Sanders: Indecency Fines Create Insidious Chill on Free Expression on Our Airwaves
For Immediate Release, 2/16/2005
Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) today announced his opposition to H.R. 310, a bill that would raise the fines on broadcasters who air [base "]indecent[per thou] material to $500,000 per incident. Speaking from the floor of the U.S. House, Sanders warned that passing H.R. 310 would cause many TV and radio stations, particularly smaller stations, to engage in self-censorship to avoid arbitrary fines from being imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Sanders pointed to the decision by 66 ABC affiliates last year to not show the WWII film [base "]Saving Private Ryan[per thou] because of the fear of FCC fine.
Sanders said, [base "]Free expression and Americans[base '] First Amendment rights are the real target of this legislation. Ironically, we already have television stations refusing to air a film about the sacrifice of America[base ']s Greatest Generation to preserve freedom because of the danger of the arbitrary fines that the FCC imposes under its overly vague so-called indecency standard. Vastly increasing the fines to $500,000 will only escalate this dangerous cycle of self-censorship, particularly small broadcasters who could be bankrupted by a $500,000 fine. This is not what America is about.[per thou]
Sanders, a leading Congressional progressive, pointed out that opposition to the legislation included many conservatives who rightly fear increased government censorship of the airwaves.
Sanders concluded, [base "]The specter of censorship is growing in America today, and we have got to stand firmly in opposition to it. What America is about is not necessarily liking what you have to say or agreeing with you, but recognizing your Constitutional right to say it. Today, it is Janet Jackson[base ']s wardrobe malfunction or Howard Stern[base ']s vulgarity. What will it be tomorrow?[per thou]
10:24:31 AM 
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