PUBLIC COMPLAINT LETTERS ABOUT TV SHOWS: HOW TO GET THEM
By Michael Ravnitzky , mikerav@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
The FCC receives a large number of astonishing citizen complaint letters
and
emails about television shows. Correspondents complain for a variety of
reasons, including concerns about sexual and violent content. But many
complaints really are off the wall.
You can obtain copies from the FCC of public complaints about particular
television programs 〝 just use the form letter below. Please use a
separate
letter for each program you inquire about, to ease in handling the
request.
Note that due to their recordkeeping procedures the FCC can only readily
access complaints since early 2003, so current or recent shows should be
your focus. Yes, some of these shows are cable shows 〝 odd as it may
seem,
the FCC gets almost as many complaint letters about cable shows as for
broadcast shows.
Want to see examples? There are a number of complaint letters posted about
several television shows, including FAMILY GUY, at a web page here:
http://www.governmentattic.org/documents.html
Look about three quarters of the way down the page (you will see the
phrase
FCC COMPLAINTS) on a number of file entries.
SUGGESTIONS:
Here is a list of some television shows to get you started 〝 there are
complaints on file for nearly all of these shows. I'm sure you can think
of
others I may have omitted, such as national network news shows.
America易s Next Top Model
American Dad
American Gladiators
American Idol
Amish in the City
Battlestar Galactica
Big Brother
Bones
Boy Meets Boy
Cold Case
COPS
Criminal Minds
Crossing Georgia
CSI
Dawson易s Creek
Deadwood
Dexter
Drew Carey Show
ER
Everyone Love易s Raymond
Extreme Makeover
Fear Factor
Futurama
Gilmore Girls
Grey易s Anatomy
Heroes
House M.D.
Judge Hatchett
Judge Joe Brown
Judge Judy
Judge Mathis
King of the Hill
Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Late Night with Conan O易brien
Late Show with David Letterman
Lost
MADtv
Medium
Monday Night Football
My Name is Earl
NCIS
Nip/Tuck
Prison Break
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
Saturday Night Live
Scrubs
Sesame Street
Six Feet Under
SpongeBob SquarePants
Super Nanny
The Apprentice
The Biggest Loser
The Contender
The L Word
The Office
The Shield
The Sopranos
The Superbowl
The View
The Wire
Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Trading Spouses
Ugly Betty
Victoria易s Secret Fashion Show
Wife Swap
Will & Grace
Without a Trace
WWE Smackdown
====
FORM LETTER YOU CAN USE OR AMEND:
Federal Communications Commission
Attn: Shoko B. Hair, FOIA Officer
Room 5C406
445 12th Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
FAX: 202-418-2826 or 202-418-0521
EMAIL: FOIA@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
Dear Ms. Hair:
This is a request under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act,
as
amended. I request a copy of the following records:
A copy of all informal complaints received at the FCC regarding the
television show XXXXXXXXXXXXX between January 2003 and the present.
Please
search the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) and Enforcement
Bureau (EB) records as practicable, but if searching EB poses a complex
administrative challenge or would require substantial searching time or
would impose disproportionate costs in this instance, then you may omit EB
complaints from the scope of this request if you wish.
Important: you may omit complaints that appear to be the product of a
mass
mailing or a coordinated complaint campaign or are duplicative or
repetitive, to the extent practicable.
I agree to pay up to $50 for costs as necessary for this request.
***IDENTIFY WHETHER YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NEWSMEDIA OR WHETHER
YOU
ARE A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL ASKING FOR THESE RECORDS FOR NONCOMMERCIAL
RESEARCH
AND STUDY PURPOSES.***
Thank you very much for your assistance, and please call me if you have
any
questions.
Sincerely,
========
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