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Reese Calls For Indecency Self-Regulation
January 20, 2006 at 7:43 AM (PT)
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BONNEVILLE INTERNATIONAL CEO and NAB Joint Board Chair BRUCE REESE testified before the Senate Commerce Committee yesterday (1/19) and urged a moderate track for tackling broadcast indecency issues, suggesting self-regulation over legislation.
He pointed out that "Very real First Amendment issues are at stake when Congress considers venturing into content regulation. Given this delicate balance, between the protection of children on one hand and free speech on the other, we would ask the Committee to consider four key points.
"First, remember that the vast majority of broadcasters have never been cited by the FCC for airing indecent material.
**In 2002, only 8 of more than 15,000 stations received a Notice of Apparent Liability from the FCC for airing indecent content.
**In 2003, the number was only 15.
**While in 2004, the number was up to 208 stations… 189 of those notices could be attributed to two programs.
"And, last year, in 2005, not a single station was cited for an indecency violation. Overwhelmingly, local broadcasters err on the side of caution when making content decisions." To read all of REESE's testimony, just click here.
As added proof that broadcasters are being responsible, a coalition of broadcast, cable, consumer electronics, motion picture, satellite industries and TV networks have joined the AD COUNCIL to launch multi-million dollar coordinated campaign to educate parents to the tools available to them to protect children from unwanted TV programming. To see the full text of the Indecency Coalition, just click here.

