FCC Considering Punishment for Broadcasters Who Use Redskins Nickname

Perpetual controversy surrounds the Washington Redskins team name. Since nothing has ultimately changed despite the widespread perception that the nickname is offensive toward Native Americans, the Federal Communications Commission may take a serious stand.    

According to a Tuesday report by Reuters' Alina Selyukh, legal activist John Banzhaf III has petitioned the FCC to remove a local Washington radio station's licensing rights for using the term "Redskins."

The report also featured comments from FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on the matter, who appears to side with Banzhaf:

"

We'll be looking at that petition, we will be dealing with that issue on the merits and we'll be responding accordingly. [...] There are a lot of names and descriptions that were used over time that are inappropriate today. And I think the name that is attributed to the Washington football club is one of those.

"

Sports Illustrated polled fans recently to gauge their thoughts on whether Washington's professional football team should change its mascot and nickname:

While there are those who don't find any fault with the team name, there are plenty of notable parties on the other side of the issue. The Oneida Indian Nation has started a national campaign at ChangeTheMascot.org, urging NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to enact change.

Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post documented what happened when former Washington player Fred Smoot gave his opinion:

This is yet another difficult issue that Goodell has had to deal with amid multiple domestic violence cases, player-safety concerns and others.

If the FCC accepts the petition, it can essentially declare use of the term "Redskin(s)" as an obscene slur. That will undoubtedly prevent the vast majority of sportscasters on television and radio from using it any longer, whether they agree with the policy or not.

Washington owner Daniel Snyder has remained staunch in his position not to change the name, but in light of how the media might not be able to use it, that could be a powerful force for real change.