House Panel Passes Bill to Boost Indecency Fines

Legislation to raise maximum fines against broadcasters including Viacom Inc.’s CBS for airing indecent material passed the House Commerce Committee and is slated to go before the full House.

The bill increases the penalties the Federal Communications Commission can levy to as much as $500,000 per violation from $32,500. A similar measure has been introduced in the Senate, and President Bush last month endorsed the concept of higher indecency fines.

The fines would apply to broadcasters, not cable and satellite competitors such as Comcast Corp. or EchoStar Communications Corp. Broadcasters oppose the bill, arguing that higher fines put them at a disadvantage to cable channels that face no such sanctions.