AP: Anti-Indecency Measure Wins Approval

re: WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Senate committee on Thursday acted to restore the government's authority to fine television and radio broadcasters for airing profanities, even if they are fleeting references. /The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved a bill that would undo an appeals court ruling that invalidated the Federal Communications Commission's new profanity policy....[snip]...By a 2-1 vote, the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals in New York tossed out the profanity rules and said the FCC failed to "articulate a reasoned basis for its change in policy." /In response came the "Protecting Children from Indecent Programming Act," sponsored by Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Mark Pryor, D-Ark. It would require the FCC "to maintain a policy that a single word or image may be considered indecent." /Rockefeller said in a statement that the 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." /Co-sponsors were the committee chairman, Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and the top Republican, Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska..."...