Washington- The Federal Communications Commission told a federal appeals court in Washington yesterday that it wanted to reconsider its decision to label four television broadcasts indecent.

The F.C.C. said that it had filed a motion in the federal appeals court in New York, asking for 60 days to decide again whether the shows, which included brief instances of objectionable language, were indecent.

The ruling had been challenged by several networks, including Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC. The networks argued that their free-speech rights were violated and said they were not given a chance to respond before the FCC issued its decision.

Taking the case back “would allow the commission to hear all of the licensees’ arguments, which is necessary for the broadcasters to make these same arguments before the court,” the commission said, according to an e-mailed statement from an F.C.C. spokesman, David Fiske.

The programs cited included the 2002 “Billboard Music Awards” on Fox, “The Early Show” on CBS and “NYPD Blue” on ABC. The F.C.C. had ruled that the programs were indecent without issuing any fines.