The Senate Commerce Committee this afternoon passed the Protecting Children from Indecent Programming Act introduced by Sen. John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) that would return to the FCC the right to fine broadcast stations for airing incidental words or images deemed indecent that was taken away from it by the Second Circuit of Appeals.

It does not address or change the law regarding whether a word or image in a particular context is actually indecent.

The measure passed by a unanimous voice vote, according to Rockefeller spokesman Steven Broderick. He added that it is their intention is to keep the bill (S. 1780) as a stand-alone piece of legislation, but that could change.

Broderick also noted that they hoped to introduced legislation that would empower the FCC to regulate TV violence before Congress begins its summer recess on Aug. 3.

Rockefeller, in a statement, said: “This bill is a narrowly tailored approach that would allow the FCC to maintain its policy adopted in 2003 and hold broadcasters responsible for airing expletives and indecent material even if that material was only shown fleetingly.

“This legislation is a small but critical step in making sure that the airways remain free of words and images that are patently offensive to the vast majority of Americans.”

Commenting on the action, FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin said: “I appreciate the actions by the Senate Committee on Science, Commerce and Transportation, which affirmed the Commission's ability to protect our children from indecent language and images on television and radio. Significantly, members of Congress stated once again what we on the Commission and every parent already knows; even a single word or image can indeed be indecent.”

Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, joined Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) yesterday to cosponsor the measure.

“I am pleased to see the Commerce Committee swiftly approve this bill,'” said Stevens. “It is important to give the FCC the tools it needs to continue to protect the American public from indecency on radio and broadcast television.”

This legislation would specifically allow the FCC to establish that a single word or image in a given context may be considered indecent and levy fines against the broadcaster.

"This bill is premised on the completely false notion that broadcasters are clamoring to air 'F-bombs' and 'S-words.' Stations go to great lengths to prevent such language, and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise,"  said NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton.

The Parents Television Council praised the action. “The public interest was clearly served by today's bipartisan Senate action, and we now call on the full Senate to vote on this measure before the August recess,” said PTC President Tim Winter.