Final answer:
The FCC defines broadcast indecency and obscenity and enforces laws around them. Indecent speech is restricted during certain hours to protect children. Obscene material is prohibited at all times and can face severe penalties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has defined broadcast indecency as language or material that, in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory organs or activities in terms patently offensive to contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium. Indecent programming contains patently offensive sexual or excretory material that does not rise to the level of obscenity. FCC rules prohibit indecent speech on broadcast radio and television between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience.
Obscene broadcasts, on the other hand, are prohibited at all times. Obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time. To be considered obscene, material must meet a three-pronged test: appeal to the prurient interest, depict or describe sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
Indecency and obscenity laws are enforced by the FCC, and violators may face punishments such as revocation of station license, monetary forfeiture, or warnings. While the courts hold that indecent material is protected by the First Amendment, there are restrictions on its broadcast to protect children and promote community standards.