The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed legislation that would raise broadcast indecency fines to as much as $500,000, up from the current maximum penalty of $32,500 per incident. The
legislation would also mandate the Federal Communications Commission to consider revoking a broadcaster's license after three violations. A previous bill to stiffen broadcast indecency laws failed to
pass the Senate. It's unclear whether the legislation would also make marketers liable for broadcast advertising found to be indecent, though ad trade lobbyists fear it could. --
JM