• by Wayne Friedman , June 8, 2006

Two years after CBS' live coverage of Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' during the Super Bowl half-time show, legislation is poised to be signed into law by President Bush that would increase fines tenfold for stations that breach indecency standards.

The law would mean that stations would be on the hook for $325,000 per infraction. Recent passage of the bill by a House vote of 379-35 was the end of a long legislative process.

An earlier House indecency bill would have raised fines to $500,000 for stations as well as tagging monetary damages on individual artists and performers. Representatives for actors unions AFTRA and SAG said the modified bill was lesser of two evils - especially as it still gives artists' freedom of expression.

FCC chairman Kevin J. Martin, who has preached a hard line on indecency, hailed the vote. The National Association of Broadcasters reasserted its position that programming content should be self-regulated by the industry.

It is expected the Big 4 broadcast networks will challenge the FCC's indecency authority in court later this year.