| Regulators Insist They Enforced FCC Laws
Jan 28, 1:12 PM EST
Federal broadcast regulators insisted to skeptical lawmakers Wednesday that they have aggressively enforced laws designed to keep indecent programming off radio and television
"We work hard every day to entertain, not offend our listeners," said John Hogan, head of Clear Channel Radio
Support is increasing for legislation to raise from $27,500 to $275,000 the maximum fine per incident that the FCC can levy against broadcasters for indecent programming The Senate Commerce Committee last year included a similar increase in fines in its legislation renewing the FCC
"Looking at the FCC's track record on indecency enforcement, it becomes painfully apparent that the FCC could care less about community standards of decency or about protecting the innocence of young children," Bozell said
FCC Chairman Michael Powell asked Congress earlier this month to boost the fines tenfold, and Rep
The largest cumulative fine for indecency was $1
For example, until proposing a $27,500 penalty against the owner of KRON in San Francisco, the FCC had never fined a television station in the 50 states for indecency, he noted "The public has seen a decline in the indecency standards The Bush administration endorsed the bill Wednesday gov
Federal Communications Commission: http://www During it, a performer from a theatrical show titled "Puppetry of the Penis" briefly exposed himself
"This is the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back," said Rep John Shimkus, R-Ill for three programs on San Juan's WKAQ-TV in 2001 7 million paid by Infinity Broadcasting in 1995 for various violations by radio host Howard Stern "
The fine against Young Broadcasting of San Francisco was for the KRON morning TV program on Oct fcc
The hearing came a day after the FCC proposed fining Clear Channel Communications $715,000 for airing indecent programming on four Florida stations, and another $40,000 for record-keeping violations at the stations
The FCC is weighing whether to overrule its enforcement bureau in that case "None of us defend or encourage indecent content it's simply not part of our corporate culture gov
house "
Clear Channel was fined for objectionable segments of "Bubba the Love Sponge" aired on its stations in four Florida cities: Callahan, Clearwater, Port Charlotte and West Palm Beach Brent Bozell III, president of the Parents Television Council, a conservative advocacy group, told the subcommittee the FCC is not doing its job to protect viewers from indecent programming , chairman of the House telecommunications panel, quickly introduced legislation to do so
â€â€?â€â€?â€â€?
On the Net:
House Energy and Commerce Committee: http://energycommerce The only other fine for indecent programming on television was $21,000 leveled against Telemundo of Puerto Rico License Corp The performers appeared on the TV show wearing only capes "It proves the point that the fine under today's law just isn't enough
Also on Tuesday, the FCC proposed a $27,500 fine against Young Broadcasting of San Francisco Inc The public is saying, 'Enough's enough' for airing a man exposing himself on its "KRON 4 Morning News" show
David Solomon, chief of the Federal Communication Commission's enforcement bureau, said the agency has "taken indecency enforcement very seriously," including a proposed record fine of $755,000 against the nation's largest radio chain for airing a sexually explicit radio show
"A number of these stations are repeat violators," Upton said Clear Channel faces an additional $40,000 fine because of record-keeping violations at the stations 4, 2002 "
L
In response, Clear Channel called for an industry task force to develop indecency standards for radio, television, cable and satellite networks
Upton said he hoped to have the bill reach the House floor before spring
But several members of the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee expressed dismay that Solomon's bureau declined to fine NBC for airing an expletive uttered by rock star Bono during the Golden Globe Awards show last year Fred Upton, R-Mich |