Chet Edwards For Congress

June 7, 2006
House Approves Stiffer Penalties For Broadcast Indecency

KWTX-TV

(June 7, 2006)—The U.S. House voted Wednesday to approve the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, which would increase maximum fines for indecent material on the airwaves to as much as $325, 000.

The Senate approved the legislation last month and the President is expected to sign it into law.

Currently the biggest fine the Federal Communications Commission can levy is $32,500.
The 379-35 vote caps a two-year effort by Congress to crack down on indecent language and behavior broadcast into American homes following the Janet Jackson incident during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

Tougher penalties for broadcast indecency violations have been a high priority of conservative groups.

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, voted in favor of the act Wednesday.

“Parents have a right to expect decent standards for their children and broadcast networks must be held to a higher standard to protect family-friendly broadcasting,” he said.