[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H1015-H1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3717, BROADCAST DECENCY ENFORCEMENT
ACT OF 2004
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I
call up House Resolution 554 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 554
Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this
resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule
XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of
the bill (H.R. 3717) to increase the penalties for violations
by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions
against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane
language. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed
with. All points of order against consideration of the bill
are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and
shall not exceed ninety minutes equally divided and
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce. After general debate the
bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute
rule. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill
for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the
Committee on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill. The
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be
considered as read. All points of order against the committee
amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived. No
amendment to the committee amendment in the nature of a
substitute shall be in order except those printed in the
report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this
resolution. Each such amendment may be offered only in the
order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member
designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent,
shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject
to a demand for division of the question in the House or in
the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such
amendments are waived. At the conclusion of consideration of
the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report
the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been
adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House
on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the
bill or to the committee amendment in the nature of a
substitute. The previous question shall be considered as
ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage
without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with
or without instructions.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goodlatte). The gentlewoman from
[[Page H1016]]
North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) is recognized for 1 hour.
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost); pending
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration
of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
On Tuesday, the Committee on Rules met and granted a structured rule
for H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004. H.R. 3717
is a direct response to the increasing levels of indecency on broadcast
television and radio. The bill has strong bipartisan support, with over
145 cosponsors, and is a comprehensive measure that is reasonable, fair
and firm.
The problem of obscenity on TV has been going on for far too long.
However, the Super Bowl brought it to national attention. On February
1, millions of families were at home watching the Super Bowl together.
I myself was watching the game, cheering on my Carolina Panthers. This
was a moment of pride for my district, and in one moment the attention
was shifted.
I was appalled by the shameless stunt that took place during the
Super Bowl. And the excuses I have heard ring very hollow. Obviously,
if it was deliberate, then Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake thought
they could get away with it.
Mr. Speaker, my constituents are very tired of having to cover over
their children's eyes and ears every time they turn on the television
set, especially during the time that is supposed to be considered
family time.
H.R. 3717 the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004 raises the
maximum penalty cap for broadcast stations, networks, and performers to
$500,000 for each indecency violation. By significantly increasing the
FCC fines for indecency, networks and individuals will do more than
just apologize for airing such brazen material, they will be paying big
bucks for their offenses.
I am very pleased that this legislation streamlines the Federal
Communication Commission enforcement process for networks and
individuals who willfully and intentionally put indecent material over
the broadcast airwaves. So complaints do not languish at the FCC, the
bill requires them to complete action on indecency complaints within
270 days of receipt. In the past, there have been examples where it has
taken several years, and the broadcasters know they will not be taken
to task until long after the offense is over.
I want to commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air
Quality of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Barton), for moving this legislation so swiftly through his
committee. I also want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton)
for his resolve to protect our Nation's airwaves. He has been working
on this issue for a long, long time.
Broadcast airwaves belong to the American people, not to the
networks. So I believe it is time for Congress to defend and protect
America's parents and children and pass a tough bill to ensure decency
on the airwaves. To that end, I urge my colleagues to support the rule
and the underlying bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina
for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of the rule and the
underlying bill. I do so because it is time to send a strong message to
broadcasters that indecent television and radio programs are not okay.
For too long, the producers of indecent programming have regarded FCC
fines as just a minor nuisance; as a cost of doing business. That
attitude has to end. Congress needs to send a strong message to
broadcasters that doing anything for profit, no matter how much it
offends American viewers and harms the public interest, is definitely
not okay.
Mr. Speaker, the basic principle of broadcasting in our country is
that the American people grant private businesses the ability to make
money while using our public airwaves. In exchange for a license, we
ask that broadcasters air programs that serve the public interest, and
we ask them not to broadcast indecent material at times when children
are likely to be watching or listening. In other words, we have a
social contract with our media companies. They can use the airwaves,
but they must run their businesses in a socially responsible way. They
must remember they have a duty to serve not only their shareholders but
also the American people.
The reason we have special rules for radio and television programming
is that the broadcast media is, in the words of Supreme Court Justice
John Paul Stevens, ``a uniquely pervasive presence in the lives of all
Americans.''
When 100 million Americans, including myself, tuned into the Super
Bowl, we allowed a broadcast company to enter the privacy of our homes.
Just like any other guest, we welcomed them into our home. We expected
the Super Bowl broadcast to be respectful of us and our families. We do
not expect to agree with our house guests on everything, but we do
expect them to show good judgment and to refrain from saying crude and
offensive things, especially when children are in the room. What we all
got on February 1 was anything but a good guest, Mr. Speaker.
Besides the now infamous incident involving Justin Timberlake and
Janet Jackson, the half-time show was full of crude and sexually
explicit performances. Throughout the game, we were subjected also to
some offensive advertising. And all this was going on in our dens, our
living rooms, and the other places we gather every year to watch the
Super Bowl. It is estimated that one in five American children were
watching this year's Super Bowl broadcast.
I would like to note, Mr. Speaker, that the actual Super Bowl game
was one of the most exciting, best-played games in the 38-year history
of the sporting event. Decided by a field goal kicked with 4 seconds
left, this year's game had plenty of action and drama to sell itself on
its own merits, without adding the controversial material that has
provoked so much outrage for the past month.
To be fair, we should not be singling out the Super Bowl broadcast
for our disapproval. When I drive around the Dallas-Fort Worth
metropolitan area, I enjoy going up and down the radio dial to listen
to many different stations that offer information and entertainment to
the people of North Texas. I hear a lot of good programming, but I am
also astonished at the amount of gratuitous foul language some talk
show hosts use on a daily basis. The hosts of my favorite sports talk
shows in the Dallas market seem to be using more and more offensive
language.
I applaud the FCC commissioners for aggressively cracking down on
this type of programming and hope that this legislation gives them a
more effective enforcement tool.
I would also like to note that this problem goes beyond just the
programming we receive in our homes from the FCC broadcast licensees.
Congress does not currently have the same power to regulate the
indecent content of cable programming as we do over broadcast
programming. But all of us who have cable television know that there
are cable network shows aired during family hours that are equally
offensive and indecent. Although they operate under a regulatory system
that would not be covered by the bill we are considering today, I urge
the cable networks to remember that they have a social responsibility
to the American people too.
Mr. Speaker, some people may be suggesting that with this bill and
the speeches we are giving today, we are trying to censor speech or
limit expression in our society. Nothing could be further from the
truth. As a former broadcast journalist, and as the father of a
broadcast journalist, I have a deep respect for the right of
journalists, artists, political and religious leaders, and anyone else
for that matter, to exercise their constitutional freedom of speech.
Our communication laws on obscenity and indecency do not stop free
speech or suppression. They simply say it is not always appropriate to
broadcast crude and sexually explicit material into our homes and into
our motor vehicles, especially when our children could be watching or
listening.
[[Page H1017]]
I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill and the FCC's new
efforts to take back our air waives from the people who have cynically
decided the best way to sell advertising is by shocking and offending
us. I have more faith in Americans than that. Voting for this bill is
not just a vote to protect our families from indecent programming, it
is also a vote in support of the vast majority of broadcasters,
producers, and performers today who are running profitable businesses
while broadcasting in a way that serves the interests of our families
and our society.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1030
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Linder), a fellow member of the Committee on Rules.
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and thank the
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 554 is a fair and balanced rule that will
provide House Members with the opportunity to consider a number of
issues affecting our efforts to get indecent material off our airwaves.
Under this rule, the House will have the opportunity to consider a
manager's amendment by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and an
amendment by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) to strike
the increased fine limit on entertainers, and an amendment by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) to direct the General Accounting
Office to provide a detailed report to Congress about the number of
complaints about indecent broadcasting and the processes and procedures
that the FCC has implemented to investigate these complaints.
With respect to H.R. 3717, the underlying legislation, I want to
commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, for all of the
time and effort he has invested in bringing this very important and
well-crafted legislation to the House floor.
Vulgarity, profanity, and even obscenity are an all-too-common trend
on our television and radio airwaves today. Originally, the Golden
Globe Awards incident last year appeared to be an isolated event;
however, the subsequent profanity during the Billboard Music Awards
broadcast and the grossly inappropriate halftime show of the 2004 Super
Bowl made clear that Congress needs to take action and give the FCC the
tools it needs to crack down on such tawdry programming.
H.R. 3717 provides some of these tools for the FCC and is a step in
the right direction. This legislation increases the penalties imposed
for broadcast indecency, which allows the FCC to more authoritatively
regulate on-air programming. Also, this bill makes it easier for the
FCC to hold individuals subject to the same fines as broadcasters for
indecent actions.
In conclusion, families must be able to watch prime-time TV together
without the fear of watching obscene, profane, or vulgar programming;
and H.R. 3717 will help make this a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the rule so we may proceed to
debate the underlying legislation.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Rules has denied me and
other Democrats the opportunity to offer amendments that are vital and
directly relevant to the debate on eliminating indecent content on the
public airwaves.
Americans should look at the link between the surge in complaints on
indecent content on TV and radio and the increasing media consolidation
that has occurred in recent years.
During the Committee on Energy and Commerce's three hearings on
Indecency in the Media, it became apparent it is the media giants who
are the greatest offenders of the FCC's indecency standard. The biggest
FCC fines have gone to the biggest media players. In the past 5 years,
80 percent of the fines on violations of the FCC indecency standard
were handed out to the media conglomerates.
I believe the increasing amount of indecent content on our public
airwaves is a symptom of media consolidation, but the FCC never
bothered to look at this possible link before they issued new rules
last year to allow these media giants to get even bigger. The Parents
Television Council noted this as well. Director Brent Bozell said after
the FCC issued the new rules allowing more media consolidation, and I
would like to quote him, he said, ``The rules change means that a
handful of megaconglomerates will impose their own standards of
decency. They have been handed unfettered opportunity to broadcast
violent and vulgar programming with impugnity.''
My amendment would have delayed the FCC rules on media consolidation
while the GAO conducted a thorough review of the correlation between
indecent content on our public airwaves and media consolidation.
I had also offered a pared-down amendment that would have authorized
a study without delaying the rules. I will still be seeking the GAO
study, and I invite my colleagues to join me in this request I will be
making later today.
The growing number of media monopolies is relevant to this indecency
debate, and the Committee on Rules should not have denied me and others
the opportunity to offer our amendments. I urge my colleagues to vote
against this rule until we get the amendments that will help us further
this debate.
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the subcommittee chairman whose
bill this is.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the Committee on Rules
and the leadership for getting this bill on a fast track, and I want to
compliment my colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. We
acted very swiftly to get this bill to the floor. In fact, we passed
the bill out 49 to 1 just last week.
I would like to say as well that I think this rule is a fair rule. I
think the amendments will be debated fairly. I think that the
membership of the House will respond to those amendments; and obviously
my hope is to adopt the bill, the legislation, overwhelmingly at the
end of the day.
I want to say to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) on media
ownership, there will be a time and place for that debate. We had a
little debate on this last year. There was a compromise that was made
as part of the appropriations process. This issue is not going to go
away, but I think it is imperative that we get this bill to the
President's desk as fast we can.
The President did send a veto signal as a statement of administration
policy last year on this very issue. If for some reason that amendment
was attached to this bill, there is no question it would delay
enactment of this bill. It is not in place to add that amendment to
this bill. I accept what the Committee on Rules did yesterday. We had a
good debate on it yesterday afternoon. I think they made a wise
decision not to make that amendment in order, knowing there is another
day and time when we can debate that issue.
Mr. Speaker, I compliment the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak)
for offering virtually the same amendment in full committee last week
and then withdrawing that amendment even though a point of order had
been raised.
I urge Members to support this fair rule so we can get this bill to
the President's desk as fast as we can.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Weiner).
Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, there are clearly some messages to take from
recent events and the bill that is on the floor today. The overriding
message is that there is a responsibility that comes with being
entrusted to broadcast over the public airwaves.
People say if viewers do not like the content of a certain show and
find it offensive, just do not watch. The problem with that argument is
when content is being broadcast over public airwaves, it sometimes
cannot be avoided. The fact is that people in this country surf and
flip up and down channels on
[[Page H1018]]
TV and radio. If we do not regulate what people can see and hear in
these forums, children in particular will be exposed to material that
is completely inappropriate.
While we, and broadcasters in particular, should take action to crack
down on indecent material, we must not allow this focus on indecency to
become a mission instead to do everything possible to gain favor with
the FCC and their ultimate leader, President Bush. Being contrary to
the government and offensive to the President and his campaign donors
should not fall into the category of indecent material.
Unfortunately, the Clear Channel case with Howard Stern leaves that
impression. Consider the facts: on February 25, Clear Channel announced
that its radio stations would no longer carry the ``Howard Stern
Show,'' citing ``indecent content'' in Stern's February 24 radio
broadcast. But nothing in Mr. Stern's recent shows has been cited for
indecency, and it has been years since he has been fined by the FCC.
Some commentators have said his show has been milder in recent months.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Stern's sponsors have not
pulled their advertisements, meaning that the sponsors do not believe
the show is across the line.
The only thing that has changed is that just 2 days before his
suspension, Mr. Stern had become more critical of the Bush
administration, an administration Clear Channel and its top executives
have bank-rolled to the tune of $42,000 this election campaign cycle,
and hundreds of thousands of dollars in years past.
Even more curious is the location where Mr. Stern's show is being
dropped. Is it simple coincidence that political battlegrounds of Ohio
and Florida are losing a popular critic of the Bush administration just
as the election season begins?
While we are right to take action today to keep indecent material off
the public airwaves, this should not be seen as open season on a
diversity of views. If we only have radio personalities who are
sympathetic to the President and his large corporate backers, then we
will only have a small number of voices being heard, and all of them
will be at the far right end of the radio dial.
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Paul).
(Mr. PAUL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution, but I
would like to express a few views on why I will oppose the legislation.
I am convinced that the Congress has been a very poor steward of the
first amendment, and we are moving in the direction of further
undermining the first amendment with this legislation.
First, many years ago, it was an attack on commercial speech by
dividing commercial and noncommercial speech, which the Constitution
does not permit. Then there was a systematic attack from the left,
writing rules against hate speech which introduced the notion of
political correctness. Recently, there was a petition to the Department
of Justice that has asked the Department to evaluate ``The Passion of
Christ'' as an example of hate speech. Unintended consequences do
occur.
Next came along a coalition between right and left, and there was an
attack on campaign speech with the campaign finance reform with a
suspension of freedom of speech during an election period.
Now, once again, we are attacking indecency, which we all should, but
how we do it is critical; because ``indecency'' is a subjective term,
and it has yet to be defined by the courts.
We should remember that the Congress very clearly by the Constitution
is instructed to: ``make no laws abridging the freedom of speech.'' It
cannot be any clearer. If we have problems with indecency they are to
be solved in different manners. The excuse, because the government is
responsible and owns the airwaves, that we can suspend the first
amendment is incorrect. That is a good argument for privatizing the
airwaves rather than an excuse for suspension of the first amendment.
