Zero tolerance is the phrase of the day when it comes to indecent programming over that Clear Channel Communications airspace. The radio giant plans to provide training to all of its programming personnel regarding indecency, but with the training will come automatic suspensions for anyone who goes over the line. CC has already set the tone with the firing of Bubba the Love Sponge, the company's most notorious on-air (make that former on-air) personality. And now it's pulled Howard Stern off the air as well.

President/COO Mark Mays said, "Clear Channel is serious about helping address the rising tide of indecency on the airwaves. As broadcast licensees, we are fully responsible for what our stations air, and we intend to make sure all our DJs and programmers understand what is and what is not appropriate on Clear Channel radio shows."

CC is calling it the "Responsible Broadcasting Initiative," an effort to assure that its stations are staying within the "standards and sensibilities of the local communities they serve."

Mays said that any DJ named by the FCC in an indecency NAL (notice of apparent liability) will be suspended immediately and subjected to an internal CC investigation. If found liable by the FCC, the DJ will be terminated.

Such action will be swift and final. "If a DJ is found to be in violation of FCC rules, there will be no appeals and no intermediate steps," said CC's radio CEO John Hogan, who is testifying on behalf of the company in Congress today. "If they break the law by broadcasting indecent material, they will not work for Clear Channel."

Hogan also said that from now on, language will be included in all contracts with on-air talent making them liable to help pay the bill any time they are hit with an indecency fine.

Late yesterday, Clear Channel announced that it had suspended broadcasts of "The Howard Stern Show" on all Clear Channel stations that carry the show, which is syndicated by Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting. "Clear Channel drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners from indecent content and Howard Stern's show blew right through it. It was vulgar, offensive, and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency. We will not air Howard Stern on Clear Channel stations until we are assured that his show will conform to acceptable standards of responsible broadcasting," Hogan said.

Stern had aired on only six Clear Channel stations: WBGG-FM Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, WNVE-FM Rochester, WTKS-FM Orlando, KIOZ-FM San Diego, WXDX-FM Pittsburgh, and WTFX-FM Louisville, KY.