The question as to whether or not offensive speech should be protected in an open and free society has been debated ever since open and free societies first fought their way out of the mire – and electronic broadcasting has only heightened the debate. The founding fathers of American radio were forced to come up with an answer when confronted with the intolerant broadcasts of two clerics.
“There is no obligation to broadcast a speech which plays upon religious bigotry, which stirs up religious prejudice or hatred… The responsibility for the contents of programs rests upon the broadcaster… He is well within his rights to refuse to broadcast a speech plainly calculated or likely to stir-up religious prejudice and strife.”
