‘Decency Act’ Part Two (Multichannel News)

Executive Quote and Information Service : EQUIS, May, 2006

Washington-- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) last Tuesday signaled that he's ready to bring to the Senate floor a fine-laden House-passed bill on broadcast indecency, a Senate official said.

The legislation, passed by the House last January on a 389-38 vote, would raise broadcast-indecency fines to $500,000 per offense, up from $32,500 currently. Television and radio stations with multiple violations could have their licenses revoked under the bill.

Broadcast indecency landed on the congressional agenda after singer Janet Jackson's fleeting breast exposure during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. The show was program produced by MTV: Music Television and aired on CBS, causing the Federal Communications Commission to fine 20 CBS-owned...