Senate Panel To Consider Proposal On TV 'Indecency'

[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
The Senate Commerce Committee will consider legislation on television "indecency" this spring, the panel's staff director, Lisa Sutherland, told a state leadership conference sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters. She would not specify whether the upcoming bill would be limited to broadcasters or also affect cable and satellite providers. The committee would consider provisions authored by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) to base indecency fines on stations' ability to pay. The planned bill would be the counterpart to House-passed legislation that would raise fines for broadcast indecency from $32,500 to $500,000 per infraction. In November, Technology Daily obtained a draft measure floated by the Senate Commerce Committee that is similar to the House version.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-MWJE1141162289209.html

See also --
* Sen. Stevens Needs a Bridge to Decency
[SOURCE: Human Events Online, AUTHOR: Jan LaRue, Concerned Women for America]
[Commentary] Concerned Women for America push Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to bring S.193, a bill introduced by Sen. Sam Brownback (R.-Kan.), up for a vote. The bill would increase the penalties for television and radio broadcasters who are liable for broadcasting obscene, indecent and profane language to $325,000 for each violation, not to exceed a total of $3 million for a continuing violation. It has 27 co-sponsors, Republicans and Democrats.
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=12820