Senate Committee Mulls Action On 'Indecency' Bill

SENATE COMMITTEE MULLS ACTION ON 'INDECENCY' BILL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Apparently, the Senate Commerce Committee is exploring a possible vote on broadcast "indecency" legislation. Committee Chairman Ted Stevens has sent mixed signals for months about his approach to the broadcast indecency issue. In November he floated draft legislation similar to the House language. In February, the Commerce Committee's majority staff director, Lisa Sutherland, said Sen Stevens would craft a television indecency bill this spring. But recently, Sen Stevens has indicated that he first wants to give the broadcast industry a chance to deploy a $300 million initiative designed to educate TV viewers about parental controls. One source said the Senate Commerce panel is eying a mid-May vote on a bill introduced by Sen Sam Brownback (R-KS) which would increase penalties from $32,500 per incident to $325,000 for violating the FCC's obscenity rules. Sources speculated that if a debate occurs, amendments might be offered to expand the FCC's indecency rules to cable and satellite, impose penalties on stations airing excessively violent fare, and extend indecency fines to artists and performers. Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is readying legislation that would grant regulatory relief to video providers that offer per channel programming. An announcement about the bill could occur soon, perhaps as early as today (see http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=node/2283).
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-ORNA1147288481539.html

See also --

* Vote on Indecency Bill Likely in Senate
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-indecency11may11,1,41...
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* Brownback Bill Could Get Commerce Mark-up
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6333688?display=Breaking+News