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US House Passes Bill To Increase Fines For Indecent Broadcasts

The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed legislation to increase the dollar amount of fines that can be assessed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the broadcast of indecent material. U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) is a cosponsor of H.R. 310, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, and supported its passage.

"Families need to know that they can turn on the regular broadcast networks and not be bombarded with patently offensive material," said Costello. "We have heard a great deal from our constituents about this problem and this is a step in the right direction."

The bill would increase the limit on penalties for license holders that broadcast indecent, obscene or profane material to $500,000 for each violation, or each day of a continuing violation. The current limit is $32,500. H.R. 310 would also allow the FCC to fine individuals for uttering obscenities. The FCC would be required to hold a hearing concerning revoking the license of any broadcaster with three or more obscenity violations.