Eric's comments on the firing

[littlejohn]

There is no law against recording any conversation to which you are a party. Whether live or via telephone. Neither Georgia nor Federal. Now, sharing such a recording may or may not get you in trouble, depending the circumstances.
There is a Rule in Part 73 which requires permission before airing any telephone conversation (recorded or live) without prior permission of the caller except in a circumstance where the caller would normally be expected to be put on the air. Thus a caller to a 'shout out line' needn't be asked if those calls are regularly aired and it's common knowledge that they are.
Guessing what the Commission will consider reasonable expectation has kept more than one suit awake at nights, and correcting missed guesses has lined the pockets of more than one Beltway Bandit in DC.
As to Yogi and Panda, these guys are successful DJs on a morning show in the ninth US market. Regardless where they started, they understand how to raise awareness, and the value of that awareness to their show.... and ultimnately to their pockets. They've managed to get this brouhaha on the front page of the AJC above the fold - an area which isn't for sale. Not a bad move at all.

 

[wooder]

There is no law against recording any conversation to which you are a party. Whether live or via telephone. Neither Georgia nor Federal. Now, sharing such a recording may or may not get you in trouble, depending the circumstances.
There is a Rule in Part 73 which requires permission before airing any telephone conversation (recorded or live) without prior permission of the caller except in a circumstance where the caller would normally be expected to be put on the air. Thus a caller to a 'shout out line' needn't be asked if those calls are regularly aired and it's common knowledge that they are.

This is not entirely true. Depending on the state, is a violation of wiretapping laws to not inform someone you are taping them over the phone. For instance, the tv show Crank Yankers had to record all of their bits from Las Vegas because Nevada is one of the few states where one can tape calls without permission. In Georgia, however, it is 100%illegal. Now, the RG bit wasn't a wiretapping case because it wasn't done on the phone However, it is a very clear FCC law that one can not put someone's voice on the radio without their permission (unless it's unidentifiable) and that's where Larry went wrong.

 

[DashRiprock]

However, it is a very clear FCC law that one can not put someone's voice on the radio without their permission (unless it's unidentifiable) and that's where Larry went wrong.

So does a Fulton County Superior Court Judge preside over FCC regulation issues?

 

[wooder]

However, it is a very clear FCC law that one can not put someone's voice on the radio without their permission (unless it's unidentifiable) and that's where Larry went wrong.

So does a Fulton County Superior Court Judge preside over FCC regulation issues?

No, but there are other accusations in the charges that do fall under the FCSC jurisdiction. Remember, the illegal taping and playing of the conversation was only part of Yogi and Panda's assinine complaint. There was also a whole bunch of nonsense about defamation (or something to that effect) that would go to the FCSC.

 

[littlejohn]

That's why I sp[ecified Georgia.... I had occasion to research it, and there's no law against it. Or at least wasnt a couple of years agop when it mattered. Dunno about elsewhere, but it wouldnt be a real common law, you'd think.
And most of the Bells dropped the beeper requirement as well.