Volume 120 · 491
Public Law 109–235
To increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language.
Approved June 15, 2006
Statutory text
An Act
To increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language.
June 15, 2006
[S. 193]
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 2005”.
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—
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:
“(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if the violator is—
“(i) (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
“(ii) determined by the Commission under paragraph (1) to have broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane language, the amount of any forfeiture penalty determined under this subsection shall not exceed $325,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation, except that the amount assessed for any continuing violation shall not exceed a total of $3,000,000 for any single act or failure to act.”
; and
in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking “subparagraph (A) or (B)” and inserting “subparagraph (A), (B), or (C)”.
Approved .