Point-counterpoint: Watchdogs on indecency

We have two more takes on the House of Representatives resounding vote to dramatically increase the penalties for broadcast indecency, up to a possible 500K per incident, plus imposition of additional liability on performers and establishment of a three strike rule. Today we'll check out comments from the Parents Television Council (PTC) and the Center for Creative Voices in Media (CCVM). For its part, PTC has initiated a campaign in which it is urging its constituents to pressure their senators into taking reciprocal action to the House measure.

Brent Bozell, PTC: "In one of the most positive and bipartisan displays of support for American families, the House has put broadcasters on notice: You are responsible for the content of your programming, and if you fail to abide by the law, you will be severely punished. The only way these corporate broadcasting giants are ever going to abide by the law is if they are financially motivated to do so. In an effort to create public opposition to this legislation, broadcasters have resorted to absurd tactics such as pixilating an animated baby's bottom to illustrate their 'uncertainty' about what they can air. We congratulate the Congress for seeing through this smoke screen. The indecent content that's in question here is not about a cartoon character's backside, but rather about showing rapes of young girls, teen orgies, masturbation, pedophilia, anal and oral sex. Tell me one community in America that finds that explicit content between 6 am and 10 pm acceptable, especially with children in the audience. We call on the Senate to act as quickly to pass Sen. Brownback's indecency legislation."

CCVM: "As creative artists and members of the public, we deeply regret the passage today of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 by the House of Representatives. The exponential increase in 'indecency' fines for broadcasters, and the application of those fines to performers on their first offense, will turn the chill that has already descended over our nation's media into a deep freeze. Today's vote was a tragedy for creative artists. More importantly, it was a tragedy for the American public. As a result of today's House vote, the American public will be denied even more opportunities to view quality programming, repeating the tragedy of last Veteran's Day when broadcasters fearful of an FCC fine abruptly canceled 'Saving Private Ryan' - - a multiple Oscar-winning tribute to veterans. Today's House action revokes the public's right to choose what to watch - - and what not to watch - - and turns that choice over to Big Brother: the FCC, the Parents Television Council, and the giant media conglomerates who will self-censor programming to avoid these exponentially increased penalties...As creative artists who are also parents in many cases, we share the concern of policymakers about the problem of objectionable programming. But censorship is not the way. Rather, let's do something about the root cause of the problem - - media concentration."