  For Immediate Release March 3, 2004 Bill enabling FCC to clean up airwaves sails through committee Pitts: impose higher fines, make violators apologize, three strikes and you’re out, and better reporting to Congress Washington—Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) today voted to send H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004, out of the Energy and Commerce committee to the House floor. The committee approved the bill by a vote of 49 to 1. “It is about time that we act on broadcast indecency. This is not a new issue. Parents have been pleading with us to take action on this for years. Unfortunately, it took the use of four letter words on network TV, Janet Jackson’s indecent exposure at the Super Bowl, and Howard Stern’s foul and racist language to push us into action,” said Congressman Pitts. Congressman Pitts addressed the following issues in his statement on the bill: The FCC should be able to fine up to $1 million per utterance “HR 3717 increases the amount of fines that can be levied by the FCC, and caps that fine at $500,000. It is important that the FCC be given enough room to impose heavy fines. That is why I requested that this cap be $1 million. Serious fines ensure that the FCC has the freedom to truly hit these huge companies where it hurts.
This number is a compromise. While I think that the bill can and should go further, I am grateful that this bill increases the cap nearly 20 fold.” FCC should consider the size of the audience “The bill also includes several factors the FCC is to take into consideration when determining the fine for violators. I am pleased that one of those factors is the size of the audience. In my opinion, the larger the audience size, the greater the offense. It is only appropriate that the FCC give higher fines to those who broadcast to larger audience.” FCC can make broadcasters air Public Service Announcements to explain and apologize for the material they broadcast “When appropriate, violators should be required to explain and apologize for their actions, especially when children have been in the audience.” FCC needs to report to Congress annually “In case we forgot, this is Congress’ job – to make sure taxpayers’ interests are protected.
Too often, we ignore our responsibility to the American people and allow bureaucrats to make these decisions absent any accountability. I believe these annual reports will help us get a better handle on the FCC’s progress in this area.” Three Strikes and You’re out “The most important provision in this bill, however, is one added by my friend Chip Pickering.
This is one commonly referred to as the ‘three strikes and you are out provision.’ It allows broadcast licensees up to two broadcast indecency violations. On the third, proceedings for license revocation will begin. This provision makes it clear that Congress is not going to put up with multiple violators.” A full transcript of Congressman Pitts’ remarks can be found at: http://www.house.gov/pitts/press.htm. For more information on the Energy and Commerce Committee and to obtain transcripts of the markup debate visit: http://energycommerce.house.gov. 
