Wilson Hails House Passage of Broadcast Decency Bill
Wilson Hails House Passage of Broadcast Decency Bill
2/16/2005
Wilson-Cosponsored Effort Moves on to Senate
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson today welcomed rapid passage of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 389-38.
The bill (H.R. 310) was cosponsored by Wilson and mirrors the legislation she also championed last year. The effort has broad bipartisan support and reflects the work of extensive committee hearings in the 108th Congress. It will now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
A centerpiece of the legislation is a provision coauthored in Committee by Reps. Wilson (R-NM) and Albert Wynn (D-MD) finding indecency a factor in reapplying for licensing.
"FCC penalties should not be viewed as a cost of doing business. I welcome today's House vote to put some muscle into the law," Wilson said.
"The FCC plays an important role in protecting Americans, particularly children, from indecent programming," Wilson said. "The FCC has a statutory mandate to prohibit indecency on broadcasts. Over the years, that enforcement has been inadequate and the tools that they have at their disposal have been insufficient."
In addition to the Wilson-Wynn provision, the bill strengthens the FCC's enforcement options, including:
· Requiring that the FCC hold a license revocation hearing for a broadcaster found liable for indecency violations three times within the term of the license.
· Increasing the maximum fine for indecency violations from $32,000 to $500,000.
· Increasing the expectations for prompt enforcement action by the FCC so that punishment is swift and sure.
· Respecting the concerns of local broadcasters who do not always have prior notice of network programming, by holding harmless local affiliates when they do not review the material in advance, and allowing the FCC to fine the networks.
"I believe these rules are needed. I also believe we have already had an effect on this industry. FCC enforcement was lax and, when imposed, was largely symbolic. That is changing and we are monitoring its implementation. But the real change will come in the board rooms and general manager's offices and broadcast studios when people decide to be responsible, and choose to entertain rather than denigrate."
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