I would like to close by quoting someone who is obviously not a
libertarian and obviously not a liberal who has great concern about
what we are doing, and he comes from the conservative right, Rush
Limbaugh. He said: ``If the government is going to `censor' what they
think is right and wrong, what happens if a whole bunch John Kerrys or
Terry McAuliffes start running this country and decide conservative
views are leading to violence? I am in the free speech business. It is
one thing for a company to determine if they are going to be a party to
it. It is another thing for the government to do it.''
Mr. Speaker, we all should be in the free speech business.
Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of this rule.
The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004, H.R. 3717, has
overwhelming bipartisan support. H.R. 3717, which was adopted on a vote
of 49 to 1 by my Committee, increases the Federal Communications
Commission's authority to assess fines for indecent broadcasts. As
Janet Jackson revealed to the entire Nation during the Super Bowl
Halftime, broadcasters and performers have stopped minding the public's
store, allowing all sorts of offensive material to travel across the
public airways.
This is not a new problem. For years now, radio programming has
gotten progressively more base, and within the last year and a half a
number of so-called celebrities have let expletives fly on live
broadcast television coverage of awards shows. Federal law already
allows the FCC to assess fines on licensees and non-licensees for the
broadcast of indecent content during hours when children are likely to
be in the audience, and courts have made clear that the FCC's
definition and regulation of indecent content is constitutional.
The problem, however, is that the FCC currently is authorized to
assess a maximum fine of only $27,500 per violation on licensees, and
$11,000 per violation on individuals. Such weak penalties amount to
little more than a cost of doing business, and provide little to no
deterrent. What's more, the FCC can only assess such fines on
individuals on the second infraction, which means that celebrities such
as Ms. Jackson get a free pass on the first offense should they do
something indecent.
H.R. 3717 addresses these problems by raising the maximum fine to
$500,000; permitting the FCC to consider revoking a broadcast license
after the third offense; and allowing the FCC to fine an individual on
the first offense. H.R. 3717 does not require such severe penalties,
but gives the FCC needed discretion to tailor its sanctions to each
particular offense. Perhaps this will send the message to broadcasters
and individuals that indecency on our airwaves is no laughing matter.
H.R. 3717 also imposes a shot clock on the FCC to ensure that these
matters are resolved expeditiously.
Mr. Speaker, this is a fair rule, and I urge Members to support it.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rules for
H.R. 3717. Yesterday I offered an amendment to the bill that would end
industry-paid travel for commissioners and staff of the Federal
Communications Commission once and for all. I am very disappointed that
it was not made in order. In fact, 5 of the 6 amendments offered by my
Democratic colleagues were not made in order. I hope my colleagues
would join me in opposing this rule and request an open rule.
My amendment was a modified version of a bill that I introduced last
year in response to a report documenting over $2.8 million in travel
costs spent by FCC-regulated private companies for more than 2,500
trips taken by FCC commissioners and staff over the past 8 years. Such
practices have contributed to the FCC's reputation as a ``captured
agency'' controlled by the industries it regulates.
I am aware that Chairman Powell promised last fall to eliminate the
practice of corporate sponsored travel, but I don't believe a one-time
promise is strong enough to eliminate the practice once and for all.
What if the commission decides to re-institute the policy in a few
years? What if there is a change in the administration this fall, and
we end up having a new chairman? There is no guarantee that what the
FCC has decided to do is not just a way to wait out the storm caused by
the report, and that it could revert back to the old arrangement any
time.
I support granting the FCC the authority to impose severe penalties
for indecent broadcasting, but we must also ensure that the Commission
uses the new enforcement powers this bill would provide. One way to do
so is to eliminate, once and for all, any potential conflict of
interest caused by the practice of corporate sponsored travel for FCC
travel. I hope my colleagues would join me in rejecting this rule and
allow consideration of my amendment.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I
[[Page H1019]]
move the previous question on the resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Myrick). Pursuant to House Resolution
554 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of
the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the
bill, H.R. 3717.
{time} 1045
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 3717) to increase the penalties for violations by television and
radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene,
indecent, and profane language, with Mr. Goodlatte in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having
been read the first time.
Under the rule, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) each will control 45 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).
{time} 1045
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 5 minutes.
Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation this
morning. This legislation actually appeared on my radar screen last
year as we began to set our agenda for 2004. I introduced the
legislation in early January, held our first hearing on the legislation
before the Super Bowl, and the administration supports our bill. They
sent us a statement that they supported our bill in committee, and I
will include that Statement of Administration Policy as part of the
Record in support of this legislation today.
Statement of Administration Policy
The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R.
3717. This legislation will make broadcast television and
radio more suitable for family viewing by giving the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) the authority to impose
meaningful penalties on broadcasters that air obscene or
indecent material over the public airwaves. In particular,
the Administration applauds the inclusion in the bill of its
proposal to require that the FCC consider whether
inappropriate material has been aired during children's
television programming in determining the fine to be imposed
for violations of the law. The Administration looks forward
to continuing to work with the Congress to make appropriate
adjustments to the language of the bill as it moves through
the legislative process.
I remember a speech well by Michael Powell, the Chairman of the
Federal Communications Commission, where he said the fines under
current law are peanuts. It is a cost of doing business. They are not
high enough.
In fact, in the hearings that we held, we discovered that by the time
you saddle up some of those attorneys at the Department of Justice and
send them out to file a claim in Federal Court to go after the dollars
that the FCC might have fined, they are not going to recoup their
costs.
The Upton-Markey-Tauzin-Dingell-Barton bill has been cosponsored by
more than 140 Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats. Chairman
Powell and his four other commissioners, two Republicans and two
Democrats, when you look at their statements in support of this
legislation, when you look at their statements as they imposed fines on
broadcasters who cross that line, every one of them, Republican or
Democrat, has lamented the fact that they cannot raise the fines higher
than they are under current law, a maximum of only $27,500.
Because of the legislation we pursued on a strong bipartisan basis,
and again, I commend my colleagues on the other side, the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Dingell), we were able to pass this legislation out of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce last week on a recorded vote of 49 to 1. The other
body is beginning to move as well. They passed their legislation out 34
to 0.
Our bill was strengthened in the full committee markup. We added a
provision on three-strikes-and-you-are-out. That is, if you are a
repeat offender, a broadcaster, and you go through three series of
fines violating the current standard, there is set up an automatic
revocation hearing to take away that license.
We established a ``shot clock'' so that the FCC has to act on
complaints within a certain number of days. We protected affiliated
broadcasters. They do not always know what is coming down the pike in
terms of what they are broadcasting. We raised the fine from the
initial bill as I introduced it of $275,000 for the maximum fine to
$500,000. We added a provision asking for the National Association of
Broadcasters to make part of their code a Broadcast Decency Code,
something they had years ago and was struck under antitrust violations.
We also added a provision making the performers, the talent, liable
for their own words. You cannot tell me that they do not know what the
standards are. I have heard them whine, I have heard them take out that
violin and whine about what this bill will do. Well, guess what, Mr.
Chairman? It is time to take away that violin and give them the fork.
They are done. This ought to stop.
Guess what? Our bill does nothing to change existing standards. Zero.
Nada. Not a thing. I would note that the 1927 Radio Act has held up in
the courts for more than 75 years. The FCC has the authority to punish
those who air obscene, indecent or profane language. It has been upheld
by the Supreme Court, who ruled in 1978 that the government does have
the right to regulate indecent broadcasts and to, in fact, establish a
definition of indecency that remains the FCC's guiding principle.
There is language, material, that describes sexual or excretory
material or organs, and it is deemed patently offensive as measured by
contemporary community standards. In the mid 1990s, the court limited
the ban on indecent airing between the hours of 6:00 in the morning and
10:00 at night, when kids are most likely to be watching or listening.
This legislation pertains only to broadcast radio or TV. Why is that?
Because it is the public airwaves, that is why. And for those that
challenge the standards that are out there and do not realize what some
of these broadcasters have said, I would ask them to come see me during
the next couple of hours of debate on the floor, because with me I have
a notebook, and in that notebook we have the specific language that
broadcasters have used in defiance of the law.
You cannot tell me that this stuff should be on the air. It should
not be. We need to make sure we stop it, and we do, in its tracks.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 7 minutes.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation. This is a
bipartisan bill that the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the
Internet, led by the gentleman from Michigan (Chairman Upton) and the
Chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton),
have put together, working in conjunction with the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Dingell) and myself and the other members of the minority
on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, working in a bipartisan
fashion, in order to craft a bill related to the broadcast radio and
television obscenity and decency and profanity issues.
Mr. Chairman, at the outset, I would like to note that this
legislation was introduced before the Super Bowl this year, not after.
It was an issue that had already percolated up to the attention of the
American public and to our subcommittee, and we had already decided
that extra attention needed to be paid to the Federal Communications
Commission and its lack of enforcement of these very important
provisions.
The Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held three
hearings on this issue, and from our hearings we confirmed a number of
things. We have learned that although the Federal Communications
Commission is charged with ensuring that licensees serve the public
interest and that the stations do not air obscene, indecent or profane
content in violation of the law and Commission rules, that until very
recently, the Commission has not been an aggressive enforcer of the
rules. Testimony from Federal Communications Commission
[[Page H1020]]
Chairman Michael Powell indicates that cases are still languishing from
2 to 3 years ago.
We also learned that although the Federal Communications Commission
has numerous enforcement tools, including the ability to revoke a
station license, it appears as though the industry has largely
concluded that the Federal Communications Commission is a paper tiger.
The rare and paltry fines the Commission assesses have become nothing
more than a joke within the broadcast industry, and the Commission
never raises license revocation as a consequence for repeated indecency
violations, even in the most egregious cases of these repeat violators.
This legislation will help us to address the serious enforcement
shortcomings at the Federal Communications Commission that we have
identified.
Finally, we have also learned that the industry needs to do a better
job in educating parents about the tools that already may be in their
hands that parents can utilize to address the myriad concerns they
raise with us about what is on television. Parents can use the
television rating system and the V-Chip, which stems from legislation
which I authored as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
However, we have a huge educational challenge with the TV ratings
system and how parents can use it in conjunction with the V-Chip.
Studies indicate that if a parent of a child 12 and under has a V-Chip-
ready TV and knows this, that some 47 percent of such parents use the
V-Chip, and they like it, because it allows them to program their TV
set for their children 12 and under. Almost all of these parents who
know about it are enthused about it. The problem is with the
qualifiers. Almost half of those who have bought the approximately 100
million V-Chip capable televisions since 2000 are not aware that they
possess a television set with a V-Chip in it.
In addition, many of these parents express confusion over the TV
rating system itself, and one major network, NBC, still does not use
the comprehensive rating system utilized by everyone else in the
television industry. The industry did a good job with much fanfare
after the TV rating system was initially finalized, in doing public
service announcements and other educational messages regarding the
ratings. Yet those efforts have waned in recent years.
In my view, we need a comprehensive, industry-wide campaign to
address this issue. The TV set manufacturers and the electronic
retailers need to do a better job in alerting television buyers to the
V-Chip, in part because many retail employees at these stores who sell
TV sets are apparently unaware that the TV sets have a V-Chip in it. In
addition, print media ought to include the television ratings of
programs in the television guide so that parents see them when they
look up what is on television that day or that evening.
Finally, I believe the broadcast industry should renew its
educational efforts on the television ratings system and also consider
a number of other ideas to better assist parents, which I will address
to our television networks on an ongoing basis, in order to ensure that
they know that this is an issue that Americans care about.
At our recent hearings, I challenged the industry to do several
things to better help parents understand the TV rating system:
First, use the V-Chip and utilize available per-channel blocking
technologies on cable television.
I requested that the television industry increase its public service
advertisements about the television rating system and the V-Chip. I am
happy to report that many, many industry participants on the networks
and cable operators have agreed to do so, with some, such as Fox
Television, including print advertising in their campaign as well.
I will come back in a while and outline what is happening in the rest
of the television and cable industry, but I think it is important for
the Congress to pass this legislation, and then to keep up the pressure
so that parents are given the tools that they need in order to protect
the sights and the sounds which their children are exposed to.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the
good State of Indiana (Mr. Buyer), a member of the subcommittee, a
cosponsor of the bill, and a very helpful force in getting this bill to
the floor.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3717. Every second
of every day and in almost everything we do we are confronted by a
multitude of images, some of which benefit our lives, others which do
just the complete opposite.
We live at a time when 98 percent of the households have one or more
television sets. As of 2001, there were over 100 million Americans on-
line, with almost half of all of U.S. households with Internet access.
This new media has enriched our lives. It has given up-to-the-very-
minute news reports from around the world, television shows that both
educate and entertain, and Web sites that have every answer to every
question posed, it seems.
However, unfortunately, there is a negative side, those Web sites
whose sole purpose is to satiate the prurient interests of its viewers,
television programs that play to the lowest denominator of decency.
There are those who seek to test the boundaries, and those who try to
ignite a firestorm, so the 24-hour news stations have something to
report on at 3 a.m., or attempt to revitalize a career by shocking
viewers. It is these images, the ones we shield our children from, that
this legislation seeks to penalize.
This legislation was not born out of an isolated incident from a
Super Bowl. It is not a hasty reaction to that at all.
{time} 1100
This is a very serious level of effort that has lasted over the last
year.
We are raising the fine so that it is feasible and equitable for the
government to enforce standards of decency. We are allowing the
independent broadcasters who have no control over what they air to
avoid liability. We are looking to the individual, who willfully and
intentionally defies the law, to be held accountable.
There are some who claim that we are towing the line of censorship;
that that is the next step and we will go too far. However, I place the
onus upon the network, the broadcasters, the entertainers, and the Web
site managers to be their own guideposts of the Constitution and
community standards.
Governments should not be the decency police, but when laws are
defied, we are required to step in and enforce the law.
I support this bill and I want to compliment the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) and also the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Upton) for the bill.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Green).
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield to my colleague from
California (Mr. Waxman.)
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Green) for yielding to me.
I want to take 1 minute to say that the broadcasters have an interest
in protecting the public's rights, but what are we doing about the
concentration of power in the media? What are we doing about the lack
of a fairness doctrine or equal time, especially at a time when we have
the most important election with the political debate that ought to be
honest, really fair and balanced, not just for some broadcaster to tell
us it is fair and balanced when it is not? What are we doing about
children's programs?
Instead of dealing with those issues, we have a bill to increase the
penalties for indecency on the airwaves while the FCC is already not
enforcing the penalties they have at their disposal.
I think we ought to recognize that if people feel they are doing
something really important with this legislation, then I think it only
opens the door to more government interference in free speech on the
airwaves, and that it is somewhat hypocritical for the public to think
we are doing something about the important issues in the broadcasting
area when we are not even addressing, and the Republican leadership has
stopped us from addressing, the concentration of the media in all these
other matters.
Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I plan to vote no
on the bill.
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Broadcast
Decency and Enforcement Act of 2004, which is a bipartisan product of
the
[[Page H1021]]
House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on
Telecommunications and the Internet. Both the ranking member, the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) and our chairman, the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), have produced a good bill
incorporating ideas of a number of Members.
Let me say in response to my colleague from California, I noticed a
substantial change in the last 2 months with the Federal Communications
Commission. And I will talk about that a little bit. That without this
legislation increasing the penalties, without the hearings we held, we
would not see renewed vigor and renewed interest by the FCC enforcing
the decency standards.
And so, that is why even though the bill basically just increases the
fines, what it did was it brought attention to the issue along with
what has happened with our media outlets all across the country, I
think, culminated in with what I think my colleague from New England
would agree, was a great Super Bowl football game, but was eclipsed by
what happened at half time.
So, granted, this bill raises the penalties, but it also brought the
attention of the regulators and a renewed vigor in enforcing the
current law.
It also includes an accountability in the bill that allows broadcast
TV affiliates to place liability for content provided by the networks
when the affiliates had little or no input on programming.
Again, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for
working with me on this provision. We ought to make the penalties be
where the people are making the decisions on the content, and not
someone who just happens to have a license, who would not want the
Super Bowl.
The legislation also reaffirms the authority of the FCC to evaluate
the licenses for television, radio, or broadcasters that repeatedly run
afoul of FCC's indecency standards. Congress is not creating a new
standard for content for public airwaves, we are only requiring that
the current standards be enforced in a meaningful way.
I think many radio and television broadcasters and cable and
satellite providers are taking significant steps to respond to the
American public on this issue. Broadcasters are going to convene a
decency submit at the end of this month. The sickest radio shock jock,
Bubba the Love Sponge, is off the air. The television networks are
going to delayed feed for live shows so we will not have any accidents
as we saw at the Super Bowl.
The cable and satellite providers are stepping up efforts to educate
their customers about their ability to block out channels they do not
want to receive. And I hope these industry actions continue, and
combined with our legislation, will cause the increasing indecency of
broadcast content over the past few years to be reversed.
In Congress, we can get back to our important things. And this I do
agree with my California colleague on reducing the national debt,
creating more American jobs, expanding health care for our needy
children.
The FCC has never been particularly motivated on the indecency cases,
but in the last 3 years, complaints have increased so substantially,
and after these hearings, now the Commission has seen a renewed
interest in enforcement, particularly, again, after the hearings. And
hopefully our action today will get the Commission in an even more
aggressive motion.
Again, the ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Markey), the chairman, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the
ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), and our new
chairman, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) are to be commended on
their work here today. I urge my colleagues to approve the legislation.
Mr. Chairman, I would just briefly say something about our immediate
past chairman. I think all of us send our prayers and our hope to the
chairman, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) on his treatment
and his surgery for his illness that was announced this week. Again, as
a Democrat, we worked together typically on our committee, and all of
us hope that the gentleman and his family are successful in being
treated. Again, I yield back my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from the State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), a very active
member on this issue, an original cosponsor, one that has helped in
many ways to get this bill to the floor.
Mr. PITTS. Mr. Chairman, it is about time that we act on broadcast
indecency. First I want to commend and thank the chairman, the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) for his steadfast leadership on
this issue. He has been one of the primary reasons for its success.
This is not a new issue. Parents have been pleading with us to take
action on this issue for years. Unfortunately, it took the use of the
four letter word on network TV and Janet Jackson's indecent exposure at
the Super Bowl and Howard Stern's foul and racist language to push us
into action.
I, for one, am tired of parents telling me how they need to cover
their children's eyes and ears often too late because of the
unacceptable language that has infiltrated television and radio. For
too long, we have told the entertainment industry that the Federal
Government is unwilling to hold them accountable for their actions.
Today we are saying enough is enough. H.R. 3717 sends a clear signal
to the entertainment industry, we are no longer going to stand idly by
and force our parents to put up with this filth.
H.R. 3717 is a good bill. Serious fines ensure that the FCC has the
freedom to truly hit these huge companies where it hurts. And one of
the most important provisions in the bill was added by my friend, the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), 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. And this provision will make it clear that Congress is not
going to put up with multiple violators.
Mr. Chairman, families are sick and tired of worrying about what
their children may see or hear every time they turn on television. They
are frustrated that the media and industry has seemingly been able to
broadcast any type of behavior or speech they feel will bring in
advertising dollars. Meanwhile, they feel that the Federal Government
has sided with the media elites and turned a blind eye to the concerns
of ordinary mom and dads.
To American parents, Congress has finally heard you. We will no
longer stand idly by on this topic. As one of our Members said, if the
entertainment industry cannot police themselves, we will do it for
them. So I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), I thank the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), and the leadership of the
committee for moving this important bill.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Wynn), who added two very important amendments to this
legislation.
Mr. WYNN. Mr. Chairman, I would also like to thank the ranking
member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), for allowing me
to have this time.
I rise in strong support of this piece of legislation. I would also
add in my thanks to the chairman, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton)
and my thanks to the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Dingell) for working with me on some amendments that I do believe
strengthen this bill.
I think this is a very important issue for our country and our
society. I do not think Congressmen should be the overseers of
morality, I do not think Congress people are in a position to dictate
censorship; but I do believe we are in a position to say that there
ought to be some standards for decency in this country on broadcast TV.
You see, unlike cable TV, which we invite into our homes, broadcast
TV is ubiquitous. It is a public asset which we give away free to
broadcasters to make a great deal of money. Because of that
relationship, I believe they should adhere to high standards of
decency, particularly during family viewing hours. That is why I think
this bill is so important.
I think the situation at the Super Bowl was only a small example of
some of the things that American families are concerned about. We have
to ask
[[Page H1022]]
the question, will we sink to the lowest common denominator, the
lewdest, most lascivious type of content, or will we say there are
standards that have to be balanced. I think this bill says yes, there
have to be standards.
Let me tell you, from the Baptist church to the barber shop, people
are saying this is the right thing to do. This bill strengthens
penalties against broadcasters and others who engage in indecent
content, indecent speech over public broadcast airwaves during family
hours. And I think it is very appropriate.
I worked with other members, my colleague, the gentlewoman from New
Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), as well as my colleague, the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Pickering) on the Republican side, to add some
strengthening measures in this legislation. Specifically, current law
provides a presumption of license renewal. We should not have that
presumption. We have now modified that. There is no presumption if
there is evidence of incidents of indecent broadcasting.
Similarly, routinely broadcasters have their licenses renewed. We
believe that after three strikes, there ought to be an automatic
revocation proceeding in which the merits of your conduct are examined
before your license is renewed.
As I said at the onset, this is a very important issue for our
society. It describes the type of people we are. We are not censors, we
are not morality police, but we are fair and decent people who care
about what our children see and what they are exposed to.
This bill, I think, strikes a proper balance by giving some real
teeth to the enforcement process and providing incentives for
broadcasters to be more conscious, to be more aware of public
sensibilities. I think we have done the right thing. I am very proud
and pleased to support this legislation.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Barton), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, my friend and colleague.
(Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R.
3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004. And I want to
compliment the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Upton) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Markey) for their strong leadership on this issue as well as the
ranking full committee member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Dingell). They have all worked very well and very positively on this
very important legislation.
This bill has strong bipartisan support, 145 cosponsors in the House.
It was reported out of the committee last week 49 to 1. The bill has
been dubbed the ``Super Bowl Bill,'' but what many people I think do
not realize is that H.R. 3717 was well on its way before the antics
that we witnessed during the Super Bowl half-time show.
In fact, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) had already held a hearing on it before
the Super Bowl show occurred. But after that event did occur, one thing
is absolutely crystal clear: This bill answers the call that we have
heard from parents around the country, hundreds of thousands, if not
millions of them, who are begging for some help. H.R. 3717 will make
living rooms safe again all over America.
We have been bombarded in recent past with indecent language and
images over and over again. Between the use of an expletive by Bono at
the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, Nicole Ritchie's string of expletives at
the 2003 Billboard Awards, Janet Jackson's infamous performance during
the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, and innumerable instances of
graphic sexual broadcasts by radio ``shock jocks,'' parents want and
demand help.
There is a clear need to provide the FCC with increased authority to
hold all parties responsible for their actions. H.R. 3717 targets
broadcast indecency by doing the following: Number one, it raises the
maximum penalty cap for broadcast stations, networks, and performers to
$500,000 for each indecency violation.
Number two, it sets out specific factors the FCC must consider when
setting fines so that the FCC must examine whether the violator is a
small or large broadcaster, a company or an individual, and what entity
is responsible for the indecent programming.
{time} 1115
Three, it streamlines the FCC enforcement process for networks and
individuals who ``willfully and intentionally'' put indecent material
over broadcast airwaves so that the FCC can prosecute on the first
instance, instead of having to wait for a second violation. Now
everyone, including performers, will be held responsible for their
action from the get-go.
Four, the bill requires the FCC to complete an action on indecency
complaints within 270 days of receipt so that complaints do not
languish at the FCC. In addition to collecting fines for indecency, the
bill gives the FCC the authority to require broadcasters to air public
service announcements to reverse harm from indecent programming.
This is an idea that came from the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Markey), and it is a very good idea.
Five, it requires the FCC to take indecency violations into account
during license applications, renewals and modifications.
This idea came from the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Wilson).
Number six, after three indecency violations, the bill would require
the FCC to hold a hearing to consider revoking the broadcast station
license, the gravest of penalties for a broadcaster. That idea, among
others, came from the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns).
Seventh and finally, the bill requires the FCC to report annually to
Congress on the progress it is making as a result of legislation.
Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3717 makes great strides in our effort to clean up
the broadcast airwaves and return them to the decent Americans of our
country. I urge all of my colleagues to support it.
Before I conclude, let me say that on the Schakowsky amendment I am
going to strongly oppose that particular amendment. I think it is
absolutely constitutional that performers themselves can be held
accountable in the first instance and not after the second instance
after the so-called ``warning ticket'' approach. So I will strongly
oppose the Schakowsky amendment and then strongly support passage of
the final bill.
I thank the chairman for his strong leadership on the bill.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Los Angeles, California (Ms. Watson).
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, very quickly, I want all to know that I
rise in support of H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of
2004, but I am sorry that this was a closed rule on that bill. There
are a couple of points I wanted to make.
I have received a letter from the American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists on behalf of 80,000 actors, broadcast journalists,
announcers, disc jockeys, and sound recording artists saying that they
are asking us to reject the provisions of the bill that would fine
individual performers and announcers for the programming decisions
controlled and implemented by the broadcast licensees. And I would ask
my colleagues to think about that particular provision. I understand we
have already voted on the rule.
The next point I wanted to make is that since the FCC has already
allowed the major networks to own up to 45 percent of the market, I
feel that that is the root cause for some of this indecency that we
hear through the media. And it is important for us to recognize that
this bill taps into the underlying anger of over 2 million individuals
who wrote to the FCC last summer opposing its relaxation of media
ownership rules. And I just want to mention some shocking statistics
that illustrate the connection between indecency and media
concentration.
The 1996 Communications Act cleared the way for relaxing some media
ownership limits. Since then, complaints received by the FCC regarding
indecent programs on television have jumped from 26 in the year 2000 to
217 in the year 2003. Clear Channel Communications Incorporated, the
Nation's largest radio chain with 11 percent of the Nation's total
studios and stations, has
[[Page H1023]]
received about 52 percent of the fines that the FCC has imposed.
Viacom's Infinity station, about 2 percent of all stations, has
received 28 percent of the FCC's fines. So the fact is when big media
gets bigger and the race for audiences turns to the lowest denominator
in trash programming to appeal to the broadest possible audience, those
conglomerates move further away from quality programming and the
principles of ``diversity, localism and competition'' crucial for the
service of the public interest.
Finally, I was in support of the Schakowsky amendment that would have
exempted individuals from increases in indecency fines. And hearing
from the industry, they are very upset about the possibility. So I am
hoping that we can clear up some of these issues in another piece of
legislation.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency
Enforcement Act of 2004. While I support giving the Federal
Communication Commission greater authority in the enforcement of
indecency rules, I don't believe it addressed the root cause of
indecency in media, namely, the current trend of unfettered media
conglomeration and its impact on creative voices.
I think it is important for us to recognize that this bill taps into
the underlying anger of the over 2 million individuals who wrote to the
FCC last summer opposing its relaxation of media ownership rules,
individuals who were truly turned off by a dumb-down media culture that
has failed to serve the public interest. The bottom line is, a
consolidated media market controlled by profit-driven conglomerates are
bound to produce indecent, shock-value programming for the sake of
viewership.
I just want to mention some shocking statistics that illustrate the
connection between indecency and media concentration. The 1996
Telecommunications Act cleared the way for relaxing some media
ownership limits. Since then, complaints received by the FCC regarding
indecent programming on television have jumped from 26 in 2000, to 217
in 2003. Clear Channel Communications Inc., the Nation's largest radio
chain with 11 percent of the Nation's total stations, has received
about 52 percent of the fines the FCC has imposed. Viacom's Infinity
Stations, about 2 percent of all stations, has received 28 percent of
the FCC's fines.
The fact is, when big media gets bigger, and the race for audiences
turns to the lowest denominator in trash programming to appeal to the
broadest possible audience, those conglomerates move further away from
quality programming and the principles of ``diversity, localism, and
competition'' crucial for the service of public interest.
That is why the Senate this week adopted a provision to impose a 1-
year moratorium on the FCC's new media-ownership rules pending the
outcome of a new GAO study on the connection between media indecency
and ownership. I am very disappointed that a similar amendment offered
by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) was rejected by the Rules
Committee. Mr. Chairman, while I am prepared to vote for the bill, I
strongly urge this Chamber to allow a thorough debate on the issue of
media consolidation.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Walden), who offered a very constructive bipartisan
amendment that is part of the package of this bill.
Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his
work on this legislation.
I want to acknowledge up front that I am a broadcast licensee, owner
and operator of five radio stations, and I am very supportive of this
bill in this form.
It was time that the broadcast community cleaned up the airwaves,
that owners took the responsibility to make sure that the talent on
their shows operated within the bounds of the law. It is important to
note that this legislation does not change the standards that have
always been on the books and recognized by the courts when it comes to
clean talk on the airwaves.
This legislation, though, gives the FCC the fining authority it needs
to deal with egregious violations of the law and also the incentive it
needs to act, and act more appropriately.
For those of us who are small-community broadcasters, it also
recognizes that the fine should fit and the punishment should be fair;
and, therefore, it recognizes both the role of affiliates and their
liabilities versus those providing the programming, as well as having
the FCC recognize market size when levying fines. Because, indeed, a
fine of a half a million dollars on a small-market broadcaster could
spell bankruptcy, when on a large conglomerate, it may be just another
cost of doing business.
