Broadcasters face heftier fines

President Bush signed legislation Thursday that will cost broadcasters dearly when raunchy programming exceeds “the bounds of decency.” At a signing ceremony, Bush said that it would force industry figures to “take seriously their duty to keep the public airwaves free of obscene, profane and indecent material.”

For raunchy talk or a racy show of skin, the Federal Communications Commission can now fine a broadcaster as much as $325,000 per incident -- a tenfold increase. The bill does not apply to cable or satellite broadcasts.

The legislation culminates a two-year effort to get tough on sexually explicit material and offensive language on radio and television following Janet Jackson’s 2004 Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction.”