“Federal Communications Commission”. It’s a U.S. agency. Originally established to make sure radio broadcasters play nice with the “commons” that is the radio frequency spectrum. Radio and TV stations have to register with the FCC. WIFI wavelengths are under the FCC’s jurisdiction. That sort of thing.

But they decided that their jurisdiction also extends to deciding what’s too “obscene” to be allowed to be broadcast over the air waves. Cable TV is out of scope because the signal travels over wires rather than over radio waves, and so in the U.S. the rules for cable are much more lenient.

But yeah. Any content made for TV that would go over radio waves (even if it also goes over cables) basically has to follow FCC’s rules for morality. And they’re pretty strict. Such shows can’t say “shit” or “cock” or “pussy” whatever. (Though the FCC is kind enough to make exceptions for if you’re unambiguously referring to a rooster when you say “cock” etc.)

Lots of artists and content make reference to how strict the FCC is. For instance, I think this is a song from Family Guy about that (but YouTube says it’s “inappropriate for some users” and I have to log in to confirm my age, but fuck that.) I think the FCC is even a running joke on Family Guy. Also, Eminem’s song “Without Me” also says “the FCC won’t let me be, won’t let me be me so let me see. They try to shut me down on MTV…”. (Though when it comes to Eminem, they may have a point. Lol.)