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Congress sends Bush bill hiking indecency fines

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 June 2006, 16:40 CDT

By Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress on Wednesday sent President George W. Bush a bill to boost fines tenfold to $325,000 on broadcast television and radio stations that violate decency standards, a victory for conservative groups.

The legislation, which Bush is expected to sign, caps fines at $3 million for continuing violations. The House approved it by a 379 to 35 vote on Wednesday, while the Senate passed the measure by unanimous consent last month.

The punishment was less than groups like the Christian Coalition and Parents Television Council had sought, but the passage of the bill could help bolster support for Republicans who are facing tough re-election races in November.

The current maximum fine is $32,500 per violation.

The legislation is the culmination of two years of lobbying for higher fines sparked by pop singer Janet Jackson, whose bare breast was briefly exposed on national television during the 2004 Super Bowl football halftime entertainment show.

Twenty CBS Corp. television stations were fined a total of $550,000 for the stunt. But that penalty was a fraction of what CBS charged for 30-second advertising spots during one of the most-watched annual sporting events.

U.S. regulations bar obscene material from being aired and limit broadcast television and radio stations from showing indecent material, like sexually explicit scenes or profanity. Indecent content is only allowed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when children are less likely to be watching or listening.

Those regulations do not apply to satellite television and radio, or cable television. Some lawmakers had considered expanding the rules to include those subscription services but feared a court would find that it violated free speech rights.

Shortly after the Jackson incident, the House had passed a broad bill to raise fines to $500,000 per violation and make it easier to fine individuals who pushed the envelope on broadcast television and radio.

That bill would also have required the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which enforces the decency standards, to consider revoking a broadcaster's license after three violations.

But House leaders admitted it would have been difficult to quickly work out their differences with the Senate. Because they had support of parents groups and conservatives, House leaders acquiesced to passing the narrower bill.

Source: REUTERS

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