Shimkus Supports Higher Fines for Indecent Broadcasts

SHIMKUS SUPPORTS HIGHER FINES FOR INDECENT BROADCASTS

Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) voted to increase
the fines for broadcasting indecent material by tenfold. The House approved a bill on
June 7 that previously passed the Senate, so now President Bush has the opportunity
to sign this measure into law.

"Broadcasters did not previously take fines seriously, as the FCC was not being
harsh enough. So broadcasters just did what they wanted and paid the small fines
being levied," Shimkus explained. "After Congress starting expressing dismay
with the FCC and after several incidents of indecency, they started taking this
issue seriously."

Current fines issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are
limited to $32,500 per violation. This legislation - the Broadcast Decency
Enforcement Act (S 193) - will raise those fines to $325,000 per violation. No changes
are made in the definition of indecent or in how the fines are assessed. The FCC
is also not given any new authority.

Shimkus is a cosponsor and previously voted for a differing House version that raised
fines to $500,000.

"As a parent, I know first hand the difficulty in trying to make sure that what our
children view is appropriate. I have worked on numerous issues on child safety -
including dot kids (www.kids.us), which seeks to have a safe place on the Internet
for young children.

"Over-the-air broadcasters must be conscious of what goes out over the free airways,"
Shimkus concluded.

http://www.house.gov/shimkus/press/prindecencyfines.htm