"No matter what you do, be careful not to violate the FCC's rule against broadcast hoaxes, citing Section 73.1217 of the Commission's Rules. This rule warns against announcing a crime or catastrophe known to be false, and foreseeably might be damaging."
"The regulation was motivated by the infamous 'Mount Trashmore' radio broadcast spoof, which alerted citizens that a large mound of buried trash was about to explode due to methane gas build-up. Nearby residents were ready to evacuate."
"The wild burlesque was stopped when police showed up at the radio station - perhaps the ultimate payoff for the DJs. That put an end to it. The DJs were suspended for two weeks without pay."
"We are also mindful of the War of the Worlds panic when the 1938 Orson Welles radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds, which portrayed a realistic alien invasion, sparked public hysteria."
David Oxenford warns broadcasters about the FCC's Broadcast Hoax Rule, which prohibits false announcements of crimes or catastrophes that could cause public harm. A clear disclaimer is required when broadcasting spoofs. The rule was established after incidents like the 'Mount Trashmore' radio spoof, which nearly caused evacuations. DJs involved faced suspension for their actions. Historical examples, such as the 1938 'War of the Worlds' broadcast, illustrate the potential for public panic from misleading broadcasts.
Read at RAIN News
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