Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the noted atheist, has proposed that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ban all religious broadcasting.

See the story here.

• The FCC did consider a petition (number RM-2493) in 1974 by Jeremy D. Lansman and Lorenzo W. Milam to investigate religious organizations that had been granted broadcasting licenses.
• Lansman's and Milam's petition also requested that the FCC not grant broadcasting licenses to any new noncommercial educational broadcasting station until the inquiry was completed.
• The FCC rejected petition RM-2493 in 1975.
• Madalyn Murray O'Hair had nothing to do with the petition.
• Madalyn Murray O'Hair has been missing and presumed dead since 1995.
• The FCC cannot prevent or inhibit the broadcasting of religious programs.

It is the canonical example of the Rumor That Just Wouldn't Die. The FCC says, "Since 1975 to the present time, the FCC has received and responded to millions of inquiries about these rumors."

The alt.folklore.urban FAQ also describes the legend:

• F. Noted atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair is petitioning the FCC to ban religious broadcasting.

[Note: 'F.' in the FAQ's parlance means the statement is false.]

Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand discusses the rumors in:

• The Choking Doberman (1984)

Web references:

• AFU & Urban Legends Archive: "FCC Religious Broadcasting Ban"
• "Religious Broadcasting Rumor Denied" from the Federal Communications Commission
• "Madalyn Murray O'Hair vs. Religious Broadcasting" from About.com
• "Petition to Ban Religious Broadcasting" from the Urban Legends Reference Pages

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