The newspaper reviewed numerous guidelines and found that much of the rules go far beyond those set by federal regulators for TV and radio.
A Verizon Wireless content-guideline document showed that the company has developed a long list of restrictions, including specific rules for how much bare skin models can show and a ban on expletives and curse words, as well as derogatory references to Verizon Wireless itself.
The Verizon Wireless rules cover all content, including the names of the digital content files people download. The guidelines divide visual images of women into several categories, describing what is acceptable. For example, in the “Lingerie” category, prohibited visuals include “nipple shadow” and “see-through underwear.”
For the category of “Medium Shot Rear Nude — Female,” the rules allow “a full rear view but not with legs up or apart.” As for men, the guidelines admonish that a “penis must not appear erect underneath clothing.”
A list of prohibited words is even more exhaustive, with 83 specific entries. It covers body parts — with various names for them — as well as a number of terms describing sexual intercourse.
Sprint Nextel Corp. signed on to the CTIA guidelines but hasn't crafted its own formal standards. CTIA, the wireless industry trade group, issued broad content guidelines in November, but largely left it to the carriers to implement their own policies.
Cingular Wireless also has developed content standards that bar profanity, nudity, sexually graphic images, violence and hate speech.
Cingular has a list of “restricted” words that run the gamut from explicit body-part references to the words “condom” and “lesbian.” Images “depicting or insinuating nudity or partial nudity,” including photos from Maxim and Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, would be restricted. With video, Cingular would generally allow movie content that is rated “G” or “PG” and TV content that is rated “G,” “TV-Y,” “TV-Y7,” and “PG.”
