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Fines for Broadcast Indecency Increased Ten Times with New Legislation

Bush says new legislation “will make television and radio more family friendly.”

By John Jalsevac

Washington, D.C., June 8, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com)  – Yesterday, June 7, the House passed Sen. Brownback’s Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, S.193 with a 379-to-35 vote in favor.

The legislation still requires President Bush’s signature to become law. In a statement issued last night Bush indicated that he was looking “forward to signing this important legislation into law.”

“I believe that government has a responsibility to help strengthen families,” Bush said, adding that he believed that the new legislation “will make television and radio more family friendly.”

Not everyone is pleased with the passage of the bill. "What is at stake here is freedom of speech and whether it will be nibbled to death by election-minded politicians and self-righteous Pietists," said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., reported The Washington Post.

Dennis Wharton, from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), said "The NAB position is that we think responsible self-regulation is preferable to government regulation in areas of program content,” according to the Post.

Advocates of the bill argue that self-regulation from broadcasters is nothing more than a pipe-dream. They cite instances such as Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Superbowl as evidence that broadcasters have simply gone too far and that government regulation is necessary to keep them from crossing the line.  

 “Today marks a major victory for American families in the final passage of this long-awaited legislation,” Lanier Swann, Concerned Women for America’s (CWA) Director of Government Relations, said yesterday after finding out about the passage of the bill. 

“Finally, broadcasters will be held financially responsible for the filthy content they transmit.  The new regulations will raise indecency fines from the current $32,500 per offense, up to $325,000.  These steep increases will force broadcasters to think twice before they dispense more profanity, sex scenes and inappropriate programming into our homes.  The penalties will hit them where they will feel it the most—their pocketbooks. 

 “This victory belongs to the citizens and grassroots organizations who have taken a stand for families by insisting that senators heed their demand for clean airwaves.  It has been encouraging and inspiring to witness the number of people who have risen up to the challenge of protecting their families.  Your hard work has paid off today and families across America will be reaping the benefits.”

Swann concluded, “We would also like to thank Sen. Brownback, Senate Majority Leader Frist, Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Boehner for their dedication to passing this bill in both the Senate and the House.  Their leadership has been instrumental in this pro-family triumph.  Sen. Frist especially deserves the thanks of moms and dads across the nation for his bold and creative efforts to free the bill from an intransigent committee chairman who bottled up the legislation for well over a year.” 

 

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