OTTAWA - The CRTC says it has received over 250 letters about the recent ban of the Dire Straits hit "Money for Nothing" and has asked for a review of the decision.

Last week, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council ruled that the 1985 hit was unfit for radio because its lyrics include the anti-gay slur "faggot" three times.

The CRTC says the bulk of the letters disagree with the decision, adding that many are under the mistaken impression that the CRTC was the body that imposed the ban.

"The volume of letters and perceived overlap of responsibilities between the Commission and the CBSC has created uncertainty for the public and for radio stations requiring information on the continued appropriateness of playing that version of the song," Robert A. Morin, secretary general of the CRTC, wrote in a letter Friday to the standards council.

The CRTC wants the broadcast standards council to appoint a panel to review the complaints regarding "Money for Nothing" as well as the original decision.

The CRTC said it expects that the council will seek further comment from the public on the matter, including the song's context.

It also wants the review to consider "the age and origin of the song and the date of its performance," "the prominence of the contested word in the song and the use of that word over time," and "the length of time and frequency that it has been playing on the airwaves."

The CRTC is asking the council to "consider this matter as expeditiously as possible and issue its reconsidered decision promptly."

Many have noted the offensive word in the song was meant ironically and was spoken by a character who was unimpressed with the rock stars he saw on MTV.

Last week's decision sparked an outcry from music fans around the world. Some Canadian radio stations continued to play the unedited version in protest.

Even Dire Straits keyboardist Guy Fletcher weighed in on his personal website, calling the ban "unbelievable."

"Money for Nothing" was a massive hit upon its release in '85. It won a Grammy, reached No. 1 on the charts in Canada and the U.S. and spawned a famous music video that featured crude computer animation and became interwoven with the popularity of the then-fledgling music network MTV.