I want to conclude my remarks this morning by having Americans and
Members in this Chamber recognize fully that the actions that are taken
by some broadcasters are not the actions taken by most broadcasters.
Allowing indecent, profane, and obscene language on stations is
something most of us find offensive, just as most Americans do.
Broadcasters have made enormous contributions to their communities,
raising money for charity, helping in emergencies, and providing that
vital communication link.
Mr. Chairman, I support this bill. I thank the Chairman for his
support of the amendments that were included.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from
Chicago, Illinois (Mr. Rush).
Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the ranking member for
yielding me time.
I want to engage in colloquy with the chairman of the subcommittee,
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).
During a recent subcommittee hearing on broadcast indecency, we heard
testimony that it is the Federal Communication Commission's policy that
persons submitting complaints alleging indecent broadcast must submit a
tape, transcript, or significant excerpt of the alleged indecent
content or risk having the complaint dismissed.
Do you recall that testimony?
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. RUSH. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr. UPTON. Yes, I do. The testimony was provided by Brent Bozell,
President of the Parents Television Council. The FCC claims, however,
that they no longer adhere to that policy.
Mr. RUSH. I understand that it is the FCC's official position;
however, unfortunately, the FCC's claim is incorrect. According to a
March 2, 2004, letter from Chairman Powell to the ranking member, the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), since 2001 the commission has
dismissed 170 complaints for lack of a tape or transcript, including
six already this year, 2004.
Does the gentleman agree that this policy places an enormous and
inappropriate burden on consumers who simply wish to file a complaint
about indecent broadcast?
Mr. UPTON. I agree with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush),
consumers should not be forced to record every program that they watch
or listen to in order to submit a complaint to the FCC alleging
indecent content. It is an outrage that the FCC continues its practice
of dismissing consumer complaints for lack of a tape or transcript.
Mr. RUSH. I appreciate the gentleman's concern, Mr. Chairman, on this
matter. Do you agree that our committee must closely watch this issue
and urge the FCC to change its policy statement in this matter?
Mr. UPTON. I agree with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush).
The committee will closely monitor the FCC's action to ensure that
the FCC actually changes their policy in that regard, and I thank the
gentleman for bringing this to our attention; and I look forward to
working with him on this issue to make sure that that change, in fact,
is made in order.
Mr. RUSH. I thank my good friend and chairman of the Subcommittee on
Telecommunications and the Internet for his concern and assurance on
this matter.
That said, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3717. For the past
month, the Committee on Energy and Commerce has held numerous hearings
on the issue of broadcast indecency. In those hearings, we heard from
the FCC commissioners and the broadcasters on the enforcement of
indecency rules. It became clear that the FCC has been neglectful in
its duty in enforcing indecency rules. From 2000 to 2003, the
commission has received 255,000 complaints on the subject of indecency,
yet the commission had filed less than 10 notices of apparent
liability. To add insult to injury, since its existence, the commission
has yet to fine a broadcaster for airing language that is obscene and
profane.
As we can see, there has been a dereliction by the FCC of its duties.
Some have argued that the commission needs additional authority from
Congress to
[[Page H1024]]
make a serious effort to stop indecency. That said, Mr. Chairman, I
believe that H.R. 3717 will give the commission the ammunition it needs
to do just that.
The bill not only increases fines but compels the FCC to use its
renewal and revocation processes to go after licensees, and it compels
the FCC to act in a timely manner regarding consumer complaints.
Mr. Chairman, I would be remiss if I did not discuss the
pervasiveness of violent programs on our airwaves. During our month-
long hearing discussing this issue, I offered and withdrew an amendment
that would have required the FCC to include excessive violence in its
definition of indecency.
Study after study has shown that there may be a causal link between
violence in the media and violence in society.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Upton) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), the ranking
member, have agreed to hold a separate hearing on this issue. Such a
hearing is needed to focus the collective attention of this committee
on detrimental effects of violence in the media as it relates to our
children.
Again, I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of
this wonderful bill, H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency
Enforcement Act. For the past month the Energy and Commerce Committee
has held numerous hearings on the issue of broadcast indecency. In
those hearings we heard from the FCC Commissioners and the broadcasters
on the enforcement of the indecency rules. It became clear that the FCC
had been neglectful in its duty in enforcing indecency rules. From 2000
to 2003 the Commission had received 255,000 complaints on the subject
of indecency yet the Commission had filed less then ten notices of
apparent liability (NAL's). To add insult to injury, since its
existence the Commission has yet to fine a broadcaster for airing
language that is obscene or profane. As you see, there has been a
dereliction by the FCC of its duties. Some have argued that the
Commission needs additional authority from Congress to make a serious
effort to stop indecency. That said, I believe H.R. 3717 would give the
Commission the ammunition it needs to do just that. The bill not only
increases fines but compels the FCC to use its renewal and renovation
processes to go after licensees and it compels the FCC to act in a
timely manner regarding consumer complaints.
I would be remiss if I did not discuss the pervasiveness of violent
programming on our airwaves. During our month long hearing discussing
this issue I offered and withdrew an amendment that would have required
the FCC to include excessive violence in the definition of indecency.
Study after study has shown that there may be a causal link between
violence in the media and violence in society. I am pleased that
Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Markey have agreed to have a separate
hearing on this issue. Such a hearing is needed to focus the collective
attention of this committee on the detrimental effects of violence in
the media as it relates to our children.
And lastly, as we give the FCC this increased power, I would like us
to consider giving preference to socially and economically
disadvantaged groups for the purchase of the revoked licenses.
Again, I urge members on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of
H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act.
{time} 1130
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).
(Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3717, the
Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004, and compliment my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle, especially the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Upton) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), for bringing
this important legislation to the Congress.
Our Nation's television and radio airwaves have increasingly become
inundated with indecent, obscene, and profane material. The recent
Super Bowl half-time show was only the latest in a string of incidents
to make front-page headlines. Other performers, celebrities, and shock
jocks have coarsely invaded our homes with their language and their
antics.
Networks and entertainers must acknowledge that our liberties also
require responsibility and that avoidance of this responsibility places
our family and our children at risk.
These incidents involving profanity, lewd behavior and language have
been occurring with only a slap on the wrist or no response at all from
the FCC. With current allowable fines of only a maximum of $27,500 per
violation, there is very little incentive for broadcasters to follow
the regulations when the rewards of higher ratings, due to their
selection of programming, far outweigh those costs.
H.R. 3717 will put some teeth behind the FCC's enforcement of their
standards of indecency by increasing the maximum amount of fines to
$500,000 per violation and will allow them to enforce their current
regulations in a swift and fair manner by removing the warning after a
first offense and a capped maximum fine of only $11,000 after the
second offense.
We must provide the FCC with the authority that they need to combat
this wave of indecency. Our families and our children deserve nothing
less.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3717.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes.
I just wanted to point out that I have requested that the television
industry increase its public service advertisements about the
television rating system, and I am happy to report that many in the
industry have agreed to provide much more public education about this
technology in TV sets so it is easier for parents to be able to figure
out how to program it and to provide just the level of protection which
they want for the children in their home, at whatever particular age
they may be.
I also challenged the television networks to consider a couple of
suggestions with respect to the broadcast of the ratings icon on the
screen. I requested that the TV ratings icon appear not only at the top
of a show but also after commercial breaks when the show resumes. That
is because a lot of times people turn on the show after it has already
started and they have no idea what the rating is. So I have asked them
to actually put on the rating at each commercial break as well so that
parents can see what the level of the rating is and make an adjustment
for their own particular families.
I also requested that the networks add a voice-over when the ratings
appear to also better alert parents. The ABC television network readily
agreed to both suggestions, as did Bud Paxon on behalf of his PAX
network. The other three major networks, Fox, NBC and CBS, have
indicated that they are considering it but have not yet committed to
doing so. I hope that they join ABC in doing it because I think it is
helpful, quite frankly, to give parents this kind of additional
information.
It does not detract from any network's ability to be able to put any
programming on that they want. It just gives parents the information
they need in order to shield their children from material which they
believe may be inappropriate.
I also challenged the cable industry, in addition to increasing their
public service advertisements, to increase consumer awareness of the
provisions of the 1992 Cable Act that permits any cable subscriber in
America to request that the cable company block any one of the cable
programs that they believe is inappropriate for their family. It is a
right that every American has in terms of their relationship with their
cable company, but no more than 1 percent of all Americans even know
they have the right to have any one of these individual cable channels
blocked from coming into their home, even if they have bought the whole
other part of the cable package.
I believe that if the cable industry made it clear in their bills,
the information they give to consumers, that millions of American
families would be much happier if they could take the whole cable
package and then delete a couple of channels that they believe were too
offensive for their young children and their family. I think it can be
a real step forward, and I have received some very encouraging
information from some of these cable networks that they will provide
that option.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H1025]]
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Forbes), a cosponsor of the legislation.
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3717
and the gentleman from Michigan's (Mr. Upton) efforts to pass this act.
Over the last several months, I have received hundreds of letters from
frustrated constituents expressing their outrage over obscenity on our
airwaves.
They tell me it seems that every time they turn on their television
or radio they have to cover their children's eyes and ears to protect
them from profanity and obscenity. It is a disturbing feeling when one
is afraid to leave their living room to check on dinner for fear that
their children might be exposed to gross obscenity on television.
My youngest child is still in high school; and as a dad, I would like
to be there all the time for him, to turn off the television, to talk
to him about why people say the things they do and to provide the
guidance he needs; but we all have busy lives, and we know that it is
not possible to be there every minute. As parents and as citizens, we
should not be forced into a constant battle to protect our children
from obscenity. We should have confidence that basic standards of
common decency will be upheld.
Several years ago, the Super Bowl half-time show featured characters
from Disney and Peanuts. As we all know, this year's Super Bowl half-
time was quite the opposite. While there was a time when parents would
be happy to see their children emulate their role models on the
playground, today that would be a horrifying sight.
With each inappropriate incident, networks weaken our standards of
decency and blur our children's sense of propriety. This legislation
will hold broadcasters accountable by ensuring that fines for broadcast
indecency are not seen as just a cost of doing business. It has become
much easier for broadcasters to ask for forgiveness rather than
permission.
At this point, our mandate as legislators is clear: stand up against
the continued decline in standards of broadcast indecency and pass H.R.
3717.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Dingell), who is the ranking member of the full
committee.
(Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, with thanks I accept 2 minutes from my
dear friend.
First of all, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the legislation.
Second of all, I congratulate my dear friend, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), for his outstanding leadership in this
matter. He has been long interested in this matter and has provided
remarkably good leadership in this matter.
I also commend my good friend from Michigan (Mr. Upton). He has
served in this body with distinction and has provided extraordinary
leadership here, also.
I congratulate the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) for his new
position and for his leadership in shepherding H.R. 3717 through the
committee process.
This is a bill which is bipartisan; and the committee has worked well
in a bipartisan fashion which does great credit to the Members, and
particularly the leadership of the committee, for having done so.
Our constituents are fed up with the level of sex and violence on
television and radio, as well as the lax attitude of the Federal
Communications Commission's handling of decency complaints. Clearly,
the commission has been asleep at the switch for some time.
The bill sets a deadline by which the commission must act on consumer
indecency complaints. It raises the penalties for that kind of
misbehavior. It makes these matters subject to review in connection
with license renewal, or makes it possible for the commission to do
what they have now the power to do; and it encourages them so to do by
seeing to it that this matter will be raised also at the time of
license renewal.
The bill raises fines by a significant amount. That is good. It also
requires the commission to report annually to the Congress on the
handling of these matters, something which will perhaps alert them to
the need to proceed with greater vigor.
I applaud the fact that the commission has developed a remarkable and
acute sense of newly found virtue. This is good, and it is my hope that
the commission will remain awake, alert and vigilant, although their
history is significantly against that kind of prospect.
In any event, I look forward to the bill being enacted into law. I
commend my colleagues for the work they have done. I look forward to
the prospect that this is going to see to it that free, over-the-air
television will be something which we can see to it that our families
in this country can have their children watch television without having
to worry about the kind of situation that they will confront in terms
of decency, profanity and other things which are unseemly and unsuited
to the way in which most American parents wish to raise their kids.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I, again, commend my
colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), and the
others for the outstanding job which they have done in presenting this
bill to the House, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the
good State of California (Mr. Ose).
Mr. OSE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for the
time.
I rise today in support of the legislation that he has brought to the
floor. I do want to add my compliments to the gentleman from
Massachusetts' (Mr. Markey) efforts and the gentleman from Michigan's
(Mr. Dingell) and others. I think for the first time we have very
clearly approached the root cause of this.
As the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and others have spoken,
the broadcasters who have allowed the creeping profanity and indecency
to enter our airwaves have done so on the basis of a conscious decision
they have made, that is, they are trading that kind of language for the
added revenue that comes from increased ratings. The gentleman from
Michigan's (Mr. Upton) bill significantly increases the penalties for
violation of existing FCC rules and regulations; and in that regard, I
hope that it will go a long way towards abating this kind of activity.
I have always felt that addressing the bottom line of our licensees
would be an effective means of influencing their behavior, and I hope
this works accordingly. I do think there remains a certain uncertainty
as it relates to how the broadcasters shall address this issue having
to do with exactly what is profane or what is not profane. I suspect
that we will be dealing with that either with regulation at the FCC or
here on the floor by statute in the days to come.
It is really remarkable to see the connection between, if you will,
the outside world or the private side, how our constituents communicate
with those of us elected to the House or the Senate, in some cases,
react to certain instances, and what actually transpires. As with many
of the Members here, I have received not dozens, but hundreds, of
communications regarding the, as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Gingrey) said, the creeping profanity.
This is a great step in the right direction. I applaud the chairman
for bringing it forward, and I thank him for the time.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Price).
(Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of
this bill, but it is only a partial step in the battle to clean up our
airwaves.
By increasing fines for broadcasters, we are addressing only a
symptom of the problem, not the cause. We cannot ignore the correlation
between indecency on our airwaves and the increased concentration of
media ownership. It is not a perfect correlation, but it is a strong
one.
In recognition of that, our colleagues in the other body have
improved this bill in several ways. I wish our colleagues in this
Chamber had followed suit.
{time} 1145
First, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) and I pushed for an
[[Page H1026]]
amendment, not made in order, unfortunately, which would have addressed
the true effects of media consolidation before moving forward with the
FCC's newly relaxed rules. This amendment, introduced by Senator Dorgan
and adopted in committee, calls for a GAO study, and it stays the new
rules pending the completion of that study. I wish the leadership in
this Chamber had allowed us to offer the same.
Secondly, the Senate Commerce Committee also adopted an amendment,
sponsored by Senator Hollings, which would take steps to ensure that
parents can use V-chips to block violent programming. The bill would
require either that programs be rated for content, so that they may be
filtered with the V-chip, or that a ``safe harbor'' family hour be
created so that violent programming is simply not televised when
children are likely to be watching. My colleagues, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Baca) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) and
I have introduced a companion bill in this Chamber.
