New Rules on Broadcast Decency in Danger

By Richard Land - Oct 4, 2004 - comment

More severe penalties for those who violate FCC broadcast decency standards are on the verge of being adopted by the Congress. These changes include higher fines and other penalties for indecent material in broadcasts and restrictions on violent content in children’s programming or during times when children typically watch television. These common sense and family-friendly provisions have been attached to the Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization Act in order to get them passed before Congress adjourns.

Unfortunately, they are being challenged by Senator John Ensign of Nevada. Senator Ensign wants them removed from the Department of Defense bill because he is concerned that some of the sections may be challenged by members of Congress, which may prevent passage of the Department of Defense bill. Given the content on many network programs, broadcasters need to know there is a serious price to pay when they break the rules.

I hope you will join me in contacting Senator Ensign to ask him to retract his request to have the broadcast decency provisions taken out of the DOD Authorization Act. Also, please contact Senator John Warner and Congressman Duncan Hunter, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, and tell them that you support the broadcast decency provisions in the Department of Defense Authorization Act.

You can call their offices directly: Sen. Ensign (202) 224-6244; Sen. Warner (202) 224-2023; and Rep. Hunter (202) 225-5672. Or, you can e-mail them by entering their zip codes in the space provided to the right: Sen. Ensign, 89101; Sen. Warner, 23112; and Rep. Hunter, 92020.

This is a critical issue. Let your voice be heard on this issue one more time, and let’s work together to forestall this shameful material from being broadcast to homes across America.

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