Radio Business Report reports that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution urging the FCC to investigate broadcast hate speech. A resolution by the board includes these whereas clauses:

WHEREAS, Many groups have suffered harm at the hands of hate speech, including without limitation: African Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Latinos, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, women, Lesbians, Gays, Transgendered people, and people with disabilities;

WHEREAS, Hate speech against vulnerable groups exists in our media-and is not limited to a few isolated instances or any one media platform;

WHEREAS, Hate speech is often aired on large mainstream media corporations including national cable news networks, television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, and on the Internet;

WHEREAS, The media has the power to influence people’s behavior and perceptions and according to the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), a correlation exists between an increase in hate speech in the media and an increase of hate crimes committed against vulnerable groups;

Then the resolution urges the FCC and National Telecommunications and Information Administration to conduct an investigation.

RBR notes that SF supes, in 2005, also asked the FCC to carefully examine KNEW’s license renewal, objecting to remarks made by talent aired on the station, including Michael Savage, Jeff Katz and Bill O’Reilly.