The Senate Commerce Committee is following the House’s lead in sc...

9:30 a.m., Rm. 253, Russell Bldg., titled: “Protecting Children from Violent and Indecent Programming.” The hearing will highlight a bill by from Senate Commerce ranking Democrat Hollings (S.C.), S-161, that would ban broadcasting violent content that couldn’t be blocked by electronic means, such as the V-chip. The White House said Wed. it supported HR-3717 by House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.), which would make FCC fines for indecent broadcast 10 times the current ones. Upton said the bill was gaining co-sponsors and was on the “fast track.” However, a Senate Commerce Committee spokeswoman said the panel already had passed a bill that would give the FCC tougher fines -- the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-1264). That bill, introduced by Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.), also would also make fines 10 times as great for broadcasters and multichannel video providers. However, that bill also would raise fines for common carriers and for other instances. S-161 would require the FCC to study the V-chip for its effectiveness. If the Commission found it to be ineffective, it would be authorized to prohibit showing violent content during hours when children were likely to be watching.