By Staff
WASHINGTON - For nearly 2 1/2 years, Cass County's congressman, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, has sought to raise the amount the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can fine broadcasters for indecent material broadcast over public airwaves.
He first introduced legislation in January of 2004 and again in 2005, at the outset of the 109th Congress.
Tuesday night, the House of Representatives was to begin final debate on the issue, then vote today on legislation that will increase the amount the FCC can fine broadcasters tenfold.
The legislation, S. 193, is companion legislation to Upton's bill that passed the House in February of 2005.
Following today's House vote, the measure will head to the President to be signed into law.
Upton first introduced legislation to raise the fines tenfold on Jan. 21, 2004, before the infamous Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident.
That legislation (H.R. 3717) was amended during the committee process, increasing the penalties to $500,000.
It passed the House March 11, 2004, by a vote of 391-22, and the Senate passed similar legislation by a vote of 99 -1 on June 22, 2004.
Because the legislative session expired before an agreement could be reached, Upton reintroduced the bill at the beginning of the 109th Congress in January 2005.
The House overwhelmingly passed Upton's bipartisan Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, H.R. 310, by a vote of 389-38 on Feb. 16, 2005 to raise the fines to $500,000 per violation.
The Senate passed companion legislation, S.193, by voice vote May 18, which raises the amount the FCC can fine for indecency from $32,500 to $325,000 per violation.
“When broadcasters sign on the dotted line to receive their licenses, they are agreeing to follow decency standards,” said Upton.