Enforcement Process

How do I file a complaint? The FCC accepts complaints electronically, by letter, email, facsimile or telephone. If possible, your complaint should include the call sign of the station, the community where the station is located (city, state), and the date and time of the broadcast. Although not required, including this information greatly assists the FCC in processing your complaint quickly and efficiently. Your complaint should also contain enough detail about the material broadcast that the FCC can understand the exact words and language used. It is very helpful if the complaint includes a partial tape or transcript of the aired material or a significant excerpt. Please see the link “How to file a Complaint” for more complete information, including information on FCC web and mailing addresses.

Do I need to provide a tape or transcript of the program? No, a tape or transcript is not required. However, the FCC's determination as to whether material is indecent, profane, or potentially obscene rests upon its context. Your submission of a tape or transcript assists us in determining context, but an excerpt or description of the material may also be sufficient. FCC staff will usually send a letter of inquiry to the station if the complaint indicates that the program may be obscene, indecent or profane. At that stage of the investigation, the FCC usually requests a tape and transcript from the station.

What happens to my complaint once it is filed? The “Complaint Process Flow Chart” link provides a general description of how the FCC processes complaints. Once a complaint is filed, FCC staff scan or otherwise record it in a database. The complaint is then forwarded to the staff responsible for initial review. A station licensee may receive a letter of inquiry from the FCC requesting the information necessary to complete the investigation. At any stage of the investigation, if the FCC concludes that we need more information to process your complaint, or that the material is not obscene, indecent or profane, we will notify you by letter. If the FCC determines the material is indecent or profane, we will take further action, including possibly imposing monetary penalties. If the FCC determines the material is arguably obscene, we will refer the matter to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice has authority to bring criminal prosecutions for the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane material. If convicted in a federal district court, violators may be subject to criminal fines and/or imprisonmant.

How do I determine the status of my complaint? You can ensure you remain apprised of the status of your complaint by sending a copy of your FCC complaint to the station that broadcast the material that you find offensive and by informing us you have done so. In doing this, you become a party to the investigation and all other parties to the investigation, including the FCC and the station licensee, must send you copies of all written communications between them, including any FCC letters of inquiry and licensee responses. You can also check on the status of your complaint by calling (202) 418-1420. You will be notified of the outcome of the FCC's investigation of your complaint via letter or by public order imposing a monetary sanction.

How long will it take for the FCC to act on my complaint? The FCC has numerous staff persons in the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau and the Enforcement Bureau processing, reviewing, and investigating allegations of obscenity, indecency, and/or profanity. The FCC addresses these allegations as quickly as possible, striving to address every complaint within 9 months of its receipt. However, because each case is different, we can't tell you how long it will take to resolve a particular complaint.

Will I be notified once the FCC has made a decision on my complaint? You will be notified of the FCC's decision on your complaint, either by letter or email, or by public order. Because each case is different, it is hard to predict exactly how long it will take for the agency to reach a decision. We take all complaints seriously, and act on them as quickly as possible. We strive to address every complaint within 9 months of its receipt.

Reprinted from http://www.fcc.gov/eb/oip/FAQ.html#TheLaw