FCC Rules 'Redskins' Not Offensive

The Washington Redskins are having a losing season in National Football League play but on Thursday the team and its owner, Daniel Snyder, won a victory from the Federal Communications Commission against those who claim the nickname of the team is offensive, indecent and profane, and that Snyder is not fit to hold a broadcast license.

Accoridng to The Hollywood Reporter, The FCC has dismissed a series of claims against Snyder and his company Red Zebra concerning a Virginia radio station it owns, WWXX 94.3 FM, seeking to strip their license because the outlet broadcast the name Redskins which opponents claim is offensive to American Indians.

The FCC not only granted WWXX a license renewal, but also rejected arguments in petitions filed by opponents both on technical grounds and on the substance of the arguments.

The initial petition was filed Oct. 13 with the FCC by John Banzhaf III, an activist attorney and college professor, urging rejection of the WWXX license renewal and charging that Snyder does not “possess the character qualifications required of a commission licensee.”

The petition got a lot of publicity later in October when FCC chairman Tom Wheeler said he agreed the name Redskins was offensive. He indicated the commission would examine the issues raised by Banzhaf.

Wheeler later backed off on his comments, softening his stance, but the impression remained that the FCC might be on the war path over the issue.