INCLUDES LANGUAGE ADDED BY STEARNS INCREASING INDIVIDUAL PENALTIES FOR INDECENCY AND PROMOTING A FAMILY VIEWING POLICY

Washington, Feb 16, 2005 - "In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received just over 100 complaints from viewers and listeners regarding the airing of indecent material," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "That number reached 1.1 million in 2004. It is essential to require greater accountability from broadcasters and performers using the public airwaves."

The House approved today H.R. 310, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act. This measure increases the penalty that can be imposed by the FCC for broadcasting obscene, indecent, or profane material to $500,000 per incident. The current maximum penalty is $27,500 per violation, an amount capped at $300,000 for continuous violations. Stearns offered the language to increase the penalty and to extend its application to include the individual responsible for the offensive material, not just the license holder. In addition, H.R. 310 includes Stearns' proposal requesting broadcasters to reinstitute a family viewing policy.

Added Stearns, "Current fines are so small that many broadcasters see them as just another cost of doing business. This measure provides the FCC with stronger penalties to help it stanch the flow of offensive and obscene material flooding the publicly-owned airwaves."