Mr. Chairman, at the root of all these efforts is the undeniable fact
that we are losing control of our airwaves. I hear from constituents
all the time saying, ``Where are the standards? How can I shield my
children from inappropriate programming? And why are the people who put
this on the air not held accountable?''
They are right. Our communities virtually have no say in the quality
of the programming they are subjected to on broadcast television. And
the network executives in L.A. or New York do not seem to feel they owe
them anything.
As big media conglomerates get bigger, they are sinking to new lows.
We are witnessing a race to the bottom as these networks seek to expand
their influence through shock value instead of quality programming.
The Super Bowl was only one example, Mr. Chairman. CBS may blame MTV
for its infamous half-time spectacle, but the common denominator for
both networks is their owner, Viacom. And the ``wardrobe
malfunctions,'' or whatever you want to call these episodes, will not
stop there.
If we are serious about cleaning up our airwaves, we need to do what
the American people are demanding: Give them back their local media.
And we need to do much more than impose fines on the broadcasters that,
even if they are increased, are hardly going to make these corporations
bat an eye.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith), an original cosponsor of the legislation.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I would like to thank
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) for yielding me this time, but
also for introducing this legislation.
Mr. Chairman, the broadcast of offensive language is a growing and
disturbing trend. Members of the Parents Television Council, a group
that monitors television broadcasts, filed 85,000 complaints about
broadcast obscenity and indecency with the Federal Communications last
year.
The networks have pushed the limits of decency to the point that
family-oriented programs and enjoyable American pastimes, such as the
Super Bowl, are no longer safe for our children to watch.
Unfortunately, the FCC has given television and radio stations too
much power to broadcast behavior or language they believe will bring in
the high ratings or advertising dollars. This undermines standards of
common decency and impedes the ability of parents to raise their
children free from exposure to profane language.
Low fines for indecency only encourage more indecency. It has become
apparent some performers will accept a small fine for offensive and
crude behavior in return for the media attention its creates. This is
one of the reasons I support this legislation that increases fines for
indecent language on radio and television.
Mr. Chairman, this is not a constitutional issue. The Supreme Court
has upheld the FCC's authority to regulate broadcasts. In fact, the
court said ``Of all forms of communication, broadcasting has the most
limited first amendment protection. Among the reasons is that
broadcasting is uniquely accessible to children.''
The entertainment industry has become increasingly isolated from the
American people. We are still a Nation that believes in standards of
common decency and respect for traditional values. This bill will help
us uphold those values.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, could the Chair tell me how much time is
remaining on either side?
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) has 12\1/
2\ minutes remaining, and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) has
22 minutes remaining.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), not only an original cosponsor of this
legislation, but also one that came, before the Super Bowl, who sat
through our first hearing, way back in January, to sit with the
audience.
Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Chairman, I particularly want to thank the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for introducing this bill. I think that
is standard fare. You always thank people who author these. But,
believe me, this is something that many citizens across this country
greatly appreciate because it actually introduces some meaningful
penalties for indecency, something that has been lacking for a long
time.
This bill, as I see it, is not really a reaction to the Super Bowl
half-time show, as maybe the chairman pointed out. It is a reaction to
the 240,000 complaints that were filed regarding indecency at the FCC
in the year 2003. As a result of those 240,000 complaints, only three
notices of violations, with minimal fines, were ever compacted. So,
essentially, complaints of indecency have been largely ignored.
Also, this is a reaction to the fact that Bono issued four epithets
and no violation was found because he used these as adjectives. So also
the FCC has suspended no broadcast licenses in the history of its
existence.
The Super Bowl half-time show, I think, did serve a purpose because
it offended mainstream America. It gave tracks to the bill, and the
outcry reached unparalleled proportions.
I feel that the strength of a Nation is measured by its adherence to
standards of decency and civil discourse. During the last few years, we
have been embarked, as many have said, on a race to the bottom. The
standard of decency in place for roughly 200 years of our Nation's
history has been shattered, and this has been an alarming trend.
DeTocqueville said, ``America is great because America is good.'' One
of the greatest threats to our culture is that America will no longer
be a decent, moral, good society. This bill will help reverse an
alarming trend. I urge passage, and I would like to thank the
committee, and particularly thank the authors.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), another original cosponsor of the
legislation.
Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman
and the ranking member for their leadership on this issue in bringing
this bill so rapidly to the floor.
The Federal Communications Commission plays a very important role in
protecting Americans, and particularly children, from indecent
programming. The FCC has the statutory authority to enforce the laws
that are on the books, but their enforcement has been inadequate and
the tools that they have had at their disposal have also been
insufficient. This bill today will help to change that situation.
This legislation increases the fines from what was really a trivial
amount, a cost-of-doing-business kind of fine, to a maximum of $500,000
per violation. It also says that a broadcast company's record of
indecency will be a factor when they apply to continue to get their
free over-the-air license continued. And I hope that that gets the
attention of the companies that are pushing the envelope with respect
to indecency.
It also increases the expectations for enforcement by the FCC. We
have heard the numbers and the statistics, which are appalling,
regarding the enforcement of these laws. Some of the complaints go
unanswered or unaddressed for years. This bill establishes a shot clock
of 270 days where the FCC has the obligation to take action when there
is a complaint for indecency.
[[Page H1027]]
I also think that this bill makes very clear, and this effort should
make clear, that local affiliates have the right to decline to air
programming which is inconsistent with community standards, even when
it is not indecent or profane. In the hearings in our committee, we
heard about local affiliates who felt as though they really did not
have the leverage within the networks. This legislation shows they do
have the leverage, they can exercise it, and we also will punish the
networks if they fail to follow the law.
Mr. Chairman, I believe we have already had an effect on this
industry. FCC enforcement was lax and, when imposed, was largely
symbolic. We are changing that. But the real change will come in the
board rooms and the general managers' offices and broadcast studios
across this country when people decide to be responsible and to
entertain rather than denigrate.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, this bill certainly is fine, as far as it
goes, but the fact is that higher fines are going to do nothing to
mitigate the real problem, which is the concentration of power in the
hands of a limited number of large corporations that believe they are
outside the reach of the communities they serve.
Communities determine standards of decency, and the most effective
enforcement of those standards is through local ownership of television
and radio stations. FCC fines, even in the millions, will not stop
national broadcasters from lowering standards.
Infinity stations, for instance, were fined $1.7 million to settle a
series of indecency cases, but that did not stop them. On the contrary,
just last year, they were fined for a radio contest for couples willing
to perform sexually in public places in New York, Washington, D.C., and
other cities with a different radio announcer following each couple and
providing the play-by-play accounting of the activities.
The House tried to do something about the core problem when it
adopted, in a bipartisan manner, the Commerce, State, Justice
appropriations bill, which had a provision to prevent the FCC from
relaxing the established limits on network-owned television stations,
and the Senate did the same thing. But at the last moment, in the dead
of night, the White House convinced Republican congressional leaders to
cave in to the special interest media conglomerates and they agreed to
weaken the provision.
So by all means, pass this bill, if you want. It will perhaps have a
minor effect. But if you really want to do something to give
communities the ability to stop this nonsense, you will take away from
the FCC the ability to concentrate broadcasting power in the hands of a
few corporations. That is what makes the system so fundamentally
arrogant. That is what puts the system so far out of the reach of
average citizens, who resent seeing this garbage.
Until the Congress acts on that, it will be simply dealing with
window dressing.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Pickering), an original cosponsor of the bill and,
more importantly, a fellow dad.
Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Chairman, I commend you for your work, the whole
House, the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell)
and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for their good work,
the bipartisan work in response to what we have seen across the
country, and that is a rising up of outrage of families and individuals
saying ``enough.''
Our Nation is better than this. We can do better than this. In our
public airwaves and in the public square we can be decent. We do not
have to glorify what is indecent. We do not have to be profane. We can
entertain and enlighten without going to the worst among us or to the
lowest common denominator.
Today, we are passing legislation that reaffirms long-established
constitutional standards of decency, and we are saying to the networks,
and we are saying to the radio stations, you need to do better. There
will be three strikes, three opportunities, and if you violate the
decency standards three times, then you are in danger of losing your
rights and privileges as a licensee. We are increasing the fines to say
that there will be a cost, a significant cost of ignoring the common
standards of decency.
We hope that through this effort, we will see more corporate
responsibility, as well as the common good and public responsibility to
bring our standards back up; to affirm it, to establish standards over
responsibility, and then have enforcement mechanisms of accountability.
{time} 1200
Mr. Chairman, this is good legislation and in the best spirit of the
Nation. We are decent people and a good Nation; and we want to
maintain, preserve and protect that, for the country and our culture,
for our communities and our families.
Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentleman from Michigan for the
bipartisan spirit in which this is done, and look forward to having
this legislation passed and signed into law.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Hinchey).
Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate the sentiments
behind this bill. There is no question that indecency in the media is a
disease that is infecting all of our society. The problem with this
legislation, however, is that it deals only with the symptoms of the
problem and not with the underlying cause.
The underlying cause of indecency in the media and other problems
that we are witnessing as Americans in our electronic media
particularly across the country is the incredible consolidation of the
ownership of the airwaves into fewer and fewer hands.
On June 2, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Mr.
Powell, led an effort that was endorsed by his two Republican
colleagues and opposed by the two Democrats which moved that
consolidation effort even further so that now we are facing a situation
whereby in any service area across the country, one corporation can own
almost all of the radio stations, almost all of the television
stations, the one daily newspaper and the cable television station,
giving that corporate entity the power to control not only the
entertainment but the critically important information that goes to the
people who are served in that area.
Mr. Powell's action is not a new phenomenon. This is something that
we have been witnessing in this country since the mid-1980s. In fact,
it was the Reagan FCC back in 1987 which began this consolidation
effort in earnest. They also did something else: they took from the
American people the right of ownership of the airwaves. Up to that
point, we had something called the equal access clause or the fairness
doctrine, which allowed American citizens if they disagreed with a
political viewpoint expressed by the owner of a radio or television
station to have that right expressed. But that right was taken away in
1987 by the Reagan FCC, and that deprivation has been endorsed by this
FCC. That is what needs to change. If we want indecency in the media,
we have to attack what is really indecent, and what is indecent is this
consolidation that is increasing and destroying the independence of the
airwaves.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).
(Mr. GOODLATTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3717,
the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004, and I commend the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) for his leadership on this issue.
Like many Americans, I was appalled to see the lack of enforcement of
our Nation's Federal obscenity laws after the incident at the Golden
Globe Awards program last January. Since that incident, the media has
been engaged in an escalating race to the bottom to shock viewers. Most
recently, this race took the form of the brazen display during the
Super Bowl halftime show, an event watched by millions of men, women,
and children. That shameless exhibition was disgraceful and had no
place on the public airwaves.
Thankfully, the FCC has started to take its enforcement
responsibilities
[[Page H1028]]
seriously. However, it has become frighteningly clear that the
penalties currently on the books are not sufficient to deter this
behavior. Those in the media who choose to air these obscene materials
will not feel the sting of enforcement until the punishment is
considered to be more than a simple cost of doing business.
H.R. 3717 strengthens the penalties at the FCC's disposal to punish
those that pollute the public airwaves with obscene and indecent
materials. By increasing the fines that the FCC can impose from $27,500
to $500,000, this legislation hits the violators where it hurts the
most, their pockets.
In addition, under current law, if an individual willfully violates
indecency standards, the FCC must first warn the violator. However,
this bill eliminates the warning requirement and increases the maximum
penalty for individuals from $11,000 to $500,000 for the first offense.
Furthermore, the bill requires the FCC to act in a timely manner. It
requires the FCC to make a determination of whether an alleged offense
constitutes obscene, indecent, or profane material within 180 days from
date of the complaint.
It is time to take a stand against the constant bombardment of
obscene and profane materials into our living rooms. I urge my
colleagues to support this important legislation.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Pence), a cosponsor of the legislation.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Broadcast
Decency Enforcement Act of 2004.
Mr. Chairman, I am a Congressman today, but for 7 years I was a radio
and television broadcaster in the State of Indiana. Let us be clear on
this point, a point that was clear to me as a public broadcaster: the
public airwaves are owned and governed by the American people. Everyone
who operates in front of a microphone or a camera on the public
airwaves knows that they have to do so under the obligations in the
family hours of public broadcasting that have been set and upheld by
the courts over the decades.
This is not a burden. Eighteen hours a week for over 6 years I hosted
a talk radio program, and I lived within the standards that have been
established and upheld by the courts. Thanks to the leadership of the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the ranking member, now we have
legislation that will put real teeth behind these standards, and I
strongly support it. The opponents say this is an issue of free speech.
This is not about free speech. This is about decent speech living
within the constitutional standards that every broadcaster should hold
on the public airwaves. I urge strong support for the Broadcast Decency
Enforcement Act of 2004.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Cox), an original cosponsor of the legislation.
Mr. COX. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his
leadership and his crafting this bill which underscores the principle
that those who have been given multi-billion dollar assets in the form
of public airwaves for free, courtesy of the taxpayers, owe in return
at least some consideration of the taxpaying audience and the public
interest they purport to serve.
I like free enterprise and the opportunity for every business to turn
a profit. I support unlimited artistic creativity. None of these
provide a reason for multi-billion dollar spectrum subsidies for
profit-making entertainment, particularly when it is indecent, obscene
and profane. While others in telecommunications pay for their slice of
the airwaves, the broadcasting industry has been given multi-billion
dollar slices of the public airwaves for free.
In the 1990s, every other industry that uses the airwaves, such as
wireless phone companies, paid for their pieces of the airwaves through
public auctions that generated billions in revenue for taxpayers. The
broadcasting industry has paid nothing to the taxpayers for their
continued free use of this valuable public asset.
On top of that, every TV station owner was recently given more free
bandwidth to convert to digital TV, and that additional loan spectrum
has an estimated value of $100 billion. That is a payment from every
man, woman, and child in America of $350.
As we complete action on this bill, our attention turns naturally to
the underlying question of whether taxpayers should continue the multi-
billion dollar subsidies of this obviously for-profit industry. It is
my hunch that if we were to auction the broadcast spectrum without the
free ride that such programming now gets, the market and consumers
would not demand 184 channels of Howard Stern.
Making for-profit TV pay for its spectrum and compete with other
high-tech demands would be a far better way of dealing with the problem
of indecent programming than government regulation of speech. I think
this bill is welcome news.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Ackerman).
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, never would I have thought that defending
the Constitution would be so lonely a job on the floor of the United
States House of Representatives. Do not get me wrong, I believe in
decency and Mary Poppins and all things nice; but what is at stake here
is freedom of speech and the assault thereon.
I become more and more concerned about the concentration of the media
in the hands of so few players, that kind of media power concentrated
in the hands of so few and influenced specifically by the far right
wing and religious right in this country.
We talk about the President and the Presidency, and we say that the
President has a bully pulpit, and he does. That does not concern me.
What concerns me is the bullyism and the bullying that is going on.
