Senate Panel Moves to Limit TV, Radio Indecency

[Khephra]

Senate Panel Moves to Limit TV, Radio Indecency
By REUTERS

Published: March 9, 2004


Filed at 12:20 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday approved legislation to tighten the reins on radio and television broadcasters that cross the line and air indecent material.

But the panel decided against fines as steep as those adopted in the House of Representatives and attached a measure reinstating tighter media ownership limits that could make it harder for the Senate and House to agree on a final bill.

The Senate committee approved increasing federal fines to as much as $275,000 for a first violation, escalating to $375,000 for a second and $500,000 for a third, with a ceiling of $3 million for repeated violations in a 24-hour period.

The House bill would impose fines of up to $500,000 per violation, with no maximum.

Currently, the maximum fine is $27,500 per violation.

more.....................

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-congress-indecency.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. This would mean the end of

Limbaugh and Hannity and any appearances by right wing wack jobs on TV interview shows since they all produce "indecent material."

[KansDem]

6. "Indecent material" on the radio...

Let's hope so! Like the "indecent material" NPR aired this morning in an interview with Gen. Colin Powell. The General STILL insists the Bushistas received bad intelligence prior to the Iraq invasion, and that Saddam STILL had "intentions to pursue a WMD program."

Has anyone else noticed how Bush has had two MASSIVE intelligence failures; namely 9/11 and Iraq? How many times will he play this card?

The only intelligence failure threatening this Nation lies between the ears of the chimp squatting in the White House! :grr:

[sidpleasant]

8. re: indecent Limbaugh

We should all file regular indecency complaints about Limbaugh and the other GOP shills with the FCC. Instructions about how to do so are on the FCC's web site at http://www.fcc.gov/parents/content.html . Unfortunately the FCC has narrowly defined indecency to exclude racism which would probably be the easiest subject with which to nail Limbaugh et al. Still, answering complaints about right wingers would waste a little bit of the FCC's time.

[TXvote]

2. Remember Sister Wendy ?

and her colorful tours of the art world on PBS. I imagine the content of this nun's brilliant insights to the masters' works would fall into the obscene catagory.

Will we be draping the statue of David next?

[BR_Parkway]

3. Does this mean restricting ownership of media outlets?

The Senate bill includes measures reinstating tighter media ownership limits, pending a study, and another aimed at limiting violence on television.

Maybe some of them are listening after all.

[Wink]

4. Hey, I got an idea...

If you find it offensive, turn the dial. If you don't want your kids watching it, monitor them and turn it off. Censorship sucks.

[Rex]

5. Yeah that's all we need - RW kooks deciding on what is decent

enough for their cashcow...er...consumer base to watch.

"You vil watch der Glorious Leader, he iz dezent!"

"John Kerry? Nien! Indezent!"

[LSparkle]

7. Since when should the FCC decide what's indecent?

Here's what I find indecent: a president who lies to the people, sends its sons and daughters to die in an unnecessary and illegal war and STILL gets to show up on air practically daily spewing more lies.

[MGKrebs]

9. We (Americans) are OK with murder, maiming, beheading,

shooting, stabbing, and punching on our TV's, but a fraction of a second of a few square inches of exposed flesh freaks us out.

Reminds me of a story: years ago I was up late watching the animated movie Heavy Metal on TBS, this was about midnight. It turns out, they edited out the ANIMATED nudity, but left in the various animated depictions of death/murder/turture.

Go figure.