When I’m an old geezer will I talk to little children about the glory days when the United States had freedom of speech?
The House yesterday approved sharply higher fines for broadcasters and entertainers who break indecency rules, as Congress moves closer to cracking down on incidents that are deemed to be obscene or profane.
The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004, which passed 391-22, would give the Federal Communications Commission the ability to impose fines of up to $500,000 per violation, up from the current $27,500. Because many shows are syndicated and played on numerous stations around the country, fines could run into the millions of dollars. (full story)
The Bill was approved in the House, and the next step is for it to get approved in the Senate. After that, it’s over. (Discuss here.)