When networks and stations and people-owned medias are afraid to be
critical of the administration, to impose a fine on speech that you do
not like of a half a million dollars a shot, multiplied by 30 or 300
stations, does not have a chilling effect. It has a freezing-out effect
where people will be afraid to speak out.
It is not for us to put limits on free speech. The public decides
what they want to listen to and wants to hear. They can change the
channel, they can change the station, they can turn it off. To talk
about motherhood and breast feeding as something that is good is fine,
but people are offended by a breast? Is that obscene? Maybe it was in
poor taste at the time, but is it obscene?
That Howard Stern on the radio would be threatened with extinction
from broadcast because he did not hang up in time on somebody that
called in, that was not the issue. The issue is that he is beginning to
speak out against the President and the administration, and he is
paying the price because of the pressure on the media by the President
and his media cronies.
This concentration of the media denies the public access to the right
to speak out. It is not just speech that we agree with and we think is
pretty that we have to tolerate. The test of freedom of speech is if we
tolerate ugly speech, obnoxious speech, and speech that we disagree
with. And saying that we are protecting the country and the children,
what about personal responsibility? Everybody should protect their own
children from what they do not want to listen to or see.
These become weapons of mass communication, and no one will own them
except those who have the hands on the levers of power in the White
House and their friends.
That is what we find obscene? What is obscene is public officials
lying to the public, lying about public policy, lying about education.
It is about not providing enough money for AIDS or cancer; that is what
is obscene in this country. We need people to defend our Constitution.
We need people to defend freedom of speech, and that is really what is
at stake here. This is going to become a very dark day in American
history. We are going down the slippery slope of limiting our
Constitution and the protections that it gives to the American people.
Mr. Chairman, I for one will be voting against this bill.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Gillmor), again, an original cosponsor of the legislation.
{time} 1215
Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Chairman, I am happy to see that today, after a
[[Page H1029]]
firestorm of public criticism, we have an increasing appetite, both in
Congress and the FCC, for punishing those who repeatedly flout the
rules, and we have before us a strong measure, one that will boost
maximum fine to $500,000, make it easier for the FCC to fine performers
rather than just their employers and threaten to strip licenses of
repeat offenders.
I should also point out that before and after the Super Bowl
incidents, my office received over 500 e-mails from my district
concerning indecent broadcasts. I would like to share the message of
just one of those constituents.
``I am very glad to see you are taking action to protect our kids
from indecent, profane, vulgar and tasteless programming. Just when I
thought that TV couldn't get any worse, I witnessed the appalling
display at the half-time show of the Super Bowl. My 11-year old son and
15-year-old daughter were speechless. Please know that I am behind you
100 percent. I hope that this bill will strengthen the power of the FCC
and allow them to penalize those sponsors.''
I think the American people have had enough of ``costume reveals''
and ``wardrobe malfunctions,'' and I urge passage of the bill.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Serrano).
(Mr. SERRANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
time.
The big question on this bill is why now? There are enough laws in
place and regulations to deal with this issue. I feel that some of the
good, well-intentioned Members have been caught up in this desire to
all of a sudden clear up the airwaves. I believe it is a distraction.
It is a weapon of mass distraction, to keep us away from the real
issues at hand.
The fact is that this is part, in my opinion, of the continuing
thinking of the PATRIOT Act, the philosophy of the PATRIOT Act, that
says we will read your e-mails, we will find out what you take out from
the library, we will hold you in detention without charges or a lawyer,
and we will then tell you what you can listen to on the radio.
Now, let us understand something: The target here is coming from the
political and religious right, and it is directed only at that which
they think is bad anti-American or indecent. Right-wing radio, which
demonizes liberals, minorities, environmentalists, pro-choice and
animal rights activists, they are fine. They will not be touched. And
let me, for the record, say that I support their right to say whatever
they want about me and other liberals and Democrats and minorities.
They can say whatever they want. But what we are doing in this country
is curtailing only people who are saying something else.
The main target these days is Howard Stern. Now, what does Howard
Stern have to do with this issue and the political agenda? Well, for
years he supported the administration on the war, he supported the
administration on capital punishment, he supported the administration
on just about everything.
In the last couple of months, he has had a change of heart and
started opposing the war, started opposing the opposition to research,
opposing the opposition to pro-choice, and, all of a sudden, he is in
deeper trouble than he has ever been before.
How else can we explain that the day before his bosses, Clear
Channel, were to face a Congressional committee, they fired him from
six markets throughout this country? The FCC has been complaining about
his locker humor jokes for years. Some people have suggested that he
was not in good taste for years. But now, the big bang to get him off
the air. He is left now on Infinity Radio, and he says he will be gone
in about another 2 weeks.
Why? Was he okay when he was supporting the administration and in
trouble, and how did Clear Channel decide to knock out its number one
money maker one day before facing Congress? I wish I was the telephone
company and could have heard those phone calls coming in with the
political pressure.
My friends, this is a dangerous time. This bill should be defeated,
if, for no other reason, than to send a message that there is something
larger here at work than simply something you do not like. What I do
not like may be something you like and vice versa. The best protection
we have is not this bill. Just turn the channel, switch the station.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I spoke last night with our former chairman, the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin). He wishes that he was going to
be here today, but he is preparing himself for cancer surgery next
week. But I know that he would very much like to cast votes on every
one of the recorded votes that we have the balance of the afternoon.
I want to remind my colleagues that we do not change the standards.
That is not what this bill does. It strictly enforces the standards
that are already on the books.
I told this story in my first hearing back in January before the
Super Bowl. My staff prepared this broadcast indecency briefing
materials book for me. Inside this book are the transcripts of
broadcasters that have been fined for broadcasting indecent material.
The material that is in this book was all on radio, it was not on TV.
But what alarmed me more than anything else was the series of repeat
offenders, whether they be in Detroit, Chicago, Washington or Los
Angeles, and all broadcast on the public airwaves.
When I read through this book, I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed
for the fellow that was sitting next to me on the airplane, because I
had to read it like this. I had to shield the material in this book,
the transcripts, that were fined thousands of dollars.
I made a mistake that day, Mr. Chairman. I read through the book, it
was a long flight, we had terrible weather. In fact, frankly that day
when we landed back at DCA, I thought we had gone back to Detroit,
there was such bad weather here.
I looked through a lot of material, and I left it by mistake in the
pocket in the seat that was in front of me. I walked off the plane,
went back through the security, and got all the way to my car when I
realized this book was still on the plane. Now, with the new security
arrangements, I could not go back to the plane to get this book.
It has got my name on it, ``Chairman Upton, broadcast indecency
briefing materials.'' Man, was I embarrassed, to go back into the
Northwest Airline ticket line and ask someone to go retrieve that book.
And, yes, they had found it. They saw my name, and they were very
chagrined to get it back to me. But, thank goodness, I did get it back,
and I do not think anybody read some of the material. But it is public
record, and this stuff, this XXX smut stuff, should never be broadcast
on the public airwaves.
I was asked the question by the press when we introduced our bill
several weeks ago, ``Do you think, Mr. Upton, that your legislation is
going to take this stuff down, that it will increase somehow the FCC's
enforcement division?''
I thought about it, and I said, ``You know, I hope not. I hope that
this legislation will send a message to the broadcasters and to the
talent that is making these indecent remarks,'' and more than just a
word, if you come over here and read these transcripts, it is more than
a word, it is page, after page, after page, ``that we can get this
stuff stopped with this legislation.''
I welcome the opportunity to work with my friend, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Markey). Together, we fashioned a very bipartisan
bill every step of the way, from the calling of the witnesses to the
questioning to the amendments, every step of the way, and I am pleased
that the other body is working on that same procedure, where, again,
they voted 34 to 0 earlier this week to pass similar legislation.
Our bill that passed 49 to 1 is a credit to this institution and to
the Members on both sides who care about the public airwaves, to make
sure that this stuff is not broadcast, and we send a message, whether
it be to the shock jock or the DJ or the person with the finger on the
pause button at one of those awards, whether it be the Academy Awards,
Golden Globes or whatever else, we are going to make an impact,
[[Page H1030]]
and we are going to let our families know that this stuff has got to
stop.
This bill does it. It is not an infringement of first amendment
rights. It has all been certified, made legitimate from the courts of
the land, from the highest court of the land down to the lowest court,
and needs a positive vote here this afternoon.
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Chairman, it's about time.
That's what my constituents are telling me. They correctly note the
gradual degradation of the quality and decency of programming on TV and
radio--and I agree, it's about time Congress acted.
As an original cosponsor of H.R. 3717, I think it's important to note
that we introduced this bill prior to the Super Bowl. Some people are
blaming Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake for Congressional action on
indecency, but really the Super Bowl halftime show was simply the
proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.
It's sort of like cooking a frog in a pot of boiling water. Put him
in when it's lukewarm, and slowly turn up the temperature, he'll be
cooked by dinner. Throw him into a boiling pot, however, and he'll jump
right out. I'm afraid we've let this sneak up on us to the point where
we're almost cooked.
I'm not here sharing recipes from Congressman Tauzin's Cajun
cookbook, I'm talking about how we have sat idly by as programming over
the public's airwaves has gone to the dogs. The nudity of the Super
Bowl halftime show has justly raised the ire of American families, and
we are right to demand that people act in a civil manner when they are
afforded access to the public's airwaves. Mr. Chairman, it is about
time Congress acted and I'm proud to be part of that effort. I urge
passage of H.R. 3717.
Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I rise in qualified support
of H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Indecency Act of 2004. As an original co-
sponsor of this legislation, I agree that we must provide the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) with the resources it needs to
effectively enforce existing laws regarding indecent broadcasts.
However, I am concerned that giving the FCC the authority to levy
exorbitant fines against individuals will have a chilling effect on the
exercise of free speech protected under the First Amendment.
Clearly, the FCC should be able to hold individuals responsible for
breaching the public trust by violating decency standards in the same
way it holds broadcasting entities accountable for what they put on the
airwaves. Nonetheless, opening the door to potentially ruinous fines of
up to a half a million dollars for individuals, including artists,
raises the specter of state sponsored censorship. Will the federal
government decide to silence certain individuals in the future for
political reasons? Under this bill, it has the authority to do just
that.
As this legislation is considered by the Senate, I would hope that
this concern is duly addressed and resolved in Conference with the
House. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, the opportunity to address my
colleagues on this overlooked but critical aspect of what is overall a
good and necessary piece of legislation.
Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3717,
the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act.
Over the past few months, I have received nearly 2,000 e-mails, phone
calls and letters from my constituents expressing their displeasure
with content of TV programs. My constituents are telling me enough is
enough. When broadcasters violate indecency rules and a complaint is
filed, my constituents want it to be taken seriously by the FCC. They
want meaningful penalties that will make broadcasters think twice
before airing objectionable programs. They want broadcasters to be held
accountable.
Above all, they want to be able to watch an entertainment program
with their family without having them exposed to content unsuitable for
children. When supposedly family-friendly programming such as the Super
Bowl becomes a program many families don't want their children to see,
we have a problem. As a grandfather, I worry about being able to turn
on the TV and watch a program or sports event with my 3 and 5 year old
grandsons.
I think this legislation addresses many of my constituents' concerns.
Raising the cap on fines to $500,000 for broadcasts that violate the
rules helps show that Congress and the FCC are serious about punishing
offenses. The current cap is only $27,000 per violation, a drop in the
bucket for most broadcasters. When broadcasters know that indecency
violations will be taken into consideration when they ask the FCC to
renew their broadcast licenses, they are going to take additional
precautions to prevent instances of indecency. If a broadcaster
accumulates three violations, this will now trigger a hearing to review
revoking that station's license.
This legislation sends a strong signal that Congress is serious about
enforcement of broadcast indecency regulations. If all Members'
constituents care about this issue as much as mine do, then this should
be an easy bill for us to support.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support to the Schakowsky
amendment to H.R. 3717, which would exempt individuals from increase in
indecency fines. While I support the goals of H.R. 3717 in giving the
Federal Communication Commission more authority to enforce indecency
rules, I don't believe individual performers and artists should be
threatened by the same penalties imposed on multi-billion dollar
corporations, who have the ultimate control on programming decisions.
I believe the provisions within H.R. 3717 to fine individuals would
constitute a dangerous chilling effect on artistic expression and a
threat to our first amendment rights. It is also completely
unnecessary, since broadcast licensees and networks are responsible for
programming contents and the decision to air, not the individual
artists. Why else would networks start implementing the so-called
``five second delay'' that would remove any objectionable content
before it is broadcasted? The broadcasters understand that they are the
ones responsible for the contents they air, because they are the ones
who eventually profit from the controversies generated by offensive,
indecent, and dumb-down programming.
I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting Congresswoman
Shakowsky's amendment that would prevent he broadcasters from
scapegoating individual artists and hold them truly responsible in the
enforcement of indecency rules.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3717, a bill that
would increase the fines the Federal Communications Commission can
impose for the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane material.
The level of violent and sexual content in all of forms of media has
reached a point where Congress has no choice but to act.
Many people first became aware of this problem while they were
watching the Super Bowl, but this is not a new problem.
Whether it is television, movies, video games, or the Internet, you
cannot get away from it, and it is getting worse.
As Democrats and Republicans we must continue to work together to
address these issues. That is the only way we will be able prevent our
children from being needlessly exposed to violent and sexual content in
the media.
A growing body of evidence suggests that these messages can be
harmful to children's development.
That is why I submitted an amendment that would call on the Surgeon
General to produce an annual report assessing the impact of violent
media content on children.
Although my amendment was not accepted I hope the Surgeon General
will hear us today and understand that Congress takes these issues very
seriously and that we demand to know more.
That is also why I created the bipartisan Congressional Sex and
Violence in the Media Caucus last October with my friend and colleague,
Congressman Tom Osborne.
We will be a strong voice within Congress to reduce violent and
sexual content in the media.
We will identify ways to work effectively in Congress and in our
districts to prevent violence by and against children through
legislation, education, outreach, and advocacy.
Just this Tuesday, we introduced H.R. 3914, the Children's Protection
from Violent Programming Act, along with Congressman David Price.
Our bill would require the FCC to assess the effectiveness of the V-
chip to determine if it effectively protects children from television
violence.
If the study shows that the V-chip is not effective, then it requires
the FCC to create a ``safe harbor'' so that violent programming is not
televised when children are likely to be watching.
I am proud to have received the endorsement of the Parents Television
Council and the Consumers Union.
Last year I re-introduced the Protect Children from Video Game Sex
and Violence Act, H.R. 669, which would impose penalties on those who
rent or sell video games with violent or sexual content to minors.
It is wrong that our children are being exposed to this kind of
violence at an age when their minds and values are still being formed.
They play these games when many of them cannot distinguish fantasy from
reality. Yet today's most popular games are full of senseless acts of
sex and violence that brainwash our kids.
