product.
A total of six radio stations were cited for airing the program, broadcast on April 9, 2003. The FCC decided to fine each station $27,500, the maximum penalty, for each utterance of indecency, the first time that the commission has done so.
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Prior to this decision the FCC had only fined stations once per program or program segment, no matter how many indecent utterances occurred.
In this case, Stern was found to have used indecent material while discussing the sex life of Stuttering John in one segment, and both Stern and Bruce Last, the creator of Sphincterine, were found to have both used indecent material in another segment.
Last was unaware that his product was the center of the FCC fine until AVN.com called for an interview. He immediate reaction was relief that he wasn't fined personally, followed by a realization that his product had just been thrust into the national spotlight.
“I’ve gotten four orders in the last minute though,” Last said. “This publicity is going to be a windfall.”
Not that Last was jubilant about the cause of the newfound attention.
"It's cool being associated with the show, but I wish it were in a way that Howard wasn't taking a hit," Last told AVN.com. "I hate to see Howard get in trouble because I think his show is great. He's great and he stands for freedom of speech and it really sucks that they are doing this to him."
