We told you earlier this week about the Federal Communications Commission voting unanimously to dump the Sports Blackout Rule. Now it appears that the FCC may take up the issue of the Washington Redskins. What exactly can the agency in charge of regulating the nation’s airwaves do in regards to one of the NFL’s oldest franchises?

Well, it can fine local channels, broadcast networks and individual newscasters and sports reporters for saying the word on the air. How can the FCC do this? By responding to complaints and petitions filed to the agency either via its website or via snail mail.

In this case, a legal activist has filed a petition against Virginia radio station WWXX-FM which so happens to be owned by Daniel Snyder. Yes, the same Daniel Snyder who owns the Washington Redskins. The petition seeks to have the station’s license revoked for using the word “Redskins.”

Now the FCC regularly receives petitions seeking to have station’s licenses pulled and normally, they’re not acted upon after quick consideration. However, agency chairman Tom Wheeler has said that the FCC will consider this particular petition. Wheeler stated that he feels the name is outdated:

“There are a lot of names and descriptions that were used over time that are inappropriate today. And I think the name that is attributed to the Washington football club is one of those.”

If FCC does indeed revoke the station’s license (unlikely at this point) and deems Redskins as indecent language, that could ban the use of the word on broadcast television. Should that happen, broadcast channels, networks and individuals could be fined. So if Al Michaels said the word on a Sunday Night Football game, he and NBC could be subjected to a financial penalty.

However, an ESPN Monday Night Football game would not be subject to a fine because the FCC has no jurisdiction over cable and pay television and could not ban the use there.

This does open up a can of worms, but with the backlash against the word growing, Federal agencies like the U.S. Patent Office are getting involved in the controversy.

There’s no word as to when the FCC would take up the Redskins issue, but it’s a story that bears watching.

[CNBC]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.