The US Congress' House Energy and Commerce Committee have backed those previously reported plans to increase the fines media regulator the FCC is able to inflict on US TV networks who are guilty of "indecency infractions". The committee voted 46 to 2 to increase the maximum fine for such indecency from $32,500 to a really rather hefty $500,000.
That doesn't mean, however, that that increase will come into effect straight away. Both Senate and the House of Representatives have backed slightly different versions of this measure, meaning the two versions will have to be merged into one before they can get the final sign off from Georgie Boy Bush. The House's version also gives the FCC the right to revoke a broadcasters license if they are guilty of three indecency violations - whether that makes it through to the final regulations remains to be seen.
But either way, increase in the powers of the FCC on this matter is a foregone conclusion. Whatever happened to evil media moguls exercising their sinister powers over politicians to stop this kind of thing?