These games show people having sex with prostitutes, car-jacking
soccer moms, using illegal drugs, decapitating police officers, and
killing innocent people as they beg for mercy. If that isn't enough,
games like BMX Triple X even show live video footage of naked
strippers. Is that what we really want our kids to be watching?
[[Page H1031]]
Let me be clear. It is the responsibility of parents to raise their
children and determine what they watch on television or what kinds of
games they buy. But when children see these things when they are
watching the Super Bowl or when they can walk into their neighborhood
store and buy video games with mature content, a parent is cut out of
the process.
Some will tell you that early exposure to violence has no harmful
effects, but a growing body of academic research tells a different
story.
Several of the Nation's most respected public health groups have
found that viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in
aggressive attitudes, values, and behaviors, particularly in children.
But we have to go beyond facts and figures. What does this mean for
our kids?
We are at the beginning of a long and difficult battle for the
hearts, the minds, and the souls of our children.
I hope that other Members of Congress and the public will continue to
work to protect our children from these harmful materials.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong support of
H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act and commend
Representative Upton for this initiative to ``clean up'' our Nation's
airwaves.
In response to a number of recently televised events, I have received
a deluge of complaints and comments from my constituents in New Jersey
who are fed up with the offensive and indecent programming invading
their homes through television and radio. With their thoughts in mind I
cosponsored this legislation to let it be known: broadcasters offering
irresponsible and indecent material--especially at times when our
children are likely watching or listening--should be held accountable
for their actions.
H.R. 3717 would increase the penalty the FCC can assess for
violations of broadcast indecency, obscenity and profanity laws from
$27,500 to $500,000 per violation. The current fine has become a mere
cost of business for many of the large broadcast companies. Today,
Congress, on behalf of America's families, is sending a message to the
industry that this kind of disregard is not going to be tolerated and
hit them where it hurts--in their pockets.
It is time we act to ensure that every family may watch broadcast
television programming free of indecency, obscenity and profanity. I
believe this legislation takes the right approach. That is why I urge
my colleagues to join me in supporting this important initiative and
vote yes for H.R. 3717.
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Broadcast
Decency Enforcement Act, H.R. 3717. The use of obscenity, which has
recently been so casually used on our public airwaves for the entire
country to witness, should not and cannot be tolerated.
As a parent, I share the concerns of many regarding the level of
offensive television and radio programs that are transmitted into our
homes. The recent violations that have occurred disgusted not only me,
but damage our society. Families should be able to turn on the
television or radio without worrying that obscene programming will
negatively impact our children.
This important legislation calls for tougher fines and enforcement
penalties for obscene broadcasts. Shameless acts are inexcusable and
should be disciplined to ensure that they will not continue and will
not be tolerated.
I have received over one thousand letters, emails and phone calls
from outraged constituents regarding obscene TV and radio broadcasts in
recent months. We cannot accept anything less than an effective
solution to this problem; we will not be satisfied until those who are
responsible have been reprimanded, and we can be assured this kind of
behavior will not continue.
We must give parents the peace of mind that the programming available
to their children on television and radio today is appropriate.
I urge all members to support this legislation.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, public decency on the airwaves
should be a subject on which we all agree. Alabama citizens, like the
vast majority of Americans, respect and value the meaning of decency,
and appreciate public institutions that reflect the common values of
our society.
But what happens when one or more of those institutions repeatedly
violate those standards of decency? In the past year, we have seen one
or more of the major broadcast networks repeatedly and blatantly
violate the Federal Communications Commission standards for decency,
and openly flaunt the laws so clearly upheld in the courts.
CBS's halftime show during the 2004 Super Bowl was a new low for
television, Mr. Speaker. Watched by nearly 100 million Americans, as
well as my family and children, this 30-minute fantasy of filth managed
to break all standards of decency, and brazenly shattered all concepts
of responsibility and accountability for our Nation's public
broadcasters.
Mr. Chairman, this must stop. It's time we hold the broadcasters
accountable for their decisions and help take out the televised trash
that continues to invade our homes. H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency
Enforcement Act of 2004, will help turn the tide. The legislation
brings accountability for those broadcasters who follow the rules, as
well as penalties for those, like CBS during the Super Bowl, knowingly
choose to violate them.
H.R. 3717 increases the FCC's penalties for broadcasting obscene,
indecent, and profane language to $275,000 for each violation or each
day of a continuing violation. The bill also limits the total amount
assessed for any continuing violation to $3 million for any single act
or failure to act.
As a co-sponsor of this bi-partisan legislation, I am pleased
Congress has chosen to bring this to the House floor today. Let me be
clear Mr. Chairman: I am not an advocate of censorship. Although I may
find the type of programming seen during the 2004 Super Bowl and the
2003 Golden Globe Awards disgusting and disturbing, we must always work
hard to defend the cherished freedoms so clearly outlined in our
Constitution, including a healthy and free press.
But when those institutions that are charged with upholding the
public trust refuse to live up to their responsibilities, someone must
draw the line. The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004 helps
address the continuing degradation on the broadcast airwaves and helps
send a clear message to the broadcast industry that Alabama families,
like the rest of American families, have had enough.
Programs like the Super Bowl should be celebrations, not cesspools,
Mr. Speaker. It is time we as a Congress rise to this occasion and pass
this bill, and help stop the recklessness that has so unnecessarily
invaded our homes.
Thank you and congratulations to you, Mr. Upton, for your work in
bringing this importance piece of legislation to the House today.
Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Chairman, like most Americans, I am deeply disturbed
by the decline of basic decency on our public airwaves. A new low was
probably reached during the half-time show of the recent Super Bowl.
It's incredible that parents should have to monitor the content of a
football game to protect their children. The groundswell for change has
been gathering for some time now. In the last few months alone, I have
received more than one thousand constituent letters expressing concern
about profanity and indecency on the airwaves. The message has been
received, loud and clear.
I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Broadcast Decency
Enforcement Act. The bill holds violating stations accountable for
trashing our precious public airwaves and hits purveyors where it
matters the most, in the wallet. Currently, an FCC indecency violation
carries a maximum $27,500 fine, which hardly threatens a multi-million
dollar station. This bill increases the fine to a more fitting
$500,000. Repeat violators will find themselves on a very long and
expensive trip. The FCC will also be given authority to hold hearings
on stripping the licenses of repeat offenders.
It's important that we act because even a small blow struck for
decency makes a difference. The Supreme Court recently heard arguments
on the Child Online Protection Act, which I helped to write. This is a
law we approved to prevent kids from being exposed to Internet
pornography. I have also been working with my Democrat colleague
Charles Gonzalez on the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act. It's long past
time that attitudes about decency started changing in this country.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). All time for general debate
has expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the committee amendment in the nature of a
substitute printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill
for the purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule and shall be
considered read.
The text of the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute is
as follows:
H.R. 3717
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Broadcast Decency
Enforcement Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN PENALTIES FOR OBSCENE, INDECENT, AND
PROFANE BROADCASTS.
Section 503(b)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 503(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if the violator is
(i) a broadcast station licensee or permittee, or (ii) an
applicant for any broadcast license, permit, certificate, or
other instrument or authorization issued by the Commission,
and
[[Page H1032]]
the violator is determined by the Commission under paragraph
(1) to have broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane material,
the amount of any forfeiture penalty determined under this
section shall not exceed $500,000 for each violation.''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by paragraph (1)
of this subsection--
(A) by striking ``subparagraph (A) or (B)'' and inserting
``subparagraph (A), (B), or (C)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following: ``Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, if the violator is determined by the
Commission under paragraph (1) to have uttered obscene,
indecent, or profane material (and the case is not covered by
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C)), the amount of any forfeiture
penalty determined under this section shall not exceed
$500,000 for each violation.''.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL FACTORS IN INDECENCY PENALTIES; EXCEPTION.
Section 503(b)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 503(b)(2)) is further amended by adding at the end
(after subparagraph (E) as redesignated by section 2(1) of
this Act) the following new subparagraphs:
``(F) In the case of a violation in which the violator is
determined by the Commission under paragraph (1) to have
uttered obscene, indecent, or profane material, the
Commission shall take into account, in addition to the
matters described in subparagraph (E), the following factors:
``(i) With respect to the degree of culpability of the
violator, the following:
``(I) whether the material uttered by the violator was live
or recorded, scripted or unscripted;
``(II) whether the violator had a reasonable opportunity to
review recorded or scripted programming or had a reasonable
basis to believe live or unscripted programming may contain
obscene, indecent, or profane material;
``(III) if the violator originated live or unscripted
programming, whether a time delay blocking mechanism was
implemented for the programming;
``(IV) the size of the viewing or listening audience of the
programming; and
``(V) whether the programming was part of a children's
television program as described in the Commission's
children's television programming policy (47 CFR 73.4050(c)).
``(ii) With respect to the violator's ability to pay, the
following:
``(I) whether the violator is a company or individual; and
``(II) if the violator is a company, the size of the
company and the size of the market served.
``(G) A broadcast station licensee or permittee that
receives programming from a network organization, but that is
not owned or controlled, or under common ownership or control
with, such network organization, shall not be subject to a
forfeiture penalty under this subsection for broadcasting
obscene, indecent, or profane material, if--
``(i) such material was within live or recorded programming
provided by the network organization to the licensee or
permittee; and
``(ii)(I) the programming was recorded or scripted, and the
licensee or permittee was not given a reasonable opportunity
to review the programming in advance; or
``(II) the programming was live or unscripted, and the
licensee or permittee had no reasonable basis to believe the
programming would contain obscene, indecent, or profane
material.
The Commission shall by rule define the term `network
organization' for purposes of this subparagraph.''.
SEC. 4. INDECENCY PENALTIES FOR NONLICENSEES.
Section 503(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 503(b)(5) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as
clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively;
(2) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(5)'';
(3) by redesignating the second sentence as subparagraph
(B);
(4) in such subparagraph (B) as redesignated--
(A) by striking ``The provisions of this paragraph shall
not apply, however,'' and inserting ``The provisions of
subparagraph (A) shall not apply (i)'';
(B) by striking ``operator, if the person'' and inserting
``operator, (ii) if the person'';
(C) by striking ``or in the case of'' and inserting ``(iii)
in the case of''; and
(D) by inserting after ``that tower'' the following: ``, or
(iv) in the case of a determination that a person uttered
obscene, indecent, or profane material that was broadcast by
a broadcast station licensee or permittee, if the person is
determined to have willfully or intentionally made the
utterance''; and
(5) by redesignating the last sentence as subparagraph (C).
SEC. 5. DEADLINES FOR ACTION ON COMPLAINTS.
Section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
503(b)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following
new paragraph:
``(7) In the case of an allegation concerning the utterance
of obscene, indecent, or profane material that is broadcast
by a station licensee or permittee--
``(A) within 180 days after the date of the receipt of such
allegation, the Commission shall--
``(i) issue the required notice under paragraph (3) to such
licensee or permittee or the person making such utterance;
``(ii) issue a notice of apparent liability to such
licensee or permittee or person in accordance with paragraph
(4); or
``(iii) notify such licensee, permittee, or person in
writing, and any person submitting such allegation in writing
or by general publication, that the Commission has determined
not to issue either such notice; and
``(B) if the Commission issues such notice and such
licensee, permittee, or person has not paid a penalty or
entered into a settlement with the Commission, within 270
days after the date of the receipt of such allegation, the
Commission shall--
``(i) issue an order imposing a forfeiture penalty; or
``(ii) notify such licensee, permittee, or person in
writing, and any person submitting such allegation in writing
or by general publication, that the Commission has determined
not to issue either such order.''.
SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL REMEDIES FOR INDECENT BROADCAST.
Section 503 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
503) is further amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
``(c) Additional Remedies for Indecent Broadcasting.--In
any proceeding under this section in which the Commission
determines that any broadcast station licensee or permittee
has broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane material, the
Commission may, in addition to imposing a penalty under this
section, require the licensee or permittee to broadcast
public service announcements that serve the educational and
informational needs of children. Such announcements may be
required to reach an audience that is up to 5 times the size
of the audience that is estimated to have been reached by the
obscene, indecent, or profane material, as determined in
accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commission.''.
SEC. 7. LICENSE DISQUALIFICATION FOR VIOLATIONS OF INDECENCY
PROHIBITIONS.
Section 503 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
503) is further amended by adding at the end (after
subsection (c) as added by section 6) the following new
subsection:
``(d) Consideration of License Disqualification for
Violations of Indecency Prohibitions.--If the Commission
issues a notice under paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection
(b) to a broadcast station licensee or permittee looking
toward the imposition of a forfeiture penalty under this
Act based on an allegation that the licensee or permittee
broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane material, and
either--
``(1) such forfeiture penalty has been paid, or
``(2) a forfeiture penalty has been determined by the
Commission or an administrative law judge pursuant to
paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (b), and such penalty is
not under review, and has not been reversed, by a court of
competent jurisdiction,
then, notwithstanding section 504(c), the Commission shall,
in any subsequent proceeding under section 308(b) or 310(d),
take into consideration whether the broadcast of such
material demonstrates a lack of character or other
qualifications required to operate a station.''.
SEC. 8. LICENSE RENEWAL CONSIDERATION OF VIOLATIONS OF
INDECENCY PROHIBITIONS.
Section 309(k) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
309(k)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(5) License renewal consideration of violations of
indecency prohibitions.--If the Commission has issued a
notice under paragraph (3) or (4) of section 503(b) to a
broadcast station licensee or permittee with respect to a
broadcast station looking toward the imposition of a
forfeiture penalty under this Act based on an allegation that
such broadcast station broadcast obscene, indecent, or
profane material, and--
``(A) such forfeiture penalty has been paid, or
``(B) a forfeiture penalty has been determined by the
Commission or an administrative law judge pursuant to
paragraph (3) or (4) of section 503(b), and such penalty is
not under review, and has not been reversed, by a court of
competent jurisdiction,
then, notwithstanding section 504(c), such violation shall be
treated as a serious violation for purposes of paragraph
(1)(B) of this subsection with respect to the renewal of the
license or permit for such station.''.
SEC. 9. LICENSE REVOCATION FOR VIOLATIONS OF INDECENCY
PROHIBITIONS.
Section 312 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
312) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(h) License Revocation for Violations of Indecency
Prohibitions.--
``(1) Consequences of multiple violations.--If, in each of
3 or more proceedings during the term of any broadcast
license, the Commission issues a notice under paragraph (3)
or (4) of section 503(b) to a broadcast station licensee or
permittee with respect to a broadcast station looking toward
the imposition of a forfeiture penalty under this Act based
on an allegation that such broadcast station broadcast
obscene, indecent, or profane material, and in each such
proceeding either--
``(A) such forfeiture penalty has been paid, or
``(B) a forfeiture penalty has been determined by the
Commission or an administrative law judge pursuant to
paragraph (3) or (4) of section 503(b), and such penalty is
not under review, and has not been reversed, by a court of
competent jurisdiction,
then, notwithstanding section 504(c), the Commission shall
commence a proceeding under subsection (a) of this section to
consider whether the Commission should revoke the station
license or construction permit of that licensee or permittee
for such station.
