Senate urged to pass broadcast decency bill

By Tom Strode - Apr 3, 2006 - comment

The ERLC has joined other pro-family organizations in calling for swift action by the Senate in support of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, which would dramatically increase fines for indecent material on radio and television broadcasts.

The House of Representatives passed the bill with a 389-38 vote in February 2005, but the measure has made no progress in the Senate.

If it becomes law, the House-approved legislation, H.R. 310, would: (1) Increase the maximum fine from $32,500 to $500,000 per violation for radio and television stations; (2) up the top penalty for an intentional violation by a performer or network from $11,000 to $500,000; (3) require a license revocation hearing for a station after a third violation, and (4) mandate the Federal Communications Commission act on indecency complaints within 180 days.

According to the measure, violations consist of “obscene, indecent, or profane material.”

ERLC President Richard Land said in a recent letter the strengthened penalties are necessary for broadcasters to take violations seriously. “Right now, the broadcasters seem to feel that the penalties are too trivial to worry about,” Land said.

Land urged recipients of his eSalt Action Alert to contact Sen. Ted Stevens, R.-Alaska, to ask him to release the legislation from the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which he chairs. Stevens may be called at (202) 224-3004 or emailed at http://stevens.senate.gov/contact.cfm .

A Senate companion bill, S. 193, contains some differences, including an increase in the maximum fine to only $325,000. It is in committee as well.

Neither bill would directly affect cable or satellite programming. The FCC is able to regulate only broadcast radio and television. On TV, that includes such networks as ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Family, Pop Culture, Sexual Purity

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