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This week in Congress, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives
passed legislation that increases the penalties broadcasters must pay for
airing indecent, profane, or obscene material, from $27,500 to $500,000
per violation. This legislation also strengthens the fines the Federal
Communications Commission can levy on entertainers who willfully violate
indecency standards, from $11,000 to $500,000. Similar legislation
is pending in the Senate.
It is a shame that Congress was even forced to address this issue.
Given the considerable influence television and radio have on millions
of young people, I would have hoped the industry would have held
itself to a higher standard, and practiced more vigilance in the material
it chose to air. In fact, if some of the national networks had exercised
the common sense our local radio and television stations practice, we wouldn’t
be in this situation.
But with the recent stunt that occurred during the Super Bowl
Half Time show, the industry obviously pushed the envelope way too far.
As a result, my colleagues and I were forced to send broadcasters a clear,
enforceable message -- enough is enough.
This year I watched the Super Bowl with friends and family at a neighbor’s
house in my hometown of Prescott. Like millions of other Americans, we
were having a great evening, spending quality time together and watching
a good game of football.
Needless to say we were all shocked and disgusted by the events we observed
during the Half Time show, not to mention the fact that our children were
subjected to such indecency on network television!
That sort of behavior by the networks is an absolute disgrace. Like
many other parents, my friends and I were disgusted – and embarrassed --
that our children were exposed to such inappropriateness during what was
supposed to be a family-oriented event.
I am proud that the broadcast industry is voluntarily taking the initiative
to deal with these programming issues. Among these initiatives include
the issuing of public service announcements concerning the benefits of
the V-Chip, a delay in the transmission of live events, and the convening
of an indecency summit in Washington later this month.
I firmly believe the stricter penalties enforced on broadcasters as
part of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act will have a profound impact
on the type of material our media chooses to air. A fine of $27,500
may not do much to change the behavior of a broadcaster or entertainer
who has millions, but I can assure you that half a million dollars will. |
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