When You Hear The Tone

The Jimmy Kimmel talk show was ordered to pay a fine by the FCC for simulating an emergency alert tone--you know, those annoying sounds that let us know of some disaster or whatever.  At $395,000, the fine was not inconsiderable

They used the sound in a sketch. The article doesn't say how it was used, but I hope it was worth it.  (Will ABC take the money out of Jimmy Kimmel's pocket?  The writer's?) It's not the first such fine from the FCC.  Other shows have violated the rule, including The Walking Dead, though it's not hard to imagine how it would come in handy on that show.

While I strongly oppose censorship from the FCC, this is the kind of regulation they should be doing.  They should make sure, for instance, that people don't block other stations' broadcasting on certain wavelengths.  And they should, at least arguably, ensure that emergency codes are used in only specific situations.

Though it makes me wonder how far should they go.  You often hear phone rings on shows, and I'm sure millions mistake them for the real thing.  At least a few must trip and hurt themselves.  How much is that worth?