Bill targets radio shows

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 27, 2003 | by , Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- A bill that would increase fines for indecent radio broadcasts was approved Thursday by a Senate committee, spurred by a Detroit radio broadcast that one lawmaker described as filth.

Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., sponsored the amendment to a spending bill for the Federal Communications Commission, which oversees broadcasters.

The amendment passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and now moves to the full Senate.

Hollings said it would be in the public's best interest to revoke the license of Detroit radio station WKRK-FM for a show it aired in January 2002. On the show, nine listeners called in to describe sexual positions in explicit detail.

Several callers also joked about acts of violence against women.

"I wouldn't publicly repeat that language, indecency and filth myself," Hollings said.

"He ought never to have a license again."

Hollings' bill would expand indecency laws so that separate fines could be levied against each person who utters obscene speech on a radio show. Right now, the FCC charges one fine no matter how many people are speaking.

The bill also calls for license revocation hearings for any station that violates obscenity laws. The FCC can now hold such hearings, but generally will not unless a station has aired lewd broadcasts more than once.

Several Republican senators were unconvinced of the need for the bill. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., said Detroit residents should act if they do not like what the station is airing.

But the committee chairman, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., urged members to pass the amendment and make changes when it reaches the full Senate.

The FCC levied a $27,500 fine against WKRK-FM's parent company, New York-based Infinity Broadcasting, in April. Infinity filed a response that the FCC is now considering.

Infinity spokesman Dana McClintock said Thursday that the company believes the FCC may have violated the law when it levied the fine, but he would not elaborate. He declined comment on the legislation.