RADIO

The American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of listener-sponsored Pacifica Radio filed a lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against the Federal Communications Commission demanding information on the agency’s recently-instituted crackdown on broadcasts of so-called indecent language. The ACLU and Pacifica demand access to internal FCC documents pertaining to the agency’s new policy. The suit results from the FCC taking aim at an April broadcast on KPFK-FM, Pacifica’s Los Angeles station, warning that its broadcast of a gay-oriented radio play could be considered obscene under the prevailing standard. Pacifica has sought a court review of that FCC order, claiming it abridges free speech.