
HOW YOU CAN STOP A STATION FROM BROADCASTING LIES ABOUT MARIJUANA
(AS EXTRACTED FROM "THE EMPEROR WEARS NO CLOTHES")


     THERE IS NO "TRUTH IN ADVERTISING" PROTECTION AGAINST PDFA (PARTNERSHIP
FOR A DRUG-FREE AMERICA) ADS THAT LIE ABOUT STERILITY, BRAIN DAMAGE, ETC., SO
YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER THE BROADCASTER, INSTEAD.

     EVEN IF YOU DO NOT GET THE $100,000 PENALTY DESCRIBED BELOW, REMEMBER THAT
YOU GIVE THE STATION A PUBLIC RELATIONS HEADACHE EVERY TIME YOU COMPLAIN AND
COST IT MONEY EVERY TIME IT HAS TO USE ITS LAWYERS TO DEAL WITH A FORMAL
COMPLAINT, SO IF ENOUGH PEOPLE DO IT, WE'LL GET RESULTS.


FILING AN FCC COMPLAINT AGAINST A BROADCASTER:

     SUBMIT YOUR COMPLAINT FIRST TO THE STATION INVOLVED.  THE STATION MAY WELL
RECOGNIZE THE MERIT OF YOUR COMPLAINT AND TAKE CORRECTION ACTION, OR MAY
EXPLAIN THE MATTER TO YOUR SATISFACTION.

     (DIRECT YOUR COMPLAINT TO THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS.  A PHONE CALL IS GOOD,
BUT A LETTER HOLDS A LITTLE MORE WEIGHT AND CAN BE USED FOR EVIDENCE LATER IF
YOU HAVE TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT.)

     IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE STATIONS RESPONSE, IT WILL EXPEDITE
ACTION ON YOUR COMPLAINT TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) TO
ENCLOSE A COPY OF YOUR COMPLAINT TO THE STATION INVOLVED, PLAINLY INDICATING AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTER TO THE FCC THAT SUCH COPY IS BEING SENT TO THE
SPECIFIC STATION.

     SUBMIT YOUR COMPLAINT PROMPTLY AFTER THE EVENT TO WHICH IT RELATES.
(WITHIN A FEW DAYS.)


INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN YOUR LETTER OF COMPLAINT:

1. THE FULL NAME, ADDRESS AND DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE COMPLAINANT (THE
BROADCASTER).
2. THE CALL LETTER AND LOCATION OF THE STATION.
3. THE NAME OF ANY PROGRAM TO WHICH THE COMPLAINT RELATES AND THE DATE AND TIME
OF ITS BROADCAST.
4. A STATEMENT OF WHAT THE STATION HAD DONE OR FAILED TO DO WHICH CAUSES YOU TO
FILE A COMPLAIN.  BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE: FURNISH NAMES, DATE, PLACE AND
ANY OTHER PERTINENT DETAILS.
5. A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH WHAT YOU WANT THE STATION AND/OR THE FCC TO DO.
6. A COPY OF ANY PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE STATION CONCERNING
THE SUBJECT OF THE COMPLAINT -- IF ANY.

     STATE THE FACTS BRIEFLY.  IF YOU THINK A SPECIFIC LAW OR REGULATION HAS
BEEN VIOLATED, TELL US WHAT IT IS.


A COMPLAINT RECEIVED BY THE FCC IS DEALT WITH AS FOLLOWS:

     IF INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION IS SUBMITTED OR IF THE COMPLAINT DOES NOT
ALLEGE A SUBSTANTIAL VIOLATION OF STATUE OR RULE OR POLICY, A LETTER IS SEND TO
THE COMPLAINANT.

     IF THE COMPLAINT DOES ALLEGE SPECIFIC FACTS SUFFICIENT TO INDICATE A
SUBSTANTIAL VIOLATION, IT IS INVESTIGATED, EITHER BY CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE
STATION OR, IN RARE INSTANCES, BY FIELD INQUIRY.  IF THE STAFF CONCLUDES THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION, IT MAY RECOMMEND TO THE COMMISSION THAT SANCTIONS
BE IMPOSED ON THE STATION; IT MAY DIRECT REMEDIAL ACTION, OR WHERE EXTENUATING
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PRESENT -- AN HONEST MISTAKE OR MISJUDGMENT -- IT MAY NOTE
THE VIOLATION BUT NOT RECOMMEND A SANCTION.

     MONETARY FORFEITURE NOT EXCEEDING $100,000 AND SHORT-TERM RENEWAL OF
LICENSE MAY BE IMPOSED, OR FORMAL PROCEEDINGS INCLUDING A HEARING MAY BECOME
NECESSARY, IN WHICH CASE THE COMPLAINANT MAY BE ASKED TO SUBMIT A SWORN
STATEMENT OR TO APPEAR AND GIVE TESTIMONY.  A HEARING IS ORDERED IN A RENEWAL
OR REVOCATION PROCEEDING ONLY IF SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED
CONCERNING THE LICENSEE'S QUALIFICATIONS.


FILE YOUR COMPLAINT WITH THE FCC:

MASS MEDIA BUREAU, COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS BRANCH
ROOM 8202
WASHINGTON, DC, 20554
TELEPHONE:(202)/632-6968

     IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE MASS MEDIA BUREAU AT
THE ABOVE-LISTED TELEPHONE NUMBER.
