The FCC says it’s receiving more complaints about radio and television programming. But what that increased volume means exactly is harder to determine.
Reporting a “notable increase,” the commission says such complaints skyrocketed from 9,740 in the 4th quarter of 2009 to 132,416 in the 1st quarter of 2010, an increase of about 1,259%.
Consumers submitted complaints about programming and advertising. The bulk of the programming criticisms concern indecency and/or obscenity, according to the commission.
The agency said the existence of a complaint doesn’t necessarily indicate wrongdoing by a company.
We’ve reported that the commission made it easier to gripe by accepting e-mail complaints and making instructions for how to complain easier to find on its website. Since Michael Powell was chairman, many complaints are postcards or e-mails carrying a repetitive message supplied by organized groups rather than individually-written messages.
