Mr. Stern, who has long cast himself as a victim of stringent federal indecency standards, was finally free to do whatever he wanted.

Mr. Powell called questions about the definition of indecency "a red herring," adding, "there is no ambiguity with the indecency standard.

Opponents of this restriction argued that the indecency standard is too vague to be constitutional and has been applied only to television and radio broadcasting.

"I'm disappointed," said Mr. White, arguing that his proposed alternative to an indecency standard was more clearly Constitutional.

"The indecency standard is very problematic," said Mr. Ek.

The Carlin broadcast led to a 1978 Supreme Court decision, which set an indecency standard for the airwaves.

The fear was that, unedited, they would violate the Federal Communications Commission's indecency standards.

Lawyers for cable companies say any effort to impose indecency standards on paid programming would violate the First Amendment.

The indecency standard is probably unconstitutionally vague and restrictive.

Fortunately, Republican leaders like Speaker Newt Gingrich are troubled by the indecency standard.