US Congress About To Pass Supercharged “Indecency” Fines

The US House of Representatives is debating a bill that “would boost the top fines that the Federal Communications Commission could impose on broadcasters from the current $32,500 to $325,000 for each violation. A vote was scheduled for this afternoon. The legislation, expected to be signed by President Bush, is another outgrowth of Janet Jackson’s breast-revealing incident at the Super Bowl that has made the FCC more aggressive in cracking down on indecent and obscene material on TV and radio airwaves and in turn has prompted broadcasters to be more cautious in the material they air.”