Broadcasters who transgress the federal government’s indecency standards now will have to pay as much as $325,000 per violation.
President Bush signed into law June 15 legislation increasing by tenfold the maximum fine for indecency on television and radio. The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act increases the maximum fine that can be levied by the Federal Communications Commission from $32,500 to $325,000.
During the signing ceremony at the White House, Bush commended Congress for sending legislation to him that will “help American parents by making broadcast television and radio more family friendly.”
“Parents are the first line of defense in supervising what children watch and listen to, but broadcasters and the electronics industry must play a valuable role in protecting our children from obscene and indecent programming,” the President told an audience that included pro-family advocates and members of Congress. “Unfortunately, in recent years, broadcast programming has too often pushed the bounds of decency.”
Indecency complaints to the FCC have grown “from just hundreds per year to hundreds of thousands” since 2000, Bush said. “In other words, people are saying, ‘We’re tired of it, and we expect the government to do something about it.'”
A maximum fine of $32,500 “is meaningless” for some broadcasters, the President said. “It’s relatively painless for them when they violate decency standards. By allowing the FCC to levy stiffer and more meaningful fines on broadcasters who violate decency standards, this law will ensure that broadcasters take seriously their duty to keep the public airwaves free of obscene, profane and indecent material.”
Supporters of the legislation hailed the law’s enactment as an important victory in the effort to reduce broadcast indecency.
“Hopefully, the media giants will hear the message loud and clear – the American people own the public airwaves and have a right to reclaim a greater sense of decency and control over the airwaves,” Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, said.