Fox asks U.S. FCC to reconsider indecency fines

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - Fox Broadcasting said on Monday it had asked U.S. regulators to reconsider indecency fines the government imposed last month on 13 Fox television stations for airing episodes of a reality TV show in 2003.

Fox said it filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission asking the agency to review the penalties imposed on 13 Fox stations by the agency on Feb. 22.

"FOX believes that the FCC's decision in this case was arbitrary and capricious, inconsistent with precedent, and patently unconstitutional," Fox said in a statement.

The FCC voted to issue $7,000 fines to each of the stations to penalize them for broadcasting an April 7, 2003 episode of "Married By America" that featured "persistent sexual activities" from Las Vegas bachelor and bachelorette parties.

As part of the decision, the FCC sharply reduced the number of TV stations subject to the fines. In penalties it originally proposed in 2004, the agency had sought fines totaling nearly $1.2 million against 169 stations in News Corp's (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Fox television network, which aired the show.

FCC rules prohibit TV and radio stations from broadcasting material that is sexually explicit or otherwise indecent, except late at night when children are not likely to be watching.

The "Married By America" program included scenes such as a topless woman straddling a man, whipped cream being licked off one woman's bare chest and an underwear-clad man being spanked by two female strippers. (Reporting by Peter Kaplan; Editing by Andre Grenon)