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$550,000 Fine Underscores Need for Congress to Increase Penalties

Los Angeles, CA - Today the Parents Television Council, the nation's most influential advocacy organization protecting children against sex, violence and profanity in entertainment, expressed approval of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) decision to fine CBS owned and operated affiliates for airing the raunchy and offensive Super Bowl half-time show featuring Janet Jackson but also expressed disappointment that the Commission did not levy a hefty fine for every affiliate that aired the egregious half-time show.

"Janet Jackson's Super Bowl stunt was raunchy and tasteless and while we applaud the FCC's finding of a violation of the federal law, frankly the Commission didn't go far enough," said L. Brent Bozell, President of the Parents Television Council.

"The FCC has found CBS-owned affiliates guilty.  But that is not enough. All licensees who aired the indecent Super Bowl content should be held accountable for their actions.  Every licensed station broadcasting over the public airwaves has a legal obligation to uphold community standards. They all violated the law and should be punished.

"In addition, the fine was limited to the specific incident involving the exposing of Jackson's breast.  The FCC failed to address the depictions of sexual activity on stage between Jackson and Justin Timberlake before a national audience filled with millions of children. That was short-sighted.

"And while the FCC issued the maximum fine against CBS and its affiliates, let's put it in perspective: their $550,000 fine represents the cost of just 7.3 seconds of advertising during the Super Bowl.  It's laughably trite, and yet another reason why Congress needs to increase these fines at least ten-fold," Bozell concluded.