The Federal Communications Commission today defended its indecency deal with Viacom and rejected challenges by two organizations: Right to Decency, Inc. and the American Decency Association (ADA). The latter group, an explicitly Christian fundamentalist organization, quickly denounced the agency's move on its Web site.

"We aren't happy. Millions upon millions are looking for relief from the day in day out assault of their moral sensibilities," ADA President Bill Johnson said.

Both media decency groups had appealed the FCC's Consent Decree with Viacom, in which the media giant agreed to voluntarily pay the FCC $3,5 million dollars, admit that it had broadcast some indecent material, and promise to do better in the future.

In exchange for this pledge, the FCC agreed to "rescind, vacate and cancel the forfeiture orders, terminate its pending inquiries into possible indecency violations by Viacom stations, and dismiss all but certain specified indecency complaints against Viacom"—specifically, the 2004 Janet Jackson SuperBowl incident.

The FCC rejected arguments that the agency had violated the law by ignoring Viacom's indecency record.

"Viacom’s acknowledgment in the Consent Decree of responsibility for violating indecency restrictions is a step towards ensuring that it does not repeat such violations," the Commission's statement argued. "Likewise, the company-wide Compliance Plan which Viacom agreed to implement as part of the Consent Decree will help to avoid such violations."

Needless to say, ADA does not see it that way. The group describes itself as "an overtly Christian organization directed by a biblical worldview. We believe that God's desire for His people is that they be not conformed to this world, rather, transformed by the renewing of their minds unto Christ."

ADA President Johnson's statement denounced Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone for broadcasting programs that portray "illicit sex, to scantily clad people in bed doing it, to the legitimization of homosexuality . . . "

"Viacom is happy! Why shouldn't they be?" Johnson concluded. "Untold numbers of others won't be as they become aware of the news that once again the FCC has proven to be toothless."