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MediaBuyerPlanner: Although Sen. Brownback and his supporters hoped his indecency legislation that called for stricter FCC fines would command the attention of the Senate Commerce Committee, the committee cited a scheduling conflict as the reason they did not mark up the Brownback bill, writes Broadcasting & Cable.
The bill called for increasing FCC indecency fines ten times the current penalties, to a top fine of $325,000 per incident, while not taking into account station licenses for multiple violations or targeting performers as stated by a currently passed House version. The House bill would also up the fine to $500,000 per incident.
Despite the scheduling conflict excuse, Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said he would like to allow a $300 million industry information campaign, directed by former MPAA Head Jack Valenti, to have time to work before considering legislation on indecency.
If the bill does not get marked up this session, the committee will discharge it and majority leader Bill Frist of Tennessee would decide whether to schedule a floor vote on the bill or not.