By Staff
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, has reintroduced legislation to increase the financial penalties which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can levy on broadcasters who air indecent material over the public airwaves.
Among other things, Upton's bipartisan measure, H.R. 310, raises the amount the FCC can fine broadcasters for airing indecent material from $32,500 to $500,000 per violation.
Upton's measure passed the House last year and similar legislation passed the Senate, but final agreement could not be reached before the end of the 108th Congress.
Other original co-sponsors of H.R. 310 include Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., Joe Barton, R-Texas, and John Dingell, D-Mich.