Stevens Sees Indecency Bills Going Away

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Stop the %#3@^ing presses. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said yesterday that cable operators' voluntary adoption of family tiers, combined with simplified TV ratings, would obviate the need for legislation, at least in the short term. There are currently four indecency-related bills before his committee, but Sen Stevens said he didn't see any going forward, including boosting indecency fines and enforcement. Sen Stevens said that it would be up to the American public to decide whether that voluntary action or tiering plus ratings will be sufficient. But he said, "I believe it will be and, if it is, as far as I'm concerned, that will be the end of [legislation]." He said he did not expect a family tier to cost more than expanded basic, adding that he was not concerned that the cable pledge is to do family tiers in digital, which is more expensive than analog service.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6290665?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP
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