U.S. Stations to Face Higher Fines
If another “wardrobe malfunction” happens on U.S. TV, the stations could face fines up to 10 times higher than before.
The Associated Press reports that U.S. President George W. Bush signed legislation Thursday, which increases the fines broadcasters could receive from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for showing “indecency” on the air.
An indecent act doesn’t have to just be shown nudity, but would also include dirty talk.
“The problem we have is that the maximum penalty that the FCC can impose under current law is just $32,500 per violation. And for some broadcasters, this amount is meaningless. It’s relatively painless for them when they violate decency standards,” Bush said.
The bill does not apply to satellite or cable stations, and does not explicitly define what indecency is.
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