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S. 193 109th Congress Senate

Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005

Official title: A bill to increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language.

Introduced: January 26, 2005 See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Crime and Law EnforcementFederal Communications CommissionFines (Penalties)Government Operations and Politics
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Independent regulatory commissionsLawLicensesPornographyRadio broadcastingRadio stationsStandardsTelevision broadcastingTelevision stations
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 Everywhere this bill has been 19 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 15, 2006
Became Public Law No: 109-235.
Jun 15, 2006
Signed by President.
Jun 8, 2006
Presented to President.
Jun 7, 2006
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 7, 2006
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 379 - 35 (Roll no. 230). (text: CR 6/06/2006 H3388)
Jun 7, 2006
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3466-3467)
Jun 6, 2006
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jun 6, 2006
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 193.
Jun 6, 2006
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3388-3391)
Jun 6, 2006
Mr. Upton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Jun 5, 2006
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
May 19, 2006
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 19, 2006
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 19, 2006
Received in the House.
May 18, 2006
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4816; text as passed Senate: CR S4816)
May 18, 2006
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4816; text as passed Senate: CR S4816)
May 18, 2006
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 26, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jan 26, 2005
Introduced in Senate
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jun 7, 2006 House · vote #230 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Passed 379–35 See who voted →
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 Latest action June 15, 2006

Became Public Law No: 109-235.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that, if the violator of the terms and conditions of any Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license, permit, or certificate is either a broadcast station licensee or permittee or an applicant for a broadcast license, permit, or certificate, and such violator is determined by the FCC to have broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane language, the amount of forfeiture penalty shall not exceed $325,000 for each violation or day of such violation, to a maximum of $3 million for any single act or failure to act.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 310 Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 3
DeMint, James
· Jan 26, 2005
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Jan 26, 2005
 R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Jan 26, 2005
 R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Jan 26, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 193: Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-193/
MLA
"S. 193: Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-193/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 193, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-193/.
Markdown link
[S. 193: Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-193/)
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