FCC Should Hold ALJ Proceeding on CBS, Stolz Says
The FCC should hold a hearing before an administrative law judge on CBS fitness to hold a broadcast license, based on Stephen Colbert’s joke calling President Donald Trump a “cockholster,” said Edward Stolz in a filing on his opposition to…
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Entercom’s proposed buy of CBS Radio. Stolz previously opposed the license renewal of an Entercom station in Sacramento. Though that transaction involves CBS spinning off CBS Radio and selling it to another broadcaster, Stolz said CBS isn’t fit to have broadcast licenses because Colbert’s show is obscene and “fake news.” Though CBS argued that Colbert's The Late Show is comedic commentary on current events rather than news (see 1705310058), Stolz disagreed. “There was at no moment in time, an ‘event’ supporting the speaker's contention that the President engaged in the alleged act or acts,” Stolz said. CBS also argued Colbert’s words were bleeped and his mouth blurred out when he used the word in question, but Stolz said it had still been broadcast over spectrum through the lapel mic on Colbert’s jacket. “Everything heard by the live audience, was simultaneously broadcast via UHF electromagnetic spectrum, (typically 470-698 mHz),” Stolz said.