FCC ups the ante for children's TV commercial overages

The Federal Communications Commission has ratcheted up the fines for broadcast television stations that violate limits on advertising during programming aimed at children.

The FCC said that the base fine for this violation was $8K, but noted it had leeway in adjusting the fine upward or downward according to "the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and such other matters as justice may require." It explained, "This represents an increase over the forfeiture assessed for comparable violations in previous renewal cycles. Given the numerous violations of the children's TV commercial limits in recent years, it appears that the forfeiture amounts assessed previously have not had a sufficient deterrent effect. Thus, where, as here, a case presents violations that are comparable to violations reported in an earlier renewal cycle, we are raising the forfeiture levels to strengthen the deterrent effect."