``(2) Preservation of authority.--Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the
Commission to commence a proceeding under subsection (a).''.
SEC. 10. REQUIRED CONTENTS OF ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE
COMMISSION.
Each annual report submitted by the Federal Communications
Commission after the date of enactment of this Act shall, in
accordance with
[[Page H1033]]
section 4(k)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
154(k)(2)), include the following:
(1) The number of complaints received by the Commission
during the year covered by the report alleging that a
broadcast contained obscene, indecent, or profane material,
and the number of programs to which such complaints relate.
(2) The number of those complaints that have been dismissed
or denied by the Commission.
(3) The number of complaints that have remained pending at
the end of the year covered by the annual report.
(4) The number of notices issued by the Commission under
paragraph (3) or (4) of section 503(b) of the Communications
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 503(b)) during the year covered by the
report to enforce the statutes, rules, and policies
prohibiting the broadcasting of obscene, indecent, or profane
material.
(5) For each such notice, a statement of--
(A) the amount of the proposed forfeiture;
(B) the program, station, and corporate parent to which the
notice was issued;
(C) the length of time between the date on which the
complaint was filed and the date on which the notice was
issued; and
(D) the status of the proceeding.
(6) The number of forfeiture orders issued pursuant to
section 503(b) of such Act during the year covered by the
report to enforce the statutes, rules, and policies
prohibiting the broadcasting of obscene, indecent, or profane
material.
(7) For each such forfeiture order, a statement of--
(A) the amount assessed by the final forfeiture order;
(B) the program, station, and corporate parent to which it
was issued;
(C) whether the licensee has paid the forfeiture order;
(D) the amount paid by the licensee; and
(E) in instances where the licensee refused to pay, whether
the Department of Justice brought an action in Federal court
to collect the penalty.
SEC. 11. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
(a) Reinstatement of Policy.--It is the sense of the
Congress that the broadcast television station licensees
should reinstitute a family viewing policy for broadcasters.
(b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, a family
viewing policy is a policy similar to the policy that existed
in the United States from 1975 to 1983, as part of the
National Association of Broadcaster's code of conduct for
television, and that included the concept of a family viewing
hour.
SEC. 12. IMPLEMENTATION.
(a) Regulations.--The Commission shall prescribe
regulations to implement the amendments made by this Act
within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Prospective Application.--This Act and the amendments
made by this Act shall not apply with respect to material
broadcast before the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Separability.--Section 708 of the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 608) shall apply to this Act and the
amendments made by this Act.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. No amendment to the committee amendment in
the nature of a substitute is in order except those printed in House
Report 108-436. Each amendment may be offered only in the order printed
in the report, by a Member designated in the report, shall be
considered read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the
report, equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an
opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject
to a demand for division of the question.
It is now in order to consider Amendment No. 1 printed in House
Report 108-436.
Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Upton
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 1 offered by Mr. Upton:
In subsection (d) of section 503 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as added by section 7 of the bill, strike paragraph
(2) and insert the following:
``(2) a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered payment
of such forfeiture penalty, and such order has become final,
In the matter that follows paragraph (2) of section 503(d)
of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by section 7 of
the bill, strike ``, notwithstanding section 504(c),''.
In paragraph (5) of section 309(k) of the Communications
Act of 1934, as added by section 8 of the bill, strike
subparagraph (B) and insert the following:
``(B) a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered payment
of such forfeiture penalty, and such order has become final,
In the matter that follows subparagraph (B) of section
309(k)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by
section 8 of the bill, strike ``, notwithstanding section
504(c),''.
In paragraph (1) of section 312(h) of the Communications
Act of 1934, as added by section 9 of the bill, strike
subparagraph (B) and insert the following:
``(B) a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered payment
of such forfeiture penalty, and such order has become final,
In the matter that follows subparagraph (B) of section
312(h)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by
section 9 of the bill, strike ``, notwithstanding section
504(c),''.
In section 10, insert ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(C) of paragraph (7), strike ``; and'' at the end of
subparagraph (D) of such paragraph and insert a period,
strike subparagraph (E) of such paragraph, and after such
paragraph insert the following new paragraphs:
(8) In instances where the licensee has refused to pay,
whether the Commission referred such order to the Department
of Justice to collect the penalty.
(9) In cases where the Commission referred such order to
the Department of Justice--
(A) the number of days from the date the Commission issued
such order to the date the Commission referred such order to
the Department;
(B) whether the Department has commenced an action to
collect the penalty, and if such action was commenced, the
number of days from the date the Commission referred such
order to the Department to the date the action by the
Department commenced; and
(C) whether the collection action resulted in a payment,
and if such action resulted in a payment, the amount of such
payment.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 554, the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and a Member opposed each will
control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the distinguished whip of the House, an original
cosponsor of our legislation, and once a proud member of our proud
subcommittee.
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Chairman, with any luck, a future member of the
chairman's subcommittee.
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the great work the gentleman from Michigan
(Mr. Upton) did on this bill, bringing this bill to the floor at this
time. I also want to say how much I appreciate the gentleman from Texas
(Chairman Barton), the new chairman of our committee, moving quickly to
get this legislation to the floor, and also to join my colleagues in
our appreciation for and our concern about our former chairman, the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), as he and his family deal with a
health crisis right now.
Mr. Chairman, I think this bill is a bill that we need to do. The
gentleman's amendment is one that improves the bill and clarifies the
process through which people would have to go if they are subject to
the penalties of the bill.
I think the penalties here, the enhanced penalties we heard from
many, many people, that the current penalties just are not a deterrent.
Not only are the penalties now more in the range that they become a
real thing for people who are given custody, temporary custody, of the
airwaves to think about, but there is also the possibility they could
actually lose their license if they become repeat offenders.
Anybody can have something happen on one occasion that they do not
expect to happen, do not anticipate happening, do not approve, are
embarrassed by, but the gentleman's bill makes the case that these
airwaves do belong to the American people, that this is commercial
airspace. If repeatedly somebody chooses to try to benefit financially
by what they put on the air that goes beyond the bounds of decency,
goes beyond their agreement when they are given custody and right to
use these airwaves, I think this bill and the gentleman's clarifying
amendment is an amendment that the House needs to deal with.
We all know that it was the Super Bowl half-time show that sort of
brought this issue to everybody's attention in this current context,
but we also know that if you watched the Super Bowl, if you were
watching sort of halfway as I was the half-time show, that we see so
much there drifting beyond where we need to be in family entertainment.
There are plenty of opportunities in other kinds of entertainment that
are not on the airwaves used by commercial television and radio for
that.
I appreciate the gentleman's hard work in bringing this bill to the
floor in such important and quick fashion, and I rise to support the
bill and the gentleman's important amendment to it.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Chairman, obviously I rise in strong support of the Upton
amendment. This amendment ensures that
[[Page H1034]]
those who are the subject of indecency complaints are provided with a
constitutional right to due process. For instance, until a forfeiture
penalty has been paid or a court has finally determined that a
forfeiture penalty is justified, a complaint should not be held against
the broadcast station license.
{time} 1230
Just like someone who is presumed innocent until proven guilty, this
amendment guarantees that a broadcast license cannot be revoked or
license renewal rejected until all of the appeals have been heard. This
is a good amendment, it was pointed out in our hearing at the very end,
and I would hope has bipartisan support. It tightens the loophole.
I just want to say in closing in support of this amendment, I want to
thank in particular, I think, the many Members who have been so engaged
in this legislation, and I want to thank the staff as well. On our side
of the aisle, we have had terrific staff that have worked with the very
good staff, terrific staff on the other side as well; but I want to
particularly cite a number of individuals: Will Nordwind, Howard
Waltzman, Neil Fried, Kelly Zerzan, Joan Hillebrands, Sean Bonyur, Jim
Barnette, Jaylyn Connaughton, and Andy Black for their hard work in
making sure that this bill got to the floor quickly and swiftly, and
that, in fact, it was in a very strong bipartisan fashion.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, if there is no one seeking recognition in
opposition, I ask unanimous consent to control the time in opposition,
even though I support the amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from
Massachusetts?
There was no objecton.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute.
I would like to say that this is a good amendment. It has been
crafted on a bipartisan basis. We have worked very closely together,
Democrat and Republican, on this issue right from the beginning; and
this amendment reflects that continuing level of cooperation. I just
want any of the Members who are listening to this debate to understand
that that consensus has been reached.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Chairman, I have no other Members seeking
recognition, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). The question is on the
amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).
The amendment was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. It is now in order to consider amendment
No. 2 printed in House Report 108-436.
Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Sessions
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 2 offered by Mr. Sessions:
After section 10 of the bill insert the following section
(and redesignate the succeeding sections accordingly):
SEC. 11. GAO STUDY OF INDECENT BROADCASTING COMPLAINTS.
(a) Inquiry and Report Required.--The General Accounting
Office shall conduct a study examining--
(1) the number of complaints concerning the broadcasting of
obscene, indecent, and profane material to the Federal
Communications Commission;
(2) the number of such complaints that result in final
agency actions by the Commission;
(3) the length of time taken by the Commission in
responding to such complaints;
(4) what mechanisms the Commission has established to
receive, investigate, and respond to such complaints; and
(5) whether complainants to the Commission are adequately
informed by the Commission of the responses to their
complaints.
(b) Submission of Report.--The General Accounting Office
shall submit a report on the results of such study within one
year after the date of enactment of this Act to the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 554, the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) and a Member opposed each will
control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
My amendment is a simple contribution to this bill that I believe
will bring some additional accountability and enforcement to the FCC's
current process of handling broadcasting complaints and proposed
violation of FCC rules.
My amendment to this legislation would give the General Accounting
Office 1 year to study and report back to Congress on the number of
complaints concerning the broadcasting of obscenity, indecency, and
profane material to the Federal Communications Commission; the number
of such complaints that result in final agency actions by the
commission; the length of time taken by the commission in responding to
such complaints; what mechanisms the commission has established to
proceed, investigate, and respond to such complaints; and whether such
complaints to the commission are adequately informed by the commission
of their responses to those complainants.
I believe that this amendment will help this body to conform with
third-party data and the relevant facts and figures that the FCC is
doing its utmost to carry out the intent of the important legislation
that we are considering today.
The Upton legislation will crack down on indecent over-the-air
broadcasts and will bring much-needed accountability to our public
airwaves. Last year, there were over 240,000 complaints against 375
programs, but the FCC issued only three notices of proposed violations.
I believe that Congress should get more information about what the FCC
is doing to help us perform an important oversight function over the
FCC's action and its accountability to the American public.
I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Chairman Upton),
the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton), and the gentleman from
California (Chairman Dreier) for their important work and leadership in
bringing this legislation to the floor today. I urge my colleagues to
support this amendment to allow the GAO to gain more information from
the FCC about how they are handling complaints that they receive on
indecent material.
Mr. Chairman, I would simply ask that we include this amendment, and
I ask for its immediate consideration.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. Does any Member claim the time in
opposition?
The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Sessions).
The amendment was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. It is now in order to consider amendment
No. 3 printed in House Report 108-436.
There being no further amendment in order, the question is on the
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended.
The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended,
was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. Accordingly, under the rule, the Committee
rises.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Sessions) having assumed the chair, Mr. Isakson, Chairman pro tempore
of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R.
3717) to increase the penalties for violations by television and radio
broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene,
indecent, and profane language, pursuant to House Resolution 554, he
reported the bill back to the House with an amendment adopted by the
Committee of the Whole.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is
ordered.
Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the committee
amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted by the Committee of the
Whole? If not, the question is on the amendment.
The amendment was agreed to.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is the engrossment and third
reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.
[[Page H1035]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on passage will be followed by two 5-minute votes on
suspending the rules and adopting House Concurrent Resolution 15 and
House Resolution 540, as amended.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 391,
noes 22, answered ``present'' 1, not voting 19, as follows:
[Roll No. 55]
AYES--391
Abercrombie
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Allen
Andrews
Baca
Bachus
Baker
Baldwin
Ballance
Ballenger
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bass
Beauprez
Becerra
Bereuter
Berry
Biggert
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Bradley (NH)
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (OH)
Brown (SC)
Brown, Corrine
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Burgess
Burns
Burr
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Carson (IN)
Carson (OK)
Carter
Case
Castle
Chabot
Chandler
Chocola
Clyburn
Coble
Cole
Collins
Cooper
Costello
Cox
Cramer
Crane
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cubin
Culberson
Cummings
Cunningham
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (TN)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
DeMint
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Dooley (CA)
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Emanuel
Emerson
Engel
English
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Everett
Farr
Fattah
Feeney
Ferguson
Filner
Flake
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Frank (MA)
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gephardt
Gerlach
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gingrey
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Gordon
Goss
Granger
Graves
Green (TX)
Green (WI)
Greenwood
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall
Harris
Hart
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Hensarling
Herger
Hill
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoeffel
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Hooley (OR)
Hostettler
Houghton
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Inslee
Isakson
Israel
Issa
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jefferson
Jenkins
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind
King (IA)
Kingston
Kirk
Kleczka
Kline
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaHood
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Levin
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Lucas (OK)
Lynch
Majette
Manzullo
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCotter
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHugh
McInnis
McIntyre
McKeon
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Mica
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (MI)
Miller (NC)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Murphy
Murtha
Musgrave
Myrick
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Nethercutt
Neugebauer
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nunes
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Osborne
Ose
Otter
Owens
Oxley
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pearce
Pelosi
Pence
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Rehberg
Renzi
Reyes
Reynolds
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sabo
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanders
Sandlin
Saxton
Schiff
Schrock
Scott (GA)
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Souder
Spratt
Stearns
Stenholm
Strickland
Stupak
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Tierney
Toomey
Towns
Turner (OH)
Turner (TX)
Udall (NM)
Upton
Van Hollen
Visclosky
Vitter
Walden (OR)
Walsh
Wamp
Watson
Watt
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Whitfield
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOES--22
Ackerman
Baird
Berman
Clay
Grijalva
Harman
Honda
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jones (OH)
Kucinich
Lee
Lewis (GA)
Lofgren
Nadler
Paul
Schakowsky
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Stark
Velazquez
Waters
Waxman
ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--1
Sherman
NOT VOTING--19
Bell
Berkley
Cardoza
Conyers
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
Doolittle
Fossella
Gibbons
John
King (NY)
Lewis (CA)
Maloney
Miller (FL)
Rodriguez
Sanchez, Loretta
Tauzin
Udall (CO)
Wicker
{time} 1303
Mrs. JONES of Ohio changed her vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
Mr. GINGREY and Mr. McINNIS changed their vote from ``no'' to
``aye.''
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to increase
the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of
the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane
material, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably delayed and missed
rollcall vote No. 55. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye,'' in
favor of H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004.
____________________