2015考研英语阅读对粗鄙行为的管制_大学英语阅读

2015考研英语阅读对粗鄙行为的管制

　　究竟有没有最高法院的法官当时在看电视，或者会认为他们被打了一巴掌，都是不可知的。然而，当这种事情发生的时候，他们肯定是在思考这类事件。就在上个月，他们刚听审完针对其他两个广播网络公司福克斯和美国广播公司的控诉，指责他们触犯美国联邦通信委员会对粗鄙行为的禁令。该广播公司们认为他们播出什么内容，应该像有线电视和网络一样自由。他们特别反对美国联邦通信委员会关于短暂粗口和短暂走光的禁令，这两者都会招致巨额罚款。这些禁令依次在某种程度上都被实施了，因为在前一个超级杯橄榄球赛的中场表演上，另一位不守规则的流行歌手瞬间露乳，据称是因为服装故障。

　　The FCC has long barred profanity and nudity during waking hours, although it used to takea laxer attitude towards isolated incidents. The Supreme Court upheld its rules in 1978,despite their impingement on free speech, on the basis of a law banning smut on the radio.But the broadcasters complain that the FCCs drive for decency is inconsistent,unnecessary and increasingly quixotic. Why, they ask, should swearing be permissible insome circumstances but not in others? Is it really necessary to protect thepublic from swear words, when viewers can so easily vote with their remotes? Above all,while the court allowed the airwaves to be policed in 1978 because they were a scarce,publicly owned resource, does that still make sense in an era of cable, satellite and YouTube?After all, some 85% of households in America now subscribe to some sort of pay television,and almost 70% have broadband and thus face constant exposure to cursing and smut.